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What NBN speed tier do I really need?
NBN speeds aren't one-size-fits-all. Whether you're a casual scroller or a heavy-duty streamer, there's a speed tier perfect for you. Let's get you matched!
You can choose between 6 different NBN speed tiers.
This will determine the maximum speeds you can get on your internet plan.
Majority of Aussies are signed up to NBN 50, which suits households with 2-3 people (unless you are all heavy internet users).
What NBN speeds can I get?
There are 6 main NBN speed tiers available in Australia.
Before we dive into the details, here's a rundown of the tiers including what speed ranges you can expect during the busy hours of the day as exact speeds can vary between providers.
NBN speed tier
Great for
Busy hour download speeds (7-11pm)
Average monthly cost
NBN 12 (Basic I)
Light web surfers
10-12Mbps
$62 a month
NBN 25 (Basic II)
Budget savvy household of 1-2 people
18-25Mbps
$70 a month
NBN 50 (Standard)
Sweet spot for the average household of 2-3 people with moderate internet use
38-50Mbps
$92 a month
NBN 100 (Fast)
Internet users with a need for speed or bigger families
77-100Mbps
$97 a month
NBN 250 (Superfast)
So you can go zoom zoom, without a care in the world
200-250Mbps
$117 a month
NBN 1000 (Ultrafast)
People who treat their homes and internet use like a small business
250Mbps-969Mbps
$144 a month
*We looked at fixed-line unlimited data plans in Finder's database to calculate the monthly average costs (valid as of October 2024).
NBN providers display typical evening speeds on plans to show what speeds you can expect during the busiest hours of the day (7pm–11pm) when most people are online.
Tip: You may come across providers offering outside-of-the-norm speed tiers such as NBN 15, NBN 75 and NBN 500. These can be handy if, for example, you want faster speeds than NBN 50 but less speedy than NBN 100.
What in the world is an Mbps?
Mbps stands for megabits per second – it's how we measure internet speed. Knowing this matters because, let's be honest, nobody wants buffering internet while streaming or working.
So, the higher the number, the faster you can do things online.
Let's take NBN 50 as an example since it's the most popular among Aussies for being a good standard speed tier and all that.
It can give you up to 50Mbps download speeds. If you think this is what you need, choose a plan from a provider that displays typical evening speeds close to this number.
Basic browsers: Best speed tier for casual users
Basic browsers don't need much from their internet plan. They'll casually surf the web, check emails, stream the occasional TV show, watch some YouTube videos, and maybe look at social media from time to time. The basic browser values simplicity and just needs a plan that covers their basic internet needs.
Our recommendation: NBN 25 (you can move down to NBN 12 if you just want to surf the web and check emails).
Typical monthly cost: $70
Laidback streamers: Best speed tier for everyday use
Laidback streamers like to unwind at the end of the day with their favourite TV show or movie. They either live alone or have 1 or 2 more people matching their internet vibes. This includes smooth streaming, quick browsing, and the occasional online game without fuss. They appreciate reliable internet that keeps things chill without hurting their hip pocket.
Our recommendation: NBN 50
Typical monthly cost: $80
Enthusiastic gamers: Best speed tier for fast speeds
Enthusiastic gamers like to juggle multiple online worlds such as fast-paced gaming, social media, and work-from-home tasks. They may be living alone, have a housemate that matches their vibe or they're part of a family of 4+ people. Equipped with a fast NBN speed tier, they carry out high-speed downloads, stream in high definition, and do various things online simultaneously without a hitch.
Our recommendation: NBN 100
Typical monthly cost: $94
Speed chasers: Best speed tier for big families
Speed chasers are individuals or large families that enjoy and thrive on high-speed internet for all their daily needs. They enjoy 4K streams, quick downloads, and smooth online gaming, even when multiple users are online simultaneously. Whether it's video calls, remote work, or family movie nights, all they ask for is speed and stability.
Our recommendation: NBN 250
Typical monthly cost: $112
"I'm using NBN 50, which I understand is the most common speed tier in Australia. It suits me and my wife fine - she works from home most of the time and it's never been an issue for her. We don't have free-to-air TV, so we're streaming something most nights. Even if we're watching two shows on different devices, it's never been an issue. I've thought about upgrading, but a faster speed doesn't feel like it'll make much of a difference - I only really have an issue if the internet is working or not."
While it's standard practice for NBN providers to advertise a typical download speed, there are no requirements per se around upload speeds.
Some of the major providers like Telstra and Optus will specify a typical upload speed, while others just use the default maximum available on each speed tier.
If you're someone who works from home, a good upload speed will be around 20-40Mbps to ensure video calls are running smoothly.
Here's a look at the maximum upload speeds available across each speed tier.
NBN speed tier
Upload speed
NBN 12
1Mbps
NBN 25
5Mbps
NBN 50
5Mbps
NBN 100
20Mbps
NBN 250
25Mbps
NBN 1000
50Mbps
Good to know: NBN 100 plans can come with 2 upload speed options – 20Mbps or 40Mbps, with the price difference being around $10 per month.
Can my NBN connection type impact the speeds I get?
Yep, that's unfortunately true. Where you live will determine what NBN connection you have.
Those with a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) and Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) connection type may be unable to achieve the maximum speeds available on NBN 100.
NBN 250 plans are only available to Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC) addresses. NBN 1000 plans are available at all FTTP addresses and the majority of premises connected to HFC.
Good to know: NBN Co is running a fibre upgrade program in which it hopes to upgrade 10 million premises from FTTN to FTTP by 2025 (and free to charge). If you don't fall under its footprint, you could still request an upgrade but it can cost as much as $10,000.
Finder survey: How confident are Australians of different generations in their NBN speed choices?
Response
75+ yrs
65-74 yrs
55-64 yrs
45-54 yrs
35-44 yrs
25-34 yrs
18-24 yrs
Yes
40.91%
37.79%
41.61%
34.32%
41.08%
42.11%
25.88%
Not sure
13.64%
19.77%
10.56%
14.2%
10.27%
8.42%
3.53%
No
6.82%
5.81%
7.45%
11.24%
11.89%
8.95%
7.06%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
Frequently asked questions
Netflix recommends at least 3Mbps for HD streaming, 5Mbps for full HD streaming and 15Mbps for 4K.
So in theory you could watch Netflix across all speed tiers. However, for comfortable streaming, we suggest NBN 25 or NBN 50, especially if you have multiple people using the internet at the same time. What is a normal internet speed in Australia? With most Australians being on an NBN 50 plan, Australia's average internet speed could be around 50Mbps. This is the maximum speed available on an NBN 50 plan.
However, internet needs do evolve over time. We're now connected to more devices than ever before. Think about your smart bulbs, Google Homes, and Alexas.
If you're a heavy internet user or part of a larger family, an ideal speed for you could be NBN 100.
We recommend NBN 25 or faster for households with 2 or more people. However, it really depends on how much internet those 2 people are using.
If both are working from home and using video conferencing during the day, or like gaming, an NBN 50 or even an NBN 100 plan might be a better fit.
Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is the NBN technology that offers the fastest speeds.
With FTTP, you can get download speeds of up to 1000Mbps and upload speeds of up to 50Mbps based on the fastest NBN speed tier.
Not everyone has access to this technology type due to the complex nature of the installation process.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.
Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio
Mariam's expertise
Mariam has written 296 Finder guides across topics including:
Having a local support team can be helpful when you’re facing Internet troubles. We’ve compiled a list of NBN providers with Aussie call centres to help you out.
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