Is 5G Home Internet Cheaper Than NBN in Australia in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Author: Trang Do, Personal Finance Editor, ShopBack Australia

Short answer. In Australia, 5G home internet is usually cheaper than NBN on the 50 and 100 Mbps tiers, but not at the top end. At the time of writing, Optus listed Everyday 5G at $69 a month against $87 for Everyday 50 NBN, and Everyday Fast 5G at $79 against $89 for NBN Fast 100. Its NBN Fast 500 at $89 cost less than the $99 Superfast 5G plan. Check ShopBack before you check out with either.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you buy or sign up through it, including on a new Optus 5G or NBN home internet service. You open Optus from ShopBack, sign up as normal, and cash comes back to your ShopBack account once the service is confirmed. Join ShopBack Australia free before you switch.

Prices below come from Optus's own 5G Home Internet and NBN plan pages at the time of writing (October 2026). Plans and promos change, so check the live price on the day.

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Is 5G home internet cheaper than NBN in Australia?

Yes on the everyday tiers, by roughly $10 to $18 a month at Optus's standard prices, and no on the fastest tier. Here is how Optus's own listed plans lined up by speed at the time of writing:

Speed need	Optus 5G Home Internet	Optus NBN	Monthly difference	Yearly difference
Everyday (about 50 Mbps)	Everyday 5G, $69, typical 50/11 Mbps	Everyday 50, $87, typical 50/17 Mbps	5G $18 less	5G $216 less
Fast (about 100 Mbps)	Everyday Fast 5G, $79, typical 93/15 Mbps	Fast 100, $89, typical 100/18 Mbps	5G $10 less	5G $120 less
Fastest	Entertainer Superfast 5G, $99, typical 230/20 Mbps	Fast 500, $89, typical 500/43 Mbps	NBN $10 less	NBN $120 less

Typical speeds are Optus's typical busy period figures for 7pm to 11pm. The 5G prices are Optus's standard plan prices; Optus's plan listing has also shown lower promo prices for new services, and it listed a promo NBN Fast 100 plan at $69, so the gap on the day can be smaller or larger.

Two things the table shows:

• On the 50 and 100 Mbps tiers, 5G was the cheaper Optus option, at similar download speeds but lower upload speeds.
• If your home can get a faster NBN tier, NBN can be cheaper and faster. NBN Fast 500 cost $10 a month less than Superfast 5G and had more than double the typical download speed.

Other providers selling home internet in the same category include Telstra, Vodafone and TPG on 5G, and Superloop, Aussie Broadband, Leaptel and iiNet on NBN.

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5G home internet: what you trade for the lower price

5G home internet is wireless, so the price is lower but the speed depends on your signal. Optus explains the difference simply: NBN runs on a hard-wired broadband network, while 5G is a wireless network.

According to Optus, 5G speed varies with:

• Network: signal, how close you are to the tower, line of sight and congestion.
• Location: where you put the modem, distance from the Optus 5G tower, geography and obstructions.
• Other factors: weather, hardware and software.

Optus covers its 5G plans with a 40 Mbps or 50 Mbps Satisfaction Guarantee, depending on the plan, and caps download speeds at 50 Mbps on Everyday 5G and 100 Mbps on Everyday Fast 5G. The Entertainer Superfast 5G plan has uncapped download speeds on the Optus 5G network.

Upload speeds are where 5G gives the most ground. Optus listed typical uploads of 11 to 20 Mbps on 5G, against 17 to 43 Mbps on comparable NBN plans. If you back up photos, send big work files or stream yourself, that gap matters more than the download number.

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5G home internet in Australia in 2026: who it suits

In 2026, 5G home internet usually suits households that value a quick, simple setup and a lower monthly bill over the highest speed. It is usually a good fit for:

• Renters and people who move often. Optus says you unpack the modem, insert the SIM, power it on and connect your devices, with no NBN technician visit.
• Homes on fibre to the node. Where the copper part of the line slows NBN down, a strong 5G signal can match or beat it for less.
• Two to five people with everyday use. Optus describes Everyday 5G as great for 2 to 3 people and Everyday Fast 5G as great for 3 to 5 people.

