It can be tough choosing the right NBN plan with several speed tiers to choose from. However, not all speed tiers are created equal and their capabilities all vary depending on what they’re useful for.
NBN 50 is one of the most popular internet speed tiers available in Australia, but what exactly can you expect to get for your money? In this guide we’ll compare NBN 50 plans and find out what NBN 50 speed is most useful for.
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The following table shows a selection of sponsored unlimited data Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50), and Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database with links to referral partners..
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $65.90) Typical evening speed of 100Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$65.90 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $69) Typical evening speed of 100Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$69 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
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1 Month Contract (1 month min. cost $63.90) Typical evening speed of 50Mbps
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Unlimited Data/month |
$63.90 Cost/month |
Go to Site |
Unlimited Home Standard (NBN 50) Plans
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 50 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost (excluding discounts), from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool above to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
Unlimited Home Fast (NBN 100) Plans
The table below shows a selection of published unlimited NBN 100 plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to referral partners.
How fast is an NBN 50 plan?
The NBN 50 speed tier (also known as the Home Standard or Standard Plus speed) yields download speeds of up to 50Mbps (megabits per second) and 20Mbps upload. Download speed applies to data you receive from the internet – such as loading webpages, streaming Netflix and more. Uploads denote the things you send to the internet, including posting pictures, videos and files to social media like Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.
NBN 50 is the most popular NBN speed tier in the country and offers a good standard experience for most of your internet needs. It typically suits households of two to four people with moderate to heavy internet usage.
NBN Co recommends NBN 50 speeds for online gaming, video calls and to stream videos in 4K on one to two devices simultaneously, along with other basic usage. Assuming your plan is running at its potential speed, you should be able to download a 10GB file within 35 minutes and upload a 1GB file in nine minutes.
It’s important to note that NBN 50 may be the fastest speed available to your home if you have a certain NBN connection type. This may be your fastest option if you have a Fibre to the Curb (FTTB) or Fibre to the Building (FTTB) fixed-line plan.
Compare the best NBN 50 plans and providers
Choosing the best NBN 50 plans will largely depend on what you’re looking for from your provider, and most likely, the cost of the plan. Prices tend to range from around $70 to $90 per month, but you’ll also want to consider your plan’s speed and inclusions alongside its price.
A good way to compare NBN 50 plans is to look at the typical evening speed available as an idea of how the plan will stack up in the busy evening period. You might also want to consider any extras, whether you can BYO modem or buy a modem, plan length and more, to see which provider ticks all the boxes.
If you’re still unsure, you can see what other Aussies think of their NBN provider by checking our Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customer ratings for NBN providers.
The following table shows a selection of published unlimited Standard (NBN 50) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our internet comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner.
What is the cheapest NBN 50 plan?
With well over 100 NBN providers out there, it can be hard to pinpoint what the cheapest NBN 50 plan is. Typically, the cheapest NBN 50 plans on the market are priced at $70 per month or less.
Some providers also regularly offer discounts on plan fees, so you might be able to score a good deal if you sign up at the right time. However this discount may only be for the first six months or so that you stay connected, so it helps to also look at the standard plan pricing when comparing.
You can use our free internet comparison tool to compare a range of cheap NBN 50 plans.
NBN 50 evening speeds explained
If you’ve shopped around for an NBN plan recently, you may have noticed telcos citing ‘typical evening speeds’ in their advertising. Providers have generally moved away from advertising the top maximum speed, instead listing more realistic speeds – ones you can expect in the peak periods of 7pm to 11pm. These hours are when more people are home using the internet, streaming, browsing and more.
You can find out more about typical evening speeds by reading through our guide, or compare these speeds on the provider’s website directly. Keep in mind that these are advertised speeds only, and your individual experience may vary, especially in the busy 7pm to 11pm hours.
Is NBN 50 right for me?
The NBN 50 speed tier is arguably the most ‘useful’. It provides a speed many users are comfortable with, without the price premium of something faster and without the constraints of slower tiers. This speed tier strikes a balance between value and performance, and has become the most popular speed tier in Australia as a result.
However, it pays to look at your own use; if you’re in a small household or just an occasional internet browser without much use for streaming, you could get by with a cheaper and slower plan. Alternatively, if you’re a heavy data user, with a lot of intensive applications such as uploading videos, gaming, and downloading large files, chances are you want the next step up – just be prepared to pay for it.
Think about how you and others in your household tend to use the internet, along with how many of you — or how many devices — are usually connected at once. Keep in mind that if you sign up to a monthly NBN 50 plan, you may be able to easily cancel your plan or switch to a different speed if the plan or speed isn’t working for you. Just keep an eye out for an exit or cancellation fees.
Read more: What to do when your internet is down
Should I get an NBN 50 plan?
Choosing the right NBN plan can seem like a brain-busting task, but it needn’t be. The first step is to consider your own needs – are you a streamer? Do you only need the internet for web browsing? Do you have a family addicted to iPads and video games?
The NBN 50 tier is arguably the most popular because it strikes a good balance between price and performance. However, if you’re a light user, chances are you could get away with less. And if you’re known to download a lot and need the best out of your connection, stepping up to a faster plan may be required. In any case, the NBN 50 plan is a good middle ground, but consider your own needs first.
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