Best NBN 250 plans: Superfast internet deals compared

It used to the case that NBN 250 was a great option for those who want faster internet than your average household, but didn't necessarily need to fork out for NBN 1000. So far as fast internet in Australia goes, this speed tier offered plenty of bang for buck and was available through most NBN providers. 

As of September 2025, that isn't the case anymore though. With the arrival of NBN 500, NBN 750 and NBN 2000, this speed tier has been more-or-less discontinued.

Even so, there are a few provider that still offer NBN 250, which we'll go into below. Here's everything you need to know about NBN 250 plans, including how they compare to other high-speed internet plans and whether they're still worth it.

When it comes to NBN 250 plans, Superloop is one of the last providers left standing. At the time of writing, there's only one other provider offering consumer-grade NBN 250 plans but this plan is cheaper so it's the obvious winner.

The Superloop Creator NBN 250/100 plan comes with unlimited data, typical download speeds of up to 250Mbps and upload speeds of up to 100Mbps depending on your connection type. New customers can save $14 per month on the usual price for the first six months, which brings the cost of this plan down to $85 per month for a limited time.

But even if you're not a new customer, Superloop charges $99.99 as standard. This is cheaper than the competition, though it doesn't compare all that favorably to NBN 500 plans.  For a sense of how this plan compares to the cheapest NBN 500 plans in our database, check the widget below.

Not all NBN 250 providers offer the same level of performance during peak hours, but spending more doesn’t always directly translate into better service or faster downloads. And even a slower NBN 250 plan is still a significant download speed upgrade vs. NBN 100. 

NBN 250 plans in our database start at around the $100 per month mark in terms of standard pricing, and intro discounts can be even cheaper. Of course, you can end up paying much more than this. Sometimes the extra costs mean special perks or more customer support, but not always. So it's worth having a think about what it is you value in a plan.

If you're in the market for a cheap NBN 250 plan, note that the price when you sign up isn't necessarily the price you'll end up paying over the long run. Most NBN 250 providers give your first handful of months at a discount before bumping you up to the regular price – usually about six months.

Barring paying off included hardware, such as a "free" modem, lock-in contracts are also few and far between, as are exit fees. Plus, it's easy to change providers, meaning you can stick with intro discounts by changing it up a couple of times per year. But not everyone is keen on this approach.

To account for that difference, we divide our recommendations for the best NBN 250 plans into two tiers. The first covers the plan with the cheapest monthly intro price. The second covers the cheapest NBN 250 plan in our database, based on standard pricing. If you want to save money in the short term, the former might be a better fit. Looking for a more term solution you can set, forget and save money with? Then our second choice is going to be the way to go.

Here are cheapest NBN 250 plans in our database, sorted by intro pricing and initial cost per month.

Here are cheapest NBN 250 plans in our database, sorted by long term pricing and the overall cost per year.

Although consumers looking to sign up for an NBN 250 plan nowadays only have a handful of options, there are still plenty of business NBN providers that still offer this speed tier. As with its consumer part though, most are likely to find better value from an NBN 500 or NBN 750 plan instead. 

Still, if you're committed to signing up for a business NBN 250 plan, you can find our picks for the cheapest ones below.

Here are cheapest business NBN 250 plans in our database, sorted by intro pricing and initial cost per month.

Here are cheapest business NBN 250 plans in our database, sorted by long term pricing and the overall cost per year.

To sign up to an NBN 250 plan, you need to have an HFC or FTTP NBN connection.

Head to the NBN Co website and enter your address to see which technology type is connecting your home. It’ll either be FTTP, HFC, Fibre-to-the-Curb (FTTC), Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB), Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN), Fixed Wireless NBN or NBN Sky Muster satellite on the results page (look under the ‘Technology used in your connection’ section). FTTP and HFC homes can sign up for an NBN 250 plan from a participating provider, but none of those other NBN technologies can at this stage.

That said, there are upgrade pathways for those technologies. Sky Muster satellite, Fixed Wireless and FTTB homes can upgrade via the NBN Technology Choice Program, but that can cost thousands. Requesting a quote for most homes is free, though.

The better news for FTTC and FTTN homes is NBN Co is currently in the process of upgrading those addresses without the exorbitant cost. But there is a catch. To nab the free upgrade to FTTP, eligible FTTN homes need to at least order an NBN 100 plan, while FTTC homes must order at least an NBN 250 plan. Note that strata-managed buildings are more complicated for the FTTP upgrade than individual premises.

If none of the above helps you out, there are other options to get internet that’s the equivalent (or faster) of NBN 250 plans. Eligible homes may be able to opt for Opticomm internet, which is an NBN competitor that effectively offers fibre to the home and similarly priced NBN 250-type plans from participating providers. Alternatively, those who live in areas with coverage can consider a home wireless broadband plan, where speeds can exceed 250Mbps on uncapped plans.

If you want the best possible download and upload speeds out of an NBN 250 plan, you need the right networking hardware, including:

• A WiFi 5, WiFi 6, WiFi 6E or WiFi 7 router, modem-router or mesh WiFi system with at least a gigabit WAN port – some routers label this port as "internet".
• The right type of ethernet cable connecting your router (mesh or standalone) to your NBN equipment. At a minimum, you need Cat5e (1Gbps) or Cat6 (1Gbps), but aim for Cat6a (10Gbps), Cat7 (10Gbps), Cat7a (10Gbps) or Cat8 (25–40Gbps).
• Good WiFi placement. Set up your WiFi centrally and with good line-of-sight to other areas of the house. Keep it free of obstructions and consider any obstacles such as dense walls, fish tanks, mirrors, and large appliances. And for your own sanity, don't hide it behind furniture or put it in a cupboard. If your home's layout precludes "good" placement, consider getting a mesh WiFi system to extend your network into hard to reach places.
• Wired devices need to be connected to at least gigabit LAN ports on your router, modem-router, mesh WiFi system or network switch with a Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, Cat7A or Cat8 ethernet cable.
• Restart your WiFi router every once in a while. WiFi routers can build up "buffer bloat" which can seriously slow down your connection. Sometimes you need a weekly restart, sometimes never – it depends on your hardware. Some routers (especially mesh systems) let you do this via an app, but you can also just unplug your router from power, wait about 30 seconds, then plug it back in. For mesh, you'd need to do this with every node. Just keep in mind this will disable your connection while your home network is depowered and restarting – usually three-to-five minutes in total.