Best cheap NBN plans: get quality internet from AU$39
Affordable, reliable and cheap NBN plans are just a click away
Some of the best cheap NBN plans prove time and time again, that spending less on your internet connection doesn't mean that you need to compromise on fast speeds or great service.
At Tom's Guide, we believe that the best cheap NBN plans effortlessly combine affordability, reliable coverage and award-winning consumer service — all without you paying a premium price tag.
The best NBN providers provide attractive and highly competitive ongoing costs, let alone offer excellent introductory discounts, with prices starting at AU$39p/m for an NBN 12 (Basic I) plan. But for some, 12Mbps may not feed your internet demands, but you may still get a kick out of switching to a cheaper plan that delivers (or perhaps, overdelivers) on its high-speed download promises.
At Tom's Guide, we believe the best NBN plans offer top value for the lowest possible monthly spend. They also include the maximum speeds for each tier, the reliability of the service you'll receive, and any extra perks.
We've waded through the vast sea of NBN plans to find the most inexpensive options across all internet service providers. All of these plans below work on a no-lock-in contract basis, which means you're free to chop and change NBN providers as you see fit. Keep in mind though, that the most cost-effective way of changing ISPs is having a modem that you can reuse with any new provider you switch to.
As always, we're here to help you find a great home internet plan that works for you and your budget. We've divided selected plans into varying price points, starting at under AU$40 per month.
Best NBN plans under $40
Finding an NBN plan under AU$40 is almost impossible. In fact, when looking at all the telcos we regularly monitor, Flip is the only provider that comes in under AU$40, but only for the first six months of service.
Flip | NBN 12 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract AU$39p/m (for 6 months, then AU$52.90p/m)
Flip is the only provider we can find that offers an NBN plan for under AU$40 per month. However, it's only for the first six months of the service, before it increases to AU$52.90p/m.
While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend an NBN 12 plan (see below), this plan may be perfect for a single-person household with minimal internet usage (e.g. social media scrolling and not much else) that wants to maximise their savings as much as possible.
Total minimum cost: AU$39 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$551.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$634.80
Flip | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$39p/m (for 6 months, then AU$57.90p/m)
Flip makes this under AU$40 category again for arguably the best NBN 25 plan. It advertises the maximum 25Mbps download speeds during the busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm, and is the cheapest 25Mbps plan in Australia.
Typically costing AU$44p/m for the first 6 months, the plan has been slashed by AU$5 to just AU$39p/m, offering a massive saving of AU$18.90p/m before the price increases — that's AU$113.40 total. Plus it costs the same as the telco's NBN 12 plan above, so you could score double the speeds for the same price, which is pretty damn good value to us.
Again, we would recommend 25Mbps downloads as a minimum, so this plan could be perfect for a couple or single-person household that wants moderate browsing capability for a decent price.
Total minimum cost: AU$39 | Total cost for first year: AU$581.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$694.80
Most plans that fit under this AU$40 benchmark offer slower download speeds for the most part. Typically, this section only houses one plan — that being Flip's NBN 12 plan — however, this month, Flip's NBN 25 plan is priced in this bracket.
Flip's NBN 12 plan has a maximum download speed of just 12Mbps and an upload speed of 0.8Mbps during the typical busy evening hours of 7pm-11pm. While this speed is fine for occasional web browsing and some social media scrolling, it's realistically not going to be able to support a modern household that wants to stream video content or conduct video calls.
With this in mind, we would recommend an NBN 25 plan at a minimum. You get double the speed and a greater capacity to support a small household. Realistically, an NBN 25 plan will still only be good for a household of just one or two users. Any more and you might want to consider a 50Mbps NBN 50 plan.
The good news is NBN 25 plans aren't that much more expensive than NBN 12 — especially in this case of Flip's 25Mbps offering — and some of the cheapest NBN 25 plans we find cost just AU$72 more over the course of a year, after any introductory discounts.
Best NBN plans under AU$50
Moving up the budget scale a little further to AU$50 per month does present you with a few more options, although as before, only for the first six months of the service. For less than AU$50 each month (for the first six months) you're able to move up to the NBN 25 tier, with maximum download speeds of 25Mbps and uploads of 4Mbps.
25Mbps NBN is enough to support a one or two person household who wish to browse the web, engross themselves in social media, and stream video content in up to HD quality.
There are a few plans that meet the under AU$50 threshold on this tier, and we've picked out the best two below.
