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The fastest internet plans in Australia

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For many households, the National Broadband Network (NBN) will be the source of the fastest internet plans you are likely to find. However, finding a fast plan and reliable provider can be a massive challenge.

Australia is a huge country geographically, with not a whole lot of people in it. Even though we are one of the most urbanised countries in the world, building the National Broadband Network (NBN) and providing ‘fast’ internet in general has been no mean feat. In fact, it has been somewhat of a struggle, with providers having to compensate customers for slow speeds, and a whole range of customers ditching the NBN altogether and moving to alternative networks.

Read on to find out who the fastest NBN providers in Australia are, and how to pick the right fast home internet plan for your needs.

Home Ultrafast (NBN 1000) plans

It’s possible to get gigabit-speed NBN in Australia, although it’s not available to everyone and definitely doesn’t come cheap. More and more telcos are launching NBN plans on these faster speed tiers, however, you’ll typically need to be on a Fibre to the Premises NBN connection to qualify, or live at one of the HFC connected homes capable of achieving ultra-fast speeds.

Providers offering NBN 250 and/or NBN 1000 to eligible customers include Aussie Broadband, Vodafone, iiNet, Kogan, iPrimus, Optus and Telstra. These plans offer a typical peak-hour download speed of 215Mbps for NBN 250, and 250Mbps or more for NBN 1000, which varies between provider.

The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Ultrafast (NBN 1000) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Home Superfast (NBN 250) plans

As with NBN 1000, you’ll need to be on a FTTP or selected HFC connection in order to access NBN 250 plans, which come with a download speed of up to 250Mbps, and uploads to 25Mbps. Most major telcos now offer these plans, even if they don’t have NBN 1000 available.

The following tables show a selection of unlimited Home Superfast (NBN 250) plans on Canstar Blue’s database listed in order of standard monthly cost, from lowest to highest. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.

Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans

NBN 100 was previously the fastest speed available, but now hits that sweet spot between fast speeds and slightly more affordable prices compared to NBN 250 and NBN 1000. Like the faster speed tiers, access to NBN 100 speeds may be limited to certain NBN connection types.

The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Premium Evening Speed (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 wide range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners. This list is not an endorsement of the speeds, which can be impacted by numerous variables.

Fast 5G internet plans

You may have heard about 5G with its fast speeds as the ‘NBN killer’ but at the moment, the 5G network doesn’t pose much of a threat to the NBN, as 5G coverage across Australia is still nowhere near as extensive. If you’re interested in 5G internet, you’ll need to check coverage in your area, as there’s no point in having a 5G-capable modem if you don’t have the network available to you.

Secondly, these 5G networks aren’t meant to replace the NBN network, but rather work as a supplement to fixed networks — if we relied more on the 5G mobile network for our internet needs than the fixed networks, it could cause some serious congestion problems. Customers who can’t access NBN in their area or have other problems with connecting to the NBN, might find these 5G internet options a better alternative.

5G home internet plans may also be speed-capped to 50Mbps or 100Mbps, depending on the plan or provider, so you may not actually experience speeds faster than what’s available on your NBN connection. However, if you’re considering 5G as an NBN alternative, you can find a range of plans below.

The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.

Brand Features Max Data**/billing period Advertised Cost^^/billing period
Telstra Logo

5G Home Internet

  • 5G speeds
  • Speeds capped at 25Mbps after 1TB allowance exceeded
  • Includes Telstra 5G Home Modem ($0 when you stay connected for 24 months)
  • Special offer: first month free for new customers. Terms apply.

min. cost $85 over one month

1TBMax Data**/billing period $85Advertised Cost^^/billing period
Optus Logo

Optus Plus Entertainer Superfast 5G

  • No speed cap
  • 50Mbps satisfaction guarantee
  • Includes the Optus supplied Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway Modem ($576 modem cost)
  • Stay connected for 36 months and pay $0 for the modem
  • Includes standard Netflix subscription via SubHub
  • Special offer: $0 Start-up fee + 1 Month free
  • Intro offer: $89/mth for first 6 mths, then $99/mth T&Cs Apply

min. cost $675 over first month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $99Advertised Cost^^/billing period Link to provider unavailable
View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue

The following table shows selected published 5G home internet plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of cost, from the lowest to highest and then by data allowance, largest to smallest.

