Dubbed Basic I for a reason, NBN 12 plans offer the lowest speeds of all the NBN speed tiers. Very few providers are offering NBN 12 plans these days and it's no secret why. For the speeds required to browse the web and stream content, NBN 12 plans just aren't up to scratch. Keep reading to learn all about these NBN plans and compare them to other alternatives.
If you've already decided that NBN 12 is the speed tier for you, start by taking a look at these plans:
What speeds do NBN 12 plans offer?
NBN 12 plans offer download speeds of 12Mbps and upload speeds of just 1Mbps.
Who are NBN 12 plans for?
Given NBN 12 speeds are so low, its plans are only really suited to single-person households, infrequent users who won't use the internet very much at all or those on an extremely tight budget.
However, in terms of pricing, we've found customers can get cheaper and faster plans on the NBN 25 speed than on the NBN 12 speed tier.
The table below shows how many people can comfortably use each speed tier and what their average speeds are:
| Speed tier | Best for | Max. speeds |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | Lone, low internet users | 12Mbps |
| NBN 25 | Budget pick for 1-2 people | 25Mbps |
| NBN 50 | All-rounder for small households of 2-4 people | 50Mbps |
| NBN 100 | For WFH and larger households | 100Mbps |
| NBN 250 | Faster speeds for WFH and larger households | 250Mbps |
| NBN 500 | Seamless internet experience when everyone is online | 500Mbps |
| NBN 750 | Even faster speeds for simultaneous use | 750Mbps |
| NBN 1000 | The fastest speeds you can get for less than $100 per month | 1000Mbps |
| NBN 2000 | The fastest speeds you can get right now, at a premium | 2000Mbps |
What activities can I do on NBN 12?
Users will be limited to streaming content on one screen at a time in High Definition (HD) quality due to speed constraints.
This is not the ideal speed tier if you:
- Work from home
- Browse the internet heavily
- Have frequent guests who'll also be joining your network
- Need to upload or download content regularly or in large amounts
What's the difference in download times?
If you're using the internet for online gaming, NBN 25 is the bare minimum speed tier recommended for this activity. Therefore we strongly suggest aiming for the next speed tier up from NBN 12.
Below we've got a list of common files you might download paired with how long it would take to download them on each NBN speed tier.
See how download times compare across NBN speed tiers. Choose what you're downloading:
If you're curious about uploading content, below are the differing time frames of how long it takes users of each speed tier to upload 1GB:
| NBN Speed Tier | Maximum Upload Speed |
Est. time to upload 1GB |
|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | 1Mbps | 2 hours, 23 mins |
| NBN 25 | 5Mbps | 28 mins, 37 secs |
| NBN 50 | 20Mbps | 7 mins, 9 secs |
| NBN 100 / 20 | 20Mbps | 7 mins, 9 secs |
| NBN 100 / 40 | 40Mbps | 3 mins, 34 secs |
| NBN 250 | 25Mbps | 5 mins, 43 secs |
| NBN 1000 | 50Mbps | 2 mins, 52 secs |
What are the alternatives to NBN 12?
Once you have identified which speed tier suits your needs, you can decide if you can get away with a cheaper NBN plan or will need to upgrade to a faster selection of NBN plans.
Once you know which speed tier suits your needs, you can start comparing providers and their respective plans.
Here are the fastest NBN plans of each speed tier from our database of 34 internet providers:
NBN 12 plans are the bottom of the barrel. If you plan on bingeing movies on a decent quality setting or gaming at all, this isn't the plan for you. Few providers offer NBN 12 plans nowadays due to their lack of value. In terms of cost, you're actually better off choosing an NBN 25 or higher plan, especially when you factor in promo discounts.
If you just need a basic connection, it could be worth considering an NBN 25 plan. This is a better starting point than NBN 12 because both speed tiers are usually the same price thanks to discounts offered by NBN Co.
You can expect download speeds of up to 25Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5Mbps. Most online activities can still be done on an NBN 25 plan, but it will start to buckle if you have too many people using your connection.
NBN 50 plans are the most popular and still a good option for households of two-to-four people. They're affordable, but their pricing doesn't always compare favourably to faster NBN 100 plans. That said, the price gap often widens after the first six months, sometimes making NBN 50 cheaper in the long term, though not necessarily to a large degree.
