Optus Price Increase 2026Why Has Your NBN Bill Gone Up?

Small numbers on a monthly bill, sure. But that's the trick, a $4 or $2 bump doesn't feel worth the hassle of switching. We call this the Lazy Tax: the extra money you hand over simply because switching feels like more effort than it's worth.

If this Optus basic NBN price rise feels familiar, that's because it is. Entry-level customers have absorbed several rounds of "minor" increases over the past couple of years, each adding to a growing Loyalty Tax, the premium long-term customers pay while new sign-ups get the discounts.

While Optus raised prices on its two lowest tiers, it left the Fast plan untouched, still sitting at $99. Look at the pricing ladder:

That's a gap of just $2 between a mid-speed connection and a plan advertised at up to ten times the speed. If you're asking "why is my Optus internet bill so high" compared to what you're getting, here's your answer: the entry-level tier looks like a bad deal on purpose.

It's a nudge. Optus is squeezing its lowest-tier customers so upgrading looks like the obvious move, even if you never asked for more speed. The Optus internet everyday price change isn't really about the extra $2, it's about making the $99 plan the only sensible choice. And once you're on it, you're no longer protected, history says the next rise hits the faster tiers too, same Lazy Tax, one rung up.

One thing worth flagging: the speed you actually get on that $99 plan depends entirely on your address. Optus advertises it at up to 500Mbps, but older copper or HFC connections might cap you well below that, sometimes around 100Mbps. See our NBN 100 vs NBN 500 explained guide to check if you're eligible for a free upgrade.

The good news: you don't have to accept the Optus price increase 2026 as the cost of doing business. Optus resells access to the same fixed-line network as dozens of providers, many offering identical speeds for less.

If you're comparing cheaper alternatives to Optus NBN, two things matter:

1. Speed tier, compare like for like (NBN 50 against NBN 50), not a slower tier that just happens to look cheaper. That's our default view.
2. Standard price vs the honeymoon rate, plenty of providers advertise a tempting promo, then jump to a much higher rate once it ends. Looking only at the first-month price can walk you straight into that trap.

Expand any plan and you'll see the honeymoon price plus what it jumps back up to once the promo ends. View results as "Cheaper plans (Same speed)" for a straight swap, "Cheaper plans (Faster speeds)" if more speed costs less than you're paying now, or let "The Owl's Choice" pick for you. Sort any of those by "Ongoing rate", "First year cost" or "Best deal rate", whichever matters most.

No commission ever decides what's shown first, and sometimes the check just confirms you're already on a solid deal, a perfectly good outcome too.

Switching is far less painful than the Lazy Tax wants you to believe. Roughly what's involved in how to leave Optus NBN online:

1. Pick a new plan first. Sign up with a new provider on the same or better tier, usually online in minutes.
2. Let the new provider handle the switch. They typically manage the transfer with NBN Co directly.
3. Check your equipment. Confirm whether your new provider needs their own modem or supports bring your own.
4. Expect a short outage window. A brief connection gap while the switch processes.
5. Confirm your final Optus bill. You may be charged a pro-rata amount, check it against Optus's terms.

The Optus price increase 2026 isn't a one-off, it's a pattern where entry-level customers absorb the cost while a two-dollar micro-gap nudges them onto pricier plans. Whether you're wondering "why is my Optus internet bill so high" or you've just spotted it, the fix is the same: stop paying the Lazy Tax.

Run your Optus bill through Bill Owl and see, in under a minute, whether you're overpaying, and by how much.