If your internet is running slow, your upload speed could be responsible for it. Understanding what upload speeds are, and why they're so important, ensure you'll get the best plan for your household's needs as well as a reliable connection.
Below we'll explain what upload speeds mean and explore which internet providers currently offer the fastest speeds on the market.
What are upload speeds?
When you're downloading data, you're receiving it from somewhere else. When you upload, you're sending it.
Uploading includes sending a message or email, backing up files to cloud storage, posting photos to social media, or streaming video of yourself on a video call. While most people don't necessarily need "good" upload speeds, everyone needs "enough". This is because all internet traffic is two-way, if only to a small degree.
Even when using a streaming service like Netflix, your device needs to touch base with Netflix's server every so often and say something like "I'm still here. Send me some more of that video file."
Or, when you click a link to open a web page, your device needs to say "Hi, can you please let me see this web page?" If your uploads are maxed out, your device can't send that type of signal, and so your downloads grind to a halt.
Compare NBN plans with the best upload speeds
If you're looking for an NBN plan with better upload speeds, the best place to start is NBN 100/40 plans. These plans have maximum uploads of 40Mbps, though you'll generally see typical evening speeds between 30Mbps and 34Mbps.
While not all providers offer these plans, they're typically available to all fixed-line NBN technologies. For a snapshot of the cheapest NBN 100/40 plans in our database, check out the widget below.
|
#1
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Speedy Plus NBN 100/40
$73.90/mth
Min. cost $73.90
|
|
#2
|
Swoop
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
nbn® Home Fast+
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
All Fixed Line nbn®
Power home nbn100/40
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
|
|
#4
|
MATE
All Fixed Line nbn®
You Beaut nbn 100/40
$85/mth
Min. cost $85
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
More
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Fast Plus NBN
$110/mth
Min. cost $110
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTN, FTTB, FTTC
Fast Plus nbn - Unlimited
$114/mth
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
If you want even faster upload speeds, then the good news is that there are a number of other NBN speed tiers that offer even faster upload speeds of up to 100Mbps.
NBN 250, NBN 500, NBN 750 and NBN 1000 plans all fall into this bucket. However, like all speed tiers above NBN 100, these are reserved for HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) and FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) connection types only. If that requirement rules you out, you might still be eligible for a free FTTP upgrade if you have an FTTC (Fibre to the Curb) or FTTN (Fibre to the Node) connection though. If you are, you'll need to sign up for an NBN 500 plan or faster to trigger the upgrade process.
For those who care more about upload speeds than saving a few bucks, NBN 250 might be a particularly compelling choice. While this speed tier does offer half the download speeds of an NBN 500 plan at a higher price, it also offers double the upload speeds.
| NBN 100/20 | Up to 20Mbps |
|---|---|
| NBN 100/40 | Up to 40Mbps |
| NBN 250 | Up to 100Mbps |
| NBN 500 | Up to 50Mbps |
| NBN 750 | Up to 50Mbps |
| NBN 1000 | Up to 100Mbps |
| NBN 2000 | Up to 200Mbps |
You can find a snapshot of the most popular plans for these speed tiers with faster upload speeds below.
|
#1
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Creator nbn250/100
$82/mth
Min. cost $82
|
|
#2
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTP
Super-Fast Pro nbn - Unlimited
$114/mth
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
|
#2
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Speedy Max NBN 500/50
$59.90/mth
Min. cost $59.90
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Family Max nbn500/50
$74/mth
Min. cost $74
|
|
#4
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN500
$50/mth
Min. cost $50
|
|
#5
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Fast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#6
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn500 Liimitless
$69.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $79.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Turbo 500/50
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
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#8
|
Exetel
FTTP, HFC
One Plan 500/50
$80/mth
Min. cost $80
|
|
#9
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Fast – Unlimited
$59/mth
Min. cost $59
|
|
#10
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTP, HFC
Fast Fibre - Unlimited
$79/mth
Min. cost $79
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Turbofast 750/50
$69/mth
Min. cost $69
|
|
#2
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Superfast Plan
$69.99/mth
Min. cost $69.99
|
|
#3
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Superfast Unlimited Plan
$74.99/mth
Min. cost $74.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#4
|
Tangerine Telecom
FTTP, HFC
Ultraspeedy NBN 1000/100
$89.90/mth
Min. cost $89.90
|
|
#5
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Megaspeed nbn750/50
$79/mth
Min. cost $79
|
|
#6
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Superfast Liimitless
$74.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $84.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
More
FTTP, HFC
Ultrafast NBN
$125/mth
Min. cost $125
Link not supplied
|
|
#8
|
Telstra
FTTP, HFC
Upfront Internet Plan Ultimate
$129/mth
Min. cost $64.50
Link not supplied
|
|
#9
|
iPrimus
FTTP, HFC
Home Superfast Plan
$107/mth
Min. cost $107
Link not supplied
|
|
#10
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTP, HFC
Superfast Fibre - Unlimited
$119/mth
Min. cost $119
Link not supplied
|
|
#1
|
amaysim
FTTP, HFC
NBN1000
$70/mth
Min. cost $70
|
|
#2
|
TPG
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Unlimited Plan
$84.99/mth
Min. cost $84.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTP, HFC
Lightspeed nbn1000/100
$89/mth
Min. cost $89
|
|
#4
|
SpinTel
FTTP, HFC
Home Ultrafast 1000/100
$76/mth
Min. cost $76
|
|
#5
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Plan
$79.99/mth
Min. cost $79.99
|
|
#6
|
iiNet
FTTP, HFC
nbn Home Ultrafast Liimitless
$84.99/mth
+ $10 Upfront
Min. cost $94.99
Link not supplied
|
|
#7
|
Belong
FTTP, HFC
NBN Ultrafast – Unlimited
$75/mth
Min. cost $75
|
|
#8
|
Flip
FTTP, HFC
Unlimited Ultra Speed nbn1000
$109.90/mth
Min. cost $89
|
|
#9
|
Kogan Internet
FTTP, HFC
nbn1000 Diamond Unlimited
$94.90/mth
Min. cost $94.90
|
|
#10
|
Origin Broadband
FTTP, HFC
Ultra Fast nbn® 1000
$114/mth
Min. cost $114
Link not supplied
|
Not many providers have branched into this speed tier as of yet, but this branch of the NBN landscape is where you'll find the fastest upload speeds overall. Plans on this speed tier can come with as much as 200Mbps in upload speeds for those with an FTTP connection. Those on HFC will be able to get upload speeds as fast as 100Mbps instead.