Tangerine | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$47.90p/m (for 6 months, then AU$67.90p/m)
Tangerine has long-running promo prices across its NBN plans, and this offering is one of the most reasonable prices you’ll pay for an NBN 25 connection. You’ll save AU$20 a month over your first six months — that's AU$100 total — before the price increases to AU$67.90. Typical evening speeds clock in at a respectable 25Mbps.
Total minimum cost: AU$47.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$694.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$814.80
Spintel | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$47p/m (for 6 months, then AU$59.95p/m)
Offering an AU$12.95p/m saving for the first six months, Spintel’s Entry 25 is one of the most affordable plans available right now. This plan comes in just under the AU$50 pricepoint for the first six months, before the price increases to AU$59.95p/m.
The telco has received some pretty positive reviews online, with customers praising quick setup times, and friendly 24/7 support.
Reaching maximum advertised speeds of 25Mbps during the typical evening hours, this plan could be a great option if you want to maximise savings. And with no lock-in contract, you can change providers if you find your service isn’t up to scratch.
Total minimum cost: AU$47 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$641.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$719.40
Mate | NBN 25 | Unlimited data| No lock-in contract | AU$40p/m using code MATE30 (for 6 months, then AU$70p/m)
Mate’s Crikey NBN 25 plan is a mammoth deal for an NBN 25 connection. You’ll save AU$30 a month over your first six months — that’s AU$180 — before the price increases to AU$70p/m. With no activation, exit, or change fees, this deal is a steal, especially with a low minimum cost of AU$40.
And if you’re not completely satisfied with your connection, Mate will provide a full refund of your plan fee within the first month.
Total minimum cost: AU$40 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$660 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$840
Best NBN plans under AU$60
If your monthly budget can stretch to AU$60p/m, then you're able to go up another speed tier to NBN 50, with maximum download speeds of 50Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 20Mbps. However, once again, you can only spend less than AU$60p/m for the first six months on a select few NBN plans.
The NBN 50 tier has recently been affected by NBN price hikes, as a result of NBN Co increasing wholesale prices. Other telcos have followed suit, with increases ranging between AU$5-10p/m. This could be the perfect time to switch, so scroll on if you're on hunt for cheaper NBN 50 plans.
Kogan | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$58.90p/m (for 3 months, then AU$68.90p/m)
Kogan’s Silver Unlimited NBN 50 clocks in with evening speeds of 50Mbps and 17Mbps uploads, which is pretty typical across the speed tier. However, thanks to this initial outlay, you'll save AU$10p/m over the first three months — that's AU$30 — before the price increases.
Moreover, the plan's first 12-month cost of AU$796.80 is one of the cheapest NBN 50 plans. Kogan also offers you its Internet Price Pledge, so if you find a better price on the same NBN plan, Kogan will give you back double the difference.
Do note though, that while this plan has a great introductory price, it's only discounted for 3 months, rather than the usual half-year promos we typically see.
Total minimum cost: AU$58.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$796.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$826.80
Dodo | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$59.80p/m (for 6 months, then AU$83.90p/m)
This Dodo NBN 50 plan is currently the cheapest in Australia, with a saving of AU$24.10p/m for the first six months. Not only does it come in at under AU$900 for the first year, but Dodo's plan also advertises the maximum 50Mbps typical evening speeds.
However, Dodo is the cheapest plan for the first six months, so you may want to consider switching to another plan like Flip's NBN 100 plan, if you want to maximise savings on similar speeds.
Total minimum cost: AU$59.80 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$862.20 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,006.80
Best NBN plans under AU$70
AU$70 edges closer to the average cost of an NBN 50 plan (currently AU$76.36 based on the regular monthly costs of the NBN providers we monitor), but it can also get you a faster 100Mbps NBN 100 plan...for the first six months.
With this in mind, we've picked out plans from both the NBN 50 tier and the NBN 100 tier as the best NBN plans under AU$70. You can get either an NBN 50 plan full time, or an NBN 100 plan part time.
Tangerine | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$62.90p/m (for 6 months, then $82.90p/m)
Tangerine’s Value Plus NBN 50 is one of the cheapest prices you’ll pay for an NBN 50 connection, coming in right under AU$63p/m. Saving AU$20 a month over your first six months — that’s AU$120 total — before the price increases to AU$82.90.
What we like about Tangerine is that it offers a 14-day risk-free trial, so if you find the service isn't up to scratch for whatever reason, you're free to cancel without any issues.
