A decade after its first announcement and NBN's launch is nearly complete, there's a good chance that wherever you are in Australia, you'll have access to the country's broadband network. Although different areas have access to different types of connections, some of the toughest decisions you'll have to make are deciding which Internet service provider to choose, what level of speed you'll need, and how much data you'll use. Here we'll explore the best NBN plans currently on offer, whether it's the cheapest option, the highest speeds, or the best overall value. In addition to our handpicked plans, you'll also find a live tracker featuring the best NBN plans as they go on sale.
Australia's first and only residential plan NBN1000
Aussie Broadband outperformed all other providers, offering a residential NBN plan with download speeds of up to 1 Gbps (ten times faster than the theoretical maximum for existing premium plans). Before you rush to sign up, there are a few caveats you should be aware of. That is, the plan is only available in two types of NBN connection: fiber optic to the site (FTTP) and hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC). And while all FTTP connections can register at 1000 Mbps, this speed will only work with a select subset of HFC installations, estimated to be around 7% of the total. To see what's available in your area, you can check your address on the Aussie Broadband website; note that you may need to select ``Build your own'' to see the higher speed 250 Mbps and 1000 Mbps plans.
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Broadband Aussie | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No capital contract | AU$149 per month Aussie Broadband may be the first on the market to offer NBN 1000 to residential addresses, but that hasn't stopped the telco from offering an incredibly competitive plan. For download speeds up to 1 Gbit/s and download speeds around 50 Mbit/s, you'll only pay AU$149 per month. Aussie has rightly warned potential customers that it has yet to determine final numbers for overnight peak speeds, though they have offered 215Mbps as a benchmark, so you'll at least get that. The total minimum cost is AU € 149See the offer
Editor's choice: best value and best budget option
Editor's Choice: Premium Package
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Matte | NBN100 | Unlimited data | No capital contract | AU$79 per month Tangerine had long had our number one pick for the best NBN100 plan, but now he's been dethroned by this killer deal from Mate. For A$79 per month, you'll get unlimited data and typical speeds of 83 Mbps overnight – great value for a premium plan. There are no setup fees and you'll be able to use your own modem, or you can buy a preconfigured one from Mate for AU$165. The total minimum cost is AU$79View Deal
The best Telstra NBN plan
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Telstra | NBN50 | Unlimited data | No capital contract | AU €90 per month Let's not beat around the bush, the best telecom operator in Australia doesn't have the cheapest NBN options. But what Telstra offers in return is high quality, reliability, and extras like a three-month free trial of Binge. With this NBN50 plan, you can expect unlimited data with typical nightly speeds of 44 Mbps. And if you have a landline, you'll get unlimited calls to Australian mobile phones and standard lines at no extra cost. New Telstra customers will have their connection fees waived, and if you stay with them for 24 months, you won't have to pay for the Telstra smart modem either (usually AU$216). The total minimum cost is AU € 306 See offer
The best Optus NBN plan
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Optius | NBN50 | Unlimited data | No capital contract | AU$75 per month If you're looking to opt for a trusted carrier, but are looking for a competitive price, this NBN50 bundle from Optus offers good value for money. For AU$75 per month, you'll get unlimited data and typical speeds of 44Mbps during the busy overnight period. Optus Sport is also included as standard and the phone company modem comes with 4G support. It should be noted that there is an additional charge of AU€99 to get started, and if you stay with Optus for 36 months, you won't have to pay for the modem (usually AU€252). The total minimum cost is €426Show offer
The best TPN NBN plan
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TPG | NBN50 | Unlimited data | 18 month contract | AU €69.99 per month TPG is a favorite for offering solid, reliable speeds at a great price. The ISP generally ranks well in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) quarterly report on typical evening speeds, which gives typical nighttime speeds of 46 Mbps. If you sign up for 18 months, TPG will not apply the usual setup fee of AU€99. However, note that a shipping charge of AU€10 applies, as well as a home phone deposit of AU€20. Although this plan is much cheaper than the one offered by major phone companies, be aware that you could face payment fees of up to AU€350 if you decide to leave early. Total minimum cost over 18 months is AU€1,289.82
NBN Live Updates: Today's Best Deals
- Do you want to see other broadband options? You can use our broadband plan search engine to compare a wide range of Australia cable, broadband and NBN plans!
NBN connection types: what you need to know
The Australian NBN was first proposed as a high-speed fiber optic cable network reaching every home in the country. After a change of government, this is not what we've ended up with with the final rollout combining a mix of old and new technologies. The NBN is made up of a combination of multiple technologies, and it is important to know that you do not have a choice of technology at your disposal. Different types of connections have been created in different areas, so it completely depends on where you live. Below we describe the types of network connections and what they mean. Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) FTTP is a fiber optic line that runs directly into your home and is therefore the best type of connection you can have. It requires an appliance to be installed in your home, and this was originally planned for every home in Australia when the NBN was first announced. Fiber to the Building (FTTB) An FTTB connection is most often used to connect apartment buildings and similar buildings to the NBN. In this case, a fiber optic line leads to the communication room of the building, and existing technology, such as copper cables, is used to connect each apartment from there. Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) An HFC connection uses pay TV (Foxtel) or the existing cable network as the final connection to homes. The HFC line will operate from your home to the nearest available fiber node. Fiber to Edge (FTTC) FTTC is when fiber optic cable is extended a little closer to your home by connecting to a distribution unit located outside on the street. From there, you use the copper phone line to make the last pass through your home. Fiber to the Knot (FTTN) The majority of Australian households, around 4,7 million, use FTTN technology. This type of connection uses your existing copper telephone wire to make the final connection to the house from a central node in your neighborhood. The distance between your house and the knot will affect the average speeds you can achieve. Therefore, if your house is more than 700 meters from the node, it is not advisable to choose an NBN100 plan. Fixed Wireless Fixed wireless connections are used to reach regional and remote regions. Houses in these regions will have access to NBN via an antenna installed on their roof from a radio transmission tower. Sky Muster Satellite NBN Sky Muster satellite technology is also used to reach regional and remote communities. It requires a satellite dish to be installed on the premises, to which NBN is received via satellite.
Other factors to consider
It is important to note that these recommendations do not take into account other factors that might make certain offers a better option for you. For example, do you already have a Telstra or Optus mobile plan and a home phone line? If so, sometimes combining them with their respective NBN plans could save you money. When applying for a new NBN deal, make sure you haven't already signed a contract you can't part with; most contracts run for 12 or 18 months, so it's important to contact your current provider before committing to anything else. Another thing to keep in mind is that some services may not be available in your area. If you find a particular deal interesting, go to the provider's website to find out if it's available at your address.