What NBN speed do you need?

By Alex Choros

Last updated 02 February 2024

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?

Before we dive deeper, here's an overview of the six NBN speed tiers:

NBN speed tier	Best for	Good NBN speed	Avg NBN speeds*
NBN 12 (Basic I)	Lone, low internet users	12 Mbps	10-12 Mbps
NBN 25 (Basic II)	Budget pick for 1-2 people	25 Mbps	19-25 Mbps
NBN 50 (Standard)	Great all-rounder for 2-4 people	50 Mbps	42-50 Mbps
NBN 100 (Fast)	Internet lovers and big households	100 Mbps	90-100 Mbps
NBN 250 (Superfast)	Got the need for speed	248 Mbps	200-230 Mbps
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast)	Fastest you can get, if you can get it	700 Mbps	200-700 Mbps

*Note: The exact peak NBN speeds you will experience will depend on your provider's reported typical evening speeds.

What is Mbps?

Mbps stands for megabits per second and is a universal method used to measure how fast data travels along the network. More Mbps means a faster connection, less means a slower one.

Generally, your internet plan will need to be faster if you have a lot of people and devices that access the connection.

NBN 25 (Basic II):
Best budget NBN speed tier

Download speeds

Up to 25Mbps
Around 20-25Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Up to 5Mbps

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.

Most NBN 25 are around $10 to $20 cheaper than an NBN 50 alternative, which could make sacrificing a little speed worth it if you're keen to save some extra cash.

#1	MATE	MATE Crikey nbn 25/10 nbn® 25/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for the first 6 mths (code MATE30) + 1-month money back guarantee + Bundle & Save $40/mth Min. cost $40 Link not supplied	$40/mth Min. cost $40	Link not supplied
#2	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Basic nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $14/mth off for 12 months! $45/mth for 12 months, then $59/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $45/mth Min. cost $45 Link not supplied	$45/mth Min. cost $45	Link not supplied
#3	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 25/10 Value nbn® 25/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $14/mth off for first 6 months, then $60.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $46.80/mth Min. cost $46.80 Link not supplied	$46.80/mth Min. cost $46.80	Link not supplied
#4	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Bronze Unlimited nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $46.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $68.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $46.90/mth Min. cost $46.90 Go to Site	$46.90/mth Min. cost $46.90	Go to Site
#5	SpinTel	SpinTel NBN Unlimited Entry 25 nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $12.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $47/mth for first 6 months, then $59.95/mth $47/mth Min. cost $47 Go to Site	$47/mth Min. cost $47	Go to Site
#6	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value NBN nbn® 25/8.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $47.90/month for first 6 months, then $67.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90 Go to Site	$47.90/mth Min. cost $47.90	Go to Site
#7	amaysim	amaysim Unlimited nbn Quick As nbn® 25/8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months (Incl. Standard Intro Offer), $50/mth for first 6 months, then $70/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $50/mth Min. cost $50 Link not supplied	$50/mth Min. cost $50	Link not supplied
#8	Exetel	Exetel Everyday nbn25 nbn® 25/8.5 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $13/mth off for first 6 months - $50.99/mth for first 6 months, then $63.99/mth. $50.99/mth Min. cost $50.99 Go to Site	$50.99/mth Min. cost $50.99	Go to Site
#9	Dodo	Dodo nbn25 Unlimited Plan nbn® 25/4 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $68.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply. $53.90/mth Min. cost $53.90 Go to Site*	$53.90/mth Min. cost $53.90	Go to Site
#10	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Casual nbn® 25/10 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE15, $54/mth for first 6 months then $69/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $54/mth Min. cost $54 Link not supplied	$54/mth Min. cost $54	Link not supplied

NBN 50 (Standard):
Best NBN speed tier all round

Download speeds

Up to 50Mbps
Around 45-50Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Up to 20Mbps

NBN 50 plans are your best bang for buck option when it comes to the NBN. They're a significant speed upgrade over most ADSL connections and are pretty affordable.

They're also a good speed option for families - 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. That includes streaming movies and music, online gaming, sharing memes and photos, or video calling with overseas friends and family.

