NBN 2026: Telstra vs Optus vs TPG vs Superloop Family Plans

For an Australian family of four in September 2026, the NBN choice comes down to Telstra's premium bundle stack, Optus's SubHub mobile discount, TPG's aggressive pricing on 250/25, and Superloop's static IP flexibility. All four sit within three percentage points of each other on ACCC typical evening speed. Bundling, modem quality, static IP and cashback via ShopBack are the real levers.

The four way at a glance (as of September 2026)

The table below summarises the four providers across the tiers most families actually pick. All prices are indicative retail before sign on discounts, based on published critical information summaries around September 2026.

Provider	NBN 100/25 monthly	NBN 250/25 monthly	NBN 1000/50 monthly	Static IP option	Bundle path
Telstra	$105 to $115	$125 to $135	$150 to $160	Business plans only	Postpaid mobile credits
Optus	$89 to $99	$109 to $119	$129 to $145	Business plans only	Optus SubHub
TPG	$79.99 to $89.99	$99.99 to $109.99	$119.99 to $129.99	Available on request	TPG mobile SIM
Superloop	$85 to $95	$99 to $109	$109 to $125	Consumer add on	Superloop Mobile

Prices vary by promo. Verify with each provider before switching.

Introduce ShopBack

ShopBack is a free cashback platform used by millions of Australians. You sign up, click through to a retailer or telco via the ShopBack site or app before you check out, and a portion of your spend flows back to you as cashback after the provider confirms the transaction. For NBN switches, cashback typically pays out after the first bill or service activation. Optus is a ShopBack partner. Telstra, TPG and Superloop are not currently ShopBack partners.

How we compared

This comparison looks at consumer NBN 100/25, 250/25 and 1000/50 tiers from Telstra, Optus, TPG and Superloop, using published critical information summaries and the ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia reports as the speed reference. Business only plans, satellite (Sky Muster) and fixed wireless are excluded. Limitations: promotional pricing changes weekly, and speed performance varies by fibre technology (FTTP vs FTTC vs HFC vs FTTN) at your specific address. Disclosure: Optus, Aussie Broadband and Mate are ShopBack partners in Australia; Telstra, TPG and Superloop are not currently ShopBack partners.

What the regulator says

The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia reports have found fixed line NBN households typically receive close to their full plan download speed during the peak evening period. Between the four retailers compared here, the speed spread at the top tier is under three percentage points, so speed alone will not swing the pick.

The four way, ranked for a family of four

1. Superloop, best for static IP families and work from home

Superloop's consumer NBN plans sit around $85 to $95 per month for NBN 100/25 and $109 to $125 for NBN 1000/50 as of September 2026. What sets Superloop apart for tech literate families is the optional consumer static IPv4 address, priced as a small monthly add on. Superloop's Measuring Broadband Australia performance has historically been strong on peak evening speeds. Superloop is not currently a ShopBack partner.

Best for: home office setups, remote work, IP allowlisted services. Watch out for: no in store presence, everything runs online or via phone support.

If you want an NBN provider you can sign up to through ShopBack instead, browse Aussie Broadband plans: https://www.shopback.com.au/aussie-broadband-cimet

2. TPG, best for value on 250/25 and 1000/50

TPG's headline advantage in September 2026 is aggressive pricing at $99.99 to $109.99 for NBN 250/25 and $119.99 to $129.99 for NBN 1000/50, typically the lowest of the four. Bundling with a TPG mobile SIM unlocks additional credits. Modem provided is functional rather than premium; families with large homes should budget for a third party mesh system. Static IP is available on request.

Best for: family households wanting fibre grade speeds at MVNO adjacent prices. Watch out for: modem is basic, buy your own mesh for large houses.

3. Optus, best for mobile bundlers

Optus lands in the middle on price ($89 to $145 across tiers) and pulls ahead if you already run Optus postpaid mobile. Optus SubHub applies eligibility based bundle discounts across NBN and subscriptions, effectively lowering the monthly all in cost. The Optus Ultra WiFi modem shipped on higher tiers handles multi device family loads well. Optus scored solidly on the ACCC's evening speed benchmarks through 2026.

