The six NBN speed tiers
NBN plans are sold by speed tier, which sets the maximum download and upload speed your connection can deliver. Here are the current tiers, what they cost, and who they suit.
| Tier | Download | Upload | Typical price | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 12 | 12 Mbps | 1 Mbps | $45-55/mo | Very light use: email, basic browsing only |
| NBN 25 | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $50-70/mo | Singles or couples: streaming SD/HD, light WFH |
| NBN 50 | 50 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $65-80/mo | Most households: streaming 4K, WFH video calls, gaming |
| NBN 100 | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $75-90/mo | Larger households: multiple simultaneous streams, large uploads |
| NBN 250 | 250 Mbps | 25 Mbps | $100-120/mo | Power users: content creators, heavy cloud sync |
| NBN 1000 | 1000 Mbps | 50 Mbps | $120-140/mo | FTTP/HFC only: future-proofing, home businesses |
Prices are indicative ranges across major ISPs as at July 2026. Actual prices vary by provider.
Our recommendation
NBN 50 is the right starting point for most Australian households. It handles 4K streaming, video calls, gaming, and general browsing for a household of 2 to 4 people without issues. The jump from NBN 25 to NBN 50 is typically only $10 to $15 per month and the practical difference in daily use is significant.
NBN 100 is worth the upgrade if you have 4 or more people using the internet simultaneously, or if you regularly upload large files (cloud backups, video content, large email attachments). For a household of 2 to 3 people, NBN 100 is nice to have but unlikely to change your daily experience noticeably.
NBN 250 and NBN 1000 are overkill for the vast majority of households. Unless you are running a home business that involves large file transfers, content creation with cloud rendering, or you simply want the fastest connection available, save your money and stay on NBN 50 or 100.
Compare NBN plans at your address
Enter your postcode to see which speed tiers and providers are available.
Compare internet plansWhy your actual speed may differ from the tier
The speed tier is a maximum, not a guarantee. Three factors determine what you actually get:
1. Your NBN technology type. FTTP (fibre to the premises) delivers full tier speeds reliably. FTTN (fibre to the node) is limited by the copper cable between the node and your house: if you are more than 400 metres from the node, you may not achieve NBN 100 even if you pay for it. HFC (hybrid fibre coaxial) generally delivers well but can be affected by neighbourhood congestion. Fixed wireless is capped at 75 Mbps download. Satellite (Sky Muster) is capped at 25 Mbps.
2. Your ISP's peak-hour performance. The ACCC Measuring Broadband Australia report tests how much of the advertised speed each ISP actually delivers between 7pm and 11pm, when the network is busiest. The best providers (Telstra, Superloop, Aussie Broadband) deliver 97% to 101% of advertised speeds. Others deliver less. This is the most important comparison metric and most consumers do not know it exists.
3. Your home wifi. An older wifi router can bottleneck your connection regardless of your NBN tier. If you are on NBN 100 but your router only supports wifi 5 (802.11ac) with a weak signal, you may only see 30 to 50 Mbps wirelessly. A wired ethernet connection will always deliver the full speed your NBN connection provides. For accurate speed testing, always test on a wired connection first to isolate whether the issue is your wifi or your NBN connection.
The free FTTP upgrade (Fibre Connect)
NBN Co's Fibre Connect programme offers free upgrades from FTTN or FTTC to full FTTP (fibre to the premises) for eligible addresses. This is a significant upgrade: FTTP supports all speed tiers up to NBN 1000 reliably, while FTTN is limited by copper distance.
As of 2026, NBN Co is upgrading approximately 8,000 addresses per week under this programme. Eligibility depends on your area and whether NBN Co has scheduled the upgrade in your zone. Check with your ISP or at the NBN Co website to see if your address is eligible.
If you are currently on FTTN and experiencing speeds below your paid tier, the FTTP upgrade will likely resolve the issue. Most ISPs including Aussie Broadband, Telstra, and Superloop will facilitate the upgrade process for you.
What each speed tier actually supports
NBN 25: the bare minimum
Supports one 4K stream OR one video call at a time, but not both simultaneously. Fine for a single person who browses, streams, and occasionally works from home. Not suitable for households where two people need to use the internet at the same time for anything bandwidth-intensive.
NBN 50: the sensible default
Supports two to three simultaneous 4K streams, a video call alongside streaming, online gaming with low latency, and general browsing from multiple devices. This is enough for a household of 2 to 4 people with typical usage patterns. The 20 Mbps upload is adequate for video calls and cloud backups.
NBN 100: headroom for busy households
Supports four or more simultaneous 4K streams, multiple video calls, large downloads, and heavy usage from many devices. The practical difference over NBN 50 is most noticeable when multiple people are using bandwidth-intensive applications at the same time. If you regularly notice slowdowns during the evening when everyone is home, NBN 100 will likely resolve them.
NBN 250 and 1000: specialist use
These tiers are for households that transfer large files (video production, cloud-heavy business operations, large game downloads), run home servers, or simply want the fastest available connection. For typical browsing, streaming, and video calls, the experience on NBN 250 is indistinguishable from NBN 100.
How to check your current speed
Run a speed test at speedtest.net during the evening (7pm to 10pm) when the network is busiest. For an accurate result, connect your computer directly to your router with an ethernet cable and close all other applications. Run the test three times and take the average.
If your result is significantly below your paid tier (more than 20% lower), the issue is likely one of: your NBN technology type limiting speeds (common on FTTN), your ISP not delivering during peak hours, or your router. Test on a wired connection first to rule out wifi.