The best cheap NBN plans this month

Before the age of the NBN, the most important choice you had to make when choosing a broadband plan was how much data it included. But these days, most plans offer unlimited data and in its place, broadband speeds have become a more important consideration, and what will ultimately dictate the price of your monthly bill. That's why the best NBN plans for most people aren't always the best for everyone. If you’re one of the many Australians that’s more interested in saving money than getting faster download speeds, there are plenty of cheap unlimited NBN plans to consider.

For your basic broadband needs, Moose has a dirt-cheap NBN 12 plan for $39.80 per month (then $59.80 per month). Moose also has deep discounts on its Lite (NBN 25) and  Everyday (NBN 50) plan, making them the cheapest in their respective categories.

Lastly, if you want both premium speed and great value, you're looking at spending at least $63.90 per month on NBN 100 and $89 per month for Superfast NBN 250 which isn't cheap, but still the cheapest you'll pay for premium speeds.

Exetel NBN is one of the providers with a plan under $50 per month, but the pricing will only last for your first six months. You'll pay $49.95 per month initially for NBN 12, but $59.95 per month thereafter. However, we would not recommend this plan since Tangerine's Standard speed Unlimited plan is cheaper at $44.90 for first 6 months, $55.90 thereafter.

When your discount is up, you might want to consider switching plans and providers, which is easier than ever on NBN. After all, $60 per month is enough to get you an NBN 50 plan.

Exetel NBN allows you to change plan anytime. If you want to upgrade or downgrade, you can do this up to one time per month for free. 

Take a gander at this week's five cheapest fixed-line NBN 12 plans with unlimited data below for comparison.

Tangerine NBN is also a great choice for NBN 25 plans. You'll pay $44.90 per month for your first six months, and $59.90 per month thereafter. That's a steep increase

Take a look at the plans below to see how Tangerine's cheap NBN 25 plan stacks up against the competition:

We're starting to speed up now with NBN 50 plans (also known as NBN Standard). NBN 50 is the most popular speed tier in Australia because it comfortably covers the most common internet needs and then some. You'll only find an NBN 50 plan below $50 per month on the rare occasion that a provider discounts their plans below the threshold but typically, $50 to $60 per month is what you will pay for NBN 50 speeds and unlimited data.

This month, Dodo has the best NBN 50 deal. You'll pay $53.85 per month for your first six months, but this jumps to $75 per month thereafter. 

$75 per month isn't unreasonable for an NBN 50 plan, but you can get cheaper deals in the long run. For example, SpinTel's NBN 50 plan is $54 per month for your first six months, but only $64.95 per month when your discount expires. 

Take a look at the plans below to see how Dodo's cheap NBN 50 plan compares:

Dodo is currently your best bet for an NBN 100 plan. You'll pay $63.85 per month for your first six months, and $85 per month thereafter. Even at full price, that's not bad. If you're in New South Wales or Victoria, you can save a further $10 per month by also getting your gas and energy with Dodo.

Below you'll find more of the cheapest NBN 100 plans so you can see how they stack up against Dodo's discounted plan.

As we edge closer to gigabit internet in Australia, you'll notice the gap between reported provider speeds and maximum theoretical speeds widen.

MyRepublic, for example, offers a decent deal on NBN Superfast at $89 per month (for the first six months) but it only self-reports typical evening speeds of 200Mbps (the maximum is 250Mbps at this tier). 

NBN 250 are only available to FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) or HFC (Hybrid-Fibre Coaxial) premises, but all addresses with these technology types should be able to get these plans. 

If you're looking for faster peak hour performance, here's a shortlist of NBN 250 plans sorted by typical evening speeds.

Australia's leading mobile provider charges a premium for its services and unlike the mobile market, there are fewer reasons to favour Telstra NBN over the competition. Telstra's cheapest unlimited plan currently clocks in at $80 per month. That comes with unlimited data and NBN Basic II speeds (25 Mbps average typical evening speeds) with no contract. You can also dodge the $99 connection fee if you sign up online.

Take a look at Telstra's most popular NBN plans below.

Telstra's biggest competitor Optus charges a similar monthly price for its cheapest plan (normally $79 per month) with one key difference: the Optus offer includes unlimited data and Standard NBN 50 speeds. 

One of the most important things to consider when looking for a cheap NBN plan is to work out which NBN speed tier you need. An NBN 12 plan's price might look appealing, but if you are a household of heavy internet users, you'll experience slow internet speeds that won't keep up with your needs.

Also double check whether the price you're getting is a promotional discounted price for new customers. If so, you'll need to check what the original price will revert to once the promotion is finished. If you're not in a contract - and most NBN plans aren't - you can easily find another cheaper plan to swap to.

​Still, when shopping for a budget broadband plan, there a few things to keep an eye out for:

• Technology at your address: If you're looking for a faster plan, NBN 250 and 1000 are only available to select FTTP and HFC customers. Knowing what NBN technology you have available at your address is the first step to knowing what deals are available to you.
• Promo pricing: Though most telcos no longer offer contracts, they do offer limited-time promotional pricing (typically for the first six months of your plan). When shopping for the cheapest NBN plans, be sure to check what the monthly price will be after your first six months.
• BYO modem: Most smaller providers offer BYO modem broadband plans and won't necessarily supply a modem unless you specifically request it. You will also incur an outright fee for the modem on your first bill if you do choose to take a modem. If you do already have an NBN modem that you're happy with, be sure to let your provider know you would like to BYO.

Still haven't found exactly what you're looking for? See what plans other Australians are selecting. Below is a list of the 10 most popular NBN plans below $70 per month.