Best NBN 1000 plans: our top picks for ultrafast gigabit internet

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The best NBN 1000 plans can get you access to the fastest internet speeds in Australia. You’ll sometimes see these plans referred to as ultrafast or gigabit internet, and downloads of up to 1,000Mbps are theoretically possible. 

However, the majority of providers which offer NBN 1000 plans don’t report this number as their typical evening speed. Telstra is the closest, with a promised typical evening speed of 700Mbps, while Aussie Broadband, Optus, Superloop and a few others are now advertising download speeds of 600Mbps in the evening hours.

Some plans in this tier are very expensive, but you don’t have to spend top dollar for the best NBN 1000 plans, as providers such as Superloop offer competitive prices. Superloop remains our choice as the best NBN 1000 plan overall, as well as the best fast option and cheapest available.

Noteworthy NBN 1000 deals

We’ve picked out our recommended plans further down the page, but here’s a quick look at some of the current NBN 1000 deals going:

Best NBN 1000 plans

Best overall NBN 1000 plan

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Superloop

Superloop | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$109p/m)

Superloop is our pick for best NBN 1000 plan, because it’s offering an incredible introductory price matched with excellent speed. You’ll pay just AU$99 a month for your first six months on this plan, after which it reverts to a new ongoing price of AU$109 (down from the previous AU$119). Superloop also promises a typical download speed of 600Mbps on this plan.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,248 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,308

Best fast NBN 1000 plan

Superloop

Superloop | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$109p/m)

Superloop reports a typical evening speed of 600Mbps on its NBN 1000 plan. While that’s not the fastest you can get (Telstra advertises 700Mbps during the busiest hours) we’d argue that Superloop’s got the better deal. Telstra’s gigabit plan is significantly more expensive at AU$180 a month, but with Superloop, you’ll pay as little as AU$99 for your first six months.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,248 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,308

Cheapest NBN 1000 plan

Superloop

Superloop | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$109p/m)

Superloop has lowered the introductory price of its NBN 1000 plan, taking it from AU$114.95 a month down to AU$99. The ongoing cost has also been reduced, so you’ll now pay AU$109 a month after the six-month welcome discount ends (previously AU$119). On top of Superloop’s excellent price, it also gets you typical evening speeds of 600Mbps.

Total minimum cost: AU$99 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,248 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,308

NBN 1000 FAQ

How fast is NBN 1000?

NBN 1000 is the ultimate speed tier offered on the NBN, with maximum download speeds of 1,000Mbps. However, the reality of the situation is that this maximum speed is much harder to reach than on other tiers.

In an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) report from June 2021, it was revealed that NBN 1000 plans “experienced average speeds between 608 and 745Mbps”. What’s more, it was found that “between 7-11pm, performance fell by 23% on average compared with the day’s maximum”.

So while you’re getting the maximum possible speed offered on the NBN at present, you might not necessarily be getting that maximum 1,000Mbps download rate, due to a wide variety of factors.

How much does NBN 1000 cost?

The lowest price we’ve seen for an NBN 1000 plan is AU$99 a month, but a price such as this is only available for your first six months at a minimum. Removing any discounted offers from the equation, the average cost of a plan in this tier is currently AU$140.

Most providers in this speed tier offer a discount for your first six months, and in most cases, the price jumps up by about AU$20 once that period ends. If you were hoping for more affordable high-speed internet, you might be better served checking our fastest NBN plans guide which takes a look at the best NBN 100 plans and best NBN 250 plans as well.

Can I get NBN 1000?

Not all connection types will have access to this ultrafast internet. It’s available to those with a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection, and in some cases, also those with hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable, but be sure to check with the provider.

What providers have NBN 1000?

When the NBN first rolled out, this speed tier didn’t exist for residential customers, but now there’s a host of telcos now offering the service. This includes the big players such as Telstra, Optus and TPG, as well as excellent smaller ISPs including Aussie Broadband, Exetel and Superloop.

Jasmine Gearie
Ecommerce editor

Jasmine Gearie is an ecommerce editor at TechRadar Australia, with a primary focus on helping readers cut through the jargon to find the best mobile and internet plans for their needs. She crunches the numbers to maintain dedicated guides to the latest phones, NBN and broadband plans of all types, and covers the important telco industry news. She also hunts down tech deals on laptops, phones, gaming consoles and more, so readers know where to buy the products they want for the cheapest prices.