Best NBN Plans In 2024

The NBN replaces much of the copper wiring used previously to deliver landline phones and ADSL internet services—essentially the old Telstra network. The NBN has meant an upgrade to fibre-optic cables with greatly improved bandwidth capacity, which means they are better able to transfer data for multiple concurrent users.

For most people, once the NBN has been made available in your area, the old fixed-line services will be cut off. So, while it’s not compulsory, if you want to maintain your internet connection you’ll either need to sign up to an NBN plan or an alternative service from a telco.

Data from NBN Co shows that 8.6 million Australian homes and businesses are connected to an NBN plan, out of the 12.2 million homes and businesses that are currently able to connect. Properties are connected to the new fibre-optic cables in various ways; some of which are more effective than others.

Associate Professor at RMIT’s School of Engineering and telecommunications expert, Mark Gregory, said the main difference between the technologies used to connect most Australian homes was the amount of copper that remains.

“So, the fibre to the node, it could be up to a kilometre of copper: fibre to the curb it could be up to 100 metres of copper,” Prof Gregory said.

“Fibre to the curb is exactly that—the fibre comes along the street and we’re connecting copper from the home to that. The fibre to the node is where we’re still using the telephone wires quite a long way back down the street to a box, which is called a node, and that’s where the copper is converted into fibre technologies.”

“And of course the last one is where the fibre comes all the way into the home, and we call that fibre to the premises.”

An original plan from the Labor government for everyone to get fibre to the premises was changed when the Coalition gained power in 2013 and proposed the ‘multi-technology mix’ we have today: now, the highest percentage of Australian homes are linked to fibre via a node.

There’s a lot of acronyms in the NBN world, but there are essentially two types of connections offered.

1. Fixed line connections

Most Australians access the NBN via the new fibre cables that are laid underground or using overhead lines, and which may also link up to existing copper wiring or old TV cables—these are called fixed line connections. There are multiple connection technology types including:

• Fibre to the node (FTTN), where the fibre runs to a nearby node—a telecommunications ‘box’ in your neighbourhood—and the last stretch to your property uses the existing copper network.
• Fibre to the curb (FTTC), which is similar to FTTN except the fibre extends closer to your actual residence.
• Fibre to the building (FTTB), where the fibre runs to a node near a building or a connection hub located within the building (often the basement), and then the building’s existing wiring is used to reach each apartment/unit.
• Fibre to the premises (FTTP), which is the best for reliable, high-speed internet as the fibre cable connects directly to inside the home.
• Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), where fibre runs to a nearby node and then old coaxial cables installed for pay TV are used for the final leg of your connection rather than copper wiring.

2. Fixed wireless and satellite

Where a fixed line isn’t as feasible due to large distances to be covered, connectivity provided under the NBN also includes fixed wireless and satellite networks which use radio frequency signals to transmit data.

NBN’s fixed wireless and satellite networks are primarily available in regional and rural parts of Australia, and homes that need to connect via these methods also won’t have their legacy copper phone and internet lines disconnected (so they can choose not to switch to NBN).

The government-owned company, NBN Co, is the network operator and wholesale provider—with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in charge of regulating its service standards and wholesale pricing.

Retailers plug into the network and buy data and traffic capacity from NBN Co. NBN Co offers multiple speed tiers from basic to ultra-fast that vary in wholesale costs, which then affects the price of plans retailers offer consumers.

As well as on-selling network access via NBN plans with varying tiers of pricing and speeds, retailers also coordinate installations where needed (usually free). The monthly cost of NBN plans from retailers range from $50 to around $150 for the fastest speed tier.

Prof Mark Gregory said that while we should be seeing the price of broadband coming down, the reality is that bad management has resulted in the NBN operating at a loss and seeking to increase charges to retail providers, which would ultimately flow through to consumers. The ACCC recently knocked back NBN Co’s proposed variation to its Special Access Undertaking (SAU)—that included increases to wholesale pricing—for a third time.

