Best NBN deals in Australia (February 2024)

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If you’re searching for a better deal on your NBN plan, then we’ve got you covered. Every month, we round up the best NBN deals on offer in Australia to help you amplify your home internet experience, without expanding your budget.

We compare top offers from telcos (big and small) across the country — so if you’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth (or perhaps somewhere in between), you’ll be able to get connected in no time, for a great price.

We typically see NBN providers offer a standard six-month discount for new customers, but we’ve also come across the occasional 12-month discount too. With a multitude of great-value NBN plans on offer, we always recommend shopping around for a better deal before you sign the dotted line.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve split the best deals by NBN speed, so you can easily search for your speed tier of choice. You can follow the quick links below to jump ahead to the speed you're after, or learn more about choosing an NBN plan in our FAQ section.

NBN 25 deals
NBN 50 deals
NBN 100 deals
NBN 250 deals
NBN 1000 deals

Best NBN 25 deals

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Best for 1-2 person households

Flip | AU$44p/m (for 6 months, then AU$54.90)

Flip's Premium NBN 25 plan is one of the cheapest plans on the market. With typical evening speeds of up to 25Mbps, this plan is ideal for low usage, including HD streaming for one device, social media and some online gaming.

You'll save AU$10.90 for the first six months—that's AU$65.40—before the price increases. Flip was also recognised as Mozo's 2023 Broadband Provider of the Year, for providing excellent value and exceptional service.

Total minimum cost: AU$44.00 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$593.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$658.80

Tangerine | AU$49.90p/m (for 6 months, then AU$64.90p/m)

Tangerine has long-running promo prices across its NBN plans, and this deal is one of the cheapest prices you’ll pay for an NBN 25 connection. You’ll save AU$15 a month over your first six months — that’s AU$90 total — before the price increases to AU$64.90. Typical evening speeds clock in at a respectable 25Mbps.

What we like about Tangerine is that it offers a 14-day risk free trial, so if you find the service isn't up to scratch for whatever reason, you're free to cancel without any issues.

Total minimum cost: AU$49.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$688.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$778.80

Mate | AU$45p/m using code SAVE20 (for 5 months, then AU$65p/m)

Mate’s Crikey NBN 25 plan is a mammoth deal for an NBN 25 connection. You’ll save AU$20 a month over your first five months using the code SAVE20 — that’s AU$100 — before the price increases to AU$65p/m. With no activation, exit, or plan change fees, this 25Mbps deal is an absolute steal.

And if you’re not completely satisfied with your connection, Mate will provide a full refund of your plan fee within the first month.

Total minimum cost: AU$45.00 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$660.00 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$780

Spintel | AU$49p/m (for 6 months, then AU$54.95p/m)

Offering a AU$5.95p/m saving for the first six months, Spintel’s Entry 20 is one of the most affordable plans available right now, and has the lowest yearly price at AU$659.40 after the discount period ends. The telco has received some pretty positive reviews online, with customers praising quick setup times, and friendly 24/7 support.

Reaching maximum advertised speeds of 25Mbps during the typical evening hours, this plan could be a great option if you want to maximise savings. And with no lock-in contract, you can change providers if you find your service isn’t up to scratch.

Total minimum cost: AU$49.00 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$623.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$659.40

Exetel | AU$49.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$59.99p/m)

Exetel’s Everyday NBN 25 plan is one of the cheapest on offer right now, thanks to an impressive introductory discount. It’ll save you a massive AU$60 over the first six months and the plan’s regular price has dropped down AU$5 to just AU$59.99 after the discount ends.

The savings don’t stop there though, as you’ll save AU$52 over the first year compared to other providers. Exetel also allows customers to change plans for free, meaning you could upgrade to the Extra-value NBN 50 plan without paying any extra fees.

Total minimum cost: AU$49.99 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$659.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$719.88

Best NBN 50 deals

Perfect for up to 4 users, HD streaming and seamless video calls

Exetel | AU$60.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$78.99p/m)

Exetel makes our list in the NBN 50 category too, and while Exetel’s Extra-value plan isn’t the cheapest NBN 50 plan around, it’s worth the investment for its Speed Boost feature. For five days a month, this feature allows you to boost your NBN 50 service to a 100Mbps NBN 100 service. So if there’s a 4K movie you want to watch, no interruptions will be practically guaranteed.

You’ll also save AU$108 total over your first six months, before the plan price increases to AU$78.99.

Total minimum cost: AU$60.99 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$839.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$947.88

Tangerine | AU$59.90p/m (for 6 months, then $79.90)

Again, we mention Tangerine here as one of the cheapest NBN 50 offerings. Saving AU$20 a month over your first six months — that’s AU$120 total — before the price increases to AU$79.90.

Tangerine is also currently offering a referral bonus of AU$50 if you refer someone to the service, so you’ll both get AU$25 credit towards your monthly NBN bills.