#1	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Silver Unlimited nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $59.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $78.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Value Plus NBN nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $23/mth off for the first 6 mths, $59.90/month for first 6 months, then $82.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90 Go to Site	$59.90/mth Min. cost $59.90	Go to Site
#3	Exetel	Exetel Extra-value nbn50 nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months - $60.99/mth for first 6 months, then $79.99/mth. $60.99/mth Min. cost $60.99 Go to Site	$60.99/mth Min. cost $60.99	Go to Site
#4	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 50/20 Premium nbn® 50/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16/mth off for first 6 months, then $79.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $63.80/mth Min. cost $63.80 Link not supplied	$63.80/mth Min. cost $63.80	Link not supplied
#5	Superloop	Superloop Extra-value nbn50/20 nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $14/mth off for 6 months! $67/mth for 6 mths, then $81/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $67/mth Min. cost $67 Go to Site	$67/mth Min. cost $67	Go to Site
#6	Dodo	Dodo nbn50 Unlimited Plan nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $83.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply. $68.90/mth Min. cost $68.90 Go to Site*	$68.90/mth Min. cost $68.90	Go to Site
#7	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Everyday nbn® 50/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE15, $69/mth for first 6 months then $84/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $69/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied
#8	iiNet	iiNet nbn50 Liimitless nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 mths – $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $84.99/mth. Use code SAVE15FOR6. Ends 06.05.25 $69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Go to Site	$69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Go to Site
#9	TPG	TPG nbn50 Unlimited Plan nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get Price Beat Guarantee + $69.99/mth for first 6 months, then $84.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99 Go to Site	$69.99/mth Min. cost $69.99	Go to Site
#10	Flip	Flip Unlimited Family nbn50 nbn® 50/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Promotional pricing - $64/mth for first 4 months then $73.90/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $73.90/mth Min. cost $64 Go to Site	$73.90/mth Min. cost $64	Go to Site

Editor's Picks: Best NBN Plans April 2025

Now that you know all about NBN speed tiers, check out our guide to the best NBN plans if you're after a couple of recommendations.

NBN 100 (Fast):
Best NBN speed tier for bigger households

Download speeds

Up to 100Mbps
Around 90-100Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Either a maximum of 20Mbps or 40Mbps

NBN 100 plans are the best bet for large households and anyone who regularly downloads or uploads large files - this includes people regularly working from home. Games and files will download so much faster. Plus, everyone from the kids to the grandparents can binge different shows on Netflix, all at the same time.

There are two types of NBN 100 plan available:

NBN 100/20 plans
NBN 100/40 plans.

Both NBN 100/20 and NBN 100/40 plans tout download speeds of up to 100Mbps, but vary in upload speeds. NBN 100/20 have a maximum upload speed of 20Mbps, whereas 100/40 plans have a maximum upload speed of 40Mbps.

Slower upload speeds mean that sharing content may take a bit longer, but 20Mbps is more than fast enough to share photos and it won’t affect your general browsing and internet usage at all. The vast majority of NBN users won’t notice the slower upload speeds at all. Small businesses may want to opt for an NBN 100/40 plan especially if they regularly share work with clients or need to upload business documents to the cloud.

NBN 100/20 plans are readily available but NBN 100/40 plans are only available from select internet providers. Opting for an NBN 100/40 plan over an NBN 100/20 plan will cost you an extra $10 or so per month.

