Telstra NBN plans compared: every option from Australia’s top telco

Telstra logo
(Image credit: Telstra)

Telstra is the largest NBN provider in Australia, offering a high quality service and dependable speeds, plus there are plenty of perks and optional extras on the table as well. With that said, there’s no getting around the fact that Telstra is the most expensive NBN provider on the market.

We think this is best illustrated by Telstra's NBN 50 plan: it currently costs AU$95 a month, which is AU$20 higher than the average monthly cost of all the NBN 50 plans monitored by TechRadar. In short, other telcos including Optus, TPG and Exetel offer the same speed as Telstra, just at a cheaper price.

While we think Telstra’s NBN 25, NBN 50 and NBN 100 plans are too expensive, we do think there is value to be had with its NBN 250 plan. Telstra’s one of only a few telcos top speeds of 250Mbps in its tier, so it’s better value for money if you’re in a household of five or more people with heavy internet usage.

To help more in your decision-making, we’ve laid out the best Telstra NBN plans below, or you can read our in-depth Telstra NBN review if you want a complete breakdown. If you want to learn more about each Telstra NBN plan, click on the links below to check out the speed you’re after:

Jump to:
Telstra NBN 50 plan – AU$95p/m (no discount)
Telstra NBN 25 plan – AU$80p/m (no discount)
Telstra NBN 100 plan – AU$100p/m (first 6m, then AU$110p/m ongoing)
Telstra NBN 250 plan – AU$120p/m (first 6m, then AU$140p/m ongoing)
Telstra NBN 1000 plan – AU$180p/m (no discount)

Noteworthy Telstra NBN deals

Telstra is currently offering a welcome discount on some of its NBN plans, and you can save up to AU$120 depending on what speed you choose. Here’s what’s available when you sign up to a Telstra NBN plan:

Telstra NBN plans

Telstra NBN 50 plan

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The best option for most people

Telstra

Telstra | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$95p/m

Telstra’s no longer offering a discount on its NBN 50 plan, so you’ll always pay AU$95 a month for this speed. That’s a high price to pay in this tier, as the average cost of an NBN 50 plan currently sits at AU$75 a month. Telstra promises a typical evening speed of 50Mbps, but so do many other providers. For example, Optus and TPG also offer maxed-out speeds between 7–11pm, and they manage to do so at a cheaper price. If you sign up with Telstra and decide to leave within the first 24 months, you’ll need to return the modem or pay a AU$200 non-return fee.

Total minimum cost: AU$95 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,140

• See more: Best NBN 50 plans

Telstra NBN 25 plan

The cheapest option, but not great value

Telstra

Telstra | NBN 25 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$80p/m

This is Telstra’s cheapest NBN offering, but it’s hardly the most affordable plan out there – not when the average monthly cost in this tier is AU$67. You’ll get a top typical evening speed of 25Mbps on this plan, but plenty of other providers offer the same at a cheaper price. It does come with nice inclusions such as a modem with 4G backup, though we still struggle to recommend this plan at the price. If you decide to leave within 24 months, just return the modem or pay a AU$200 non-return fee.

Total minimum cost: AU$80 | Total cost for first year: AU$960

• See more: Best NBN 25 plans

Telstra NBN 100 plan

For large households, or those who want a little extra speed

Telstra

Telstra | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$100p/m (first 6 months, then AU$110p/m)

Telstra’s NBN 100 plan is discounted for the first six months. While it’s not the best deal we’ve seen for this plan (it’s previously dropped to AU$90 a month) it’s a pretty sweet deal when you consider that 12 months of Kayo is also included for free. You’ll initially pay AU$100 a month, before your bill reverts to AU$110 a month ongoing – that gets you a top download speed of 100Mbps in the evening hours. If you leave within the first 24 months, return the modem or pay a AU$200 non-return fee.

Total minimum cost: AU$100 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,260 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,320

• See more: Best NBN 100 plans

Telstra NBN 250 plan

Exceptionally fast broadband for high-demand users

Telstra

Telstra | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$120p/m (first 6 months, then AU$140p/m)

You can save AU$120 on your first six months with Telstra’s NBN 250 deal. The AU$20 monthly discount will bring your internet bill down to AU$120 a month for your first six months, then AU$140 a month thereafter. This plan has a typical evening speed of 250Mbps, and Telstra is one of only a few providers quoting this maxed-out speed in the tier. You can return your modem or pay a AU$200 no-return fee if you choose to leave within the first months of signing up. Only available to fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) and select hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connections.

Total minimum cost: AU$120 | Total cost for first year: AU$1,560 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,680

• See more: Best NBN 250 plans

Telstra NBN 1000 plan

The fastest you can get, but only available in select locations

Telstra

Telstra | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$180p/m

Residential NBN doesn’t get any faster than this, and frankly, this kind of plan will be overkill for most people. There isn’t a discount available on this plan, and at AU$180 a month, it’s the most expensive NBN 1000 plan in the market. It’s also the fastest, with a typical evening speed of 700Mbps, while its closest competitors (Optus, Aussie Broadband and Origin) all reach 600Mbps. If you leave Telstra within 24 months, just return your modem or pay a AU$200 no-return fee. Only available to FTTP and select HFC.

Total minimum cost: AU$180 | Total cost for first year: AU$2,160

• See more: Best NBN 1000 plans

Telstra NBN FAQ

How much does Telstra NBN cost?

At their standard prices, the options you have to choose from in Telstra’s NBN range includes: NBN 25 for AU$80 a month, NBN 50 for AU$95 a month, NBN 100 for AU$110 a month, NBN 250 for AU$140 a month and NBN 1000 for AU$180.

Can I get Telstra NBN?

Yes, but not all NBN connection types will have access to Telstra’s higher speed tiers. To find out what connection type is available at your address, you can simply check your address on Telstra’s website. Doing this will also tell you the maximum speeds available at your location, and you may find that Telstra restricts what NBN plan you can sign up to based on your address.

This is a good thing, because it means you won’t be paying for a service that can’t be delivered to your home. This feature was introduced after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took Telstra, Optus and TPG to the Federal Court, after it found that each telco had made false statements to customers regarding how fast their NBN plans were capable of reaching.

It’s worth noting that Telstra’s NBN 250 and NBN 1000 options are only available to those with a FTTP or a HFC connection. You can read more about each connection type here.

What perks come with Telstra NBN?

Other than reliability, what kind of perks can you expect with Telstra NBN? Well, all plans come with the Telstra Smart Modem 3, which is enabled with Wi-Fi 6 and 4G backup, so you can connect to the internet through the telco’s mobile network if there’s an NBN outage.

Telstra is also offering a two-month subscription to Binge, a three-month subscription to Apple TV Plus and a four-month subscription to Spotify Premium – all for free when you first sign up.

You’ll also earn Telstra Plus points to redeem on a broad range of tech at its Rewards Store. There are also optional entertainment extras you can add-on to your plan, such as Xbox All Access and Foxtel, though they come at an additional cost.

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.