Best NBN 100 plans: compare your options for fast NBN

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Best NBN 100 plans
Best NBN 100/40 plans
Best NBN 100 plans: Major NBN providers
NBN 100 FAQ

The best NBN 100 plans represent the most effective way for most Australians to connect to the internet. They may not offer the outright fastest speeds on the National Broadband Network, but since 100Mbps download speeds are the fastest (theoretically) achievable by all NBN connection types, they stand to provide one of the best all-round online experiences.

So, if you live in a household with multiple people wanting to get online to stream and download content throughout the day, an NBN 100 plan could be the perfect option.

Fortunately, the majority of NBN providers in Australia offer NBN 100 plans, and many promise to deliver the full 100Mbps download speed you’re after. For those that don’t, their typical evening speed still comes close enough that you’re unlikely to notice a difference.

What's more, NBN 100 plans are expected to decrease in price before the end of 2023. While price hikes have been all but confirmed for the slower NBN 50 and NBN 25 speed tiers, NBN 100 plans (and faster) stand to come down in price, in an effort to encourage more users to upgrade their service.

This means there's never been a better time to switch, and below you can find our picks of the best NBN 100 plans currently available.

Best NBN 100 plans

Best overall NBN 100 plan

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Exetel | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU68.99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$84.99p/m)

Exetel takes home the crown for best overall NBN 100 plan in our opinion, offering a good balance between affordability, service quality and extra perks.

Those perks include a Speed Boost feature, which lets you increase the speed of your plan to the next tier — NBN 250 — if you have the right connection type.

Total minimum cost: AU$68.99 | Total cost for first year: AU$923.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,019.88

Cheapest NBN 100 plan

Flip | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$69p/m (first 6 months, then AU$79.90)

Technically, there are two providers slightly cheaper than Flip. But one has countless negative reviews, and the other requires you to have a specific NBN connection. This Flip NBN plan receives positive feedback and can be joined by anyone.

Tangerine is more affordable over the first 6 months, but over the course of the first year, Flip's comes out the cheapest.

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

More NBN 100 plan deals

Best NBN 100/40 plans

We've already made a passing mention to NBN 100/40 plans, and if it sounds like the plan for you, you'll want to know which ones are the best.

Some NBN providers still offer 100/40 plans as an option, however, you will just need to pay around AU$10p/m extra.

Best overall NBN 100/40 plan

Exetel | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$74.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$88.99p/m)

Exetel is once again our choice for best overall plan for outright value. As with the telco's 100/20 NBN plan, you can expect the full 100Mbps speed during the busy evening period. As for upload speeds, Exetel claims you'll get 34Mbps during the busy evening hours.

Exetel's NBN 100/40 plan isn't the absolute cheapest, that goes to More (below), but that's only if you bank with CommBank. Plus, Exetel gives you the five free Speed Boost days, which will boost your service to the NBN 250/25 speed tier.

Total minimum cost: AU$74.99 | Total cost for first year: AU$983.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,067.88

Best NBN 100 plans: Major NBN providers

If you’re looking to upgrade to an NBN 100 plan or switch your provider, it makes sense to check out what deals are being offered by Australia’s major NBN providers: Telstra, Optus and TPG. In most cases an NBN plan from any of these three won’t be the cheapest option, but you are at least highly likely to experience a reliable service. And, since all three provide mobile services too, you may be able to create a bundle and save some money. Other perks, such as free subscriptions to streaming services, may also be included.

All three also provide 4G backup with their modems, so if your fixed-line NBN connection drops out, you’ll still be able to connect to the internet via 4G data.

Best Optus NBN 100 plan

Optus | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$79p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99p/m)

Optus’ NBN 100 plan advertises the maximum typical evening speeds and the supplied modem includes 4G backup, just in case your service suffers an outage.

The only drawback to this, is that you have to pay for it if you don’t remain connected to the Optus service for 36 months. If you leave Optus before the 36 months have passed, you’ll need to pay AU$8.50 for each month remaining.

However, Optus regularly performs well in official speed tests conducted by Australia's consumer watchdog, so you may find the service is well worth sticking with.

Total minimum cost: AU$385 (including AU$306 modem cost) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,068 (excl. modem)| Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188 (excl. modem)

Best TPG NBN 100 plan

TPG | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$79.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$89.99p/m)

TPG doesn’t promise the full 100Mbps download speed, instead quoting just 90Mbps. However, a TPG NBN 100 plan is the cheapest of three major telcos, but you will need to pay AU$109.95 if you require a modem to be supplied.

You can bring your own modem if you wish, or if you don't already own one, you can buy your own and claim a AU$100 rebate.

Total minimum cost: AU$79.99 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,019.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,079.88

Best Telstra NBN 100 plan

Telstra | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$100p/m (for 6 months, then AU$110p/m)

Telstra’s NBN 100 plan is the most expensive in Australia, there's no beating around the bush. You are promised maximum speeds during the evening hours and a modem with 4G backup, to help soften the blow.

Being a Telstra customer does bring other perks, such as deals on various streaming services, including Binge and Spotify.

Total minimum cost: AU$100 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,260 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,320

NBN 100 FAQ

What is NBN 100?

NBN 100 is a speed tier that can offer download speeds up to 100Mbps, although the actual speed you can achieve will vary depending on network conditions and NBN connection type.

However, a good proportion of NBN providers in Australia do now claim to offer the full 100Mbps typical evening speed. Some may still fall slightly short of this, delivering between 90 - 99Mbps typical evening speeds instead.

Is it worth getting NBN 100?

If you live in a household with multiple users wanting to use the internet at the same time, and if you stream and download video content in 4K resolution or large files, then yes, NBN 100 is worth it.

In fact, while you can get even faster NBN plans in the form of NBN 250 and NBN 1000, NBN 100 will likely be more than fast enough for most Australian homes.

How do I get NBN 100?

All NBN connection types are theoretically capable of supporting 100Mbps download speeds, however you may find in a real-world scenario that this isn't actually the case.

If you have a hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) or fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection type, then you should definitely be able to achieve 100Mbps downloads. If you have any other NBN connection type, then it isn't guaranteed.

Some NBN providers offer free trials of their services, so be sure to take advantage of these before signing up.

What does NBN 100/20 mean?

NBN 100/20 refers to the download and upload speed of your plan, i.e. 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload. 20Mbps upload speeds should be more than enough for most households, but if you need to conduct multiple video calls or you spends hours online gaming, then you may need something faster.

In these instances, an NBN 100/40 plan is available, with 100Mbps download speeds and up to 40Mbps upload speeds.

Max is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, where he covers all things internet-related, including NBN and the emerging alternatives, along with audio and visual products such as headphones and TVs. Max started his career in his homeland of England, where he spent time working for What Hi-Fi? and Pocket-lint, before moving to Australia in 2018.