Choosing an NBN plan can be overwhelming. Internet providers market speeds of 25, 50, 100, 250, and even 1000 Mbps, but what do you actually need? The answer depends on how many people are in your household, what you do online, and how much you’re willing to pay.
This guide cuts through the marketing jargon and gives you straightforward recommendations based on real-world usage.
Understanding NBN speed tiers
The NBN offers six standard speed tiers. The speeds listed are maximums — your actual experience depends on your provider, time of day, and connection technology.
| Tier | Download | Upload | Typical Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBN 25 | 25 Mbps | 5 Mbps | $55–65 |
| NBN 50 | 50 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $65–80 |
| NBN 100 | 100 Mbps | 20 Mbps | $80–95 |
| NBN 250 | 250 Mbps | 25 Mbps | $100–130 |
| NBN 500 | 500 Mbps | 200 Mbps | $130–160 |
| NBN 1000 | 1000 Mbps | 400 Mbps | $150–180 |
Note: NBN 250, 500, and 1000 are only available on FTTP, HFC, and FTTC connections. If your suburb is on FTTN, your maximum is typically NBN 100. Check your suburb’s profile on PickNBN — for example, internet in Blacktown shows which speed tiers are available for a given technology type.
What uses how much bandwidth?
Before choosing a tier, it helps to understand how much bandwidth common activities actually require:
| Activity | Download Speed Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Web browsing, email | 2–5 Mbps | Minimal |
| Social media (scrolling) | 3–8 Mbps | Photos and short videos |
| SD video streaming | 3–5 Mbps | Per stream |
| HD video streaming (1080p) | 5–8 Mbps | Per stream |
| 4K video streaming | 25 Mbps | Per stream |
| Video calls (Zoom, Teams) | 3–5 Mbps | Down + 2–3 Mbps up |
| Online gaming | 5–15 Mbps | Latency matters more than speed |
| Large file downloads | As much as possible | Speed directly impacts wait time |
| Cloud backup / uploads | N/A | Upload speed is the bottleneck |
The critical insight: it’s not about any single activity — it’s about how many things happen simultaneously. A household with four people streaming different content needs four times the bandwidth of a single user.
Our recommendations by household type
Solo apartment (1 person)
Recommended: NBN 25 or NBN 50
If you live alone and your usage is mostly browsing, streaming one show at a time, and occasional video calls, NBN 25 covers your needs. Step up to NBN 50 if you regularly download large files, game online, or want headroom for background updates.
Monthly cost: $55–80
Couple or housemates (2 people)
Recommended: NBN 50
Two people streaming simultaneously, with one on a video call, will comfortably fit within 50 Mbps. This is the most popular NBN tier in Australia for good reason — it handles typical dual-person usage without breaking a sweat.
Monthly cost: $65–80
Family household (3–4 people)
Recommended: NBN 100
This is where things get real. Three kids doing homework, a parent on a work video call, and someone streaming in the background can easily consume 60–80 Mbps at peak times. NBN 100 provides comfortable headroom and handles the evening “everyone’s online” crunch. Suburbs like internet in Penrith and internet in Liverpool support these tiers on their FTTP networks.
Monthly cost: $80–95
Large or power-user household (5+ people or heavy usage)
Recommended: NBN 250
If you have a large family, multiple 4K streamers, a home office that transfers large files, or a serious gamer in the house, NBN 250 gives you genuine breathing room. This tier also offers better upload speeds (25 Mbps), which matters for video calls and cloud backups.
Monthly cost: $100–130
Home business or enthusiast
Recommended: NBN 500 or NBN 1000
Working from home with large file transfers, running a home server, or just wanting the fastest possible connection? NBN 500 and 1000 are overkill for most households but a genuine productivity boost for heavy users. The real benefit at these tiers is the upload speed — 200 Mbps on NBN 500 and 400 Mbps on NBN 1000, compared to just 20–25 Mbps on lower tiers.
Monthly cost: $130–180
The upload speed trap
Most people focus on download speeds, but upload matters more than you think in 2026. Working from home, video calling, backing up photos to the cloud, streaming on Twitch, uploading to YouTube — all of these depend on upload speed.
Here’s the problem: NBN 25 through NBN 100 all have relatively low upload speeds (5–20 Mbps). If you’re regularly on video calls while someone else uploads to the cloud, you’ll feel the pinch. The jump to NBN 250 or higher brings meaningfully better upload performance.
Your technology determines your ceiling
Not every speed tier is available on every NBN technology. Here’s what each technology supports:
| Technology | Max Speed Tier | Available In |
|---|---|---|
| FTTP | NBN 1000 | New estates, upgraded suburbs |
| HFC | NBN 250 | Former Foxtel/Optus cable areas |
| FTTC | NBN 250 | Select metro suburbs |
| FTTN | NBN 100 (often less) | Older suburbs |
| Fixed Wireless | NBN 100 | Regional areas |
| Satellite | NBN 25 | Remote areas |
If you’re on FTTN and want faster speeds, check whether your suburb has an FTTP upgrade announced. Suburbs like internet in Islington are examples of FTTN areas where upgrades are rolling out.
Don’t overpay, but don’t underpay either
The most common mistake we see is people paying for NBN 100 when they’d be perfectly happy on NBN 50 — or struggling on NBN 25 when a $15/month upgrade to NBN 50 would solve their problems.
Here’s our simple decision framework:
- Count the simultaneous users in your household at peak time (typically 7–9 PM)
- Multiply by 15 Mbps for typical usage, or 25 Mbps if anyone streams 4K
- Round up to the next tier
- Check your technology — there’s no point paying for NBN 250 if you’re on FTTN
For example: a household of 3 typical users needs approximately 45 Mbps (3 × 15), making NBN 50 a good fit. Add a 4K streamer and you’re at 70 Mbps — time for NBN 100.
Check your suburb first
Before choosing a plan, check your suburb’s internet profile on PickNBN. You’ll see what NBN technology serves your area, what speed range is realistically available, and whether an FTTP upgrade is coming. The difference between a suburb served by FTTP and one on satellite is the difference between 1000 Mbps and 25 Mbps — and that determines which speed tiers you can even access.
Start with your suburb: search above, or explore popular suburbs like internet in Adelaide and internet in Auburn to see what a typical profile looks like.