It is usually a weaker fit for:

• Homes that can get NBN fibre to the premises, where Optus listed Fast 500 at the same $89 as Fast 100.
• Heavy uploaders and anyone whose work depends on a steady connection.
• Addresses far from a 5G tower or with thick walls between the modem and the tower.

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5G home internet best deals in Australia: how to read them

The best 5G home internet deal is the one with the lowest total cost over the time you will stay, on a plan your address supports. A few checks before you sign up:

1. Compare the promo price with the standard price. Optus's standard 5G prices are $69, $79 and $99 a month. Lower prices for new services have also been listed, so note when any promo ends.
2. Check the modem terms. According to Optus, if you don't go ahead with an Optus home internet service you need to return the 5G modem in good working order within 30 days, or pay a Remaining Device Payment Fee of $13 for each month left on the Device Payment Plan.
3. Check data. Optus says all its 5G Home Internet plans have unlimited data under its Fair Go Policy.
4. Check the address. Optus says 5G Home Internet is available where the Optus 5G network is available, and its address checker confirms this.
5. Check ShopBack before you check out. The ShopBack Optus page shows the live amount for a new 5G Home Internet service.

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Optus 5G Home Internet in Australia: plans and setup

According to Optus at the time of writing, Optus 5G Home Internet comes in three standard plans: Everyday 5G at $69 a month, Everyday Fast 5G at $79 and Entertainer Superfast 5G at $99, all with unlimited data.

Plan	Standard price	Typical busy period speed	Download cap	Optus says it suits
Everyday 5G	$69 a month	50/11 Mbps	50 Mbps	2 to 3 people, HD streaming and video calls
Everyday Fast 5G	$79 a month	93/15 Mbps	100 Mbps	3 to 5 people, HD streaming and gaming
Entertainer Superfast 5G	$99 a month	230/20 Mbps	Uncapped	5 or more people, UHD streaming and gaming

Setup, according to Optus: unpack the modem, insert the nano SIM, power it on and connect your devices to the WiFi. The modem works best in a room close to the nearest Optus 5G tower and free of obstructions, which may not be where your old modem sat. The My Optus app shows nearby Optus 5G towers so you can face the modem towards the closest one. You can test your speed from the modem screen on some models or in the My Optus app.

For more on Optus plans and sale timing, see Optus discounts and deals.

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Go through ShopBack before you sign up for 5G or NBN

Check ShopBack before you check out. You still sign up on the Optus website; you just start from ShopBack Australia.

1. Open the ShopBack app or website and sign in.
2. Go to the ShopBack Optus page and tap through to Optus.
3. Sign up online for a new 5G Home Internet or NBN Home Internet service in that same session.
4. Once Optus confirms the service, the cash shows in your ShopBack account and you can withdraw it.

Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Illustrative example: Everyday Fast 5G at $79 a month is $948 over 12 months. If the ShopBack Optus page showed an illustrative $50 back on a new 5G Home Internet service, your first-year effective price would be $898, or about $74.83 a month. Check the live amount on the ShopBack Optus page, because it changes.

According to the ShopBack Optus page terms, it applies to new services bought online, self-serve. Orders made through chat or in the My Optus app are excluded, and so are discounts that lower the advertised price, such as student or employee discounts. NBN plans where you bring your own modem are also excluded.

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How to decide between 5G and NBN in four steps

1. Run the address checker for both 5G and NBN, and note your NBN connection type.
2. Match speeds, not names. Compare the typical busy period download and upload speed for each plan.
3. Work out the 12 month total at the price you will actually pay after any promo ends.
4. Check ShopBack before you check out, then sign up online with the plan that wins.