You can find a snapshot of the most popular plans for this speed tier below.
|
#1
|
Superloop
HFC
Hyperspeed nbn2000/100
$148/mth
Min. cost $148
|
|
#2
|
Aussie Broadband
FTTP
Hyperfast nbn - Unlimited
$189/mth
Min. cost $189
Link not supplied
|
|
#3
|
Superloop
FTTP
Hyperspeed nbn2000/200
$148/mth
Min. cost $148
|
|
#4
|
MATE
FTTP, HFC
Scorchin' Fast nbn 2000/100
$141/mth
Min. cost $141
Link not supplied
|
|
#5
|
AGL
HFC
Home Hyperfast nbn 2000/100
$194/mth
Min. cost $194
Link not supplied
|
Fibre internet plans are another option to consider if you're searching for an internet solution that offers even faster upload speeds. Depending on the provider, these internet plans can offer upload speeds of up to 40Mbps.
How do I check my upload speed?
Using an online speed test tool is also the easiest way to accurately test your connection. Just because your internet provider claims they may reach certain speeds, these can be subject to various conditions such as location, peak periods, etc. Use our handy speed test tool below to see how your individual connection is performing:
To understand what these results mean, check out this article for a thorough breakdown
NBN upload speed FAQs
What is the average upload speed on the NBN?
If you're wondering what NBN upload speed most Australians sign up to, look no further than the 20Mbps of NBN 50 and NBN 100. By far, the largest number of households have NBN 50, but NBN 100 plans have the same uploads, double the downloads, and are often better value (if you need or want faster downloads than NBN 50).
What are typical evening upload speeds?
Providers are required to report their typical evening speeds NBN plans. These figures are found using average upload speeds from randomly selected groups of customers, and must be updated regularly.
As for why this matters, typical evening speeds act as an indication of what upload speed your plan will be able to reach during the busiest part of the day — between 7pm and 11pm.
You can compare typical evening upload speeds in WhistleOut's internet plan search engine. The first figure under the plan's name represents the typical evening download speed and the second represents the typical evening upload speed.
Why do I have slow upload speed for my NBN?
If you think your NBN connection has slow upload speeds, you can use an online internet speed test tool. Do multiple checks over multiple days, and at different times of the day. This should give you a better idea of if you're getting variable speeds, or if they're steady.
Also, try to make note of anyone else in your household using the internet at the same time. If they are, and it seriously impacts your NBN download speed, you have two options: ask them to adjust their habits or upgrade your NBN plan to one with faster uploads.
How do I improve my upload speed?
Various factors can affect your internet speed — location, connection type, peak periods, how many people are using it, your router or modem, the distance between you and your modem, just to name a few.
If you know it's just your upload speeds that are the issue and a speed test reveals they're on par with what your provider is promising, switching to an NBN plan with faster upload speeds, or ditching the NBN for an alternative technology with better speeds, is your ideal solution.
Other solutions include clearing your cache and cookies, switching to a wired connection over WiFi, relocating your router, investing in a mesh system or a range extender or updating your drivers or your router's firmware.
Is 10Mbps upload fast enough?
Sometimes. An NBN upload speed of 10Mbps is more than enough for most online activities, including video streaming and gaming. Zoom recommends a minimum upload speed of 3Mbps for HD video calling with one other person and 4Mbps for a group video call with around 50 people.
But if you use cloud storage or syncing, it might not be enough. Common examples are Google Drive, Google Photos, iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox. And if you have people in the house who like to stream in HD while gaming, even if only to their friends, 10Mbps won't cut it when you add all your other devices on top of it.
Does 5G have good upload speeds?
5G home internet or 5G home wireless plans can be a good alternative for households that want to access faster maximum upload speeds but can't get a faster NBN plan due to their connection type.
While most 5G home wireless plan providers advertise typical evening upload speeds of around 20Mbps, Telstra's 5G home internet plan promises as faster as 40Mbps in upload speeds.
Alex Choros
Find a better internet plan
Thousands of internet plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
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