The best NBN modems and routers for a good internet connection

Your home's NBN connection type dictates whether you need an NBN modem router (or separate modem and router) or just a router. No matter what, you'll need a router. But some technologies already have the modem hardware baked in or provided for free by NBN Co. Technologies that fall into this latter option are FTTP, HFC, and Sky Muster satellite.

What's the difference? Very simply, your modem is what connects you to the internet. But a modem can only connect to one other device at a time. A router acts as a hub, letting multiple devices talk to each other, either by WiFi or cables. So you connect your modem to your router and vois là, all your devices can access the modem (and thus the internet) via the router. You'll often see both devices housed in the same product, usually called a "modem router", but also "modem/router", "WiFi modem" and "NBN modem", among others.

If you're looking to size up the best NBN routers, modem routers and mesh WiFi systems, this we can help you find a good fit for your home internet setup.

The Asus RT-BE58U is the best NBN router for most homes in Australia. For a smidge over $300 RRP, you get a surprisingly futureproofed product, mostly because of WiFi 7. The combined 3,600Mbps wireless speeds are plenty for all NBN plans, plus the 2.5Gbps internet port makes this a great fit for people eyeing off NBN 2000. While the Ethernet LAN ports are relegated to 1Gbps speeds, there are four of them for connecting priority wired devices.

In my tests, the RT-BE58U offered low latency throughout my apartment, although there were some slower download and upload speeds in typical dead-spot areas. That said, the RT-BE58U is mesh compatible, so larger homes or those prone to WiFi dead spots can boost their wireless coverage by adding compatible mesh nodes.

If you don’t mind an older-model router, the D-Link Eagle Pro AI R15, is our pick for best cheap NBN router. This D-Link router has three gigabit Ethernet ports with dual-band WiFi 6 connectivity. Shared dual-band wireless speeds get up to 1,500Mbps, meaning the R15 is fit for any internet plan up to and including NBN 1000.

During my R15 speed tests, the router did a great job of preserving low latency throughout my apartment, with only one speed blip that still offered useable internet. If you do want the extra wireless coverage, the R15 also supports mesh expansion. Plus, there’s a surprisingly deep set of features in the web portal for avid network tinkerers.

One of the perks of grabbing a modem router as part of an NBN plan is it’ll arrive preconfigured and offer more straightforward support from your provider. The ZTE H1600 impresses out of the box with a slimline design, plenty of ports and whole-home WiFi coverage. Full disclosure: I did have WiFi issues that were eventually resolved by Exetel, but I couldn’t abide the ongoing latency spikes. But for non-gamers, it shouldn't be an issue.

Specs-wise, the H1600 has dual-band WiFi 6 speeds fast enough for all NBN plans (including NBN 1000), basic QoS, and straightforward mesh expansion via the affordable ZTE H3601 extender.

If you want a preconfigured ZTE H1600, add one with an NBN plan from Exetel, Origin Broadband or Superloop. Here's a quick look at the NBN 100 plans from these providers (not including the router price):

The TP-Link VX230v is a tough recommendation due to requiring more hands-on attention. But, despite its flaws, it really is one of the best NBN modem router add-ons you can bundle with an internet plan. For the smoothest sailing, I’d recommend restarting it every week or so by disconnecting its power, waiting 30 seconds or so, then plugging it back in. If that hurdle doesn’t bother you, the VX230v offers decent everyday internet performance.

This modem router also has some impressive versatility, including VoIP, mesh expansion and a multipurpose USB port. If you’re mesh expanding, pair the VX230v with the superior TP-Link HX510 mesh router. For more reliable connectivity, use an Ethernet cable for wired backhaul. That USB port allows for ad hoc network file sharing and 4G backup if you connect a compatible modem dongle.

If the VX230v is of interest, you can buy it as an NBN plan add-on from Activ8me, Mate, Moose NBN, and Spintel. Here’s a look at the cheapest NBN 100 plan from each of these providers, or you can click “view full results” to see more speed tier options:

If you go all out on the best mesh WiFi system in Australia, you can easily spend thousands of dollars for a cutting-edge three-pack configuration. While it’s a smidge older, the Google Nest WiFi Pro is the best mix of price and features for a three-pack configuration.

That $699 RRP includes three easy-to-configure Google mesh units, and I had seamless whole-home wireless coverage with two out of the three installed. Having a third, even for smaller spaces, means consistent low latency plus preserved download and upload speeds, even in areas that are typically prone to WiFi dead spots.

There isn’t a web portal, unfortunately, but there’s a good amount of monitoring and tweaking tools via the Google Home app. With shared tri-band WiFi 6E speeds up to 5,400Mbps, the Nest WiFi Pro is ready for NBN 2000 and beyond.

