Which NBN connection is the best?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is the best type of NBN connection as it uses high-speed fibre optic cables from the NBN node to a connection box on your house. Anyone with an FTTP connection can get download speeds up to 1000Mbps. Read more about the different NBN connection types and find out which and find out which one's available at your address.

What is the best NBN brand for 2025?

Finder's broadband customer satisfaction awards are a great place to start. We ask hundreds of Aussies to rate their favourite NBN brand based on value for money, customer support and more. In 2025, Aussie Broadband knocked it out of the park for overall customer satisfaction. Belong and Superloop were highly commended.

Is NBN slower than 5G?

While 5G can theoretically outpace the NBN in speed, only a handful of providers currently offer 5G home wireless broadband plans and availability is limited to specific locations. For those that do, speeds are often capped, meaning typical download speeds can vary between 50 and 300Mbps, depending on the plan. Optus is the only one to offer an uncapped plan. Even on that though your typical download speed during the busy hours of the day (7-11pm) clock at 210Mbps. However, 5G home wireless , if available at your address, can be a good alternative to the NBN if you're struggling with your connection or can't get fast speeds.

Which NBN connection is best?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) offers the fastest and most reliable NBN connection . It supports higher speeds and is less prone to interference, weather or damage.

How to choose the right NBN plan?

Consider your household's data needs and speed preferences . For heavy streaming or gaming, go for NBN 100 or NBN 250 plans . Lighter users may find NBN 25 or 50 sufficient.

What's the fastest NBN speed?

NBN 1000 (or Gigabit) is the fastest plan available, offering speeds up to 1000 Mbps where supported.

Best NBN Plans for February 2026 [Expert Picks]

Everyday Use

Dodo NBN 50

Finder Award

50Mbps

typical evening speed

$65.99

per month

$65.99/mth for first 12 months, then $85.99/mth. Ends 24 Feb 2026.

Fast speeds (NBN500)

Optus Fast nbn® (NBN 500)

500Mbps

typical evening speed

$79.00

per month

$79/mth for first 12 months, then $99/mth or as notified. Ends 25 Feb 2026. New services only. Not available with Bundle Bonus.

Cheap

Arctel Cruisy Lite NBN 25

25Mbps

typical evening speed

$43.90

per month

$43.90/mth for first 6 months, then $63.99/mth. Use code CLFINDER.

Superfast speeds

Dodo NBN Home Superfast

700Mbps

typical evening speed

$79.99

per month

$79.99/mth for first 12 months, then $99.99/mth. Ends 24 Feb 2026.

Ultrafast speeds

Buddy Telco NBN Zoomy

875Mbps

typical evening speed

$99.00

per month

Finding the best NBN plans

Our team of internet plan experts have compared 310 NBN plans from 44 internet providers in Australia. We shortlisted 7 plans based on popularity, customer reviews and expert analysis. Remember that not all NBN plans will suit your needs so make sure you compare your options before choosing the right one for you.

Best NBN plans for February 2026
- Best cheap NBN plan: Arctel Cruisy Lite NBN 25
- Best NBN plan for everyday use: Dodo NBN 50
- Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 100): Optus Fast nbn®
- Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 500): Optus Fast nbn® (NBN 500)
- Best NBN plan with Superfast speeds: Dodo NBN Home Superfast
- Best NBN plan with Ultrafast speeds: Buddy Telco NBN Zoomy
- Best NBN and energy bundle: AGL NBN Home Basic
Read about the best NBN plans methodology

Why you can trust our research

310 NBN plans analysed

765 Australians surveyed

95+ hours of research

Best cheap NBN plan: Arctel

Arctel Cruisy Lite NBN 25

25Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$43.90
per month for 6 months

$43.90/mth for first 6 months, then $63.99/mth. Use code CLFINDER.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll save around $121 over 6 months with this offer when you use code CLFINDER. Even at its ongoing price, it’s well below the average cost of NBN 25 plans in our database
There’s 24/7 support, throughout the year.
Access to Arctel Rewards for a chance to win a monthly prize. You’ll earn entries for every month your service is active.

