As the resident NBN expert for TechRadar, I spend a good deal of time tracking prices of the best NBN plans. And while there are often some fantastic internet deals that can change on a monthly basis, one constant I’ve noticed is just how expensive Telstra’s plan costs can be.
I’ve never shied away from calling out the nation’s largest telco for its exorbitant prices, which for a long time have been the most expensive of all the NBN providers I monitor.
You can imagine the look on my face, then, when I recently noticed that Telstra has actually reduced the prices across its entire plan lineup, by as much as AU$14 in some cases. Mind you, my shock was quite short-lived, as despite the reductions Telstra is still among the most expensive providers. So it’s still hard to recommend it if you’re looking for a great-value NBN plan.
NBN 25
- Telstra price: AU$85p/m
- Flip price: AU$44p/m (first 8 months, then AU$59.90p/m)
- First year saving: AU$428.40
An NBN 25 plan provides basic internet access, and is best suited to single or two-person households that just need to surf the web, stream the odd HD or 4K video, and browse social media. Virtually all providers that offer an NBN 25 plan promise maximum download speeds during all hours of the day so, in my mind, it doesn’t make sense to sign up with Telstra when you can pay over AU$400 less each year by going with Flip.
NBN 50
- Telstra price: AU$95p/m
- Tangerine price: AU$64.90p/m (first 12 months, then AU$84.90p/m)
- First year saving: AU$361.20
NBN 50 continues to be the most popular choice in Australia at the time of writing, although I do expect this to change in the near future given the arrival of NBN 500 plans, which offer the best overall value in my opinion. This Tangerine NBN 50 plan offers enough speed to comfortably stream 4K video, but if you have a high number of connected devices in your home, you’ll want to consider a faster plan to ensure you have enough bandwidth to go around.
NBN 100 & NBN 500
- Telstra price: AU$99p/m
- Tangerine price: AU$68.90p/m (first 12 months, then AU$88.90p/m)
- First year saving: AU$361.20
I’ve grouped the NBN 100 and NBN 500 speed tiers together because, in general, telcos are now charging the same price for them. This is because NBN 500 is essentially a no-cost speed boost to 100Mbps plans that’s available to homes that connect to the fixed-line network via either fibre to the premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coax (HFC). If your home doesn’t connect via either of these, then NBN 100 is the fastest you can get, but you’ll pay the same (in general) as customers who can get NBN 500.
Once again, Tangerine is the cheapest Telstra alternative in the first year thanks to a 12-month discount that’s available for a limited time – get in quickly though, as it’s set to expire on December 14.
NBN 750
- Telstra price: AU$119p/m
- Dodo price: AU$79.99p/m (first 12 months, then AU$99.99p/m)
- First year saving: AU$468.12
I’m still on the fence about the need for the NBN 750 speed tier. An NBN 500 plan provides more than enough speed for most homes for a lot less. And if you want to get a truly fast plan, you have the option of NBN 1000 for not a lot more money.
Still, if you think it’s the ideal speed for you, then Dodo’s current 12-month promotion can’t be ignored. The telco does only claim 700Mbps typical evening speeds, compared to the maximum speeds you’re promised with Telstra, but with over AU$460 in savings up for grabs, Dodo delivers far better bang for buck.
NBN 1000
- Telstra price: AU$129
- Buddy price: AU$99 (first month free)
- First year saving: AU$459
An NBN 1000 plan is a great option for power users with a particularly high number of connected devices, or who want to carry out multiple, simultaneous data-heavy tasks. It’s also going to be ideal for gamers aiming to download large game files quickly. I’ve noticed the average monthly cost of an NBN 1000 plan has come down slightly in the past 12 months, from AU$120 in December 2024 to just over AU$115 today.
Buddy’s gigabit plan has been my outright favourite ever since the provider launched in July 2024 due to its low AU$99 monthly charge. And right now, you can score your first month for free, making it even more affordable.
As you can see, there’s potentially hundreds of dollars in savings available when you shop around for a new NBN plan. And as an added note, Telstra’s current pricing is nestled under a ‘Christmas Sale’ badge, so there’s no guarantee these lower prices are permanent. If they revert back to their previous prices, then you’ll obviously stand to save even more.
