Best unlimited NBN plans: our expert picks based on speed, price and service

Flip | AU$39p/m (for 4 months, then AU$57.90p/m)

The best unlimited NBN 25 plan in our opinion is this one from Flip. Not only does it offer unlimited monthly data usage, but it's also the cheapest NBN plan to claim the maximum 25Mbps download speeds during the busier evening hours of 7pm to 11pm, coming in at under AU$585 for the first 12 months.

Online reviews also paint a relatively positive picture for Flip, so it's certainly well worth considering if you're looking for an affordable 25Mbps NBN plan.

Total minimum cost: AU$39 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$619.20 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$694.80

Spintel | AU$47p/m (for 6 months, then AU$59.95p/m)

Offering an AU$10.95p/m saving for the first six months, Spintel’s Entry 25 is one of the most affordable unlimited NBN plans available right now.

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 | AU$40p/m using code BEIN30 (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 first year cost: AU$660 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$840

Exetel | AU$60.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$79.99p/m)

Through our exclusive partnership with WhistleOut, you can slash a massive AU$19 off this Exetel plan for the first six months — that's AU$114 total. While Exetel’s Extra-value plan isn’t the cheapest NBN 50 plan around post-outlay, it’s worth the sign-up for its Speed Boost feature. For five days a month, this feature allows you to boost your NBN 50 service to a 100Mbps service.

The ongoing price has gone up a touch in recent months but it still provides damn good value as it's under the monthly average of AU$84.09 for this tier.

Total minimum cost: AU$60.99 | Total first year cost: AU$845.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$959.88

Flip | AU$64p/m (for 4 months, then AU$73.90p/m)

Flip offers one of the most affordable 50Mbps NBN plans with unlimited data. Typical evening speeds are advertised as the maximum 50Mbps and, as is the case for the vast majority of internet service providers (ISPs) there's no lock-in contract, so you are free to leave whenever you wish — just make sure you read the cancellation terms and conditions!

Total minimum cost: AU$64 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$847.20 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$886.80

Kogan | AU$62.90p/m (for 6 months, then AU$78.90p/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$16p/m over the first six months — that's AU$96 — before the price increases.

Moreover, the plan's first 12-month cost of AU$850.80 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.

Total minimum cost: AU$62.90 | Total first year cost: AU$850.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$946.80

Buddy Telco | AU$63p/m using code BUDDY50 (for 6 months, then AU$75p/m)

Advertising 49Mbps downloads and 16Mbps uploads, Buddy Telco's NBN 50 plan will save you AU$12p/m for the first six months — that's AU$72 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$63 | Total first year cost: AU$828 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$900

Tangerine | AU$65.90p/m (for 6 months, AU$85.90p/m)

Tangerine's Speedy NBN plan is currently the cheapest offering that advertises the maximum 100Mbps speeds during busy evening hours. And with the introductory rate, the plan slashes off AU$20p/m — that's AU$120 — before the price increases.

Plus, if you're looking to bundle a phone line, you can add a home voice plan for as little as AU$10p/m for unlimited standard calls within Australia, or you can add a mobile SIM from AU$22p/m ongoing.

Total minimum cost: AU$65.90 | Total first year cost: AU$910.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,030.80

Spintel | AU$65p/m (for 6 months, then AU$81.95p/m)

Spintel's NBN 100 plan offers sensational value for a low cost and now comes with a superb AU$16.95p/m discount for the first six months. Across all NBN 100 plans, the offering has the lowest first yearly price of a modest AU$881.70 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$65 | Total first year cost: AU$881.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$983.40

Buddy Telco | AU$73p/m using code BUDDY100 (for 6 months, then AU$85p/m)

Buddy's Speedy NBN 100 plan promises to reach 99Mbps download speeds during busy evening hours. It does come with a speed caveat, but it will not likely make much of a noticeable real-world difference.

With that in mind, you'll save AU$72 in your first year and have a relatively low ongoing cost for an NBN 100 plan with unlimited data, so it's a clear winner to us.

Total minimum cost: AU$73 | Total first year cost: AU$948 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,020

Dodo | AU$73.90p/m (for 12 months, then AU$88.90p/m)

Serving up exceptional value is Dodo's NBN 100 plan. Thanks to a current WhistleOut exclusive discount, which saves a massive AU$15p/m for the first year — that's AU$180 total — it's one of the most affordable NBN 100 plans in Australia.