NBN 100/20
NBN 100/40

#1	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Fast nbn® 100/19 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $24/mth off for 12 months! $65/mth for 12 months, then $89/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $65/mth Min. cost $65 Link not supplied	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Link not supplied
#2	SpinTel Editor's Pick	SpinTel Editor's Pick NBN Unlimited Premium 100 nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $16.95 off your plan for first 6 months! $65/mth for first 6 months, then $81.95/mth $65/mth Min. cost $65 Go to Site	$65/mth Min. cost $65	Go to Site
#3	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 100/20 Elite nbn® 100/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months, then $84.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $65.80/mth Min. cost $65.80 Link not supplied	$65.80/mth Min. cost $65.80	Link not supplied
#4	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet Gold Unlimited nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $65.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $83.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy NBN nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $65.90/mth for first 6 months, then $85.90/mth + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90 Go to Site	$65.90/mth Min. cost $65.90	Go to Site
#6	Exetel	Exetel Family nbn100/20 nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months - $65.99/mth for first 6 months, then $84.99/mth $65.99/mth Min. cost $65.99 Go to Site	$65.99/mth Min. cost $65.99	Go to Site
#7	amaysim	amaysim Unlimited nbn Fast As nbn® 100/18 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for first 6 months (Incl. Standard Intro Offer), $70/mth for first 6 months, then $90/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $70/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#8	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Fast nbn® 100/20 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $22/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE22, $72/mth for first 6 mths then $94/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $72/mth Min. cost $72 Link not supplied	$72/mth Min. cost $72	Link not supplied
#9	Dodo	Dodo nbn100 Unlimited Plan nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $88.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply. $73.90/mth Min. cost $73.90 Go to Site*	$73.90/mth Min. cost $73.90	Go to Site
#10	Superloop	Superloop Family nbn100/20 nbn® 100/17 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $14/mth off 6 months! $75/mth for 6 mths, then $89/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $75/mth Min. cost $75 Go to Site	$75/mth Min. cost $75	Go to Site

#1	MATE	MATE You Beaut nbn 100/40 nbn® 97/36 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for the first 6 mths (use code MATE30) + 1-month money back guarantee on your Internet + Bundle & Save! $70/mth Min. cost $70 Link not supplied	$70/mth Min. cost $70	Link not supplied
#2	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom Speedy Plus NBN nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for the first 6 mths, $74.90/month for first 6 months, then $89.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90 Go to Site	$74.90/mth Min. cost $74.90	Go to Site
#3	Exetel	Exetel Power Home nbn100/40 nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $19/mth off for first 6 months - $75.99/mth for first 6 months, then $94.99/mth. $75.99/mth Min. cost $75.99 Go to Site	$75.99/mth Min. cost $75.99	Go to Site
#4	Superloop	Superloop Power home nbn100/40 nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $16/mth off for 6 months! $79/mth for 6 mths, then $95/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $79/mth Min. cost $79 Go to Site	$79/mth Min. cost $79	Go to Site
#5	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Fast+ nbn® 100/40 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $22/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE22, $82/mth for first 6 mths then $104/mth. Ends 30.04.25 $82/mth Min. cost $82 Link not supplied	$82/mth Min. cost $82	Link not supplied
#6	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Fast Plus nbn - Unlimited nbn® 99/33 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $10 off for the first 6 months. Promo code BIG10. $105/mth after promo ends 30.04.25 $95/mth Min. cost $95 Link not supplied	$95/mth Min. cost $95	Link not supplied
#7	More	More Fast Plus NBN nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $80/mth for first 12 months for CommBank customers, then $90/mth ongoing $100/mth Min. cost $100 Go to Site	$100/mth Min. cost $100	Go to Site
#8	Origin Broadband	Origin Broadband Enthusiast+ nbn® 100 nbn® 100/34 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Online only sign up includes 5,000 Everyday Rewards Points & 12mths of Paramount+ when you sign up to Origin internet $110/mth Min. cost $110 Link not supplied	$110/mth Min. cost $110	Link not supplied

NBN connection type

It is worth noting, however, that not every NBN technology type is able to achieve maximum speeds on an NBN 100 plan. Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) technology types may have difficulties achieving these speeds. FTTN connections need to be within 400m of the node in order to get 100Mbps download speeds, and even so, this isn't a guarantee.

If your house is between 400 metres and 700 metres from the node, you may only be able to achieve speeds of up to 60Mbps, which is still fast enough to give you access to a plan on most NBN speed tiers.

If you absolutely must have faster speeds then you can request an upgrade to FTTP, but right now it will cost you a lot. NBN Co. is planning to upgrade most FTTN to FTTP for free by 2025. You could be waiting some time, however.