Total minimum cost: AU$59.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$838.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$958.80

Best NBN 100 deals

Great choice for larger families and households with high usage

Exetel | AU$68.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$84.99p/m)

We once again have to include Exetel here for several reasons. Not only does the NBN provider promise the full 100Mbps download speed (it actually performed above & beyond in the ACCC's most recent performance data report) but the initial 12 month cost is incredibly competitive. Plus, you can once again take advantage of the Speed Boost days, which can see your connection increase to NBN 250, for free, five days a month. Just note that to access the NBN 250 tier, you will need to connect to the NBN via either FTTP or HFC.

Total minimum cost: AU$68.99 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$923.88| Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,019.88

More | Three months free for CBA customers only (then AU$89.10p/m)

More is currently offering three months of free internet with all its plans, but this is exclusive to Commonwealth Bank customers. This NBN 100/40 plan is an absolute bargain.

More offers CBA customers 10% off their NBN plans per month, making it one of the most affordable options for the first 12 months. And with a total cost of AU$801.90, it's even cheaper than Exetel's 100/20 listed above over the first 12 months, although the important caveat here is you need to be a CBA customer, even a new one.

Do note only 92Mbps downloads and 34Mbps upload speeds are advertised for the typical evening hours.

Total minimum cost: AU$0 (for CBA customers only) | Total cost for first year: AU$801.90 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,069.20

Best NBN 250 deals

Perfect for gamers, streamers, and doing almost anything online

Optus | AU$85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$119p/m)

Clocking in at a modest 240Mbps downloads during the peak evening hours of 7pm to 11pm, this discounted Optus plan will offer more than enough speed to keep the whole family connected and entertained. Despite not quite reaching theoretical maximum speeds on offer, Optus does provide great customer service, easy setup and coverage for new customers.

The only thing to note though, is that the telco will charge an additional fee for the modem in its first monthly bill, and you’ll need to pay AU$8.50 per month for it if you disconnect from your service before 36 months is up.

Total minimum cost: AU$391 including modem fee | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,224 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,428

Superloop | AU$85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99p/m)

Popular with gamers, Superloop’s Superfast NBN 250 plan offers you AU$14 off your first six months, making this deal hard to beat, as one of the cheapest options advertising 240Mbps typical evening speeds. While this is 10Mbps off the theoretical maximum of an NBN 250 plan — and you can find faster in Australia with Telstra, among others — you’ll need to fork out at least an extra AU$25 p/m. In our opinion, you’re unlikely to notice the drop in speed, and so the potential savings earn Superloop a spot in this list of best NBN deals.

And you also get Speed Boost days, which let you temporarily turbocharge your service to NBN 1000, with theoretical maximum speeds of 1,000Mbps (real world speeds will likely be less and Superloop itself advertises typical evening speeds of 600Mbps).

Total minimum cost: AU$85 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,104 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188

Flip | AU$84p/m (for 6 months, then AU$94.90p/m)

Flip currently offers the cheapest NBN 250 plan, saving you around AU$25 a month compared to others. Flip's Super Speed plan (which advertises typical evening downloads of 236Mbps) will set you back just over AU$1,000 for the first 12 months.

And don't assume that a cheap plan means a cheap service, as there's a wealth of positive reviews online at ProductReview.com.au. If you have the connection type to support it, this budget-friendly plan could be the right option for you.

Total minimum cost: AU$84 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,073.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,138.80

Best NBN 1000 deals

It’s the fastest NBN speed available, but only for customers with a FTTP and select HFC connections.

Superloop | AU$99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$109p/m)

Offering what could perhaps be one of the best value NBN 1000 plans around is this one from Superloop. The telco recently boosted the advertised speeds, now clocking in at a massive 700Mbps during the typical busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm — which for the price, is great value in our opinion.

Superloop is now on par with speeds offered by Telstra, but you'll fork out an extra AU$912 over the first 12 months and AU$852 for each year after for Telstra’s offering.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,248 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,308

NBN FAQ

What NBN do I have?

If you’re unsure what type of NBN connection you have, there's two ways of checking. You can check your address on the NBN Co website, or go to any telco’s NBN page, where you’ll be prompted to enter your address to see what’s available to you.

The important thing to note is that the connection type that is available at your address is largely out of your control. NBN Co has announced it is upgrading select suburbs in the network to full fibre – you can find a list of the announced suburbs here.

Does NBN need a special modem?

You will need a compatible modem to connect to the NBN, and your NBN provider can provide this to you. It often comes at an additional upfront cost, while other telcos will let you keep the modem for free if you stay connected for a predetermined amount of time. Many internet providers will also allow you to bring your own modem to the service, but we recommend checking compatibility with your chosen provider when you first sign up.

Are NBN plans unlimited?

