Cheap NBN plans: our expert picks for quality, affordable internet

Flip | NBN 12 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$34p/m (for 6 months, then AU$44.90p/m)

Flip, which our sister website Mozo crowned the Broadband Provider of the Year in 2023, delivers some of the cheapest NBN plans in Australia and this 12Mbps NBN 12 plan is the cheapest we can find by some margin. 

NBN 12 plans are the slowest you can get, so you'll need to consider if it is the right plan for you, or if you could benefit by going up a tier to NBN 25. But, if spending as little as possible on getting connected is most important, this Flip NBN plan is hard to beat. 

Total minimum cost: AU$34 | Total cost for first year: AU$473.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$538.80

Spintel | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$44p/m (for 6 months, then AU$49.95p/m)

This NBN plan from Spintel is technically the cheapest NBN 25 plan you can get, but there is one potential catch. The telco says the typical evening speed you can expect is just 20Mbps and not the full 25Mbps you would get from competitors. 

You may not notice the loss of 5Mbps, but you would technically not be getting the best bang for your buck. If this is something you do want, then check out the Flip NBN plan below. 

Total minimum cost: AU$44 | Total cost for first year: AU$563.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$599.40

Flip | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$44p/m (for 6 months, then AU$54.90p/m)

This Flip NBN 25 plan does advertise the maximum 25Mbps download speeds during the busy evening hours, and for only around AU$30 extra over the course of the first year (and around AU$50 more thereafter). 

For our money, this makes it the best NBN 25 plan to go for.

Total minimum cost: AU$44 | Total cost for first year: AU$593.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$658.80

Flip | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$54p/m (for 6 months, then AU$64.90p/m)

We have to award Flip as the best pick once again, as its 50Mbps NBN 50 plan is currently the cheapest you can find. Better still, 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 relatively positive. 

Total minimum cost: AU$54 | Total cost for first year: AU$713.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$778.80

Flip | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$69p/m (for 6 months, then AU$79.95p/m)

A disclaimer first, Flip's NBN 100 plan isn't the outright cheapest. But negative reviews and other caveats prevent the cheapest providers from taking this spot, so we have to give it to Flip. 

The only slight downside to Flip's plan is that it doesn't advertise the full 100Mbps download speeds during the evening, instead quoting 91Mbps. Some may feel this is a small sacrifice considering the affordability, but if you do want the absolute maximum from your NBN 100 plan, then you will need to look elsewhere. 

Total minimum cost: AU$69 | Total cost for first year: AU$893.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$958.80

Flip | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$84p/m (for 6 months, then AU$94.90p/m)

You guessed it, Flip once again is our top pick. 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 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$99/m (for 6 months, then AU$119p/m)

Superloop currently offers the cheapest NBN 1000 plan we can find, and the total first year cost is now cheaper than its sister company, Exetel. When you factor in Superloop advertises 600Mbps typical evening speeds compared to just 400Mbps with Exetel, it screams bang for your buck.

For this reason, Superloop is our outright pick. It's a well-rated provider and finds particular favour with online gamers. The 600Mbps typical evening speeds also put it in direct competition with Optus, Aussie Broadband and Origin, which all quote the same, but Superloop is at least AU$300 cheaper over the first 12 months than this trio. 

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,1308 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,428