Hot tip

Your NBN speed is a shared resource. For example, when you subscribe to an NBN 50 plan, your 50Mbps is divided up between every person and device in your household. If one person is using 10Mbps to watch a video on YouTube, that leaves 40Mbps left for everyone else.

NBN 250 (Superfast):
Best NBN speed tier for heavier users

Download speeds

Up to 250Mbps
Around 200-248Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Up to 25Mbps

NBN 250 plans are one of the faster NBN plans with speeds of up to 250Mbps and upload speeds of up to 25Mbps. NBN 250 plans are ideal for anyone who really wants to push their internet connection to its limits, or even for a small business.

In most cases, you'll pay around $40 per month extra for an NBN 250 plan when compared to an NBN 100 plan. That's not bad, considering you're more than doubling your speeds.

To get an NBN 250 plan, you'll need either an FTTP or HFC NBN connection. All FTTP and HFC premises are eligible for NBN 250 plans. Other NBN connection types aren't eligible for plans faster than 100Mbps, but thanks to a range of FTTN upgrades in the pipeline more Aussies will be able to access them soon enough.

#1	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Superfast nbn® 250/23 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 12 months! $75/mth for 12 months, then $95/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $75/mth Min. cost $75 Link not supplied	$75/mth Min. cost $75	Link not supplied
#2	Dodo Editor's Pick	Dodo Editor's Pick nbn Home Superfast Plan nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data 12mths Deal: Incl. $15/mth discount for 12 months based on the standard price $98.90/mth. Ends 29.04.25. T&Cs apply $83.90/mth Min. cost $83.90 Go to Site*	$83.90/mth Min. cost $83.90	Go to Site
#3	Vodafone	Vodafone Home Superfast nbn® nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth for 6 mths + Speed upgrade at no extra cost if you have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $84/mth Min. cost $84 Link not supplied	$84/mth Min. cost $84	Link not supplied
#4	Kogan Internet	Kogan Internet nbn250 Platinum Unlimited nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: $84.90/mth for first 6 months and revert back to $94.90/mth thereafter. Offer ends 30.05.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#5	Tangerine Telecom	Tangerine Telecom SuperSpeedy NBN nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for the first 6 mths, $84.90/month for first 6 months, then $104.90/month + 3 months BINGE. Ends 30.06.25 $84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90 Go to Site	$84.90/mth Min. cost $84.90	Go to Site
#6	iiNet	iiNet nbn Home Superfast Liimitless nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 mths - $84.99/mth for first 6 months, then $99.99/mth. Use code SAVE15FOR6. Ends 06.05.25 $84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99 Go to Site	$84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99	Go to Site
#7	TPG	TPG nbn Home Superfast Unlimited Plan nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get Price Beat Guarantee + $84.99/mth for first 6 months, then $99.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99 Go to Site	$84.99/mth Min. cost $84.99	Go to Site
#8	Superloop	Superloop Superfast nbn250/25 nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $14/mth off for 6 months! $85/mth for 6 mths, then $99/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $85/mth Min. cost $85 Go to Site	$85/mth Min. cost $85	Go to Site
#9	iPrimus	iPrimus Home Superfast nbn250 Plan nbn® 250/21 Mbps Unlimited Data $104/mth Min. cost $104 Go to Site	$104/mth Min. cost $104	Go to Site
#10	AGL	AGL Home Superfast nbn nbn® 250/23 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: AGL Bundle Offer: $75/mth for the first 6 mths then $99/mth after that when you BYO modem and have AGL energy. $114/mth Min. cost $114 Link not supplied	$114/mth Min. cost $114	Link not supplied

NBN 1000 (Ultrafast):
Fastest NBN speed tier you can get

Download speeds

Up to 1,000Mbps
Between 200-700Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Up to 50Mbps

NBN 1000 plans are offered on the fastest NBN speed tier around, but you'll need to have won the NBN lottery to be able to sign up for an NBN 1000 plan. To do so, you'll need either an FTTP or HFC NBN connection.