“Positively, the ACC is saying, ‘hey, look, you can’t pass your grief on to the consumers.’ So, this is quite remarkable, because this process has been going on now for about 18 months already,” Prof Gregory said.

“Whatever the outcome of the SAU is, consumers should expect prices to go up. Because of all the problems related to what NBN has got today.

“They’ve got six technologies instead of three. There were a lot of bad decisions made by the former government. And, you know, it does mean that there’s a lot of work to be done before NBN Co will be what everyone hoped it would be—which was a low cost wholesale broadband provider.”

Finding an affordable plan that also delivers fit-for-purpose internet is increasingly important for Aussies, given current cost of living pressures. A recent report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that in the last 12 months almost 2.4 million people had trouble paying or had concerns with their telco bill.

Retail providers will have different ways of naming and presenting plan features. To ensure you’re comparing apples to apples, it pays to understand the typical components of NBN plans:

• Contract/payment type: Most plans nowadays are billed month-to-month with no long-term contract, so you can switch providers more easily. Some plans may offer a lock-in contract, and you’ll need to carefully review the terms to decide if it’s good value. Some plans offer cheaper rates for an initial period only, but this doesn’t limit your ability to switch plans or change providers as needed.
• Data included: The vast majority of NBN plans offer unlimited data, but some of the plans may be cheaper due to data limits. On average, Aussies on the NBN download 409 gigabytes per user per month, according to the ACCC. Make sure data limits will cover your needs, and also consider how a provider lets you check your data usage and how limits are enforced: will your speeds be reduced or will you pay extra if you breach your data cap?
• Included or BYO modem: Many plans will give you the option to use your existing hardware which can save you money if you already own a modem, while others may offer and recommend you use a modem/router provided by them which may come at an additional cost but does ensure compatibility. Some providers will let you pay for the modem upfront, while others plans may spread the cost to pay off the modem over 12-24 months (which might be inconvenient if you want to change plans within that time).
• NBN speed tier: Indicates the theoretical maximum speeds for both downloads and uploads for the relevant plan, outside peak hours. So, for example a 50/20 NBN speed tier means you can expect up to 50 megabits per second (Mbps) downloads and 20Mbps uploads outside busy periods.
• Typical evening speed: A guide to the speed you can expect when traffic is busiest in the evenings, which may be lower than the maximum possible speed due to congestion on the network.

Your provider should tell you about limitations on the maximum speeds possible at your address before you sign up or very soon after you’ve signed up, so you can switch if the available service doesn’t match what was promised.

Andrew Williams, who is the CEO of Australia’s peak communications consumer body, the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), said the connection technologies available at a property affects the internet speeds people experience.

“Factors like the distance of your premises from the node if you’re on FTTN technology—that can make a significant impact and and you may not get the advertised speeds.”

Williams said that another common way people get tripped up when choosing NBN plans is selecting and paying for a faster tier plan that they don’t need.

“You might need to diarize, to go ‘okay, well, do I really need that?’ Just don’t automatically transition if you don’t think you need it.

Speeds available on NBN plans range from 12Mbps through to 1000Mbps, but the speed you need depends on your online habits. Williams said people should begin with a clear understanding of what they want the internet to do for them.

“If you’re maybe someone who just uses it for a little bit of web surfing, basic emails and that’s about it, you probably need one of the lower tier plans.

“But if you’re a family of five or six, and you’re streaming on multiple devices and you’ve got every streaming service under the sun, then you’re going to need greater capacity, faster download speeds.

“If you’re a small business or someone working from home, where you’re transmitting and transferring really large data files, then your upload speed is something that’s particularly important as well.”

He said most people would start on a 50Mbps plan, which is generally good enough for most use cases. ACCC’s most recent report on internet activity shows just over 60% of NBN services are being delivered on the 50Mbps speed tier.