The price will revert to $63.99 a month after 6 months.
While there’s no lock-in contract, you do have to give a month’s notice to cancel your plan.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 8.5Mbps
Modem: BYO modem
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $647.34

Why we chose it

To find the best budget-friendly NBN plan, we looked at month-to-month fixed-line NBN plans from Finder partners that came with unlimited data and cost $70 or less per month, including any promotional discounts. We then gave each shortlisted plan a value score by assigning weights to a number of factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report. Our top pick was chosen based on which plan got the highest value score.

Best NBN plan for everyday use: Dodo

Dodo NBN 50

50Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$65.99
per month

$65.99/mth for first 12 months, then $85.99/mth. Ends 24 Feb 2026.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll save $240 over 12 months with Dodo's latest offer.
Get a $50 Visa gift card when you sign up to this plan through Finder.
You can bring your own modem, pay for one upfront, or spread the cost over 24 months for $7.50 per month.
Save $5 a month when you bundle your internet and mobile plans.

The price will revert to $85.99 a month after 12 months.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 17Mbps
Modem: BYO modem or purchase for $169.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $791.88

Why we chose it

We decided to go with the NBN 50 speed tier for our everyday use category as it's the most popular speed tier in Australia according to the ACCC. We looked at fixed-line NBN 50 plans from Finder partners that came with unlimited data and gave each plan a value score by assigning weights to various factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report. The top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score.

Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 100): Optus

Optus Fast nbn®

100Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$79
per month

$79/mth for first 12 months, then $99/mth or as notified. Ends 25 Feb 2026. New services only. Not available with Bundle Bonus.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

Optus’s latest offer will save you $240 over 12 months.
Get an additional $350 Visa gift card when you sign to this plan through Finder.
Optus topped the ACCC's latest broadband report for speed reliability during peak hours (7pm–11pm), when most people are online and internet speeds can slow down.
You can bring your own modem or get one from Optus at no upfront cost when you stay connected for 24 months. If you cancel early, you’ll need to pay the remaining balance for the device.

The price will revert to $99 a month after the first 12 months.
If you have an FTTP or HFC NBN connection, Optus will show you the NBN 500 plan instead. It costs the same but is 5 times faster.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 18Mbps
Modem: BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $948

Why we chose it

NBN 100 is a great option for larger households where 3 to 4 people want to be online simultaneously and avoid buffering internet. We used this speed tier to select the best NBN plan for fast speeds. We looked at fixed-line NBN 100 plans from Finder partners that came with unlimited data and gave each plan a value score by assigning weights to various factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report. The top pick was chosen based on the plan with the highest value score.

Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 500): Optus

Optus Fast nbn® (NBN 500)

500Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$79
per month

$79/mth for first 12 months, then $99/mth or as notified. Ends 25 Feb 2026. New services only. Not available with Bundle Bonus.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

Optus’s latest offer will save you $240 over 12 months.
Get an additional $350 Visa gift card when you sign to this plan through Finder.
Optus topped the ACCC's latest broadband report for speed reliability during peak hours (7pm–11pm), when most people are online and internet speeds can slow down.
You can bring your own modem or get one from Optus at no upfront cost when you stay connected for 24 months. If you cancel early, you’ll need to pay the remaining balance for the device.

The price will revert to $99 a month after the first 12 months.
You won’t be able to sign up if you don’t have an HFC or FTTP NBN connection. Instead, Optus will show you its NBN 100 plan, which costs the same. This is because other connection types can’t support speeds faster than 100Mbps.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 43Mbps
Modem: BYO modem or Powerful Wi-Fi Modem for $0 when you stay for 24 months
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $948

Why we chose it

We looked at fixed-line NBN 500 plans with unlimited data from Finder partners. Each plan was given a value score by assigning weights to factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report (if available). The top pick was chosen based on the NBN plan with the highest value score.