Total minimum cost: AU$62.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$874.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$994.80
Flip | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$64p/m (for 6 months, then AU$73.90p/m)
We recommend Flip here again, but unfortunately, the price on this plan has gone up within the last month, making it one of the midrange NBN 50 options. That said, it'll still save you AU$59.40 over the first six months, and comes in under the AU$70 pricepoint.
Like other NBN 50 plans, the telco advertises the maximum 50Mbps speeds during the evening hours. Upload speeds are on par with the competition at 17Mbps, too and online reviews appear to be pretty positive.
Total minimum cost: AU$64 | Total cost for first year: AU$827.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$886.80
Buddy Telco | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$65p/m (for 6 months, then AU$75p/m)
Advertising 49Mbps downloads and 16Mbps uploads, Buddy Telco's NBN 50 plan will save you AU$10p/m for the first six months — that's AU$60 total — before the price increases to a modest AU$75p/m.
Despite being a relatively new provider that piggybacks off the premium Aussie Broadband network, Buddy Telco has gathered some positive reviews online, with customers pleased by the easy transition process, fast speeds and attractive prices.
Total minimum cost: AU$65 | Total first year cost: AU$840 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$900
Dodo | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract| AU$64.80p/m (for 6 months, then AU$88.90p/m)
Dodo currently offers the cheapest and one of the most attractive NBN 100 plans, although there is a very minor caveat. Dodo's NBN 100 plan is only available for customers with FTTC, FTTP and HFC connection types.
Other providers offering NBN 100 plans are available to all connections. But, if you fall into the required category, you will only be paying AU$922.20 for your first 12 months, which is pretty impressive for an NBN 100 plan.
That said, this current introductory offer slashes a mammoth AU$24.10 off the first six months — that's AU$144.60 — before the price increases. But you better act fast — this deal will fly away on July 31, 2024.
Total minimum cost: AU$64.80 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$922.20 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,066.80
Flip | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$69p/m (for 6 months, then AU$79.90p/m)
If you crave even faster speeds, Flip's NBN 100 plan also comes in under the AU$70 budget for the first six months of the service.
The only downside here is that Flip doesn't advertise the maximum 100Mbps speed during the busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm. But at 97Mbps it should still be plenty quick enough for households of four or more.
Total minimum cost: AU$69 | Total cost for first year: AU$893.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$958.80
Best NBN plans under AU$80
AU$80 is realistically how much most Australian households will need to pay to get connected to the NBN if they want a fast, reliable service. For AU$80 you can comfortably get an NBN 50 plan for as long as you've got the right connection type. A couple of NBN providers are still more expensive — Vodafone and Telstra, we're looking at you.
There are also a few NBN 100 plans that come in under AU$80p/m following any introductory discounts, which we've included below.
Spintel | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$71p/m (for 6 months, then AU$81.95p/m)
Spintel features twice in this category, as it offers sensational value for a low cost. Across all NBN 100 plans, the offering has the lowest first yearly price of a modest AU$917.70 and one of the cheapest ongoing costs after the introductory discount ends.
There’s little in the way of extra features with this plan – which will likely go some way to explaining the low cost – but if you’re just searching for a no-frills NBN plan to get you connected, Spintel is well worth your attention.
Total minimum cost: AU$71 | Total cost of first 12 months: AU$917.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$983.40
Spintel | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$79p/m (for six months, then AU$89.95p/m)
If you're keen on superfast speeds at a low cost, this Spintel deal is hard to beat. Advertising 211Mbps download speeds during the busy evening hours, this plan slashes AU$10.95 off a month for the first six months — that's a saving of AU$65.70 — before the price increases to AU$89.95, which still represents astonishing value compared to other providers on this speed tier.
Plus, it's one of the cheapest plans after the initial discount ends, priced at AU$16.60 under the monthly average of AU$106.55 for the tier. That said, it will tick over the AU$80 mark after the first six months are up, so do keep that in mind before you sign the dotted line.
Plus, this Spintel offering is only available for addresses with FTTP and HFC connections.
Total minimum cost: AU$79 | Total cost of first 12 months: AU$965.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,031.40
Exetel | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$68.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$84.99p/m)
Exetel's NBN 100 plan does go over the AU$80p/m threshold after the introductory discount, but we felt compelled to include it here because of the added value that comes with it.
That added value being the aforementioned Speed Boost days, which allow you to temporarily increase the speed of your service to the next tier — NBN 250 — for free, five times a month.
Much like the Spintel offering above, this plan will jump into the over AU$80 category post-initial outlay, so do keep that in mind.
Note that you will need to connect to the NBN via fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) to take advantage of this speed boost feature.
