If you've been considering switching your home internet service, then you'll likely be wondering which is the best NBN provider in Australia. In truth, it's a tricky question to answer, as the majority of retail service providers (RSPs) we monitor all tend to offer a good, reliable and fast service. With this in mind, it only really leaves one area of differentiation: price.
Price is a big factor when you’re signing up for the best NBN plans, so in addition to regular monthly fees, we factor in any special incentives such as discounts when we’re assessing NBN providers. Many telcos offer a six-month welcome discount when you first sign up, and occasionally, we see these offers extended to a 12-month price cut. To get our 'best' tick of approval though, prices must also remain competitive after any discount. After all, why pay more for a particular service when you can get a comparable option for much, much less?
The best NBN providers should also have reliable speed, so each telco’s typical evening speed is always factored into our decision making. We regularly check the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) broadband reporting data, which monitors select telcos, so we can find the best providers that are delivering on their promised speeds.
If you’re a gamer, your needs may go beyond just speed and cost: you might also want to consider factors such as latency and ping times to find the best NBN provider that’s optimised for online gaming.
Which is the best NBN provider in Australia?
Best NBN provider for most people: Spintel
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Without a doubt, Spintel continues to be the best NBN provider in our opinion. The telco has increased prices within the last month or so of writing, but it still remains incredibly competitive and, in some cases still, it's among the very cheapest. Plus, we expect other providers to increase their prices from July, which we'd wager will return Spintel back to cheapest provider status.
Spintel's NBN plans have always been on the more affordable side, but some recent changes, particularly to its NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans, they now cost AU$87p/m and AU$95p/m, respectively for the live of the plan, and are now around AU$20 less than the national average. What's more, Spintel claims maximum or close-to-maximum speeds across its plan, which when combined with low monthly costs, make the telco one of the best in terms of overall value.
Do note, however, that Spintel's NBN 1000 plan does only promise a maximum download speed of 750Mbps – we're wondering if the telco is getting the jump on other providers regarding the upcoming NBN 750 plans launching in September.
Like many other NBN providers, Spintel offers customers the option of bringing their own modem with them when they sign up for a new NBN plan, or a single modem option is available. A mesh bundle is also available if you know you're going to need greater coverage around your home.
Which is the best high-speed NBN provider in Australia?
Best high-speed NBN provider: Exetel / Superloop
For those who want one of the fastest NBN plans, Exetel remains our recommendation as one of the best high-speed NBN providers. However, its sister company Superloop is also an excellent choice – especially now their pricing is much closer in comparison – and either of them will be a good option for you if your household has four or more people using the internet at the same time.
Exetel has great introductory prices on its NBN 100 plan, while Superloop is our pick for those who want maximum speeds on the NBN 250 speed tier. Both providers also offer the unique feature of being able to temporarily boost the speed of their services to the next tier up (save from the NBN 25 and NBN 1000 plans), resulting in even greater value.
Both providers also often receive top marks in the ACCC’s broadband reporting, frequently equalling or outpacing the performance of Telstra, Optus and TPG in terms of fastest average download speed.
Which is the best cheap NBN provider in Australia?
Best cheap NBN provider: Flip
Despite losing its crown as the best NBN provider for most people, Flip is still one of your best options if you're looking for cheap NBN plans. However, Flip is realistically only one of the cheapest during each ongoing year, as its introductory discounts have dropped from 6 months to 4 months (except for its NBN 25 plan, which has an exclusive 6-month discount through WhistleOut). For the highly sought after NBN 50, it’s also one of your most affordable options. Flip is a fantastic choice because you can get top speeds in NBN 25 and NBN 50 for a very cheap price.
Which is the best NBN provider for gaming in Australia?
Best NBN provider for gaming: Superloop
We’d argue that gamers need to put a little extra thought into choosing an NBN provider than the average everyday user. Aside from download speeds, there is also latency and ping times to consider, and gamers might also want the ability to prioritise online gaming traffic. We’ve continue to select Superloop as the current best NBN provider for gaming, as it boasts good stats in the relevant ACCC metrics, as well as Steam’s broadband monitoring.
Best NBN providers FAQ
What should I consider when choosing an NBN provider?
Speed: Consider how much download speed your household needs. An NBN 50 should be sufficient for between 2-4 people, while households of five people or more will be better off choosing an NBN provider that promises 100Mbps or more during the busy evening hours.
Price: Your budget will likely play a big part in which NBN provider you choose. You’ll want to look for a good discount for when you first sign up, but also ensure that the ongoing price remains competitive.
Data allowance: Most fixed-line NBN plans come with unlimited data, so we recommend choosing an NBN provider which offers this as standard. Some slower NBN plans such as satellite NBN and fixed wireless NBN do not come with unlimited data, however, so you may not have a choice in these instances.
Performance: You can check the real-world performance of some of the most popular NBN providers using sources such as the ACCC’s broadband reports. If the provider you’re considering isn’t monitored by the ACCC, you can also look up real user feedback on sites such as Whirlpool.net.au.
Perks: Extra perks are not essential when choosing an NBN provider, but it may become a factor if you’re struggling to make your final decision. Perks can include the ability to increase your internet’s speed at any time, or bundled in streaming service subscriptions.
What internet speed do I need?
The internet speed you need really depends on your usage, and how many devices are connected to the internet at the same time. For example, Netflix says you’ll need internet speeds of 15Mbps or higher if you want to stream content in 4K, which means an NBN 25 plan will be sufficient.
But if there’s multiple people in your household who also want to scroll social media, game online or download files for work at the same time, we’d suggest considering at least an NBN 50 plan to avoid any lag or buffering issues.
How do I check my current internet speed?
You can easily check your current internet speed using an NBN speed test. TechRadar has a dedicated widget that will check your current download and upload speed, so you can see if the speed you’re paying for is the speed you’re actually receiving. If you’re testing over a Wi-Fi connection (as opposed to being directly plugged into the router or modem), make sure you’re in the same room as your modem or router to ensure accurate results.
How long does it take to switch NBN providers?
Switching from one NBN provider to another can be incredibly quick – the switch can happen within one hour at some providers, while others may take longer. When you change your internet provider, you might be required to reconfigure your modem, which may add to the time it takes to make the final switch.
Should I buy a modem from my internet provider or buy my own?
Most NBN providers will give you the option of receiving a telco-supplied modem when you sign up to a new plan – sometimes these are free, but often you’ll be charged for them – but you’ll likely also have the option of reusing your own if you already have one (unless you’re upgrading to a new physical internet tech – from FTTN to FTTP, for example).
There’s no real harm in buying a modem from your new internet provider, particularly if you want something convenient and pre-configured, but if you’ll be switching providers regularly it might be beneficial to buy and reuse your own.