An NBN 50 plan should ensure everyone in a small-to-medium sized household is able to partake in their favourite online activities, whether it's streaming movies and music, online gaming or video calling with overseas friends and family.
NBN 100 plans are the next logical step if you don't think NBN 50 will cut it. You get twice the download speed, meaning your connection will go as fast as 100Mbps. And they're not much more expensive, thanks to discounts from NBN Co.
Most NBN 100 plans have upload speeds of 20Mbps, which is the same as what you get on NBN 50. But some come with uploads of up to 40Mbps. We'd say NBN 100 plans are best for large households or anyone who regularly downloads large files, such as new-release video games.
NBN 250 plans are a little more expensive and won't appeal to as many households, but they're great if you've got the need for speed. Unlike lower NBN tiers, don't expect to hit your max speed all the time and from every provider, however. Be sure to check a provider's advertised evening speeds, so you can adjust expectations in advance.
NBN 250 plans are only available to those who have a Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) or Hybrid Fibre Coaxial(HFC) NBN connection.
If you're looking for the fastest NBN speed tier possible, you'll want an NBN 1000 plan. NBN 1000 plans can offer download speeds of up to 970Mbps and upload speeds of 50Mbps. That said, you won't get these speeds at a sustained rate. FTTP users can expect a reliable 700Mbps, while HFC users will more likely get somewhere between 500 and 700Mbps.
Like NBN 250 plans, NBN 1000 plans are only available to those with an FTTP or HFC connection.
We highly recommend opting for an NBN 25 plan instead as a minimum for good internet speed. These offer more internet for less money when compared to an NBN 12 plan.
If you can afford it, the NBN 50 speed tier is even better. It's the most popular choice because it strikes a good balance between affordability and fast speeds. If guests come a-knocking, you have more bandwidth to go around. And due to their popularity, you'll have plenty of NBN providers and plans to choose from. Many NBN 50 plans also boast discounted promotional pricing to keep costs down and perks like trials to subscription services to entice customers.
How to check your current internet speed?
You can use the tool below to find out what internet speeds 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.
What are NBN evening speeds?
Much in the same way as the traffic on the road slows down during peak hours, the internet can too. This is especially true on the NBN, so internet service providers are changing the way in which they advertise the speeds you'll get on your plan.
Currently, most ISPs will tell you the maximum potential speed of the NBN plan you're signing up for, but will also tell you the speeds you can expect during peak hours when everyone else is online. These are being referred to as "evening speeds".
Evening Speed is a term coined by the ACCC, which are ballpark figures based on what telcos are advertising currently. Peak hour speeds will however vary depending on your provider, and what connection type you are using. In some cases evening speeds will be faster, in some, they may be slower.
Peak internet usage hours are defined as the time between 7pm and 11pm. For an NBN 12 plan, you can expect maximum speeds to reach 12Mbps, however, during busy periods this can be reduced to between 10-12 Mbps.
NBN 12 FAQs
What is the NBN 12 speed tier?
NBN 12 is one of several NBN speed tiers. It is the slowest speed tier currently on offer.
What does NBN 12 mean?
NBN 12 specifically refers to the download speed offered. NBN 12 plans have download speeds of 12Mbps and upload speeds of 1Mbps.
Is NBN 12 good?
NBN 12 is the slowest NBN speed tier on offer and isn't even always the most affordable. This speed tier is only suitable for single users who infrequently use the internet. It is not fast enough for online gaming or streaming content on multiple devices above HD quality.
Is NBN 12 good for working from home?
No, this plan might do the trick for some remote workers, but it won't cut it for the long haul. In most cases, NBN 12 speeds are consistent with an ADSL2+ connection, which is only really suitable for very basic day-to-day internet usage. You’ll probably only be able to do one task at a time, which isn’t exactly conducive to working from home
What is the difference between NBN 12 and NBN 25?
NBN 12 offers download speeds of 12Mbps and upload speeds of 1Mbps. Whereas NBN 25 achieves download speeds of 25Mbps and upload speeds of 5Mbps. When you consider NBN 12 against NBN 25, NBN 25 is the minimum speed required to game online comfortably and has plans priced the same if not cheaper than NBN 12 plans.
Christie Graham
Digital Content Editor
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