Best NBN 100 plans: top providers for fast 100Mbps internet

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(Image credit: NBN / Nature TTL)

The best NBN 100 plans may not offer the outright fastest speeds on the National Broadband Network, but it is the fastest (theoretically) achievable by all NBN connection types. 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. 

This means choosing the best NBN 100 plan will likely come down to price, any extras included with the plan, or whether a certain NBN provider services your address. We’ve therefore partnered with WhistleOut to compare NBN 100 plans from more than 30 providers to bring you the best 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 | AU68.95p/m

Exetel | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU68.95p/m (first 6 months, then AU$84.95p/m)

Exetel takes home the crown for best overall NBN 100 plan in our opinion. While it's not technically the outright cheapest NBN plan to advertise the maximum 100Mbps speeds during the typical busy hours (that crown currently goes to Dodo thanks to a WhistleOut exclusive deal) we feel Exetel delivers a more cohesive overall package. 

Exetel's NBN 100 plan is still one of the most affordable, and it's the low cost coupled with its Speed Boost days feature that adds plenty of extra value in our opinion. Each month, Exetel gives you five free Speed Boost days that allow you to boost your download speed to the next tier (NBN 250 in this instance) if you have a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connection type. It's this added feature that makes Exetel our pick of the bunch. 

This particular plan comes with 20Mbps upload speeds, but Exetel does also offer a 40Mbps upload speed option for an extra AU$10p/m (after any introductory discount). A higher upload speed can be beneficial for people working from home regularly or playing video games online.

Total minimum cost: AU$68.95 | Total cost for first year: AU$923.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,019.40

Cheapest NBN 100 plan

Dodo | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$63.85p/m

Dodo | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$63.85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$85p/m)

Thanks to a WhistleOut exclusive deal that saves you AU$21.20p/m compared to going direct, this Dodo NBN 100 plan is currently the cheapest in Australia. Not only does it come in at under AU$900 for the first year, Dodo's plan also advertises the maximum 100Mbps typical evening speeds. 

You might not get the added benefit of the Speed Boost Days offered by Exetel, but considering it's only available to customers with specific connection types, you might not be able to take advantage of it anyway. 

Total minimum cost: AU$63.95 | Total cost for first year: AU$892.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,020

Other cheap NBN 100 plans

More | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$69.30p/m

More | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$69.30p/m (for 12 months, then AU$89.10p/m) for CBA customers only

If you do your banking with CommBank then you could stand to secure yourself the cheapest NBN 100 plan on the market right now, with More. More and CBA have a partnership that is now offering CommBank customers 30% off an NBN 100 plan for 12 months, and then 10% off each month they then remain connected. 

You need to sign up by June 30 2023 and pay for the plan using a CommBank credit or debit card to take advantage of the offer. More does only advertise 92Mbps speeds during the busier evening hours, but for a 30% saving, we'd be happy to take the 8Mbps hit.

Total minimum cost: AU$69.30 | Total cost for first year: AU$831.60 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,069.20

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. NBN 100/40 used to be the default for most NBN 100 plans, but telcos began the downgrade to 20Mbps uploads instead of 40Mbps a few years ago. 

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$75.95p/m

Exetel | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$75.95p/m (for 6 months, then AU$94.95p/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. Exetel doesn't advertise a typical evening speed for uploads, but in the ACCC's most recent report, the retail service provider (RSP) achieved 88.7% plan speed during the busy 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$75.95 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,025.40 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,139.40

More | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$76.30p/m

More | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$76.30p/m (for 12 months, then AU$98.10p/m) for CBA customers only

As with its NBN 100/20 plan, More is also currently offering a 30% discount on its NBN 100/40 plan for Commonwealth Bank customers. Again, only 92Mbps downloads are advertised for the typical evening hours, and there's no mention of the exact upload speeds you can expect. 

However, the 30% discount in question makes this NBN 100 plan from More the outright cheapest. It's even cheaper over the first 12 months than Exetel's 100/20 plan, which puts into perspective just how affordable it is. If you don't already bank with CBA, you might want to think about setting up an account just for this offer alone. 

Total minimum cost: AU$76.30 | Total cost for first year: AU$915.60 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,177.20

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

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

Optus’ NBN 100 plan is slightly cheaper than Telstra’s, although it doesn't have the same suite of streaming services included in the price. You can pay an extra AU$20p/m to have a Netflix standard subscription included, along with a Wi-Fi booster to improve coverage around your home. 

The Optus NBN 100 plan also includes a modem with 4G backup, but 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$7 for each month remaining. 

While that may seem like a negative, there is much to shout about with Optus. Not only do you get the full 100Mbps download speeds, but in the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission’s (ACCC) latest Measuring Broadband Performance report (published December 2022), Optus achieved 103.7% of its advertised plan speeds and 101.7% of upload speeds (which are quoted at 18Mbps). 

Total minimum cost: AU$341 (including AU$252 modem cost) | Total cost for first year: AU$1,128 (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

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. And in the ACCC’s latest report, TPG achieved 99.6% average download speed performance. 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$95p/m

Telstra | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$95p/m (for 6 months, then AU$110p/m)

Telstra’s NBN 100 plan comes with a few extras thrown in, including two months access to Binge, three months of Apple TV Plus, four months of Spotify Premium and 12 months of Kayo Basic (a total of AU$463 worth of inclusions).

You also get the telco’s latest Smart Modem 3 with 4G backup and a free internet optimiser feature, which lets you specify which devices in your home should get internet traffic priority. Handy if you have a gamer in the house who doesn’t want their connection to lag. 

Telstra only quotes 17Mbps upload speed, as opposed to the full 20Mbps that should theoretically be possible, but if you’re just using the internet to stream content or surf the web, this shouldn’t provide any real issue. 

Telstra provides its modem for free, but if you cancel your plan, you can either return the modem or keep it and pay a AU$200 fee.

Total minimum cost: AU$95 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,230 | 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 Langridge
Senior Editor, Tom's Guide AU

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.