When choosing an NBN plan, one of the biggest decisions is which speed tier you should choose. There are several different speed tiers available and it can be tricky to decide which speed tier is best for your internet usage needs.
The NBN 12 speed tier — also called Home Basic I — typically offers the cheapest NBN plans on the market, but the slower speeds aren’t for everyone. In this guide, we take a look at what is NBN 12 and whether an NBN 12 plan is best for your household’s internet needs.
NBN offers you might like
The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners.
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $79.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$79.99 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $85) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$85.00 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $99.99) Typical evening speed of 97Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$89.99 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
What is NBN 12?
NBN’s Home Basic I plan – also called NBN 12 – is the entry-level NBN speed tier available to households. The NBN 12 speed tier has download speeds of up to 12Mbps (megabits per second) and up to 1Mbps upload speed.
Download speeds means traffic coming to your end – such as videos, downloading emails, browsing and more. Uploads are things you upload to the internet (e.g. photos to Facebook or Instagram, and videos to YouTube).
NBN 12 is suitable for light users, and smaller households that only need to get the basics done, such as web browsing and checking emails, although it may also be able to handle standard-definition video streams. However, NBN Co states it should also handle a high-definition Netflix stream along with basic onling gaming.
The slow upload speed means that, according to NBN Co, it would take around three hours to upload a 1GB file. Compared to NBN 25 (which would take 35 minutes) and NBN 50 (which would take nine minutes), the slow upload speed could be a deal breaker if you regularly upload files, especially if you work from home.
Compare NBN 12 plans
NBN 12 plans are typically cheaper than plans on other speed tiers, but these plans may also be harder to track down as not all NBN providers will offer NBN 12 plans.
When you compare NBN 12 plans, it helps to look at a range of providers and consider your needs, including budget and what you want from a plan, such as an included modem or any discounts on plan fees. If you’re still struggling to find the right NBN 12 plan for you, you can check out our NBN provider most satisfied customers ratings to find out what Aussies think of their NBN provider.
The following table shows a selection of NBN 12 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by data inclusions, largest to smallest. Use our internet comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
NBN 12 evening speeds
You may have noticed when shopping around for an NBN 12 plan that many providers advertise ‘evening speeds’. Evening speeds basically denote typical speeds experienced in busy hours, between 7pm and 11pm – when everyone’s at home from work or school and using the internet.
If you’re curious about your provider’s typical evening speed — or you’re comparing speeds from a range of providers — you can check out our guide on typical evening speeds, or check the provider’s website directly. It’s worth noting that typical evening speeds are advertised speeds only; your own personal experience may differ, especially in the aforementioned peak periods.
Read more: What to do when your internet is down
Should I get a Basic NBN 12 plan?
Choosing an NBN plan may look like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Considering your own needs – especially in peak times – is a good first step into finding the right plan for you and then you can compare NBN 12 plans. The Home Basic I speed tier looks good on paper, but first consider if you can get by with such little bandwidth.
If you’re looking to save money on your internet bill, a Home Basic I (NBN 12) plan might look good because of the lower price, but you may find better ‘value’ elsewhere. If you’re a light user or a smaller household, chances are NBN 12 may work for you, but if you’ve got multiple people using the internet and streaming at once, you may want a faster plan. The NBN 25 plan is the next step up, and beyond that you can get NBN 50 and NBN 100.
Ultimately, an NBN 12 plan isn’t going to work for everyone. While it might be tempting to switch to a Home Basic I plan to save some money, if it impacts how you and anyone else in your household uses the internet — especially for work or study at home — an NBN 12 plan isn’t going to suit your needs.
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