Cheap NBN plans: Compare speed tiers and providers

Finding cheap NBN plans doesn't have to involve monotonous research. We can help you quickly compare the cheapest plans from among the 30+ providers in our database, using our handy tables below.

We keep this page updated regularly, but the tables also update as soon as any prices change, so you'll always be looking at the latest list of cheapest NBN plans we track, including any special NBN deals going right now.

Currently, the cheapest NBN 25 plan in our database comes from Flip. The Flip Unlimited Premium NBN 25 plan normally costs $59.90 per month, but is reduced to a $39 monthly fee for the first six months. This deal’s available to new customers as part of an exclusive offer via our tables below. Offer ends June 20.

Either price is competitive and comes with 25Mbps typical evening download speeds and 8Mbps upload speeds. If you sign up and it’s not for you, Flip also offers a 14-day satisfaction guarantee and has no lock-in contact, so you can get your money back and find another cheap NBN plan that might suit you better. The plan also has no lock-in contract, so you can switch providers before the deal ends and grab another intro discount from somewhere else.

For comparison, check out more of the cheapest NBN 25 plans from our database below, ranked by monthly price for at least the first six months.

Dodo currently has two NBN 50 plans, but right now we're focusing on the "nbn50 Unlimited Plan (Special Offer)" option. This plan has a solid $24.10 discount for the first six months, after which the ongoing cost is $83.90 per month – offer available till June 24. The ongoing price is also competitive, but given there's no lock-in contract, you can always find another special offer in six months time to keep the savings going.

If this plan isn't for you, you can compare Dodo with other cheap NBN 50 plans from our comparison engine.

For NBN 100, Mate has our database's cheapest plan right now with its No Worries nbn 100/20 offering. The numbers in the plan name refer to max potential downloads and uploads, but you can expect closer to 97Mbps download speeds and 19Mbps upload speeds during the typically busy evening period. The former is a smidge under the full 100Mbps reported by many competitors, but few telcos manage 19Mbps uploads – 16Mbps to 17Mbps is more common.

Normally priced at $90 per month, new Mate customers who sign up before June 30 pay $60 each month for the first six months with code MATE30. If you want a home phone line, Mate offers that as an optional plan add-on as well as an optional preconfigured modem-router. If you like the service, you can refer friends for plan credit. Don’t like it? Get a full plan refund if you leave within the first month and pay no exit fees.

Alternatively, consider one of these other cheap NBN 100 plans from our database, ranked by introductory pricing of at least six months:

Dodo's Special Offer NBN 250 plan is discounted $24.10 per month for the first six months after signing up, after which the ongoing price is still quite competitive at $98.90. Plus, in some locations you can save up to $10 per month when you get NBN with electricity and gas at the same address, but also consider how Dodo's energy and gas pricing compares to your current provider's for those services. 

At 250Mbps, these are the fastest self-reported typical evening speeds you'll see – though it's worth nothing Dodo isn't alone in this level of performance.

Just remember that NBN 250 plans are only available to FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) and HFC (Hybrid-Fibre Coaxial) premises.

Southern Phone has a great NBN 1000 deal going right now. New customers who sign up before August 05 pay just $85 per month for the first 12 months, after which the ongoing price is still a competitive $105 per month. This intro discount is double the length of the more-standard ones you'll see in the market.

As for what you get, Southern Phone also has one of the fastest NBN 1000 plans in our database, when ranked by reported typical evening speeds. At 860Mbps, it's well ahead of most of the pack and not far shy of the 900Mbps of the fastest provider (Flip).

Like with NBN 250, you need to live in an FTTP or HFC home to sign up for an NBN 1000 plan. If that’s you, here’s a list of the cheapest NBN 1000 plans from our database.

Many, perhaps most NBN plans have special introductory discounts, after which the monthly cost increases to an "ongoing" price. These discounts usually last six months and are for new customers only, but can be longer or shorter and sometimes embrace returning customers.

This might sound like a gotcha, but it can actually be good news. Changing NBN providers is easy, with little red tape and (usually) no noticeable gap in service. This means you can change providers regularly to maintain a healthy discount, without ever paying full price. It's a great way to save money, and has been officially advised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

As such, where an NBN deal like this lasts for six months or more, we display it as the main price of the plan in our tables. But we include a green "Deal" disclaimer, which you can click on to view additional pricing and timeframe information. You can also click on "View Full Results" at the bottom of any table, then change the Sort option to "Avg. Monthly Cost" to see the average price over the first 12 months after signing up (deal pricing included). Given most NBN plans increase in price every July, a longer-term comparison than this isn't necessarily useful.

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 are 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.

There's one notable way to access free internet in Australia. The School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) is a government-backed program through which families with school-aged children can apply for free NBN internet.

There are 30,000 spots available. Applications can still be placed until all places have been filled, though they aren't guaranteed to continue being accepted after 2025. Successful families will receive free internet until 30 June, 2028.

For information on how to apply, visit the link above.