Cheap NBN plans: Compare speed tiers and providers

This month, the cheapest NBN 25 plan in our database comes from Flip. The Flip Unlimited Premium NBN 25 plan normally costs $57.90 per month, but is reduced to a $39 monthly fee for the first six months. That deal’s available to new customers as part of an exclusive offer via our tables below.

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. For comparison, check out more of the cheapest NBN 25 plans from our database below.

Tangerine's Value Plus NBN plan is currently the cheapest NBN 50 plan in our database, thanks to a deal that gets you $23 off for the first six months after signing up. After that, the ongoing price is $82.90, which is still fairly competitive. The discount is available to new customers only who sign up before June 30.

Tangerine offers technical support between 8am and 10pm (AEST), Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on weekends and public holidays. The plan is BYO modem – you can purchase one from Tangerine directly for $169.90, but we don't advise you opt to buy this particular model because it didn't impress us during testing.

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

Mate nabs another cheap top spot this month, this time with its No Worries NBN 100/20 plan. Those numbers in the plan name refer to max potential downloads and uploads, but you can expect 97Mbps download speeds and 19Mbps upload speeds during the typically busy evening period.

Normally priced at $90 per month, new Mate customers pay $60 each month for the first six months. 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, refer friends for credit. Don’t like it? Get a full plan refund if you leave within the first month.

Alternatively, consider one of these other cheap NBN 100 plans from our database:

The Spintel NBN Unlimited 250 plan doesn’t just have the cheapest promo pricing this month for plans in our database, it also has the cheapest typical pricing. If you’re a new customer, you’ll pay a $78 monthly fee for the first six months. Afterwards, it costs $89.95 per month for the same self-reported typical evening speeds: 240Mbps downloads and 22Mbps uploads. Optionally, grab a home phone add-on or preconfigured modem-router at sign-up. If you have any issues, Spintel support is available seven days a week. And if you like the service, refer a friend for monthly credit.

The catch here is that NBN 250 plans 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.

The Spintel NBN Unlimited 1000 plan may not be the fastest NBN 1000 option in our database, but it is the cheapest. Well, at least initially. Buddy Telco’s Zoomy NBN – Unlimited plan has bragging rights to being the cheapest for typical pricing at $99 a month. But Spintel isn’t far behind at $100.95 per month. New Spintel customers pay a reduced $90 monthly fee for the first six months, which is the cheapest NBN 1000 promo price in our database. You can potentially save more money with a mobile bundle discount, too, or spend more by adding an optional preconfigured modem router or home phone add-on.

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.