Aussies need to shop around for NBN plans as prices rise, urges ACCC
Australian households are being told that there's a 'significant' price difference between NBN providers and it's important to shop around.
Since October 2023, we have seen NBN price changes from providers such as Optus, Telstra, Aussie Broadband, Belong, Tangerine and More Telecom.
They're essentially increasing the price of their low to mid-level NBN speed tiers and reducing the price of NBN plans with faster speeds (NBN 100 and above).
But it's not all doom and gloom and that's why you're now being urged to shop around by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
"It has never been more important for consumers to compare prices between retailers to make sure they are getting a deal that represents good value for them," ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
"There are significant price differences between retailers so it is worth seeing what other deals are available."
Long story short: Don't pay the loyalty tax by staying with your existing provider or a big brand.
Best NBN deals floating around
NBN 50 and NBN 100 are 2 of the more popular NBN speed tiers on Finder and for Aussies in general.
The NBN 50 speed tier is used by 44.2% of Aussies and NBN 100 by 23.8% as per the ACCC's most recent market indicator report.
Because of their popularity, we've given you 5 NBN plans per speed tier that come with some sweet promotional discounts.
The good news is they come with unlimited data, no lock-in contract and you can BYO modem if it's compatible.
- Good to know: There's a $457 price difference in the annual cost between the cheapest and most expensive unlimited data NBN 50 plans on Finder.
Best NBN 50 plans
| Provider | Promo price | Ongoing price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodo | $53.85 for the first 6 months | $75 a month | |
| SpinTel | $54 for the first 6 months | $64.95 a month | |
| Tangerine | $59.90 for the first 6 months | $79.90 a month | |
| Dodo | $60 for the first 6 months | $75 a month | |
| Exetel | $53.99 for the first 6 months | $74.99 a month |
Best NBN 100 plans
| Provider | Promo price | Ongoing price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Phone | $75 for the first 12 months | $85 a month | |
| Exetel | $68.99 for the first 6 months | $84.99 a month | |
| Superloop | $69 for the first 6 months | $85 a month | |
| SpinTel | $69 for the first 6 months | $79.95 a month | |
| Dodo | $70 for the first 6 months | $85 a month |
How do I shop around for an NBN plan?
If you want to heed the warnings of the ACCC and shop around for a new NBN plan, here are some tips to get started:
- Find out what NBN speed works best for your needs. You can use our guide to get you started.
- Compare NBN plans and filter by speed. This will help your narrow down your budget and you'll also be able to look for deals.
- Don't let providers convince you to sign up to faster speeds if you don't need them.
- Don't pay the loyalty tax by only considering the big brands.
"NBN retailers should not be pushing households towards more expensive offers with speed inclusions that are higher than they need. If we were to see this, it would raise concerns," Brakey said.
"We expect NBN retailers to provide clear information to consumers about suitable plans for their circumstances and preferences."
Why are NBN providers changing their prices?
The price movements have come as a result of the ACCC approving NBN's new pricing proposal that kicks in on 1 December 2023.
Although NBN has reduced the wholesale price of NBN 12 and NBN 25, we're still seeing providers bump up the price of these tiers.
They've increased the wholesale price for NBN 50 and decreased it for faster speed tiers, that is NBN 100 and above.
This is bringing the 2 speed tiers closer in price to each other.
You can see how this has translated in price changes by some of the key NBN providers.
| Provider | NBN 50 | NBN 100/20 | Price difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| More | $88 | $94 | $6 |
| Tangerine | $79.90 | $84.90 | $5 |
| Aussie Broadband | $85.00 | $95.00 | $10 |
| Optus | $85 | $99 | $14 |
| Telstra | $100 | $110 | $10 |
| Belong | $80 | $90 | $10 |
Before the recent price changes, there was a price difference of $19 between the average cost of an unlimited data NBN 50 and NBN 100 plan on Finder.
Compare NBN plans on Finder and look for the best deal based on your budget and speed requirements.