All FTTP premises are eligible for NBN 1000 plans, as are a majority of HFC connections.

NBN 1000 plans are somewhat of a luxury. While they won't improve your streaming performance, they'll speed up almost any download dramatically. For example, downloading a new release game might take less than 10 minutes on an NBN 1000 plan. An NBN 100 plan could take over an hour with the same game.

If you don't want to wait a second longer than you have to for a download an NBN 1000 plan might be for you. Otherwise, it might be worth considering a 5G home wireless broadband plan. These can get super-fast speeds if you've got the right coverage, and they're cheaper than an NBN 1000 plan for the most part.

#1	Flip	Flip Unlimited Ultra Speed nbn1000 nbn® 900/50 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Promotional pricing - $94/mth for first 4 months then $104.90/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $104.90/mth Min. cost $94 Go to Site	$104.90/mth Min. cost $94	Go to Site
#2	Swoop	Swoop nbn® Home Ultrafast nbn® 900/50 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 6 months with code LOVE20, $119/mth for first 6 months then $139/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $119/mth Min. cost $119 Link not supplied	$119/mth Min. cost $119	Link not supplied
#3	Buddy Telco	Buddy Telco Zoomy nbn - Unlimited nbn® 875/42 Mbps Unlimited Data $99/mth Min. cost $99 Go to Site	$99/mth Min. cost $99	Go to Site
#4	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Ultra-Fast nbn - Unlimited nbn® 875/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20 off for the first 6 months. Promo code BIG20. $129/mth after promo ends 30.04.25 $109/mth Min. cost $109 Link not supplied	$109/mth Min. cost $109	Link not supplied
#5	Southern Phone	Southern Phone nbn Ultrafast nbn® 860/43 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $20/mth off for 12 months! $85/mth for 12 months, then $105/mth. Offer ends 05.08.25 $85/mth Min. cost $85 Link not supplied	$85/mth Min. cost $85	Link not supplied
#6	Superloop	Superloop Lightspeed nbn1000/50 nbn® 860/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Incl. $10/mth off for 6 mths! $99/mth for 6 mths, then $109/mth + Free Amazon eero 6+ if you stay connected for 24 mths $99/mth Min. cost $99 Go to Site	$99/mth Min. cost $99	Go to Site
#7	AGL	AGL Home Ultrafast nbn nbn® 860/43 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: AGL Bundle Offer: $85/mth for the first 6 mths then $109/mth after that when you BYO modem and have AGL energy. $124/mth Min. cost $124 Link not supplied	$124/mth Min. cost $124	Link not supplied
#8	Origin Broadband	Origin Broadband Ultra fast nbn® 1000 nbn® 860/42 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Online only sign up includes 5,000 Everyday Rewards Points & 12mths of Paramount+ when you sign up to Origin internet $130/mth Min. cost $130 Link not supplied	$130/mth Min. cost $130	Link not supplied
#9	MATE	MATE Flamin' Fast nbn 1000/50 nbn® 831/49 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $30/mth off for the first 6 mths (use code MATE30) + 1-month money back guarantee on your Internet + Bundle & Save! $90/mth Min. cost $90 Link not supplied	$90/mth Min. cost $90	Link not supplied
#10	Vodafone	Vodafone Home Ultrafast nbn® nbn® 800/40 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Save $10/mth for 6 mths + Speed upgrade at no extra cost if you have a mobile phone plan with Vodafone $94/mth Min. cost $94 Link not supplied	$94/mth Min. cost $94	Link not supplied

NBN 12 (Basic I):
Best NBN speed tier for sometime users

Download speeds

Up to 12Mbps
Around 10-12Mbps during peak hours

Upload speeds

Up to 1Mbps

NBN 12 is a basic internet connection, roughly equivalent to the average speeds you'd get on ADSL2+. An NBN 12 connection is only really suitable for day-to-day internet usage. It won't wow you, but it's still enough to stream high definition video from the likes of Netflix, Stan, YouTube, or Binge.