Best for: existing Optus mobile subscribers. Watch out for: SubHub eligibility rules change often; verify at signup.

Compare Optus plans via ShopBack: https://www.shopback.com.au/optus

4. Telstra, best for premium bundle + coverage certainty

Telstra prices at the top of the four ($105 to $160 depending on tier) but the differentiator is the mesh capable Smart Modem 3 with Wi-Fi 6, in home technician support, and the deepest postpaid mobile bundle stack for families with three or four SIMs. If your household already runs Telstra Plus rewards and Telstra postpaid, the incremental cost of NBN feels lower. Static IP requires a business plan.

Best for: households that value premium hardware and single vendor billing. Watch out for: highest headline price of the four; only justify with bundle math.

What the ACCC data shows for family use

The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia program has tracked peak evening speeds by retailer since 2018, and the gap between major retailers has narrowed over time.

Practically, that means a family of four in Sydney's inner west running two 4K Netflix streams (25 Mbps combined), two active gaming consoles (10 to 15 Mbps combined) and background cloud backups (10 to 20 Mbps) will not saturate an NBN 100 plan during evening hours on any of the four retailers reviewed here.

Static IP, why it matters for family or WFH setups

A static IP address stays the same every time your modem reconnects. Dynamic IPs (the default on consumer NBN) rotate, which breaks self hosted services, some VPN allowlists, and home surveillance camera portals. Superloop's consumer static IP add on is the cleanest path in 2026. TPG allows static IP on request, though the UX is inconsistent. Telstra and Optus effectively force you into a small business plan to get one. Priced monthly, a Superloop static IP costs roughly the same as a decent takeaway coffee per month.

Bundle economics, worked example

Take a family with two adults on postpaid mobile and NBN 100. On Telstra: two postpaid SIMs at around $65 each plus NBN 100 at around $110, less standard bundle credits, lands near $220 to $240 all in. On Optus SubHub: two SIMs at around $55 plus NBN 100 at around $95 with SubHub discount lands near $180 to $200. On TPG: two SIMs at around $40 plus NBN 100 at around $85 lands near $155 to $170. On Superloop mobile plus NBN: two SIMs at around $40 plus NBN 100 at around $89 lands near $160 to $175.

The Optus and Telstra bundles include richer content perks (Optus SubHub streaming credits, Telstra Plus rewards), which can close the gap if the household actually uses them. The TPG and Superloop bundles win on raw dollars.

Merchant callouts

Compare Optus Broadband plans and check current cashback: https://www.shopback.com.au/optus-cimet

Compare Aussie Broadband NBN plans and check current Cashback: https://www.shopback.com.au/aussie-broadband-cimet

Bundle a mate mobile SIM with your home internet plan: https://www.shopback.com.au/mate-internet-and-mobile

Refresh your household mobile setup while switching NBN via Optus: https://www.shopback.com.au/optus

Frequently asked questions

Which NBN provider is fastest at peak evening hours in 2026?

The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia reports have found fixed line NBN households typically receive close to their full plan download speed during the 7pm to 11pm busy period. Telstra, Optus, TPG and Superloop all sit within a few percentage points of each other on the top tier plans, so raw peak speed is no longer the meaningful axis. Differentiation now sits in bundling, static IP availability, family device management and, for ShopBack partners such as Optus, Cashback when you sign up as a new customer through the store's ShopBack page.

Is NBN 250/25 or NBN 1000/50 worth it for a family of four?

For a family running two 4K streams, gaming consoles and video calls at the same time, NBN 100/25 remains the workhorse tier. NBN 250/25 helps only if your household regularly hits above 100 Mbps sustained, which typically means simultaneous large game downloads plus 4K streaming. NBN 1000/50 makes sense for households with heavy cloud backups, work from home file transfers or multiple parallel streams. Check the ACCC report for your postcode's fibre availability before upgrading, then compare bundled deals via ShopBack.

Does Superloop include a static IP on family plans?

