Best NBN provider: which is Australia's top internet provider?

Whether you're connecting to the NBN for the first time or looking for a new plan, you'll want to make sure you go with a reputable internet provider.

There's plenty to consider when comparing NBN plans, including the type of connection your home is capable of and the speed tier that best suits your needs, but thankfully we've done the heavy lifting in weighing up all of Australia's internet major providers and coming up with the current best options.

We've taken a look at the big names like Telstra, Optus and TPG, and compared them with smaller providers like Tangerine, Spintel and Aussie Broadband to see which of them offers the best value service.

In this guide, we'll go through the strengths and weaknesses of our choice telcos, and offer our expert opinion on which NBN provider offers the best value plans across the board.

What's the best NBN provider in Australia?

When it comes to the most popular speed tier, NBN 50 is in the lead by a long way, (with over half of all NBN connections on this tier) and for 50Mbps connections we reckon Spintel is the best NBN provider around at the moment, offering great value overall and particularly excellent deals for new sign-ups.

For a little more each month, this telco's faster NBN 100 plan is also the best going at the moment, and while Spintel isn't the apex NBN 25 plan at present, it's close behind in second place.

While each plan offers the choice of bringing your own modem, if you go with the Spintel-provided option you'll pay a total of AU$158 upfront for the ISP's standard modem (including postage and gateway fees). This is more than some other providers, but quickly comes out in the wash thanks to all the savings on plan prices.

Spintel NBN 50 plan

Spintel | NBN 50 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$59p/m (first 6 months, then AU$64.95p/m)

Spintel's NBN 50 plan offers the best all round value for this popular speed tier, with a AU$59 monthly cost for the first six months bumping up to AU$64.95 afterwards, which is still one of the best prices on the market. You'll enjoy the full 50Mbps typical evening speed and unlimited data.

Total minimum cost is AU$59

Spintel's NBN 100 plan

Spintel | NBN 100 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$74p/m (first 6 months, then AU$84.95p/m)

With Spintel's NBN 100 plan, you’ll get a discount on your first six months with the service, so you’ll first pay AU$74 a month before the price reverts back to the standard AU$84.95. Even once the initial discount ends, it’s still one of the cheapest options you’ll find in this tier. For the price, you’ll be getting the best typical evening speed possible at 100Mbps.

Total minimum cost is AU$74

Compare all Spintel NBN plans

What's the best high-speed NBN provider?

While Spintel is sitting pretty for the best NBN provider overall, the telco doesn't offer NBN 250 and NBN 1000 speed tiers, but thankfully, there's one telco we recommend above all others in this category.

Aussie Broadband is the best high-speed NBN provider in Australia, consistently providing great value across both NBN 250 and NBN 1000 plans (and in fact, being the first in Australia to offer the latter to consumers).

As is always the case with these faster plans, your premises will need to be able to support the connection. For NBN 250, you'll need either an FTTP (fibre to the premises) or HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coaxial) connection, and for NBN 1000 you'll likely need FTTP, although a small percentage of HFC households can also get these gigabit speeds, but check with your telco before signing up.

The fastest NBN plans in Australia

Aussie Broadband NBN 250 plan

Aussie Broadband | NBN 250 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$129p/m)

The NBN 250 tier is becoming an increasingly competitive space, but we’d argue Aussie Broadband’s NBN 250 plan is the best available, with an almost maxed-out typical evening speed of 248Mbps. The plan has been cut down to AU$99 a month for your first six months, after which it will go back to the standard AU$129 a month. Just use the code FAST30 at checkout to get this discount.

Total minimum cost is AU$99

Aussie Broadband NBN 1000 plan

Aussie Broadband | NBN 1000 | Unlimited data | No lock-in contract | AU$119p/m (first 6 months, then AU$149p/m)

Aussie Broadband’s NBN 1000 plan is down to AU$119 a month for the first six months, saving you AU$30 each billing. After the initial discount, pricing goes back to the standard AU$149 a month. The home-grown telco has Australian-based support, and a great reputation for customer service. If you’d like to join, use the code FAST30 to redeem.

Total minimum cost is AU$119