While NBN 12 may seem suitable for a sole-person household most plans in this speed tier are actually as expensive if not more than an NBN 25 plan making it worth the upgrade.

#1	Flip	Flip Unlimited Value nbn12 nbn® 12/0.8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Promotional pricing - $39/mth for first 4 months then $52.90/mth. Offer ends 30.04.25 $52.90/mth Min. cost $39 Go to Site	$52.90/mth Min. cost $39	Go to Site
#2	iiNet	iiNet nbn12 Liimitless nbn® 12/0.8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $15/mth off for 6 mths - $59.99/mth for first 6 months, then $74.99/mth. Use code SAVE15FOR6. Ends 06.05.25 $59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99 Go to Site	$59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99	Go to Site
#3	TPG	TPG nbn12 Unlimited Plan nbn® 12/0.8 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Get Price Beat Guarantee + $59.99/mth for first 6 months, then $74.99/mth. T&Cs apply. $59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99 Go to Site	$59.99/mth Min. cost $59.99	Go to Site
#4	Moose NBN	Moose NBN nbn 12/1 Economy nbn® 11/1 Mbps Unlimited Data Deal: Includes $12/mth off for first 6 months, then $59.80/month. Ends 30.06.25 $47.80/mth Min. cost $47.80 Link not supplied	$47.80/mth Min. cost $47.80	Link not supplied
#5	Aussie Broadband	Aussie Broadband Basic nbn - Unlimited nbn® 11/0.84 Mbps Unlimited Data $69/mth Min. cost $69 Link not supplied	$69/mth Min. cost $69	Link not supplied

What's the difference in download times?

So how much of a difference does a faster NBN connection make to your download times? 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.

Download	NBN 12	NBN 25	NBN 50	NBN 100	NBN 250	NBN 1000
A music album (approx. 100MB)	1 min	33 sec	16 sec	8 sec	3 sec	Instant
Photoshop (approx. 1GB)	12 min	6 min	3 min	1.5 min	34 sec	8 sec
A HD movie on iTunes (approx. 5GB)	59 min	29 min	14 min	7 min	2 min, 51 sec	42 sec
A new release game (approx. 100GB)	20 hours	9 hours, 30 min	2 hours, 40 min	1 hours, 20 min	57 min 2 sec	14 min, 18 sec

How to check your current NBN speed?

You can use the tool below to find out what NBN 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.

Internet Speed Test

Is your internet fast enough? Test internet speeds at your location with a single click.

Still confused about NBN speeds?

We know it can be a bit of a confusing concept, especially with so many technical terms. Watch our quick video to get you up to speed (pardon the pun) and get a better idea of which plan might be right for your household. Plus, we did it with LEGO!

What are NBN typical 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 required to advertise what kinds of NBN speeds you can expect.

ISPs are required to display typical evening download speeds in their marketing materials as well as typical evening upload speeds in some cases. These are the NBN speeds you can expect during peak hours when everyone else is online.

'Typical evening speeds' is a term coined by the ACCC. 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. Your NBN upload speeds may also be reduced during peak hours.

NBN speed FAQs

Do I need different equipment if I want faster speeds?

In most cases, you won't need to change your modem or router if you move to a faster plan. The one exception is NBN 1000 plans, which will require a higher-end router such as a Google Nest to help deliver their speeds.

However, better hardware can also help if you've got Wi-Fi connectivity issues for example, which may make it easier to take advantage of your improved speeds.

Can I change 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.

Why am I not getting the advertised speeds?

While NBN plans are advertised with a theoretical maximum speed, your connection could be slower than what you're paying for.

If you've got a fibre-to-the-node NBN connection, the most common reason for slower-than-advertised speeds is distance from the node. Customers within 400m of a node should be able to get speeds of up to 100Mbps, while customers further than 700m will start to see more significant speed degradation.

Congestion is another possible cause of the slowdown. If you're only noticing slower speeds at certain times, it's probably because everyone else in your neighbourhood is trying to get online at the same time.

A failing modem can also impact your internet speeds. If you're not sure what speeds you're actually getting, you can quickly run a speed test.