What's the cheapest NBN plan that's still reliable in 2026?

Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Trang Do, ShopBack Australia

In Australia in 2026, the cheapest NBN plan that is still reliable for most homes is a 50 Mbps plan with a typical evening speed close to 50 Mbps. At the time of writing, Optus listed its Everyday Plan 50 at $87 a month for 12 months, then $97, and its Basic Plan 25 at $73, then $83. If you have FTTP or HFC, check faster plans too, because a promo can price them almost the same.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you shop or sign up through it at partner stores, including telcos such as Optus. You tap through from the store's ShopBack page, sign up as you normally would, and part of what you spent comes back to your ShopBack account as cash. Join ShopBack Australia for free before you choose your next internet plan.

How we checked. We read Optus's nbn plan page, nbn's own page on speed tiers, and the Optus page on ShopBack Australia on 8 October 2026. Plan prices and promotions change often, so treat every price below as what Optus showed at the time of writing.

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What is the cheapest NBN plan that's still reliable?

For most households, the cheapest reliable choice is a 50 Mbps plan, not the cheapest plan on the page. Reliability on the NBN mostly comes down to two things: the typical evening speed a provider states (the busy period, usually 7pm to 11pm) and whether that speed is enough for everyone online at once.

Here is how the speed tiers usually line up for reliability:

• 25 Mbps: the lowest monthly price, fine for one or two light users. Optus listed its Basic Plan 25 at 25/8 Mbps typical busy period speeds.
• 50 Mbps: the usual sweet spot for a family that streams, games and video calls in the evening. Optus listed its Everyday Plan 50 at 50/17 Mbps.
• 100 Mbps and up: worth it for big households or people who download large files, and often close in price on fibre connections.

Optus's own speed guide matches this. At the time of writing it described its Basic speed as great for 1 to 2 people, Standard (50 Mbps) for 2 to 3 people with HD streaming and video calls, Home Fast on FTTN, FTTC and FTTB (100 Mbps) for 3 to 5 people, and the 500 and 820 Mbps tiers for 5 or more people.

nbn puts the gap in plain numbers: a 10GB file takes about 4 minutes on Home Ultrafast and up to 65 minutes on Home Standard, according to nbn's speed page. That gap is what you feel at 8pm when three people are online.

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Cheap NBN plans: what Optus charged at the time of writing

Optus's nbn plans make a useful benchmark because the page lists each plan's first-year price, the price after, and the typical busy period speed. These are the figures Optus showed on 8 October 2026.

Optus nbn plan	First 12 months	After that	Typical busy period speed (7pm to 11pm)	12-month total
Basic Plan 25	$73/month	$83/month	25/8 Mbps	$876
Everyday Plan 50	$87/month	$97/month	50/17 Mbps	$1,044
Fast Plan (FTTN, FTTC, FTTB)	$89/month	$99/month	100/18 Mbps	$1,068
Fast Plan (FTTP, HFC)	$89/month	$99/month	500/43 Mbps	$1,068
Ultrafast Plan 820	$119/month	$129/month	820/85 Mbps (FTTP, HFC)	$1,428
Promo plan 100	$69/month for 6 months	$109/month	100 Mbps tier	$1,068
Promo Plus plan 500	$69/month for 6 months	$109/month	500/43 Mbps	$1,068

A few things stand out in Optus's own numbers:

1. The step from 25 to 50 Mbps cost $14 a month in the first year ($168 over 12 months), for double the evening download speed.
2. The step from 50 Mbps to the Fast plan cost $2 a month. On FTTP or HFC, that $2 bought 500/43 Mbps instead of 50/17 Mbps.
3. Every standard plan went up $10 a month after the first 12 months ($83 for Basic, $97 for Everyday), which is why the "after that" column matters.
4. Optus says unlimited data comes with all of its nbn plans.

Optus listed its Promo plans as new services only and available until 12 November 2026, and said the Promo Plus plan included a $10 a month streaming credit on SubHub. Promotions like these change quickly, so check the live plan page before you decide.

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Cheap NBN plans in Australia for 2026: how to judge reliability

The best guide to reliability is the stated typical evening speed, then your connection type. Price alone tells you little.