Best of all, Dodo advertises the full 100Mbps download speed during the busier evening hours and you get unlimited data, which is pretty neat.

Total minimum cost: AU$73.90 | Total cost for first 12 months: $886.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,066.80

Dodo | AU$83.90p/m (for 12 months, then AU$98.90p/m)

Using the data provided through our partnership with WhistleOut, Dodo makes this list again, as it offers one of the most attractive NBN 250 plans right now. This current introductory offer slashes AU$15 off the first 12 months — that's AU$180 — before the price increases.

Dodo advertises 245Mbps download speeds during the busy evening hours. Like other 250Mbps plans, Dodo's deal is only available for customers with FTTP and HFC connection types.

Total minimum cost: AU$83.90 | Total first year cost: AU$1,006.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,186.80

Spintel | AU$80p/m

If you can access the NBN 250 speed tier but are more concerned about spending as little as possible, then this plan from Spintel is our top pick. Advertising 240Mbps during the peak evening hours, this Spintel deal costs just AU$80 ongoing, down AU$26.25 off the tiers average.

The telco has also received some great reviews online, with customers praising the easy installation and friendly support representatives. You can also bundle a phone line or mobile plan with this offering, starting from AU$10p/m.

Do note though, that this plan is only available for FTTP and HFC addresses.

Total minimum cost: AU$80 | Total yearly cost: AU$960

Exetel | AU$80.99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$98.99p/m)

Exetel's current offer will save you a massive AU$108 over the first 6 months. Plus, you'll clock in some superfast download speeds of 220Mbps during the typical evening hours.

Whilst this plan takes a drop in typical evening speed by advertising 220Mbps, it does come with Exetel's Speed Boost Days feature, which lets you temporarily increase the speed to the telco's next tier of 500Mbps. (The telco previously offered an NBN 1000 tier).

Do note though, that to access the NBN 250 tier, you will need to connect via FTTP or HFC.

Total minimum cost: AU$80.99 | Total first year cost: AU$1,079.88 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,187.88

Superloop | AU$85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99p/m)

The best unlimited NBN 250 plan in our opinion right now comes from Superloop. While the telco doesn’t advertise the fastest typical evening speeds on the NBN 250 speed tier, coming in at an Optus-matching 240Mbps, it is the cheapest provider offering the fastest speed. We’ve also chosen it as our best overall plan because the telco offers customers the ability to boost their speed to the next tier up — NBN 1000 — five times a month. Superloop currently advertises typical evening speeds of 811Mbps on this speed tier.

If you don’t use all five Speed Boost days in one month, you can have them rollover into the next. You’re able to bank a total of 30 days.

Total minimum cost: AU$85 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,104| Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188

Spintel | AU$90p/m

Spintel's offering has landed in the top spot for multiple users, as it boasts a massive 750Mbps. If maximising your savings and having ultrafast speeds is your top priority, this plan was recently discounted by AU$10.95, making it the cheapest NBN 1000 plan to date.

That being said, it is on the smaller side of the NBN 1000 speed spectrum, so do take it with a grain of salt before signing up.

However, if you need slightly faster speeds, you could also consider Superloop's NBN 1000 option, which has a similar price point and advertised speeds of 860Mbps.

Total minimum cost: AU$90 | Total yearly cost: AU$1,080

Buddy Telco | AU$99p/m

Buddy Telco’s Zoomy NBN 1000 plan advertises an impressive 875Mbps downloads and 41Mbps uploads during the busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm. Do note though, that this plan is available for HFC and FTTP addresses only. Despite having slower speeds than some other providers on this tier, the plan has a yearly cost of just AU$1,188, which makes it the cheapest NBN 1000 plan right now.

If you need faster speeds, you could consider Superloop's NBN 1000 option for a similar ongoing pricepoint and 811Mbps advertised speeds.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Yearly cost: AU$1,188

Superloop | AU$99p/m (for 6 months, then AU$109p/m)

Offering 860Mbps download speeds during the busy evening hours, this Superloop NBN 1000 plan is one of the fastest in the country. The provider is often well-rated by online gamers too and you can also take advantage of a free Amazon eero 6+ router if you remain connected for just 18 months. What’s most impressive is that it’s some AU$912 cheaper over the first year than Telstra.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost of first 12 months: AU$1,248 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,308