Optus vs Vodafone - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Optus is a major player, often praised by reviewers for reliable communication and easy setup, making it a solid choice for families, though some report frustrating customer service and occasional dropouts. Vodafone, on the other hand, is generally seen as a more budget-friendly option, with its NBN plans starting at a lower price point. Deciding between Optus and Vodafone often comes down to whether you prioritise comprehensive service and established reliability or a more economical entry into NBN.
Optus and Vodafone 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 Vodafone 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 | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
|
| 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. | Vodafone is one of Australia's three major mobile networks and has been part of TPG Telecom since the 2020 merger. Alongside mobile it sells nbn and 5G home wireless broadband. | |
| Go to Optus | Go to Vodafone | |
| 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. |
4.2
Vodafone has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 8 reviews. Vodafone is a very 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. | 88% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Vodafone 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. |
3.8 Vodafone's reliability is rated as good by our users. Vodafone has an overall rating of 3.8 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. |
4.5 Vodafone's customer service is rated as excellent by our users. Vodafone has an overall rating of 4.5 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. |
4 Vodafone is rated as very good for value for money by our users. Vodafone has an overall rating of 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. |
4.3 Vodafone's technical support is rated as very good by our users. Vodafone has an overall rating of 4.3 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, Vodafone 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. | Vodafone uses call centres based in Australia, India and Egypt. |
| Services Offered | Optus offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | Vodafone 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. |
Vodafone - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $74 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Optus - Everyday: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
Vodafone - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $84 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Optus - Everyday Basic 4G (4G): 14Mbps, unlimited data for $59 per month. |
Vodafone - 5G Home Internet Basic (5G): 19Mbps, unlimited data for $60 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Optus's phone number is: 1300 300 693 and website is: optus.com.au |
Vodafone's phone number is: 1300 650 410 and website is: vodafone.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Optus. | Read reviews of Vodafone. |
| Go to Optus | Go to Vodafone |
Optus and Vodafone NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$74/mth | Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$79/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Vodafone NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$84/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Everyday
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Optus and Vodafone Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
|
Essential+
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$89/mth
$69 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Home Fast+
NBN - Fixed Line
740 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$94/mth
$74 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fast 500
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Fast 100
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$79 for first 12 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Home Superfast
NBN - Fixed Line
850 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$104/mth
$84 for first 12 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 Vodafone 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: Vodafone rates higher overall than Optus does.
- Recommended: Vodafone is more highly recommended than Optus.
- Reliability: Optus rates higher for reliability than Vodafone does.
- Customer Service: Vodafone rates higher for customer service than Optus does.
- Value for Money: Optus and Vodafone have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: Vodafone rates higher for technical support than Optus does.
How to decide between Optus and Vodafone? - next steps
- Read reviews of Optus and Vodafone to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Optus and Vodafone
- 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 Vodafone
Is Optus better than Vodafone?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Optus rates 3.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews and Vodafone rates 4.2 from 8 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 88% of Vodafone reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 67% for Optus. On individual metrics, Vodafone wins on customer service (4.5 vs 3.8) and tech support (4.3 vs 3.7). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Optus or Vodafone?
Optus's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Everyday at $95/month ongoing. Vodafone's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $84/month ongoing. Vodafone is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Optus or Vodafone?
Vodafone scores 4.5 out of 5 on customer service vs Optus's 3.8, 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 Vodafone's is based in Australia, India and Egypt.
What plans do Optus and Vodafone offer?
Optus offers 5 NBN plans and 4 wireless plans. Vodafone offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Optus and Vodafone's call centres?
Optus's customer support is based in Australia, India and the Philippines. Vodafone's customer support is based in Australia, India and Egypt. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Optus to Vodafone (or Vodafone 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 Vodafone
My Vodafone 5G home internet plan has been able to support me with all my working from home needs over the pandemic, as well as all of my various…
Customer Service: I have always had a seamless time contacting and resolving problems with Vodafone's customer service team. 5/5 Technical Support: As…
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