In addition to your NBN plan, ACCAN highlights the range of factors that affect the quality of your broadband, including how many people and devices are using the connection at once, the quality of your physical hardware and where it’s positioned in your home, and the provider’s network and investment in their services.

“If you’re finding that your streaming services are freezing or buffering, your internet is dropping out, or even web pages or videos that are taking forever to download, that’s a sign that your internet is not working as effectively as it should or you’re on the wrong plan,” according to ACCAN CEO Andrew Williams.

He said there were a number of affordable products on the market, like WiFi mesh systems, that can boost coverage.

“You’ve got to look at it from your own individual perspective and where the modem’s located, the structure of the house for example. And if you’re not getting the best coverage then then you may need to look at some additional technologies.

“But if you’re finding that that’s not satisfying the need, then talk to your provider and see if there’s a plan that does provide better service and that could be upgrading to a 100Mbps, or even one of the faster tiers.”

Williams said testing the speeds you’re actually achieving, over a period of time—via web tools like Speedtest by Ookla—can help you determine if internet issues are isolated or ongoing.

“If you think you’re not getting the speed that you want, or the speed that you’ve paid for, then then that’s a really good way to test it.”

While it’s operational and used by most Aussies already, the NBN network is still being built and there may be upgrade opportunities available if you’re keen to achieve better internet.

Prof Mark Gregory said: “So, the government at the moment is focused on replacing the fibre to the node essentially with fibre to the curb, and offering an upgrade pathway for people to, if you like, make a co-payment towards the installation of the fibre from the street into the home.”

People in eligible areas are being encouraged to ‘place an order’ to purchase a 100Mbps plan (if on FTTN) or a 250Mbps plan (if on FTTC) with participating providers to support NBN Co’s aims to get an extra five million homes and businesses onto an FTTP connection by the end of 2025.

Prof Gregory said that while it was a positive step for moving more Australians to an all-fibre NBN connection, it puts the onus on consumers to pre-commit to paying more for a minimum of 12 months or risk a downgrade fee.

“The problem is that, of course, there’s going to be a large number of people, and especially now with rates going up, that won’t be able to or won’t want to pay for the 100Mbps plan. For a lot of families right now, but even under normal circumstances, paying that extra would be difficult.”

There’s also an NBN fixed wireless and satellite network upgrade underway that will expand the coverage and improve available speeds for many people in regional and remote areas. NBN Co said its footprint for fixed wireless would increase by up to 50%, meaning around 120,000 homes that were previously satellite-only connections could also access NBN’s fixed wireless services.

Retail providers of NBN plans help connect you, and provide support for most internet problems you’ll encounter so it pays to choose a company with great service—take a look at reviews from current and past customers.

Providers also manage the network beyond NBN’s ‘points of interconnect’, with smaller providers often piggybacking on the networks of larger carriers like Telstra, Optus and Vocus, which may affect internet quality.

Behemoths like Telstra and Optus tend to dominate market share when it comes to NBN plans, but Prof Gregory said mid-sized and smaller companies can offer good value if you’re prepared to accept slightly lower performance.

“It’s your service provider’s responsibility to connect you to the applications that you use, whether it’s Facebook, Google Netflix, Disney plus, whatever.

“And that’s where there’s a balancing point—where the smaller the service provider, the less capacity that they can purchase, and therefore you’re more likely to get congestion. But of course, they’re charging you less.”

“One of the things that the big companies, Telstra and Optus and so forth, argue is that ‘yes, you’re paying more with us, but you’re going to get the best experience because we’re providing more overall capacity in the network between you and the application providers—Facebook, Netflix, Google and so forth.’”

“That’s why I suggest to people that if they are looking to reduce the cost that they look at the mid-size companies: not the really small companies, but the mid-sized companies. And they’re likely to find a point where they’re happy in terms of the overall service they’re getting.”

Andrew Williams said many retailers offer good bundle deals if you opt in to more than one service, such as mobile plus home internet or combined NBN and energy bills, which can provide fee relief for consumers.