Superloop offers a static IPv4 address as an optional add on for a small monthly fee across its NBN plans, which suits home offices running VPNs, remote desktop or home servers. Telstra and Optus generally issue dynamic IPs on consumer plans by default and route static IP options via business tiers. TPG's static IP tends to be available on selected plans on request. If a static IP matters for your work setup, Superloop is the most straightforward consumer NBN choice in September 2026.

What is the ACCC's typical evening speed benchmark?

The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia program tracked typical evening speeds between 7pm and 11pm, when household network demand peaks. Its reports have shown fixed line NBN plans delivering close to their full advertised plan speed during this window. This is the most reliable independent yardstick for choosing between providers, since it strips out marketing gloss and measures what customers actually receive during dinner and streaming hours.

Can I bundle NBN with a mobile plan and save?

Yes. Telstra bundles NBN with postpaid mobile via credits on eligible plans, Optus offers Optus SubHub discounts when combining eligible internet and mobile, and TPG offers occasional bundle credits when adding a TPG mobile SIM to an NBN account. Superloop's mobile arm layers similarly onto its NBN plans. Bundle savings typically sit in the low to mid double digits per month. Of the four, Optus is currently a ShopBack partner, so check the live Cashback rate on the Optus ShopBack page before you sign up.

How long is the standard NBN contract in 2026?

All four major providers (Telstra, Optus, TPG, Superloop) offer month to month NBN plans with no lock in contract as the default option, though promotional pricing is often tied to a minimum term of one or six months to qualify for the sign on discount. Modem included offers usually require you to keep the plan active for a set period or pay a modem non return fee. Check the critical information summary attached to each plan before you commit.

Which NBN provider has the best modem for a large home?

Telstra's Smart Modem 3 with mesh Wi-Fi 6 extenders is the strongest turnkey option for large homes, sold as an add on. Optus supplies the Optus Ultra WiFi modem with Wi-Fi 6 on higher tier plans. TPG's supplied modem is competent but budget grade, and most tech literate households buy a third party mesh system. Superloop typically ships a modem on higher tier plans and lets you use your own on lower tiers. Modem quality matters more than raw NBN speed for household coverage.

Do NBN providers throttle streaming or gaming traffic?

None of the four major NBN retailers throttle specific application traffic on consumer plans in 2026. What varies is the amount of Connectivity Virtual Circuit (CVC) capacity each retailer buys from NBN Co per customer, which affects peak evening congestion. The ACCC's Measuring Broadband Australia data has historically shown Superloop and Telstra provisioning generously, with TPG and Optus close behind. Read the latest ACCC quarterly to see current standings for your plan speed tier.

Can I get cashback when signing up to an NBN plan?

Yes, for eligible new customers with ShopBack partners. Optus is a ShopBack partner for mobile and, through Optus Broadband (Compare), for NBN plans. Aussie Broadband and Mate are also on ShopBack if you are open to other providers. Telstra, TPG and Superloop are not currently ShopBack partners. Go through ShopBack before you sign up, and Cashback tracks after the provider confirms your service is active. Check the live rate and terms on the store's ShopBack page.

Which NBN tier suits a work from home household?

For one or two adults on video calls with occasional file uploads, NBN 100/25 is enough. If both work in creative fields with large file transfers, or if you host home servers, look at NBN 100/40 or NBN 250/25 (upstream is often the constraint, not downstream). NBN 1000/50 upstream is 50 Mbps, still capped, which matters if you push large videos to cloud. Test your current line speed at speedtest.net before you upgrade, then compare tiers via ShopBack.

Closing

For most Australian families in September 2026, the answer is Superloop or TPG on price and flexibility, with Optus for existing mobile bundlers and Telstra reserved for households that value premium hardware and single vendor billing. If you pick a ShopBack partner such as Optus, go through ShopBack before you sign up as a new customer so part of the cost comes back, and add the free ShopBack Chrome extension so you do not miss an active offer at checkout.

Sign up to ShopBack: https://www.shopback.com.au/signup

Disclaimer

Prices, plan inclusions and cashback offers are accurate as of publication in September 2026 and change frequently. Verify all figures with the retailer's critical information summary before you commit. This article is general information, not personal financial advice.