It’s effectively a dead heat between the bundled Optus modem and the Telstra Smart Modem 3, so treat this category as either/or. If you buy an Optus NBN plan, you have the option to add an Optus Ultra Wi-Fi Gen 2 modem router for no extra charge. Well, you won’t be charged if you stick with Optus for 36 months, otherwise it’s an $8.50-per-month pro rata cost.

Cost concerns aside, the Ultra Wi-Fi Gen 2 has a lot to like, including out-of-the-box support for all NBN technologies (and plans up to NBN 1000), four Ethernet ports, USB file sharing and Optus 4G backup if the NBN goes down. There’s plenty of wireless speed via dual-band WiFi 6, plus it’s compatible with the Optus Ultra WiFi Booster Gen 2 if you’re in a larger home or one prone to wireless dead spots.

Here's a look at Optus' NBN plans:

Quality of Service (QoS) is an optional feature that can be a fantastic quality of life improvement for multi-device households. When enabled, QoS divvies up your finite internet download and upload bandwidth based on which tasks it deems most important or on speed limits you've placed on individual devices.

There are three types of QoS we score by: basic, adaptive and per-device.

• Basic QoS uses a pre-defined set of rules to allocate bandwidth – e.g. Video conferencing trumps gaming, which itself trumps general file downloads. These rules can differ between routers, and may or may not meet your needs perfectly.
• Adaptive QoS is like basic QoS, but tries to learn what traffic is most important, based on how your household uses the internet. Over time, it should become more effective as it refines your custom algorithm.
• Per-device QoS lets you manually set speed limits on a per-device level. Say you have a gaming PC that regularly downloads huge files. You can give that PC a firm limit – e.g. 30Mbps – ensuring it never maxes out your entire connection. This method potentially allows for the most tailored fit to your needs, but is also the highest effort to set up and doesn't account for times when your overall connection is slowed.

For most users, Basic and Adaptive QoS will likely be better, thanks to their hands-off nature. For example, say you want to watch Netflix on your NBN 50 connection, which has up to 50Mbps download bandwidth, but someone’s also downloading a file at full 50Mbps speed. Normally, this would mean no Netflix for you. But basic and adaptive QoS can portion out the required Mbps to stream your Netflix movie, slowing the bigger download to compensate. At their best, adaptive and basic QoS will do this for any latency or bandwidth-sensitive tasks, including online gaming as well as video and voice calls.

1. Check your NBN technology type. Most homes can use a router or mesh WiFi system without fuss, but FTTN, FTTC and FTTB abodes will also need a modem to get online. Some mesh systems have modems built in, but not all. And the ones that do often have poor modems, so it can be best to buy a separate modem and connect your mesh to it.
2. Make sure it isn't locked. If you plan on buying a modem or modem router from your ISP, make sure it isn't network locked before doing so. Some ISPs lock hardware so it can't be used with any other provider – making it useless if you plan on switching down the line.
3. Consider your home's size and layout. Your home's size, layout, and contents can affect the type of WiFi solution you need. Homes with internal brick walls or multiple stories often benefit from the better coverage of mesh systems – the same goes if your home's NBN inlet is in a sub-optimal location, such as at one end of the house. But smaller homes with central NBN connections can get by with stand-alone units.
4. QoS for happier homes. Quality of Service can be a huge benefit to homes with multiple people or multiple devices that often download large files or use online backups. This feature automatically figures out which devices need your limited Mbps, letting everyone exist online simultaneously without drama. It can also be the difference between needing a slower or faster NBN plan, saving you money off your monthly bill.
5. Future proofing. Just because your current devices don't use the latest WiFi standard (currently WiFi 7), doesn't mean your future ones will. Routers can have a longer life than many other connected devices, as long as they can support your future ones. But routers with the latest standards are often expensive (especially mesh ones), so it's a decision only you can make. You also need to consider WAN speed.
6. WAN speed. Your router's Wide Area Network (WAN) port – sometimes labelled "Internet" – is the ethernet port that receives your internet, either from your NBN modem or direct from the wall, depending on your NBN technology. These days, most WAN ports can handle at least 1Gbps, but not all – and even though you might not want anything faster than 100Mbps quite yet, our household demands increase every year. Aim for at least 1Gbps, but 2Gbps or faster is ideal.
7. Expansion. You might need more than WiFi from your router. Many modern routers – particularly mesh ones – lack expansion ports such as ethernet and USB. You might also find mesh systems that have a main modem unit that has expansion ports, but its satellite mesh points have none. So be sure you know if a mesh system's specifications refer to every unit, instead of just a primary one.