Best bundles: Telstra vs Optus vs iiNet vs iPrimus

You’re probably aware that bundling your home phone with your internet can cut your bills each month, but did you know that you can also add entertainment options - such as Foxtel or Fetch TV - to your monthly broadband plan?

The benefits are obvious: generally, bundling saves you money, saves you time, and makes it easy for you to customise your service.

Here are some of the TV and phone options you can tie-in to the best NBN, ADSL2+ and cable broadband plans from Telstra, Optus, iiNet and iPrimus.
 

Telstra

All of Telstra’s broadband options feature pay-as-you-go-calling, but if you opt for the Entertainment bundles with unlimited data you’ll also get either Telstra TV (on the $99 plan), or your choice of Telstra TV and Foxtel Now, or Foxtel from Telstra (on the $130 plan).

The Telstra TV pack includes free-to-air television, live sport, on-demand shows and movies, plus access to Netflix, Stan, Foxtel Now and BigPond movies through your TV (although you’ll need to subscribe to these services separately).  Foxtel Now features on-demand and live content from selected Foxtel channels.

Click here to compare Telstra's broadband bundles 

If you instead opt for Foxtel from Telstra, you’ll be provided with iQ3 equipment, plus a subscription to Foxtel’s Entertainment Pack featuring over 45 channels of TV shows, movies, live sports, documentaries, news, children’s programming and more.

All of the above bundles are available on 24-month plans for NBN, cable and ADSL2+ customers. The $130 plan also includes unlimited standard calls in Australia, and to selected overseas countries.
 

Optus

Optus’ 24-month broadband and NBN plans include optional bundling offers, priced from $80 per month (and including unlimited data). Plans include a Fetch TV set-top box and Premium channel subscription:  you can choose between Knowledge, Variety, Kids or Vibe packages, and additional packs can be added from $6 per month. Fetch TV also allows Netflix and Stan subscribers to watch on their TV, or buy or rent on-demand movies and shows. 

Click here to compare Optus' broadband bundles 

Bundles also include a subscription to Optus Sport, which delivers exclusive live and on-demand content such as the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and Premier League games. Pay-as-you go calling is included, but unlimited call packs can be added from $5 per month ($10 for international calling).
 

iiNet

Whether you’re an NBN or standard broadband customer, iiNet offers unlimited data and Fetch TV bundles from $69.99 per month on a 24-month plan. You’ll get pay-as-you-go calling, plus a two-year Fetch Entertainment Bundle including a set-top box, easy TV streaming from Netflix and Stan (for subscribers), access to on-demand TV and movies, and 30 free pre-selected movies monthly.

Click here to compare iiNet's broadband bundles 

You can also add premium Fetch channel packs from $5 per month, plus sports packs, country-specific World TV packages, and a $10 per-month international calling add-on.
 

iPrimus

iPrimus offers unlimited data on its NBN and ADSL2+ plans - many of which currently include either unlimited national calls, or 2000 international minutes, when you sign up for 24 months. If you’d like to bundle TV in with your internet service, the Unlimited Entertainment Bundle is priced from $80 per month (on Basic NBN plans) and includes the Fetch TV Mini set-top box, and one premium channel pack.

The Fetch TV Mini includes access to streaming services such as Stan and Netflix, a library of more than 6500 movies and shows to buy or rent, and the option to add-on extra channel packs from $6 per month (or all available packs for just $15). The Entertainment Bundle only includes pay-as-you-go calling, but unlimited national calls can be added for $10 per month.

Click here to see iPrimus' broadband bundles 

Plans are available on 12-month and 24-month contracts, and also month-to-month (although you’ll need to pay additional upfront costs to go contract-free).

Tara Donnelly is an editor at Australia's most comprehensive telco comparison site WhistleOut. Scroll down to see examples of some of the current bundles from Telstra, Optus, iiNet and iPrimus.