Best NBN plan for superfast speeds: Dodo

Dodo NBN Home Superfast

700Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$79.99
per month

$79.99/mth for first 12 months, then $99.99/mth. Ends 24 Feb 2026.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

You’ll save $240 over 12 months with Dodo's latest offer.
You can BYO modem, or opt for new hardware and pay it off over 24 months for $7.50 a month.
Save $5 a month when you bundle your internet and mobile plans.

The price will revert to $99.99 after 12 months.
You will only be able to sign up if you have an HFC or FTTP NBN connection.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 49Mbps
Modem: BYO modem or purchase for $169.90. Option to pay in monthly instalments
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $959.88

Why we chose it

We looked at fixed-line NBN 250 plans with unlimited data from Finder partners. Each plan was given a value score by assigning weights to factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report (if available). The top pick was chosen based on the NBN plan with the highest value score.

Best NBN plan for ultrafast speeds: Buddy Telco

Buddy Telco NBN Zoomy

875Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$99
per month

Go to site

Pros & cons:

Buddy Telco offers one of the cheapest NBN 1000 plans on Finder, especially if you’re looking beyond honeymoon prices.
Its NBN plans run off the same infrastructure and automation that powers the Aussie Broadband network.
You can manage your connection via the Buddy Telco app, website, or live chat support, all operated by Australia-based staff.

Buddy Telco offers digital-only support, which may not be for everyone.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 92Mbps
Modem: BYO modem or purchase for $180
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $1188

Why we chose it

We looked at fixed-line NBN 1000 plans with unlimited data from Finder partners. Each plan was given a value score by assigning weights to factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including promotional offers), live chat support, phone support, option to BYO modem, cost of modem, and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report (if available). The top pick was chosen based on the NBN plan with the highest value score.

Best NBN and energy bundle: AGL

AGL NBN Home Basic

25Mbps
Typical evening speed

Unlimited
Data

$74
per month

$59/mth when bundled with AGL Energy.

Go to site

Pros & cons:

Pay $59 a month when you bundle internet and energy with AGL. This beats paying $74 a month without the bundling discount.
You can bring your own modem or get a 50% discount following AGL's latest offer. It gives you the option to pay upfront or spread the cost over 12 or 24 months.
AGL includes a free Netflix plan with ads (valued at $120 a year) on one of its energy deals. You can upgrade to an ad-free plan anytime by paying the difference.

The ongoing price of this AGL NBN plan is on the higher side if you don’t bundle it with energy.

Set-up fee: $0
Typical upload speed: 4Mbps
Modem: BYO modem, or buy one at 50% off. Prices start at $74.50
Total cost over first 12 months (excluding modem): $888

Why we chose it

We looked at fixed-line NBN plans with unlimited data that offer a discount on their plans when bundled with electricity and/or gas from the same provider. Each plan was given a value score by assigning weights to factors including cost per Mbps over 24 months (including bundling discounts), choice of BYO modem, customer support features and the provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report. The top pick was chosen based on the NBN plan from a Finder partner with the highest value score.

2025 Finder Awards for the best NBN plans

These are the NBN plans that topped our list in the 2025 Finder Awards. Categories are based on speed and price. Winners were chosen based on their typical evening speed and price over the first 12 months of the plan, customer support channels and performance in the quarterly ACCC Broadband Performance Report.

Best Everyday Use NBN Provider

Winner: Dodo
Highly commended: SpinTel
Highly commended: Southern Phone

Best NBN Provider for Fast Speeds

Winner: Dodo
Highly commended: SpinTel
Highly commended: Exetel

Best NBN Provider for Superfast Speeds

Winner: TPG
Highly commended: Dodo
Highly commended: Southern Phone

Best Budget NBN Provider

Winner: SpinTel
Highly commended: Dodo
Highly commended: Southern Phone

Our panel of broadband experts compare plans across 7 different categories this month.

Each plan is given a value score based on factors such as price, typical download speed, speed reliability if the provider is included in the ACCC's quarterly broadband performance report, and live chat support.

The provider with the highest score comes out as the winner.

