Switch NBN plans and save heaps – before it’s too late
There are whispers of NBN prices going up in the near future. Now's the best time to compare NBN plans and save money while you still can.
The NBN Co is in the middle of convincing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that its new broadband pricing proposal won't put due pressure on households.
The price changes would lock in rates until 2040, with limited changes to the service itself.
This means that it'll become more expensive for telcos to access the NBN's network and the costs will likely be passed to the end user.
The biggest impact would be on NBN 50, the most popular speed tier used by 62% of Aussies, according to the ACCC. It's also the most popular category on Finder.
Faster speed categories could see a price drop to attract more customers, but that would still mean forking out more money from households.
So, how should I start saving on NBN right now?
There are no changes coming into place at this time so you have a few months to save money until any potential price hike takes effect.
We've found that Australians could save up to $336 in a year by switching to a cheaper NBN 50 plan.
This is especially true for people who haven't compared NBN plans in the last 6–12 months.
It's the 6-month mark when most promotional discounts run out so the best thing to do is to switch to a new provider offering a better deal.
Snag discounts worth up to $126 with these NBN deals
Given NBN 50 is the most popular speed category and the one posed to be impacted the most, here are a few plans with unlimited data to get you started.
Dodo NBN50 Unlimited Comparison Exclusive – save $126
Dodo's offer is an extra special one as you'll only find this discount via a comparison website like Finder.
You'll pay $53.95 a month over 6 months for the maximum speeds available on the NBN 50 speed tier, saving you $126.30.
The ongoing price is $75 a month.
Exetel NBN Extra-Value – save $126
Exetel is our top pick for the NBN 50 speed tier. It came second in the ACCC's latest broadband performance report for having fast and reliable speeds.
Pay just $53.95 a month for the first 6 months for a typical evening speed of 50Mbps.
The price reverts to $74.95 a month after, but you can always cancel once the discounted pricing runs out.
Tangerine NBN XL Boost – save $90
Tangerine's offer is another juicy one for NBN 50 users.
You'll pay $54.90 a month for the first 6 months, then $69.90 a month after.
This makes its ongoing price cheaper than both Dodo and Exetel so it'll help you save in the long run.
"It's not worth paying more money"
Finder's associate publisher for broadband Michelle Kwong is among one of many reviewing their finances in 2023. She looked at her NBN plan and realised it was just not worth paying more money than she needed to.
"I've been with Aussie Broadband for around 3 years, well after its discounted price of $69 a month ran out," said Kwong.
"I liked that they have an Australian call centre and won customer service awards. They've always been great when I needed help, but I've only ever had to call twice when I was moving apartments.
"Fast forward to now and I've come to the conclusion that it's not worth paying the ongoing price of $79 for excellent customer service that I was never using".
Kwong's now switching to Exetel's NBN 50 plan which should save her $150.30 in just the first 6 months.
Don't forget to compare and potentially save on other utilities such as your mobile plan and energy plan if you haven't done so already.