The number of internet options available to the average Aussie is getting to the point of being overwhelming, especially if you’re just after the cheapest plan going. Thankfully, we’ve done the hard yards and sifted through all the fine-print to figure out which ones offer the most genuine value for your dollar.
For those looking to sign up to the NBN for less, there’s a wide variety of pricing tiers available and they all come with quirks and caveats that you’ll need to look out for. Start up fees, lock-in contracts, compulsory modem purchases – we’ve done the maths to find you the best deal.
Editor’s pick: Best value budget NBN plan
Editor’s pick: Cheapest NBN plan
TPG | NBN12 | 10GB data | 18-month contract | AU$29.99 per month
If you’re after a bare-minimum NBN connection then TPG’s got the cheapest plan available, with an included modem and only AU$30 upfront it’s the least you’ll pay to get on the NBN. The catch is that you’ll only have 10GB per month to play with and it’s an 18-month contract.
Total minimum cost is AU$569.82 over 18 monthsView Deal
Cheapest Telstra NBN plan
Telstra | NBN25 | 500GB data | No lock-in contract | AU$75 per month
This is Telstra’s cheapest NBN plan, though it’s not exactly the cheapest option out there. The telco’s lowest speed tier offering is NBN25, and it promises speeds of up to 20Mbps during busy peak periods. This plan is capped at 500GB of data per month, which could suit smaller households everyday use, plus some room for light gaming or streaming. Telstra will waive your sign-up fee if you register online, and if you stick with the telco for 24 months, it’ll also throw in the Smart Modem for free (worth AU$216). If you’re interested in having a landline, you can also get this added at no extra cost.
Total minimum cost over 24 months is AU$1,800View Deal
Cheapest TPG NBN plan (that’s actually good)
TPG | NBN12 | 100GB data | 18-month contract | AU$49.99 per month
TPG has some incredibly cheap NBN plans – the lowest you can pay is AU$29.99 a month for 10GB of data – but it’s not great value, so we reckon stretching to this one for AU$20 more is a better deal. This NBN12 plan will see you pay under AU$50 a month for 100GB of data, though TPG says this is allotted into 50GB during peak and 50GB during off-peak. During off-peak, you can expect typical speeds of 11.2Mbps. If you sign up to an 18-month contract, TPG will waive the AU$99 setup fee, though you’ll pay AU$30 for a home phone deposit and delivery charges. If you’d prefer this plan on a no lock-in contract, it’s also available but comes with a AU$99 setup fee. If you’re willing to stretch your budget a little further, you could also consider paying an extra AU$10 a month for an NBN12 plan with unlimited data.View Deal