Here's a detailed overview of each of the factors we measure:

Cost per Mbps. This is calculated by taking the price of the plan over 24 months divided by the download speeds you get (Mbps). The price includes any promotional offers that are valid for 2 or more weeks from when we selected the plan.

Option to BYO modem. Plans with the choice to BYO modem are weighted more favourably than those without the option.

Cost of modem. We factor in the cost of buying a modem from the provider, as not everyone has a compatible one. Like monthly plan prices, modem costs can vary between providers.

Live chat support. We weight providers with an active live chat service higher than those that don't have this feature. This must be a personalised service - live chats with automated prompts or responses are not included.

Availability of phone support. Providers with an active call centre are weighted higher than those without. Location of the call centre is not taken into account.

The provider's ranking in the ACCC's broadband performance report (if applicable). These rankings are updated quarterly and are a representation of the reliability of the NBN provider and the speeds they advertise across their plans.

How do you find the best NBN plan?

Everyone's needs are different so consider the following when looking for the best NBN plan for your household:

What NBN speed are you after?
The size of your household and what you're doing on the internet will determine which speed is appropriate for you. While most Australians are on an NBN 50 plan, an NBN 100 plan could be better for you if the majority of your household works from home. In fact, Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker found that more Australians are satisfied with an NBN 100 plan compared to any other NBN speed tier.

Are you after a basic NBN plan or one with extra features?
Having extra perks tacked onto your plan can be nice, but consider whether you'll actually make use of these or if you're happy with just a simple plug and play NBN plan.

Do you need to buy a new modem?
If you already own a modem and are comfortable transferring it across to a new provider, it's a great way to keep your initial costs low. Otherwise, all providers offer a modem to purchase with your NBN plan. Just make sure you factor this cost in when you're signing up to your new plan.

"When I moved into my current apartment I just paid half the internet bills my roommate had signed up for ages ago when she moved in. Turns out she hadn't compared in a while and we were overpaying for pretty average speeds. A quick comparison took us from 90Mbps download speeds to over 200Mbps for $5 less per month."

Alanna Glenn

Money Expert

Frequently asked questions

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is the best type of NBN connection as it uses high-speed fibre optic cables from the NBN node to a connection box on your house.
Anyone with an FTTP connection can get download speeds up to 1000Mbps.
Read more about the different NBN connection types and find out which and find out which one's available at your address.
While 5G can theoretically outpace the NBN in speed, only a handful of providers currently offer 5G home wireless broadband plans and availability is limited to specific locations.
For those that do, speeds are often capped, meaning typical download speeds can vary between 50 and 300Mbps, depending on the plan.
Optus is the only one to offer an uncapped plan. Even on that though your typical download speed during the busy hours of the day (7-11pm) clock at 210Mbps.
However, 5G home wireless, if available at your address, can be a good alternative to the NBN if you're struggling with your connection or can't get fast speeds.

Sources

Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Senior Utilities Editor & Tech Expert

Mariam Gabaji is a journalist with 13 years of experience, specialising in consumer topics like mobile services and energy costs. Her work appears in the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, The Guardian, SBS, 7News, A Current Affair and Money Magazine. Mariam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and was a finalist for the 2024 and 2025 IT Journalism Award for Best Telecommunications Journalist. See full bio

Mariam's expertise

Mariam has written 449 Finder guides across topics including:

Energy
Mobile
Broadband
Consumer tech

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8 Responses

TrishSeptember 16, 2024

I am secretary of a small bowling club that require internet for 6 months of year. It will not be used a lot so would not require a huge amount of data. Would you suggest a dongle or other service. We have a telstra landline

Finder

AngusSeptember 19, 2024Finder

Hi Trish, There are a couple of ways you could go here. If expected data usage is really low, you could consider just using a 4G/5G broadband service or even just buying a 365-day mobile SIM and putting that into a dongle.
In practice, though, if the club already has a Telstra landline, then you do already have an NBN connection (since the original landline copper network has been switched off Australia-wide). It might prove cheaper and more flexible to just add a basic NBN data service to this – that won’t have any data limits, and the total cost in a year could be cheaper even if it’s not being used every month. Hope this helps!