Brand Features Max Data**/billing period Advertised Cost^^/billing period
TPG Logo

5G Home Broadband Plus

  • Up to 50Mbps speeds
  • $0 setup fee with no lock-in contract
  • $0 modem when you stay connected for 36 months
  • Special offer: First month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $59.99 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $59.99Advertised Cost^^/billing period Go to Site
iiNet Logo

Home Broadband Plus

  • Up to 50Mbps speeds
  • $0 set up fees and no lock-in contract
  • $0 5G modem
  • Special offer: one month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $59.99 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $59.99Advertised Data^^/billing period Go to Site
Vodafone Logo

Ultimate 5G Home Broadband Plus

  • $60 per month for existing Vodafone customers
  • Up to 50Mbps speeds
  • $0 setup fee with no lock-in contract
  • $0 modem when you stay connected for 36 months
  • Special offer: First month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $65 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $65Advertised Cost^^/billing period Go to Site
TPG Logo

5G Home Broadband Premium

  • Up to 100Mbps speeds
  • $0 setup fee with no lock-in contract
  • $0 modem when you stay connected for 36 months
  • Special offer: First month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $64.99 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $64.99Advertised Cost^^/billing period Go to Site
iiNet Logo

Home Broadband Premium

  • Up to 100Mbps speeds
  • $0 set up fees and no lock-in contract
  • $0 5G modem
  • Special offer: one month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $69.99 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $69.99Advertised Data^^/billing period Go to Site
Vodafone Logo

Premium 5G Home Broadband

  • $65 per month for existing Vodafone customers
  • Up to 100Mbps speeds
  • $0 setup fee with no lock-in contract
  • $0 modem when you stay connected for 36 months
  • Special offer: First month plan fees free. Terms apply.

min. cost $70 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $70Advertised Cost^^/billing period Go to Site
Optus Logo

Optus Plus Everyday Fast 5G

  • Speed capped at 100Mbps
  • 50Mbps satisfaction guarantee
  • Includes the Optus supplied Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway Modem ($576 modem cost)
  • Stay connected for 36 months and pay $0 for the modem
  • Special offer: $0 Start-up fee + 1 Month free

min. cost $655 over first month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $79Advertised Cost^^/billing period Link to provider unavailable
Spintel Logo

SpinTel 5G Unlimited

  • Up to 250Mbps speeds
  • Nokia 5G modem available

min. cost $89 over one month

UnlimitedMax Data**/billing period $89Advertised Cost^^/billing period
View all NBN plans listed on Canstar Blue

What is the fastest internet in Australia?

Generally speaking, the fastest household internet speeds that you can expect in Australia are around 100Mbps downloading and 40Mbps uploading. This is unless you qualify for NBN 250 or NBN 1000 whereby download speeds of up to 1000Mbps are theoretically possible. 

While there are undoubtedly some households sporadically achieving speeds above this mark, 100Mbps is pretty much the benchmark for fast internet in Australia. 

It’s all well and good for telcos to advertise potential 100Mbps download speeds, but how accurately does this translate to reality? In June 2023, the ACCC released its 20th quarterly report on the state of telco services and the speeds of their NBN plans. The ACCC found the percentage that popular providers were able to perform at the maximum plan speed in peak periods (7pm – 11pm) was:

  1. Exetel: 103.5%
  2. Launtel: 103.3%
  3. Optus: 100.1%
  4. Telstra: 99.8%
  5. TPG: 98.1%
  6. Vodafone: 97.8%
  7. Aussie Broadband: 97.5%
  8. Superloop: 96.9%
  9. iiNet: 96.8%
  10. Dodo & iPrimus: 95.4%

Essentially, this means that out of the biggest Australian providers, Exetel was technically rated ‘the best’ as its plans were more likely to achieve their maximum performance speeds. Previously, Launtel, TPG and Optus had each held the top spot for several consecutive reports, demonstrating that performance could change month to month. While the ACCC report is a helpful guide to see which providers might deliver the fastest NBN speeds, keep in mind that there are still many variables that impact speeds and it is not a determinant for what your experience will be. 

What’s the best internet for streaming?

Netflix regularly rates how fast popular Australian broadband providers perform in its streaming speed tests. Optus frequently ranks as the best provider for Netflix out of the six main providers tested, usually ahead of iiNet, while Telstra has improved in recent times.