“Look at the fine print, make sure there’s no financial traps or lock-ins, or if there are—make sure that you’re comfortable with the overall ‘life of contract’ costs.”

“Looking for ways to get any kind of economy of scale is certainly a good thing, but I guess you can’t really provide a one-size-fits-all solution. So it’s important for people to look at their needs.

“And in some parts of the country, obviously, you will have limited choice of provider. In metro regions, obviously, you’re going to have greater choice than somebody who is way out in regional and remote Australia.”

Forbes Advisor Australia has assessed available plans and evaluations of different providers to develop this list of deals that could offer good value, depending on your internet usage and speed requirements. Note that the below list is not designed to replace your own research, but act as a guide to some of the best deals on offer.

Best Cheap, Lower Speed Plans

Flip Value Plan
Monthly cost: $34 (special offer until 31/05/2023)
Typical evening speeds: 12Mbps download / 0.8Mbps upload
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. The $34 offer is for new customers for the first six months of being a Flip customer. Then the price reverts to $44.90 per month ongoing.
Modem: You’ll need to have or buy your own compatible modem/router. Or you can buy a modem from Flip, for $219 charged upfront.
Why it’s good: If you don’t use the internet for much besides browsing a few websites and sending emails, this plan offers both a special introductory price and a value-for-money ongoing cost.

SpinTel 20Mbps Plan
Monthly cost: $44 (special offer six months for new customers)
Typical evening speeds: 20Mbps download (25Mbps off-peak)
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. The $44 offer is for new customers for the first six months. Then the price reverts to $49.95 per month ongoing.
Modem: BYO or you can opt to include one of three modems/routers from Spintel, for between $139.95-$322 charged upfront.
Why it’s good: It’s a comparatively low monthly cost, with bundle options that let you save with a linked mobile phone plan. SpinTel has won multiple awards as an NBN provider.

Top plans for 50Mbps speed

Exetel Extra Value nbn50
Monthly cost: $53.95 (special offer for six months)
Typical evening speeds: 50Mbps download, 17 upload (50/20Mbps off-peak)
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. After the first 6 months, the price reverts to $74.95 per month ongoing.
Modem: BYO or opt to buy a modem for $140 charged upfront.
Why it’s good: Known for fast speeds, Exetel is a trusted provider. With this deal you’ll save $126 in the first six months and then be on a competitive monthly price. Exetel offers savings if you bundle your NBN plan with other services, and also gives customers on this plan five days per month where you can opt to boost your speed to the next highest tier.

Dodo NBN 50 Plan
Monthly cost: $60 (special offer for six months, offer ends 31/07/2023)
Typical evening speeds: 50Mbps download, 17 upload (50/20Mbps off-peak)
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. After the first 6 months, the price reverts to $75 per month ongoing.
Modem: BYO or opt to buy a modem for a discounted cost of $49.50 charged upfront (available until 31/07/2023, and then cost is $99).
Why it’s good: Based on actual performance of speeds delivered, Dodo’s plan for the 50Mbps speed tier is a sound choice. You can save up to $10 per month if you bundle your plan with Dodo Energy for electricity and gas.

Tangerine Value Plus Plan
Monthly cost: $54.90 (special offer for six months for new customers)
Typical evening speeds: 50Mbps download, 17 upload (50/20Mbps off-peak)
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. After the first six months, the price reverts to $69.90 per month ongoing.
Modem: BYO or opt to buy a modem. Tangerine offers multiple modems valued between $159.90 – $429.
Why it’s good: Good value for money and most users seem to achieve adequate speeds with helpful service. Tangerine connects to the NBN through the national network of Vocus Communications. You can bundle your NBN plan with a home phone plan or mobile SIM for competitive rates.

