What NBN speed tier do I need?

The National Broadband Network (NBN) upgraded Australia’s internet infrastructure, replacing the copper wire and hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) networks with much faster fibre optic cable technology. But if you’re not clued up on the technologies behind the NBN, you can be forgiven for being confused by the speeds and options available. Understand which speeds are on offer, how providers describe them, and what you can actually expect in the ‘real world’ from your NBN plan.

What are the NBN speed tiers?

There are eight main residential NBN speed tiers available, with maximum download and upload speeds measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). Be aware that some internet providers refer to different speed tiers by different names, with some opting to reflect maximum ‘evening speeds’ in line with new standards recommended by the ACCC.

• NBN 12 – 12/1: 12Mbps download, 1Mbps upload. Also known as Home Basic I.
• NBN 25 – 25/5 or 25/10: 25Mbps download, 5Mbps or 10Mbps upload. Also known as Home Basic II.
• NBN 50 – 50/20: 50Mbps download, 20Mbps upload. Also known as Home Standard.
• NBN 100 – 100/20 or 100/40: 100Mbps download, 20Mbps or 40Mbps upload. Also known as Home Fast I.
• NBN 500 – 500/50: 500 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload. Also known as Home Fast II (FTTP/HFC connections only).
• NBN 750 – 750/50: 750Mbps download, 50Mbps upload. Also known as Home Superfast (FTTP/HFC connections only).
• NBN 1000 – 1000/100: 1000Mbps download, 100Mbps upload. Also known as Home Ultrafast (FTTP/HFC connections only).
• NBN 2000 – 2000/200 (FTTP) or 2000/100 (HFC): 2000Mbps download, 100Mbps or 200Mbps upload. Also known as Home Hyperfast (FTTP/HFC connections only).

The NBN 12 speed tier will generally deliver similar speeds to what you’d find on most copper connections, with the other speeds looking to handle the workload of larger – or more demanding – homes. As a result, while cost and data considerations are important in your decision-making process, the speed is also an important factor to consider, and may be worth forking over extra for to keep up with your family’s downloading demands.

NBN speed tiers explained

NBN 12 speed plans

The cheapest plans available, NBN 12 plans are the closest to your old ADSL connection, meaning they aren’t built for high workloads, and more suited for those who don’t need the latest and greatest, or only occasionally use the internet.

Most NBN 12 plans can be found from around $60 per month, with some up to and over $70. At these low prices you’ll have to watch out for set-up fees, modem fees, lengthy contracts and other costs designed to help make up for the cheap entry price.

NBN 25 speed plans

NBN 25 plans are great for typical usage, including streaming in high definition during peak periods. More competitive than the Basic NBN 12 market, most NBN 25 plans will cost you between $60 to $75 per month, although some brands may advertise bonus offers to entice you. However, it’s best to keep an eye out for any set-up or modem fees at this price point too.

NBN 50 speed plans

NBN 50 is the ‘just right’ speed tier for most families, heavier streamers and anyone wanting to get the most out of their NBN connection, without blowing their monthly budget. Usually at this price there is a lot of competition, with NBN 50 plans often found at similar prices as some NBN 25 plans.

If you’re looking at an NBN 50 plan, the minimum you can expect to pay is around $65 per month, with some plans often going up to $90 monthly or more. Providers may be more willing to shed contracts and set-up fees here, but it still pays to check all fine print before you commit.

NBN 100 and NBN 500 speed plans

As the fastest Fibre-to-the-Node speed tier available to Australians, NBN 100 plans are unsurprisingly more expensive than the slower speed tiers. The cheapest providers here hover around the $80 mark, but may be worth it if you’re a heavy-duty internet user or part of a large household.

However, for customers with an FTTP or HFC connection, you may be able to sign up to the faster NBN 500 plan at no additional cost. Some providers may only offer the NBN 500 plan to homes with that connection type and likewise, if you have an FTTN/C/B connection, you’ll only be able to access NBN 100 plans and these plans may be priced the same.

NBN 750, NBN 1000 and NBN 2000 speed plans

The very fastest NBN plans are available only to customers with FTTP and HFC connections. While the NBN 750 plan is widely available from providers, NBN 1000 and NBN 2000 plans may not be offered by as many telcos.

Most ultra-fast NBN plans include unlimited data, and you do have the option of avoiding a contract with a month-to-month agreement. Keep in mind that these plans aren’t for everyone, but if you do rely heavily on fast internet, live in a large household, or simply have the money to spend, the fastest NBN plans may be worth checking out.

NBN offers you might like

• NBN Sponsored Plans
• NBN50 Plans
• NBN100 Plans

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..

Sponsored Products

dodo | NBN500 1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $62.99) Typical evening speed of 100Mbps Save $30/month for 6 months, plus save an extra $10/month When you bundle with Dodo Energy plans. T&C’s Apply, offer ends 28/10/25.

Unlimited Data/month

$62.99 Cost/month

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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.

Which NBN speed tier offers the best value?

Choosing a speed tier is almost as much work as choosing a provider, but it’s worth investigating, as you don’t want to be left with slow internet. As a result, which speed tier offers the best value for you will depend on your internet needs, with most households able to use NBN 25 and NBN 50 plans without issues, while others will need at least NBN 100 to avoid problems. It’s also worth considering your connection type, as this might affect which plan you can sign up to, as well as how fast your download speeds are.

However, with the more expensive plans available as a month-by-month service, it may be worth trying different speed tiers from your provider to see which fits best for your household, as you may find the more expensive option worth the money, or that you can get by with a slower speed tier, and save you some money at the same time.

Which NBN speed do I need?

Which NBN speed you should sign up to will ultimately depend on your household’s internet usage, as well as how much you’re willing to spend. Smaller households may find a slower speed tier such as NBN 25 or NBN 12 gets the job done without breaking the bank, while larger households – or those with more intensive internet usage – may need at an NBN 50 plan or faster to keep the peace.

An internet connection is not really an area that you want to short change yourself, as slow internet speeds can quickly ruin the movie you’re streaming, or your social media scrolling. That being said, with so many providers available, you should always shop around to ensure that you’re getting the best deal, as you may find that jumping up to the next speed tier isn’t as costly as you may think.

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