Total minimum cost: AU$68.99 | Total cost for first year: AU$923.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,019.88
Superloop | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$75p/m (for 6 months, then AU$89p/m)
Slashing AU$14p/m off for the first six months — a saving of AU$84 — before the price increases, this Superloop plan offers great value, considering the average for this tier is AU$91.34p/m.
Again, this plan will reach into the above AU$80 bracket post-introductory offers, so it might not be the best for every household — but you can always drop down a tier to NBN 50 after the first six months are up if you find you don't require fast speeds. You can request to change your speed tier once per month, at any time, for no extra cost until your next billing cycle.
Like other Superloop offerings, you can boost your plan to the next speed tier — that's 250Mbps — by using your five free Speed Boost Days every month, you’ll just need to make sure your NBN connection type will support the faster speeds.
Total minimum cost: AU$75 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$984 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,068
Best NBN plans under AU$90
AU$90p/m is pretty much the sweet spot to get connected to the NBN. At this price point, you can sign up for the majority of NBN 100 plans and virtually all NBN 50 plans (except for Telstra) after any introductory discounts.
Signing up for an NBN 50 or NBN 100 plan will mean an entire household can comfortably connect to the internet at the same time. The faster download speeds will also be beneficial for gamers wishing to download large files, and 100Mbps NBN 100 plans are also good for those wishing to stream 4K content in the comfort of their own home. In this regard, the plans mentioned above fit the bill perfectly.
It is also possible to sign up for a faster NBN 250 plan, with theoretical maximum download speeds of 250Mbps, although only for the first six months. We've included our two favourite options on the 250Mbps speed tier below. They do only meet the threshold for the first six months, so at the very least, we would recommend you do sign up for this introductory period, to see if you need the faster speeds. You may find an NBN 100 plan will service your household just fine.
Flip | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$84p/m (for 6 months, then AU$94.90p/m)
Flip once again features at this price point. There's just very little to fault the telco on, and it's a testament that it's able to deliver well-reviewed NBN for much less than most of the competition and Flip's NBN 250 plan is indeed the cheapest you can get in Australia.
Typical evening speeds are only 236Mbps and not the full 250Mbps, but only a select few NBN providers do promise the maximum, so we're not going to mark Flip down on this occasion.
Total minimum cost: AU$84 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,073.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,138.80
Superloop | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99p/m)
This NBN 250 plan from Superloop is well worth considering in our view. It doesn't quite promise the maximum 250Mbps download speeds either, but with 240Mbps quoted instead, we think a sacrifice of 10Mbps is justifiable, considering the cost.
The only other plans on this speed tier that are cheaper advertise slower speeds, so for our money, Superloop is another provider well worth your consideration.
With this Superloop plan, you're also able to temporarily boost the speed of your plan to the NBN 1000 tier five times a month. Superloop quotes typical evening speeds of 600Mbps here, which is among the fastest in the country.
Total minimum cost: AU$85 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,104 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188
Cheap NBN plans FAQ
What is the cheapest NBN plan?
Determining the outright cheapest NBN plan can be tricky, since NBN providers regularly change their plan prices or introduce various offers. At the time of publishing, the cheapest NBN plan available through our partnership with WhistleOut is Spintel’s Entry 25 plan at a total 12-month cost of AU$653.70 following any introductory offers.
It’s based on the NBN 25 speed tier, although it only advertises 20Mbps speeds during the busier evening hours. If you live in a single-person household, or if two people are requiring basic internet needs, it’s the best and cheapest option out there right now.
Who has the cheapest NBN plans?
Many of the popular retail service providers (RSPs) offer affordable NBN plans, but those that regularly come in at the lowest end of the budget spectrum include Tangerine, Spintel, Dodo and Exetel.
How much should I spend on NBN?
The amount of money you spend on your NBN plan will be determined by the speed you need. If you live by yourself or in a two-person household, then you can most likely get by with an NBN 25 plan, which are some of the cheapest options around. If you regularly stream HD video content or you work from home most of the week, then you will probably need to upgrade to an NBN 50 plan. Fortunately, these can still be affordable and can cost under AU$900 for the first year.
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Lucy Scotting is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, primarily covering NBN and internet-related news. Lucy started her career writing for HR and staffing industry publications, with articles covering emerging tech, business and finance. In her spare time, Lucy can be found watching sci-fi movies, working on her dystopian fiction novel or hanging out with her dog, Fletcher.
- Max LangridgeSenior Editor, Tom's Guide AU