Telstra vs Belong - Which is the best NBN internet provider?
Telstra and Belong are both owned by Telstra, but they target different users. Telstra is often praised for its reliable connection and good customer service, particularly in rural areas, though many find it expensive. On the other hand, Belong offers a stable NBN connection at a better price point, making it a solid choice for those prioritising value.
Telstra and Belong 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 Telstra and Belong 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 | Telstra | Belong |
|---|---|---|
| About |
 |
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| Telstra is Australia's largest telco and broadband provider, with the widest fixed and mobile network reach in the country. It charges a premium over smaller providers but offers extensive coverage and extras like Telstra TV. The old BigPond brand has long since been retired. | Belong is a broadband and mobile company that's owned entirely by Telstra and was founded in 2013. It recently got rid of phone support and now only offers online support. | |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Belong | |
| Overall Rating |
3.9
Telstra has a overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Telstra is a good broadband internet provider according to our users. |
3.3
Belong has an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5 based on 9 reviews. Belong is an ok broadband internet provider according to our users. |
| Recommended | 89% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Telstra to their friends as a broadband internet provider. | 67% of people who have written reviews on this site would recommend Belong to their friends as a broadband internet provider. |
| Reliability |
4.2 Telstra's reliability is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4.2 out of 5 for reliability. |
3.4 Belong's reliability is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for reliability. |
| Customer Service |
4 Telstra's customer service is rated as very good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 4 out of 5 for customer service. |
3.3 Belong's customer service is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.3 out of 5 for customer service. |
| Value for Money |
3.6 Telstra is rated as good for value for money by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 3.6 out of 5 for value for money. |
3.4 Belong is rated as ok for value for money by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.4 out of 5 for value for money. |
| Technical Support |
3.9 Telstra's technical support is rated as good by our users. Telstra has an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5 for technical support. |
3.1 Belong's technical support is rated as ok by our users. Belong has an overall rating of 3.1 out of 5 for technical support. |
| Australian based technical support | No, Telstra uses a mix of Australian based and overseas call centres for technical support. | Yes, Belong does have Australian based technical support. |
| Call Centre Location | Telstra uses call centres based in Australia, Philippines and India. | Belong uses call centres based in Australia. |
| Services Offered | Telstra offers a range of broadband and internet related services including internet plans. | Belong offers a range of broadband and internet related services including NBN internet plans. |
| Cost of 25Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Basic: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $85 per month. |
Belong - Starter: 25Mbps, unlimited data for $75 per month. |
| Cost of 50Mbps NBN Plan with unlimited data |
Telstra - Essential: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $95 per month. |
Belong - Standard Plus: 50Mbps, unlimited data for $91 per month. |
| Cost of wireless broadband plan |
Telstra - Basic 5G (5G): 25Mbps, unlimited data for $70 per month. |
Belong - Mobile Broadband 20GB (): 150Mbps, 20 GB for $20 per month. |
| Contact Details |
Telstra's phone number is: 13 22 00 and website is: telstra.com.au |
Belong's phone number is: 1300 235 656 and website is: belong.com.au |
| Read Reviews | Read reviews of Telstra. | Read reviews of Belong. |
| Go to Telstra | Go to Belong |
Telstra and Belong NBN25 plans (25Mbps download speed)
|
Starter
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$75/mth
$55 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
Basic
NBN - Fixed Line
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and Belong NBN50 plans (50Mbps download speed)
|
|
Standard Plus
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$91/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Essential
NBN - Fixed Line
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
Telstra and Belong Ultrafast plans (>100Mbps download speed)
|
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Fast
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
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Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth
$65 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Premium
NBN - Fixed Line
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$99/mth
$9100 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$110/mth
$80 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultimate
NBN - Fixed Line
750 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$119/mth
$115 for first 6 months |
Go to site |
|
|
Ultrafast
NBN - Fixed Line
815 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$129/mth | Go to site |
Summary of Telstra and Belong 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: Telstra rates higher overall than Belong does.
- Recommended: Telstra is more highly recommended than Belong.
- Reliability: Telstra rates higher for reliability than Belong does.
- Customer Service: Telstra rates higher for customer service than Belong does.
- Value for Money: Telstra and Belong have pretty similar ratings in terms of value for money.
- Technical Support: Telstra rates higher for technical support than Belong does.
How to decide between Telstra and Belong? - next steps
- Read reviews of Telstra and Belong to see what people think of these companies
- Visit the website of each company and do some of your own research - Telstra and Belong
- 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 Telstra vs Belong
Is Telstra better than Belong?
On Oz Broadband Reviews Telstra rates 3.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews and Belong rates 3.3 from 9 reviews. On recommend-to-a-friend, 89% of Telstra reviewers said they'd recommend the provider, vs 67% for Belong. On individual metrics, Telstra wins on reliability (4.2 vs 3.4) and customer service (4.0 vs 3.3) and tech support (3.9 vs 3.1). Read the full reviews above to form your own view.
Which is cheaper for NBN50, Telstra or Belong?
Telstra's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Essential at $95/month ongoing. Belong's cheapest NBN50 plan is the Standard Plus at $65/month intro for 6 months, then $91/month. Belong is cheaper on the ongoing price after any intro period ends.
Which has better customer service, Telstra or Belong?
Telstra scores 4.0 out of 5 on customer service vs Belong's 3.3, based on verified reviews on Oz Broadband Reviews. If onshore support matters, Telstra's call centre is based in Australia, the Philippines and India and Belong's is based in Australia.
What plans do Telstra and Belong offer?
Telstra offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. Belong offers 5 NBN plans and 3 wireless plans. See the full plan tables above for prices, speeds and data limits.
Where are Telstra and Belong's call centres?
Telstra's customer support is based in Australia, the Philippines and India. Belong's customer support is based in Australia. Call centre location can affect support hours and accent comprehension if onshore support is important to you.
How do I switch from Telstra to Belong (or Belong to Telstra)?
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 Telstra
I have used a few cheaper services but, this one cost more but is reliable
Customer service is good since they are easy to contact Connection is reliable especially during thunderstorms Value for money is average since it is…
About Belong
I’ve used Belong for several months and found the service reliable with consistent speeds suitable for streaming and work from home needs. Setup was…
it is a great company with relatively reasonable price
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