The National Broadband Network has the potential to deliver a decent internet connection to most Australians, but how fast is fast enough? Do you have just enough speed for your browsing needs or are you living a life of excess?
- Your NBN connection type determines the maximum speed you can get at your address. Some connection types cap out at 100Mbps while HFC and FTTP can get plans with speeds all the way up to 2000Mbps
- Typical evening speeds refer to the performance you can reasonably expect between 7pm and 11pm. These vary from provider to provider. A good typical evening speed is one close to the maximum for that plan
- Your NBN speed is a shared resource. For example, on an NBN 50 plan, your 50Mbps is divided up between every person and device in your household. If one person is using 15Mbps to Netflix in 4K, that leaves 35Mbps of bandwidth left for everyone else
NBN plans with okay speeds
These plans are best suited to smaller households with low to moderate internet usage.
NBN 25:
- Up to 25Mbps downloads
- Up to 10Mbps uploads
NBN 50:
- Up to 50Mbps downloads
- Up to 20Mbps uploads
Compare NBN 25 vs. NBN 50 plan download speeds side by side:
An NBN 25 plan should suffice for most online activities with a single user but keep in mind that you'll be sharing that bandwidth if multiple people are online at once — in that case, an NBN 50 plan might be more suitable.
NBN 25 plans are best suited to a one to two-person household. You won't need faster than 25Mbps for most online activities, but you may notice slower speeds if multiple people are using your connection at once. For example, you might have issues if two people in your household are trying to stream Netflix at the same time during peak hours.
NBN 50 plans are twice the speed of NBN 25 plans and a good speed option for households with between two and four people. An NBN 50 plan will ensure everyone in your household is able to partake in their favourite online activities. from streaming movies and music, online gaming and basic browsing.
NBN plans with fast speeds
These plans are best suited to households with medium to high internet usage.
NBN 100:
- Up to 100Mbps downloads
- Up to 20 or 40Mbps uploads
NBN 500:
- Up to 500Mbps downloads
- Up to 50Mbps uploads
Compare NBN 100 vs. NBN 500 plan download speeds side by side:
It's important to note upfront that these two speed tiers are mutually exclusive as they serve customers on different connection types — ordinarily you won't be considering switching from an NBN 100 plan to an NBN 500 plan or vice versa.
NBN 100 plans are the fastest speeds you can get for households with FTTN, FTTC, or FTTB connections. Compared to slower NBN plans, NBN 100 is a good choice for larger households who regularly download and upload large files. Games and files will download so much faster i.e. going from hours plural to less than an hour.
NBN 100 plans come with a standard upload speed of 20Mbps or you can choose an NBN 100/40 plan with 40Mbps speeds.
NBN 500 plans effectively replace NBN 100 plans for those on FTTP or HFC connections. They're five times faster and the same price. If you're on one of those connection types, NBN 500 is a no-brainer. It's ten times faster than NBN 50 for only a few dollars more per month, while being a good deal cheaper than faster speed tiers. For most, NBN 500 is more than fast enough.
If you're on an FTTN or FTTC connection type you may be able to request a free upgrade to FTTP which will let you get speeds faster than 100Mbps.
NBN plans with faster speeds
These plans cost a fair bit more than the rest and are the top speeds you can get. The difference in effective NBN download speeds here can be measured in minutes and seconds. Keep in mind you need an FTTP or HFC connection to get these faster NBN speeds.
NBN 750:
- Up to 750Mbps downloads
- Up to 50Mbps uploads
NBN 1000:
- Up to 1,000Mbps downloads
- Up to 100Mbps uploads
NBN 2000:
- Up to 2,000Mbps downloads
- Up to 100Mbps uploads (HFC), up to 200Mbps uploads (FTTP)
Compare NBN 750 vs. NBN 1000 and NBN 2000 plan download speeds side by side:
NBN 750 plans are ideal for anyone who really wants to push their internet connection to its limits, or even for a small business. Most people won't notice much difference in the jump from NBN 500 however, so feel free to save money on the cheaper tier or if you really want speed opt for NBN 1000.
Previously, the fastest NBN speed you could get NBN 1000 plans are somewhat of a luxury. While they won't improve your streaming performance, they'll speed up almost any download dramatically.
If an NBN 1000 plan is a luxury, then you could call NBN 2000 plans overkill. On top of needing the right connection type, you'll also need the right equipment to get these plans.
To start, you'll ideally need a WiFi 7 router with a 2Gbps WAN port or faster. For the fastest wireless possible speeds, a tri-band WiFi 7 router, such as an eero Pro 7, is ideal. It's worth noting that not all your connected devices will be able to achieve 2Gbps speeds themselves. WiFi 6 and WiFi 7 devices, such as smartphones and laptops, may be able to do so in some situations, but not all of the time.
Even wired devices - such as video game consoles - will be limited by the speed of their ethernet port. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X only have a 1Gbps ethernet port, for example.
You may also need a new NTD. The latest HFC NTD - the Arris CM3500 - supports 2Gbps speeds, but customers on the older Arris CM8200 will need an upgrade. FTTP customers will also need a new NTD.
How to check your current NBN speed
You can use the speed test below to find out what NBN speed you are currently receiving. If it is regularly lower than your plan's typical evening speeds, you will want to troubleshoot your internet connection or get in touch with your provider.
NBN speed FAQs
Do I need different equipment if I want faster speeds?
For NBN 500 plans and up, you'll want a WiFi 6 router at a minimum. If you're after NBN 2000, you'll ideally need a WiFi 7 router.
Can I change NBN speeds month-to-month?
Generally, yes. Most plans are contract-free so you can typically change your NBN speed once per month (with the billing cycle). In the rare case you've committed to a contract, there may be a change of plan fee if you want to change your speed.
What's the difference between download speeds and upload speeds?
Your download speed refers to how quickly you're able to get files from the internet, while upload speeds relate to how fast you're able to send files to other places online. For example, your upload speeds will determine how long it takes to send an email with a large attachment, back your photos up to Google Drive, or plonk a big document on Google Drive.
Upload speeds can also affect video calls, Voice over IP, and gaming, as these use cases all require both sending and receiving data.
Do I need fast upload speeds?
The average Australian internet user is a lot more reliant on download speeds for the majority of their broadband usage. However, if you regularly use video chat or Voice over IP applications, rely on cloud-based backup services such as Dropbox or Google Drive, or tend to send clients large files, you'll see big benefits from getting a connection with faster upload.
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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