The NBN is nothing new but there are always changes happening. Now we've got more speed tiers, higher typical evening speeds, and for the most part our internet usage has changed quite a bit over the past two years.
Chances are you've had some NBN related struggles in your day. Maybe you're paying too much for a speed tier you don't actually need, maybe you cheaped out and regret it, maybe you moved back in with your parents during the pandemic and their dismall connection hurts your soul a little more every day. Whatever it is, the best place to start with NBN problems is to figure out if you're even on the right speed tier.
Below we help you break down the speed tier that should actually work for you, and show you the most popular plans around at the moment. Maybe it can save you some money, or save you from throwing your modem off the balcony. Just click on the speed tier that you think describes you best. You can also test your current internet speed using our speed test, find out what's your upload speed and latency.
| NBN speed tier | Good NBN speed | Pick this if |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 (Basic I) | 12 Mbps | You thought ADSL was fast enough |
| NBN 25 (Basic II) | 25 Mbps | You're a small household and want to save money |
| NBN 50 (Standard) | 50 Mbps | You want both fast internet and money in your pocket |
| NBN 100 (Fast) | 100 Mbps | There are more than three people in your house |
| NBN 250 (Superfast) | 248 Mbps | You're a big household who love the internet, and have FTTP or HFC |
| NBN 1000 (Ultrafast) | 700 Mbps | You want to flex (and have FTTP or HFC) |
NBN 12:
Would not recommend
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#1
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Aussie Broadband 
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Link not supplied
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NBN 12 plans are a minor step up from ADSL2+ so if you thought the old copper network was fine then by all means give this one a crack. The upside is that NBN 12 plans are cheap, the absolute cheapest that you can get in fact. The downside however, is that the plans are slow.
With this speed tier you should be able to stream Netflix on one device and browse your phone at the same time, but we wouldn't push it much further than that.
NBN 25:
Money saver for small households
|
#1
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SpinTel 
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#2
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Dodo 
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#3
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Flip 
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#4
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Tangerine Telecom 
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#5
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TPG 
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Link not supplied
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A household of two people with moderate internet usage habits can probably get away with an NBN 25 plan, and it is a good option if you want to save money.
Typically NBN 25 plans go for around $60 per month but promotions see these get as low as $45 for about six months. For comparison, NBN 50 plans cost approximately $70 per month outside of promotional offers.
Don't expect blisteringly fast speeds, but this speed tier is enough for two people who work from home to do what they need to, and have a few additional devices hammering away at the same time.
A note on switching NBN plans
ADSL gave changing internet plans a bad name. What used to take multiple phone calls, visits from technicians, and a couple of emotional breakdowns can now be done in about an hour (and you might not even have to speak to another human being).
Most NBN providers will switch you over to their service within an hour of you signing up online. In some cases they'll even contact your old provider and let them know that you're done with them but we always recommend getting in touch with your current provider to let them know you've changed telcos.
Pretty much every NBN plan is contract-free now, but keep an eye out for hidden costs like outstanding modem fees, or cancellation periods that might catch you off guard. Exetel, TPG, Optus and Telstra are the main culprits, so if you're switching away from any of these providers be sure to read your terms and conditions closely.
NBN 50:
Best for most
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#1
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Dodo
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#2
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amaysim 
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#3
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Tangerine Telecom
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#4
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TPG
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Link not supplied
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#5
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Belong 
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Finding a good balance between speed and affordability is the constant struggle, but NBN 50 plans do a pretty good job. An NBN 50 plan should be enough for a household of two-to-three avid internet goers, and it keeps the costs down. Especially if you're willing to jump between promotional discounts every six months or so - see why we recommend this here.
NBN 100:
Comfortable browsing
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#1
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Dodo
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#2
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amaysim
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#3
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Superloop 
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#4
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iiNet 
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Link not supplied
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#5
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Tangerine Telecom
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Households with more than three people will most likely struggle on anything slower than an NBN 100 plan. Sure, an NBN 50 may be fine sometimes but if you're all aching to stream, or game, or work at the same time then things are going to get real slow, real fast.
An NBN 100 plan should keep everyone happy, and you won't be fighting for your space on the network.
NBN 250:
Big families and big downloaders
|
#1
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Superloop
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#2
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Aussie Broadband
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Link not supplied
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Speeds faster than 100Mbps are kind of a novelty. You need to be on either an FTTP or HFC connection in order to get them, and there aren't too many practical reasons why you might need them unless you've got a handful of people all jumping online for strenuous browsing at once.
Families or households of five or more, who all tend to be heavy internet users browsing at the same time would definitley benefit from the faster speeds. Other use cases might be; small businesses operating out of home, or people who just really like seeing a big number on their speed test.
NBN 1000:
The fastest you can get, if you can get it
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#1
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amaysim
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#2
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Superloop
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#3
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TPG
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Link not supplied
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#4
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SpinTel
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#5
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Dodo
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NBN 1000 is kind of the early morning gym selfie of the NBN world. We get it, you're better than us. But seriously an NBN 1000 plan is the absolute fastest speed tier you can get, but you'll need to be on an FTTP or HFC connection in order to get it. Even so, not every HFC household can get it just yet, but by the end of the year 97% should be able to get an NBN 1000 plan.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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