ReneeJuly 13, 2024

What is the best plan for a senior who only uses the internet on a casual basis

Finder

MariamJuly 17, 2024Finder

Hi Renee, NBN providers like flip and Aussie Broadband offer seniors plans. If their internet use is quite minimal, then mobile broadband could be a good option if you get good network signals at your address. Hope this helps!

AngeloathJuly 9, 2024

I’m moving soon to a property with embedded internet with a company called Lightning Broadband. Does anyone know much about them or have any experience with them and if so what can you tell me?

Finder

MariamJuly 18, 2024Finder

Hi Angeloath, unfortunately, we don’t compare Lightning Broadband on Finder. Given you have embedded internet you’ll likely have one of two choices: Use Lightning Broadband or consider home wireless broadband. However, access to home wireless is dependent on the provider, where you live and if you get good mobile network signals at your property. You can read our guide and compare plans to understand your options: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/home-wireless-broadband, Hope this helps!

FredFebruary 11, 2024

I live with my daughter and her three children. ( All use the internet ) Which would be the best plan for me.

Finder

MariamFebruary 12, 2024Finder

Hi Fred, an NBN 100 plan is good for households of 4+ people. You can read our guide on ‘What NBN speed tier do I need’ for more information: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn-speed-tiers or compare NBN 100 plans here: https://www.finder.com.au/broadband-plans/nbn/compare-nbn-100-plans. Hope this helps!

More guides on Finder

Compare NBN 500 plans – the new high-speed internet tier
NBN 500 is a newly launched speed tier, with free upgrades available for eligible customers.
What NBN speed do I really need?
Find out which NBN speed tier is the best fit for you and your household.
Compare NBN 1000 plans
Get the fastest internet available in Australia from providers like Telstra, Optus, TPG, Buddy Telco and more.
Compare NBN 250 plans
NBN 250 provides the bandwidth needed for gaming and busy families. Discounted prices start at $79 a month.
What are NBN typical evening speeds? (And why they matter)
Find out why typical evening speeds matter when shopping around for an NBN plan.
NBN 25 plans – ideal for casual users or savvy savers
NBN 25 plans are generally more affordable if you're a light internet user and don't need fast speeds.
Compare NBN 100 plans
NBN 100 plans are good for large households, as well as enthusiastic gamers or streamers.
Cheap NBN plans
Cut down on your Internet bill with these cheap NBN plans starting from $39/month.
Compare NBN FTTP plans (Fibre to the Premises)
FTTP, or Fibre to the Premises, uses fibre optic cables to deliver the fastest NBN speeds available.

Best NBN plans for February 2026

Our nerds (sorry, experts) go through hundreds of offers every month to bring you the best NBN plans around.

Finding the best NBN plans

Show summary

Why you can trust our research

Best cheap NBN plan: Arctel

Arctel Cruisy Lite NBN 25

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN plan for everyday use: Dodo

Dodo NBN 50

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 100): Optus

Optus Fast nbn®

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN plan for fast speeds (NBN 500): Optus

Optus Fast nbn® (NBN 500)

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN plan for superfast speeds: Dodo

Dodo NBN Home Superfast

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN plan for ultrafast speeds: Buddy Telco

Buddy Telco NBN Zoomy

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

Best NBN and energy bundle: AGL

AGL NBN Home Basic

Pros & cons:

Why we chose it

2025 Finder Awards for the best NBN plans

Best Everyday Use NBN Provider

Best NBN Provider for Fast Speeds

Best NBN Provider for Superfast Speeds

Best Budget NBN Provider

How do we choose the best NBN plans

How do you find the best NBN plan?

Frequently asked questions

Which NBN connection is the best?

What is the best NBN brand for 2025?

Is NBN slower than 5G?

Which NBN connection is best?

How to choose the right NBN plan?

What's the fastest NBN speed?

Sources

Mariam Gabaji

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Ask a question

8 Responses

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