How to Tell If You’re Overpaying for Internet That’s Slower Than It Should Be

When was the last time you checked your internet bill and thought, “Hang on, am I actually getting what I’m paying for?” If you’re like most people, your monthly internet charge is just another line item you accept — until your connection drops out on a Zoom call or Netflix buffers during a quiet night in. At that point, the frustration sets in, and the value you’re getting starts to feel… questionable.

We often assume that if we’ve signed up for a high-speed plan, we’ll automatically enjoy lightning-fast browsing, smooth streaming, and reliable uploads. But the truth is, many Australians are paying for internet speeds they rarely, if ever, receive — and most don’t realise it.

With dozens of internet providers offering a mix of plans, speeds, and data allowances, it’s easy to overpay without knowing there might be a better, cheaper or faster option out there. So how do you figure out if you’re getting ripped off? Here’s how to find out — and what to do if you are.

Step One: Know What You’re Actually Paying For

Start by pulling out your internet bill or logging into your account. Find out exactly:

• What speed tier you paying for (e.g. 50/20 Mbps or 100/40 Mbps on the NBN)
• Whether your plan has data caps
• If you’re being charged for extras like a home phone, modem rental, or static IP

Many people sign up for a plan advertised as “super-fast” but don’t realise it’s a lower speed tier in disguise. Worse still, some providers charge a premium for “typical evening speeds” that don’t reflect real-world performance.

Make a note of your plan details, especially the promised download and upload speeds, and keep that handy for the next step.

Step Two: Run a Proper Speed Test

Running a speed test is essential, but doing it properly matters. To get the most accurate results:

1. Use a trusted speed test site like Speedtest.net or Fast.com
2. Run the test on a wired Ethernet connection if possible (Wi-Fi can affect results)
3. Close all other programs and pause any downloads or streams
4. Test at different times — morning, midday, and peak evening hours
5. Record at least three different results to get an average

Compare your results to the speeds you’re paying for. If you’re consistently getting 30 Mbps when you’re paying for 100 Mbps, that’s a red flag — especially if the low speeds occur outside of peak times.

Step Three: Understand “Typical Evening Speeds”

One thing that confuses many customers is the difference between “maximum speed” and “typical evening speed.”

Providers often advertise:

• Max speeds: Theoretical top speeds under ideal conditions
• Typical evening speeds: Real-world speeds you can expect between 7 pm and 11 pm, when most people are online

This matters because many people only use the internet heavily in the evenings, and if your provider is oversubscribed or your area suffers from network congestion, your speed could drop dramatically during those hours. If the evening speed consistently falls below 80% of what you’re paying for, you’re not getting fair value.

Step Four: Check for Speed Limiters in Your Setup

Sometimes, it’s not your provider that’s the problem — it’s your home setup.

Things that can throttle your speed include:

• Old routers that don’t support your plan’s full speed (e.g., only support 100 Mbps max)

• Wi-Fi interference from walls, microwaves, or other networks nearby
• Outdated Ethernet cables (Category 5 cables top out at 100 Mbps — you need Cat6 or higher for gigabit plans)
• Multiple devices streaming, downloading, or backing up in the background

Before switching providers or downgrading, test your connection using a newer device and a wired connection to rule out hardware or setup issues.

Step Five: Check for Hidden Data Limits or Throttling

Not all internet plans are created equal. Some plans — particularly older ones or regional wireless options — have “soft” data limits, where your speeds are throttled after you hit a usage threshold.

Things to check:

• Is your plan truly unlimited, or does it have a fair usage policy?
• Are you being slowed down after reaching a certain amount of data each month?
• Are speeds being limited during certain activities (like streaming or gaming)?

If you’re on a mobile broadband or satellite service, these restrictions are more common — and often buried in the fine print.

Step Six: Compare Your Plan to Others on the Market

Once you’ve gathered your speed test results and verified your setup, it’s time to shop around. Use tools like WhistleOut or Finder to compare plans in your area based on:

• Speed
• Price
• Reliability
• Customer support ratings

You may find that a competitor offers a higher speed tier for the same price, or even less. Some providers also deliver consistently better performance during peak times due to better infrastructure or lower customer-to-bandwidth ratios.

Don’t forget to look for introductory offers, but be sure to read the fine print about price hikes after six or twelve months.

Step Seven: Contact Your Current Provider

Before switching, give your current provider a chance to improve your service. Let them know:

• The speeds you’re consistently receiving
• The plan you’re paying for
• The tests you’ve run and the results

In many cases, they may:

• Offer a discount
• Move you to a better plan
• Send a technician to investigate
• Provide a modem upgrade

If they won’t help — or make excuses instead of offering solutions — that’s your sign to make the move.

When to Downgrade Instead of Upgrade

Here’s something most providers won’t tell you: if your usage is fairly light and you’re getting nowhere near the speeds you’re paying for, downgrading might be smarter than upgrading.

Ask yourself:

• Do I really need 100 Mbps if I only stream Netflix and browse the web?
• Am I paying for speeds that my household devices can’t even use?
• Would a cheaper 25 or 50 Mbps plan meet my needs just as well?

Many people sign up for high-speed plans “just in case” — then rarely use more than a fraction of the bandwidth. You might not notice slow speeds when checking emails or browsing social media, but you will notice it when trying to join a work call, download a large file, or stream in 4 K.

Knowing exactly what you’re paying for, testing your actual performance, and comparing it to what’s available can reveal just how much value you’re really getting — and whether it’s time to renegotiate or move on. A few simple checks could save you money each month and finally deliver the internet speed you were promised.