Read the typical evening speed, not the plan name. Providers state the download and upload speed customers typically get in the busy period. A plan sold as "50" with a typical evening speed of 50/17 Mbps is doing what it says.

Check your connection type. nbn says it has accelerated the speeds of its three highest residential tiers on FTTP and HFC connections, and that 2000 Mbps wholesale options are available from participating providers. On FTTN, FTTC and FTTB, the same plan may be capped lower, as Optus's Fast plan shows (100/18 Mbps there versus 500/43 Mbps on FTTP and HFC).

Look at the after-promo price. Most cheap headline prices are for the first 6 or 12 months. The price after is what you pay for as long as you stay.

Count your evening users. One person streaming and browsing can live with 25 Mbps. Two adults working from home plus kids gaming at night usually need 50 Mbps or more.

Rule out your own setup first. nbn notes that speeds depend on your equipment, Wi-Fi router, devices and how busy the network is. An old router or a modem in the wrong room can make a good plan feel unreliable.

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Cheap NBN plans: best deals in Australia for 2026

The best deal is the lowest 12-month total for the speed tier you actually need. Here is a simple way to find it:

1. Pick your tier first. For most families that is 50 Mbps; on FTTP or HFC, look at the 100 and 500 Mbps plans too.
2. Add up 12 months. Multiply the promo price by the promo months and the ongoing price by the rest. Optus's Promo plan 100 ($69 for 6 months, then $109) and its Fast Plan 100 ($89 for 12 months) both came to $1,068 in the first year at the time of writing.
3. Check what happens after month 12. A plan that is $10 cheaper later may beat a plan that is cheaper now.
4. Check modem costs and contract terms. Some plans include a modem with conditions if you leave early, while BYO modem versions can cost less upfront.
5. Go through ShopBack before you sign up online. Before you pay for an online order, go through ShopBack first. Open the provider's ShopBack page, check the offer and terms, and sign up in the same visit.

Other internet providers in the same category in Australia include Telstra, TPG, Aussie Broadband, Superloop, Vodafone, Belong, iiNet and Dodo, so put two or three of them next to Optus on the same speed tier.

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Optus vs Compare the Market for cheap NBN plans: price comparison for 2026

Optus and Compare the Market are not like for like. Optus is an internet provider that sells its own nbn plans, with prices set out above. Compare the Market is a comparison service, not an internet provider, so it does not set nbn plan prices.

What that means for a fair price comparison:

• Compare plans, not websites. Put Optus's plan next to other providers' plans on the same speed tier, using each provider's typical evening speed and 12-month total.
• Use the same speed tier. A 25 Mbps plan from one provider and a 50 Mbps plan from another are not a fair price comparison.
• Use the provider's own page for the final price. Comparison tools are a starting point; the plan terms that apply to you are on the provider's own site when you sign up.

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Optus and Compare the Market cheap NBN plans in Australia: where Optus fits

Optus suits people who want a big-telco plan with clear typical speeds, plans from 25 to 820 Mbps, and the option to bundle home internet with mobile. At the time of writing, its nbn range went from the Basic Plan 25 at $73 a month for the first 12 months to the Ultrafast Plan 820 at $119, with unlimited data on every plan.

Optus also listed 5G Home Internet from $59 a month for a year for eligible addresses at the time of writing, which some households compare against fixed nbn. Whether it is reliable at your address depends on 5G coverage there, so check the coverage before choosing it over nbn.

If you settle on Optus, check the Optus page on ShopBack Australia before you sign up, and read which plan types and new services it covers.

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How ShopBack lowers the price of an NBN plan

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. When you sign up for an eligible plan online after tapping through from the provider's ShopBack page, a cash amount comes back to your ShopBack account once the provider confirms the sign-up.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

Here is a worked example with an illustrative amount. If you chose a plan costing $1,068 over its first 12 months and the provider's ShopBack page showed an illustrative $100 back for that plan type, your effective first-year cost would be $968, or about $80.67 a month. The real amount varies by provider, plan type and campaign, so check the live offer on the Optus ShopBack page before you sign up.