The vast majority of NBN plans do come with unlimited data, though there are some occasional exceptions. In these cases, telcos should clearly signpost when specific NBN plans come with a capped amount of data, so do read thoroughly before signing up. With competitive pricing in all speed tiers, unlimited data NBN plans offer far better value for money for most people, so only choose a capped plan if you’re certain it meets your needs.

What NBN speed should I get?

Deciding what NBN speed you want can be tricky, but the answer largely depends on how many people are living in your household, and what their level of usage is. Here, we break down each NBN speed tier:

NBN 12 (Basic 1):

An NBN 12 plan will only get you 12Mbps of download speed and 1Mbps of upload. In general, we wouldn’t recommend signing up to this tier unless you’re only using it for email and light browsing – streaming will struggle.

NBN 25 (Basic II):

The NBN 25 tier gets you 25Mbps of download and 5Mbps of upload. It’ll suit a one- or two-person household best, and will allow you to use the internet at the same time, and stream video in HD.

NBN 50 (Standard):

An NBN 50 plan provides up to 50Mbps download and 20Mbps upload, and is best for households with 2 to 4 users. Its download speed will allow multiple people to stream in HD at the same time, play games online and have smooth video calls.

NBN 100 (Fast):

You’ll often see these plans referred to as either NBN 100/20 or NBN 100/40, and that’s because they have download speeds of up to 100Mbps, and an upload speed of either 20Mbps or 40Mbps, depending on the plan. They suit large households best, with room for five or more people, some 4K streaming, online gaming and big file downloads.

NBN 250 (Superfast):

With downloads speeds of up to 250Mbps and upload speeds of 25Mbps, an NBN 250 plan will allow you to do almost anything online, such as streaming multiple videos in 4K, downloading large files faster and online gaming without lag. Do note though, only fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connections can sign up.

NBN 1000 (Ultrafast):

The NBN 1000 tier is the fastest consumer speed available, coming with downloads of up to 1000Mbps, and uploads of up to 50Mbps. Among the few telcos who offer these plans, there’s quite a difference in typical evening speed: Telstra has the highest at 700Mbps, while iiNet and Internode only quote a typical evening speed of 200Mbps. Again, this speed is only available to those with a FTTP, and select HFC connections.

How do I test my NBN speed?

Before you start an NBN speed test, check your plan so you know what speed you should be getting. Once you’re connected to the Wi-Fi network you want to test, go to the website Speedtest, or click the 'start test' button below to have Measurement Lab run a diagnostic.

The test should take no longer than a minute, and once you’ve got your results, compare them to your plan’s advertised download and upload speeds. Don’t worry if it’s not an exact match, but you will want your plan to be close to reaching, or exceeding its reported speeds.

Some external factors such as your NBN connection type can affect the result. For example, if you have a fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) connection, your homes’ distance from the node could play a part in poorer results, particularly if your address is more than 400 metres away from it. Your distance from your home’s modem can also be a factor – you’ll want it to be close to get the best result.

If you find that your plan’s NBN speed isn’t up to scratch, your first port of call should be your NBN provider. Get in touch with your provider’s customer service team to raise your concerns, and if they’re unable to help, consider switching to a different service provider.

Which NBN provider is best?

The best NBN provider for you will vary with your needs, but we recommend Spintel as the best NBN provider for most people. Over half of all NBN connections are on an NBN 50 plan, and with this in mind, we’re choosing Spintel because it has the best-value option in the popular tier. If you want to learn more, our colleagues at TechRadar have a dedicated guide to the best NBN provider.

Is NBN 5G?

No, the national broadband network (NBN) and 5G are two separate technology types, though both allow you to connect to the internet. The NBN is government-owned infrastructure that has been rolled out across the country by NBN Co. It uses fibre, and existing copper wire, to connect homes to the NBN. For more rural and remote areas of Australia, NBN Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster satellite are used.

5G infrastructure is owned by the telcos, primarily Telstra and Optus. 5G home internet offers another way for Australians to connect to the internet, though its availability is far behind that of the NBN, with 5G coverage being best in the capital cities. Rather than using fibre or copper to connect you to the internet, 5G connects you over a wireless network.

How can I check for NBN outages?

If your internet isn’t working, you’ll first want to figure out whether it’s just your household experiencing a problem, or if there’s a wider NBN network outage. You can figure this out by going to your internet provider’s service status page, or check NBN Co to see if network maintenance or outages have been reported. You can also check the independent website Down Detector. For more help, see our sister site TechRadar’s comprehensive guide to NBN outages.

Lucy Scotting is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, primarily covering NBN and internet-related news. Lucy started her career writing for HR and staffing industry publications, with articles covering emerging tech, business and finance. In her spare time, Lucy can be found watching sci-fi movies, working on her dystopian fiction novel or hanging out with her dog, Fletcher.