iiNet vs Optus:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, iiNet had more branded searches than Optus among NBN providers in Australia. iiNet had about 90,500 branded searches, while Optus had 12,100. iiNet made up 14.4% of all NBN provider searches we track, and Optus accounted for 1.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about NBN providers, Optus appeared in one of the five answers and iiNet in none.
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Top NBN providers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Optus was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. iiNet did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Aussie Broadband4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Superloop4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Dodo3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Telstra3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Exetel2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Leaptel2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
SpinTel2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
TPG1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Optus1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
iiNet0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about NBN providers
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which NBN provider should I switch to in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best NBN providers in Australia?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best NBN provider in Australia for fast speeds and good support?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“nbn plans”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best nbn provider”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.
Is iiNet or Optus more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for iiNet and Optus by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 NBN providers we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.
Share of searches by month for iiNet, Optus. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Aussie Broadband | TPG | iiNet | Superloop | Dodo | Exetel | Leaptel | SpinTel | Telstra | Optus | Tangerine | Belong |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 27.7% | 18.6% | 15.2% | 12.5% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.74% | 0.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 27.8% | 18.7% | 15.2% | 15.2% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.75% | 0.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.5% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 14.5% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 0.71% | 0.38% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.5% | 16.1% | 16.1% | 13.3% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.79% | 0.43% |
| Feb 2026 | 26.5% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 14.6% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 0.71% | 0.47% |
| Mar 2026 | 29.6% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 4% | 4% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.43% |
| Apr 2026 | 26.2% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 14.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1% | 0.46% |
| May 2026 | 28.5% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 15.6% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 0.51% |
| Jun 2026 | 27.2% | 18.3% | 14.9% | 14.9% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 3.7% | 2% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.39% |
| Jul 2026 | 29.5% | 16.1% | 13.3% | 16.1% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5.9% | 4% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.97% | 0.35% |
| Aug 2026 | 24.9% | 24.9% | 13.6% | 13.6% | 5% | 4.1% | 5% | 4.1% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.81% | 0.36% |
| Sep 2026 | 26.2% | 21.5% | 14.4% | 14.4% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 0.57% | 0.46% |
How has the iiNet and Optus comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- iiNet was ahead of Optus in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, iiNet’s share of searches among NBN providers in Australia moved from 15.2% to 14.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 110K to 90.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Optus’ share of searches among NBN providers in Australia moved from 2% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for Australia NBN providers in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Telstra overtook Optus to rank 9th among NBN providers in Australia, with 2.4% of the searches.
In September 2026, iiNet gained share of searches among NBN providers in Australia, from 13.6% to 14.4%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Optus in Australia fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 14.8K to 12.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using iiNet’s and Optus’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among NBN providers
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