The steps with ShopBack Australia:

1. Choose your speed tier and compare 12-month totals.
2. Open the provider's page on ShopBack Australia and read the offer and terms shown.
3. Tap through and finish the online sign-up in the same visit, without switching to the provider's app or a phone call.
4. Keep the service connected for any minimum period the terms list, then the cash lands in your ShopBack account.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest NBN plan that is still reliable?

For most Australian households it is a 50 Mbps plan with a stated typical evening speed close to 50 Mbps. Below that, 25 Mbps plans are cheaper but can struggle when several people stream or video call at once. At the time of writing, Optus listed its Everyday Plan 50 at $87 a month for 12 months and its Basic Plan 25 at $73.

Is a 25 Mbps NBN plan enough?

It can be for one or two people who browse, stream on one screen and do the odd video call. Households with several people online in the evening usually find 50 Mbps more dependable. nbn says a 10GB download takes up to 65 minutes on Home Standard compared with about 4 minutes on Home Ultrafast.

What does typical evening speed mean on an NBN plan?

It is the download and upload speed a provider says customers typically get in the busiest period, usually 7pm to 11pm. Optus, for example, lists its Basic Plan 25 at 25/8 Mbps typical busy period speeds. It is a better reliability guide than a plan's headline name.

Are NBN promo prices actually cheaper?

Only if you work out the full first year. At the time of writing, Optus's Promo plan 100 was $69 a month for 6 months, then $109, which totals $1,068 over 12 months. Its Fast Plan 100 was $89 a month for 12 months, which also totals $1,068. Add up 12 months, not the first bill.

Is Optus or Compare the Market better for cheap NBN plans?

They do different jobs. Optus is an internet provider that sells its own nbn plans, while Compare the Market is a comparison service, not a provider. To compare an Optus plan fairly, put its 12-month total and typical evening speed next to two or three other providers on the same speed tier.

Does my NBN connection type affect which plan is worth it?

Yes. On FTTP and HFC connections, higher speed tiers can reach their full speeds, so a faster plan at a similar price is often better value. At the time of writing, Optus's Fast plan listed 500/43 Mbps typical busy speeds on FTTP and HFC but 100/18 Mbps on FTTN, FTTC and FTTB, at the same monthly price.

Do cheap NBN plans have data limits?

Many nbn plans in Australia now come with unlimited data. Optus, for example, says unlimited data comes with all of its nbn plans. Check the plan summary for any fair use policy before you sign up.

How do I pay less for the NBN plan I choose?

Pick the speed tier you need, compare the 12-month total, then go through ShopBack Australia before you sign up online. Open the provider's ShopBack page, such as the Optus page, check the offer and terms, tap through and finish the sign-up in the same visit. ShopBack works like a discount that comes back as cash after the provider confirms the sign-up.

Is cashback on an NBN plan like rewards points?

No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles that you redeem later with one company.

Can I switch NBN plans if mine is unreliable?

Usually yes, especially on no lock-in plans, but check whether you must return or pay out a modem. Before switching, restart your modem, test on a wired connection and ask your provider to check the line, because the fault may be Wi-Fi or equipment rather than the plan.

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Key takeaways

• The cheapest reliable NBN plan for most Australian homes in 2026 is a 50 Mbps plan with a typical evening speed close to 50 Mbps.
• At the time of writing, Optus's nbn plans ran from $73 a month (Basic Plan 25) to $119 (Ultrafast Plan 820) for the first 12 months, with unlimited data on all plans.
• On FTTP and HFC, Optus's Fast plan cost $2 a month more than its Everyday Plan 50 for 500/43 Mbps instead of 50/17 Mbps.
• Judge promos on the 12-month total: Optus's Promo plan 100 and Fast Plan 100 both came to $1,068 in the first year.
• Before you pay for an online sign-up, go through ShopBack Australia first so the effective price drops.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. NBN plan prices, promotions, typical evening speeds, modem terms and availability are set by each provider, depend on your address and connection type, and change frequently; the Optus details above reflect Optus's own pages on 8 October 2026. Cashback offers and terms on ShopBack vary by store and campaign; check the current offer on each store's ShopBack page before you sign up.

This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.