1. NBN plans
2. Cheap NBN plans
3. Best broadband deals
The range of fast NBN plans on offer has changed drastically, and there are now three fast tiers available to households: NBN 1000, NBN 250 and NBN 100.
The sheer number of options can be understandably overwhelming, but we’ve sifted through all the detail of the fastest NBN plans on offer to bring you our top picks. Skip ahead by clicking on the links below:
Can you get NBN 250 or 1000?
Before signing up to a high-speed NBN 250 or NBN 1000 plan, there are some factors you should be aware of. These tiers are only available on two types of NBN connection – fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC).
When it comes to NBN 1000 plans, all FTTP connections can sign up for the 1000Mbps speed tier, but only a select subset of HFC installations are eligible – estimated to be roughly 7% of the total.
Noteworthy fast NBN deals
Below we’re running you through our plan recommendations, but first, check out these ace offers currently available on fast NBN plans:
- Aussie Broadband: get your first month of NBN 100 free (then AU$99p/m)
- Spintel: save AU$15.95p/m for 6 months on NBN 100 plans (from AU$69)
- Superloop: save AU$20p/m for 6 months on NBN 100, 250 and 1000 plans (from AU$69.95)
- Telstra: save AU$15p/m for 12 months on NBN 100, 250 and 1000 plans (from AU$95)
Best fast NBN plans
Best NBN 100 plan
Our choice for large households and those who want a little extra speed
There’s some stiff competition in this speed tier at the moment, but we’re giving it to Spintel this month for having not only the best, but the cheapest NBN 100 plan on the market. You’ll get a discount for your first six months with the provider, so you’ll pay AU$69 a month before it goes back to AU$84.95 each billing. It’s still one of the cheapest NBN 100 plans you’ll find once the discount ends, and for the price, you’ll be getting typical speeds of 100Mbps.
Total minimum cost: AU$69 | Total cost for first year: AU$923.70
• See more: Best NBN 100 plans
NBN 100 plans compared
Best NBN 250 plan
The go-to for lightning-quick broadband
We’ve prioritised speed for our top choice here rather than price, so with that in mind, Telstra takes the title of the best NBN 250 plan this month. Telstra is the only telco that reports a maxed-out typical evening speed of 250Mbps in this tier, which is a big reason why we’ve chosen it. You’ll also get a discount for your first year on the connection, initially starting at AU$125 a month before it increases to AU$140 a month ongoing. If you stick around for 24 months, you won’t have to pay for the Telstra Smart Modem (usually AU$216).
Total minimum cost: AU$341 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,500
• See more: Best NBN 250 plans
NBN 250 plans compared
Best NBN 1000 plan
The fastest you can get, but only available in select locations
For the fastest NBN speed tier available, Telstra’s NBN 1000 plan offers insane typical speeds of 700Mbps, which is the fastest available with any telco at the moment. It’s far from the cheapest – for that, you should check out MyRepublic’s NBN 1000 plan for AU$105 a month – but when speed is the name of the game, Telstra takes the crown. Sweetening the deal is a AU$15 discount every month for your first 12 months, which will see you pay AU$165 for the connection instead of AU$180. If you stay put for 24 months, you’ll get the Telstra Smart Modem for free (usually AU$216).
Total minimum cost: AU$381 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,980
• See more: Best NBN 1000 plans
NBN 1000 plans compared
Fast NBN plans: major telcos
When it comes to the big three internet providers, these are the best fast plans available:
Telstra's best high-speed NBN plan
Telstra’s higher speed tiers tend to be quite expensive, so it’s good when you can get a discount. You’ll now pay AU$125 a month for your first year on this plan, after which it’ll revert back to the standard price of AU$140 a month. That’ll set you up with a reliable service and a typical download speed of 250Mbps. You’ll get the AU$99 connection fee waived by signing-up online, and if you stick with the telco for 24 months, you won’t have to pay for the Telstra Smart Modem either (usually AU$216).
Total minimum cost: AU$341 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,500
Not the right plan for you? Check out our full comparison of all Telstra’s NBN plans.
Optus' best high-speed NBN plan
Optus | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$104p/m (first 6 months, then AU$134p/m)
Keeping up with the competition, Optus has also cut the price of its NBN 250 plan. For your first six months, you’ll pay a reduced rate of AU$104 a month before it raises to the standard pricing of AU$134 each billing. You can feel fairly confident going with Optus – it’s historically performed well in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) speed test report, and the plan comes with typical download speeds of 215Mbps. While the plan comes with no lock-in contract, you will need to pay out the cost of your modem if you leave before a 36-month term (usually AU$252).
Total minimum cost: AU$356 (includes modem) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,428
TPG's best high-speed NBN plan
TPG | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | 6-month contract | AU$79.99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$89.99p/m)
TPG is a popular telco among Aussies because it offers solid, reliable speeds at an affordable price. It has also consistently performed well in the ACCC’s speed test report, and delivers speeds of up to 90Mbps during the peak evening period. If you sign up for this NBN 100 plan on a six-month contract, TPG will waive the AU$99 set-up fee, though a AU$10 delivery fee applies. You can also get this same plan on a no lock-in contract, though it’s an additional AU$109 upfront with all fees included. Note that you could face a contract payout fee of up to AU$350 if you decide to leave early.
Total minimum cost: AU$489.94 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,029.88
- Telstra vs Optus NBN: who has better broadband?
Fast NBN FAQ
What are NBN 1000 real world speeds?
NBN 1000, which the NBN Co refers to as 'Ultrafast', is the fastest consumer NBN speed tier.
The small but growing number of ISPs who offer it typically advise a typical evening speed of 250Mbps – though we’ve seen speed test results that place the figure much higher at 900Mbps.
What are NBN 250 real world speeds?
The second-fastest tier is NBN 250, which the NBN Co refers to as 'Superfast'.
Again, there’s a small number of providers who offer this speed, and most report an average download speed of 215Mbps during the evening hours – though the actual speed does vary among the ISPs, so be sure to read the fine print.
What are NBN 100 real world speeds?
The NBN 100 tier is the most affordable option from the fastest NBN category, and you can expect a typical evening speed of around 82Mbps. While the tiers mentioned above are leaps and bounds ahead in terms of speed, they are also limited in their availability – only FTTP and HFC connections can sign-up to NBN 1000 and NBN 250 in most cases.
NBN 100 is referred to as 'Fast' by the NBN Co – it’s available for most connection types, and is often the fastest option available for the millions of Australians using fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) technology. You can read more about each connection type here.
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