Optus vs Tangerine - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Optus offers a more premium, all-in-one experience, often praised by reviewers for reliable connections and easy setup, though some customers flag price increases and customer service issues. On the other hand, Tangerine is generally a more budget-friendly option, with customers highlighting its straightforward setup and consistent speeds, but new customer loyalty offers and occasional billing problems are recurring themes. Optus tends to suit those wanting a complete package, while Tangerine appeals to those prioritising value and consistent internet performance.
NBN plans from $69.90/mth · Partner
Optus and Tangerine are both reputable broadband internet providers in Australia.
Deciding which NBN or wireless internet company to sign up to is not an easy task. To make this process easier we have provided a side by side comparison of Optus and Tangerine internet providers in the table below.
Disclaimer: All the data in the table is based on the opinions of people who have submitted reviews to this site over the last 24 months. We screen the reviews very thoroughly to ensure only accurate reviews get through. Please do your own research.
| Criteria | Optus | Tangerine |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
 Partner |
| Optus is Australia's second-largest telco, owned by Singapore's Singtel. It sells nbn and 5G home internet, often bundled with mobile and entertainment, all backed by its own nationwide mobile network. | Tangerine is a fast-growing nbn and SIM-only mobile provider founded in 2013 by brothers Andrew and Richard Branson (no relation to Virgin's Sir Richard). Known for sharp pricing, no lock-in contracts and Australian-based support, it has been part-owned by Commonwealth Bank since 2021 and has won a string of budget-provider awards. | |
| Go to Optus | Go to Tangerine | |
| Overall Rating |
3.9
Optus has a overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Optus is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
3.6
Tangerine has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. Tangerine is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 67% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Optus to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 60% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Tangerine to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
4.1 Optus's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5 for reliability. |
4.2 Tangerine's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Tangerine has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
3.8 Optus's customer service is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for customer service. |
3 Tangerine's customer service is rated as ok by our users. Tangerine has an overall rating of 3 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.8 Optus is rated as good for value for money by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for value for money. |
3.4 Tangerine is rated as ok for value for money by our users. Tangerine has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support |
3.7 Optus's technical support is rated as good by our users. Optus has an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 for technical support. |
3.8 Tangerine's technical support is rated as good by our users. Tangerine has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Optus uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | No, Tangerine uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Optus uses call centres based in Australia, India and Philippines. | Tangerine uses call centres based in Australia and Philippines. |
| Services Offered | Optus offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | Tangerine offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $79 per month. |
Tangerine - Value: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $69.9 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
Tangerine - Value Plus: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $84.9 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Optus - Everyday Basic 4G (4G): 14Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month. |
Tangerine - 100GB (5G): 100Mbps, unlimited data for $34.9 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Optus's phone number is: 1300 300 693 and website is: optus.com.au |
Tangerine's phone number is: 1800 211 112 and website is: tangerinetelecom.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Optus. | Read reviews of Tangerine. |
| Go to Optus | Go to Tangerine |
Optus and Tangerine NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Value
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$69.9/mth
$44.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Tangerine NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Value Plus
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$84.9/mth
$59.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Tangerine Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
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Fixed Wireless Value Plus
NBN - Fixed Wireless
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$84.9/mth
$59.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fixed Wireless Speedy
NBN - Fixed Wireless
200 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$88.9/mth
$63.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Speedy Max
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$88.9/mth
$63.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fast 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fast 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
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Fixed Wireless SuperSpeedy
NBN - Fixed Wireless
400 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104.9/mth
$79.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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UltraSpeedy
NBN - Fixed Line
700 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119.9/mth
$94.9 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
820 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth
$109 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
Summary of Optus and Tangerine comparison
Please note that summary below is based on reviews submitted to this website and represents the views of the people who wrote the reviews.
- Overall: Optus rates higher overall than Tangerine does.
- Recommended: Optus is more highly recommended than Tangerine.
- Reliability: Optus and Tangerine have pretty similar ratings for reliability.
- Customer Service: Optus rates higher for customer service than Tangerine does.
- Value for Money: Optus rates higher for value for money than Tangerine does.
- Technical Support: Optus and Tangerine have pretty similar ratings in terms of technical support.
How to decide between Optus and Tangerine? - next steps
- Read reviews of Optus and Tangerine to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and Tangerine
- Decide how fast your connection need to be and how much data you need then use our broadband plan finder to narrow down the list of plans and find the best plan that suits your budget
- Choose the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Remember, that you can easily change plans but changing broadband internet providers is more difficult so it is really important that you choose a solid internet provider.
Frequently asked questions about Optus vs Tangerine
Is Optus better than Tangerine?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Optus rates 3.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews and Tangerine rates 3.6 from 5 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 67% of Optus reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 60% for Tangerine. On individual metrics, Optus wins on customer service (3.8 vs 3.0) and value for money (3.8 vs 3.4). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Optus or Tangerine?
Optus's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday at $95/month ongoing. Tangerine's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Value Plus at $59.90/month intro for 6 months, then $84.90/month. Tangerine is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Optus or Tangerine?
Optus scores 3.8 out of 5 on customer service vs Tangerine's 3.0, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Optus's call centre is based in Australia, India and the Philippines and Tangerine's is based in Australia and the Philippines.
What plans do Optus and Tangerine offer?
Optus offers 5 NBN plans and 4 wireless plans. Tangerine offers 7 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Optus and Tangerine's call centres?
Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. Tangerine's customer support is based in Australia and the Philippines. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Optus to Tangerine (or Tangerine to Optus)?
Switching NBN providers in Australia is straightforward. The new provider handles the transfer once you sign up and provide your address. There's usually no contract overlap if your current plan is month-to-month, but check for early termination fees on contracted plans. Phone numbers can usually be ported, and the service typically continues uninterrupted on the same NBN line.
What customers say
About Optus
Reliable enough, but had plenty of issues with technical support throughout the years. Also never told if theres a better price on a current plan, happy…
Optus is a well oiled machine, they have reliable communication, setting up was easy, though there has been a price increase while having it, it is reliable.
About Tangerine
nbn was setup quickly when I applied for it. Had a connection problem a few weeks in but tangerine sorted it quickly and efficently. Easy to use portal…
Internet that works reliably with few dropouts and consistent enough speeds. Tech support resolved any tech issues easily. Billing issues were harder to…
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