Top plans for 100Mbps speed

Optus Plus Everyday Fast NBN Plan
Monthly cost: $79 (special offer for first six months, offer ends 21/05/23)
Typical evening speeds: 100Mbps download, 18Mbps upload
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract. After the first six months, the price reverts to $99 per month ongoing.
Modem: BYO or opt for an Optus modem. If you stay connected for 36 months you’ll pay $0 for your modem, or you can purchase the modem outright for $252.
Why it’s good: For reliability of advertised speeds on a higher speed tier, this plan from Optus ticks the boxes. It is ideal for homes with five or more occupants, and includes access to the Optus Living Network which enables you to ‘pause’ your internet and see the status of your connection in real-time.

Aussie Family NBN Plan
Monthly cost: $99
Typical evening speeds: 100Mbps download, 16Mbps upload (100/20 off-peak)
Data: Unlimited
Terms: No lock-in contract.
Modem: BYO or buy a modem/router with your plan, starting from $179 charged upfront.
Why it’s good: Aussie Broadband is consistently rated highly for achieving great speeds and having good Australian-based service. The provider operates its own network and is a reliable option beyond the big players. You can include a home phone plan and mobile plans for competitive rates to simplify billing.

Top Plans for Heavy Internet Users

Exetel Superfast Plan
Monthly cost: $83.95 (special offer for six months)
Typical evening speeds: 225Mbps download, 21Mbps upload (250Mbps downloads, 25Mbps uploads off-peak)
Data: Unlimited.
Terms: Available for FTTP or HFC connections. No lock-in contract but you do need to provide 30-days notice to cancel. After the initial 6 month offer, the monthly cost reverts to $108.95.
Modem: BYO or opt to buy a modem for $140 charged upfront.
Why it’s good: Based on actual speed of connection and satisfied users, Exetel is one of Australia’s best NBN providers. The plan includes five days each month where customers can temporarily boost their speed (up to the next speed tier 500/50), and you can cut broadband bills by up to $15 monthly if you bundle other Exetel services like your mobile plan.

Launtel #NQFastAF Plan
Cost: Launtel has daily pricing and this plan costs $4.10 per day (i.e.: $128 for 30 days)
Typical evening speeds: 390Mbps download (400Mbps downloads, 50Mbps uploads off-peak)
Data: Unlimited.
Terms: No lock-in contract.
Modem: BYO.
Why it’s good: Rated highly for achieving its claimed speeds and also for its customer service and flexibility. Launtel has a unique daily pricing model that lets people pause their internet services as needed, and not pay for those days.

If the NBN is not available in your area yet, you’re having trouble connecting, or you just want to compare plans across all options, some alternatives to explore include:

• Home wireless broadband (4G, 5G), which is internet delivered by the same cellular networks used to deliver mobile internet, but is specifically designed to replace fixed line connections at home via a modem or dongle. Home broadband that uses 5G is likely to be more expensive than 4G, because the technology is newer and faster.
• Non-NBN fixed wireless, where data is transmitted via radio waves. This requires an antenna attached to your premises.
• Non-NBN satellite services like Starlink.
• Non-NBN fixed line fibre-optic broadband. Companies including Opticomm and GigaComm have developed their own, separate fibre networks but these are typically available in very limited areas.

Andrew Williams said 5G home internet could be a good alternative, but may be more likely to include data limits compared to NBN fixed line plans.

“And, and the other thing to bear in mind is that while 5G speeds are very good, as more and more people come onto the network, that network’s going to become more congested, which is potentially going to degrade the quality of internet over 5G,” he said.

“If you’re itinerant or a renter, or a student, then 5G may very well be—because of the portability of it—a good solution for you.”

Williams said a handy tool for people living in more isolated parts of Australia was the Regional Tech Hub website, which helps people find all available connectivity options for their address.

“All Australians have the capability of being connected to the internet in some way, shape or form. Many of them, particularly in regional, rural and remote Australia, aren’t fully aware or may not be fully aware of the options that are available to them.”

He said ACCAN was also recommending the government fund an independent plan comparison tool to help people get unbiased, side-by-side comparisons of telco products and services including voice, data and broadband offers.