  • Netflix recommends a minimum speed of 0.5Mbps for standard streaming and much faster for HD streaming.
  • HD streaming requires much more bandwidth and a higher download speed.

Luckily, most broadband connections in Australia can feasibly cover this requirement. However, congestion and other factors can easily wreak havoc on your Netflix enjoyment.

How can I get fast internet in my home?

There are a number of things you can do to improve your internet speed without changing your plan per se, but Australians are generally experiencing faster internet speeds than ever before, with big potential for the future. However, pretty much the most foolproof way is to get an NBN plan on the fastest speed tier if it’s available to your home.

Keep in mind that choosing a plan on a fast NBN speed tier, whether that’s NBN 100, NBN 250 or NBN 1000, will typically be rather expensive. These plans can cost around $100 or more each month, although you can find cheaper NBN 100 plans and discounts on plan fees from time to time.

Are there ways that I can make my NBN faster?

If you’re experiencing slow NBN speeds, and you want to improve it, there are a couple of things that you can do:

  • Disconnect any unused devices from the WiFi
  • Upgrade your NBN plan to a faster speed tier (if possible)
  • Upgrade your modem or buy a WiFi extender/booster
  • Check on the NBN Co website whether your home is eligible for a free technology upgrade
  • Check out the NBN Technology Choice Program, which allows households to pay to upgrade their connection type, although this can be very costly 

It might be accurate to say that your NBN speed is partly out of your hands, given that it depends on the connection type available, and the coverage offered in your area. However, by choosing the right provider and NBN speed plan for your needs, you should still be able to achieve the download speeds you need. If not, you can try some of the methods above to try and improve your connection.

What is the fastest NBN technology?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is generally considered to be the fastest type of NBN in Australia as it involves a fibre-optic cable running directly to your property, as opposed to also utilising existing infrastructure such as copper wiring to complete the journey to your home. 

After FTTP, Fibre to the Building (FTTB), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections should deliver the next best and more reliable speeds. 

Unfortunately, households do not get a choice in which type of NBN connection they get, as it is decided by the National Broadband Network – making it something of a postcode lottery.

What if I don’t have fibre NBN?

While fibre NBN customers typically have the best chance to get super-fast internet, other users shouldn’t be completely dismayed.

  • NBN Fixed Wireless customers can still get up to 75Mbps download speeds.
  • SkyMuster customers can still achieve download speeds of around 25Mbps in peak hours, but new trial plans offer potential ‘burst’ speeds of up to 100Mbps.
  • ADSL2+ customers can get speeds download speeds up to 24Mbps.
  • Cable customers can get anywhere from up to 30Mbps, all the way up to 100Mbps.

While it doesn’t seem so long ago that Australians were used to hearing the beeps and boops of dial-up internet, it’s evident we’ve come a long way in regards to internet speeds. Remember: 1 megabit is equal to about 0.125 megabytes, so multiply your theoretical top speed by that amount and that is feasibly how much you could download in one second.

However, keep in mind is that top speeds are a maximum only. Many users report that their internet is much slower than the advertised speed, and as mentioned earlier, there are several factors that can be at fault here. While it makes sense to optimise your internet speed where possible, at the end of the day there are things like congestion that are out of your control that can affect speeds.

The issue of advertised speeds falling short of expectations has become a serious issue, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigating service providers to ensure the most accurate performance information is reported before customers sign up to new plans.

Should I get faster internet?

Fast internet relies on countless factors to achieve optimum speeds, so taking a stab in the dark and changing providers on the same connection may not result in the improved performance you crave. However, if your current plan has been rather lackluster for a long time – and at all times of the day – then it could make sense to test the waters and switch providers.

Arguably the best and easiest way to get faster internet will be to wait until the NBN comes to your house, and upgrade to the fastest Typical Evening Speed option available at your location.

If you’re already on the NBN, you might be surprised to know that a faster speed tier may not be all that much more expensive – or that your current plan may not be delivering the speeds you expected.

The NBN is Australia’s best hope for reliable, wide-reaching and ‘fast’ internet, but until it’s rolled out across the country, it can pay to make the best of what you currently have and shop around for a better deal.

Compare NBN Providers

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