For other household bills, see how one household saved on broadband, insurance and streaming and how to save on streaming subscriptions.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 5G home internet cheaper than NBN in Australia?

Usually yes on the 50 and 100 Mbps tiers, and usually no at the top end. At the time of writing, Optus listed Everyday 5G at $69 a month against $87 for its Everyday 50 NBN plan, and Everyday Fast 5G at $79 against $89 for NBN Fast 100. At the top end, Optus NBN Fast 500 at $89 cost less than the $99 Superfast 5G plan. Check ShopBack before you check out with either.

How much does Optus 5G Home Internet cost?

According to Optus at the time of writing, its standard 5G Home Internet plans are $69 a month for Everyday 5G (typical busy period speed 50/11 Mbps), $79 for Everyday Fast 5G (93/15 Mbps) and $99 for Entertainer Superfast 5G (230/20 Mbps). All include unlimited data under Optus's Fair Go Policy, and lower promo prices for new services have also been listed. Check the live price on optus.com.au.

Is 5G home internet as fast as NBN?

On the middle tiers it can be close. Optus lists typical busy period speeds of 93/15 Mbps on Everyday Fast 5G against 100/18 Mbps on NBN Fast 100. Optus says 5G speeds vary with signal, distance from the tower, modem placement, obstructions and weather, and Optus lists higher typical speeds on its top NBN fibre tiers than on any of its 5G plans.

Does 5G home internet have unlimited data?

With Optus, yes. Optus says all of its 5G Home Internet plans come with unlimited data, subject to its Fair Go Policy. Check the data terms on any other provider's 5G plan before you sign up.

Who is 5G home internet best for?

5G home internet usually suits renters, people who move often, and homes on slower fibre to the node NBN connections, because the modem plugs in with no technician visit. It suits less well if you upload a lot, live far from a 5G tower, or can get NBN fibre to the premises, where faster NBN tiers can cost the same or less.

What happens to the Optus 5G modem if I leave?

According to Optus, if you decide not to go ahead with an Optus home internet service you need to return the 5G modem in good working order within 30 days. Otherwise you pay a Remaining Device Payment Fee of $13 for each month left on the Device Payment Plan. Read the plan's critical information summary before you sign up.

Can I get money back on Optus 5G Home Internet?

You can. The ShopBack Optus page lists 5G Home Internet as an eligible category for new services bought online, self-serve. Before you check out, go through ShopBack to get a post-purchase discount on the order: a set amount comes back as cash once Optus confirms the service. Orders made through chat or the My Optus app are excluded, so start on the ShopBack Optus page.

How do I check if 5G home internet works at my address?

Use the provider's address checker before you sign up. Optus says its 5G Home Internet is available in areas where the Optus 5G network is available, and the My Optus app shows nearby Optus 5G towers to help you place the modem facing a window closest to the tower.

Which companies sell 5G home internet in Australia?

Providers selling 5G home internet in Australia include Optus, Telstra, Vodafone and TPG. Prices, speed caps and data policies differ, so compare each provider's typical busy period speed and monthly price on the same tier.

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Key takeaways

• At Optus's standard prices, 5G home internet was $10 to $18 a month cheaper than NBN on the 50 and 100 Mbps tiers.
• At the top end, Optus NBN Fast 500 at $89 cost less than Superfast 5G at $99 and was faster.
• 5G speeds depend on signal and modem placement, and uploads are lower than on comparable NBN plans.
• Return an unwanted Optus 5G modem within 30 days, or a $13 a month Remaining Device Payment Fee applies for the months left.
• Check ShopBack before you check out on a new Optus 5G or NBN service, and check the live amount on its ShopBack page.

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Disclaimer

Plan prices, typical busy period speeds, speed caps and modem terms are taken from Optus's own website in October 2026 and change often; check the plan's critical information summary before you sign up. ShopBack amounts and terms are shown on the ShopBack Optus page. This guide is general information only and is not financial advice.