NBN Speed Guide 2025
Understanding which NBN speed tier is right for your household can save you money and ensure you have the performance you need. This comprehensive guide will help you choose the perfect NBN plan.
Quick Speed Selector
How many people in your household?
• 3-4 people: NBN 50 or NBN 100
• 5+ people: NBN 100, NBN 250, or NBN 1000
What do you use the internet for?
• HD streaming & gaming: NBN 50-100
• 4K streaming & work from home: NBN 100-250
• Content creation & business: NBN 250-1000
Detailed Speed Tier Breakdown
NBN 25
Light internet users, singles, or couples
Specifications
- Download: 25 Mbps
- Upload: 5 Mbps
- Typical Users: 1-2 people
- Price Range: $59-75/month
Perfect For
- ✓Web browsing and email
- ✓Social media
- ✓SD video streaming (Netflix, YouTube)
- ✓Music streaming
- ✓Online shopping
Not Recommended For
- ✗Multiple HD streams
- ✗Large file downloads
- ✗Online gaming with multiple users
NBN 50
Small families and moderate internet users
Specifications
- Download: 50 Mbps
- Upload: 20 Mbps
- Typical Users: 2-4 people
- Price Range: $65-85/month
Perfect For
- ✓HD video streaming
- ✓Online gaming
- ✓Video calls (Zoom, Teams)
- ✓Work from home
- ✓Multiple devices simultaneously
Not Recommended For
- ✗Multiple 4K streams
- ✗Very large file transfers
- ✗Professional content creation
NBN 100
Families and heavy internet users
Specifications
- Download: 100 Mbps
- Upload: 20 Mbps
- Typical Users: 3-5 people
- Price Range: $89-105/month
Perfect For
- ✓4K video streaming
- ✓Competitive online gaming
- ✓Multiple HD streams simultaneously
- ✓Large file downloads
- ✓Smart home devices
- ✓Multiple work-from-home users
Not Recommended For
- ✗Extremely large file uploads
- ✗Professional video editing with cloud storage
NBN 250
Large households and power users
Specifications
- Download: 250 Mbps
- Upload: 25 Mbps
- Typical Users: 5+ people
- Price Range: $119-135/month
Perfect For
- ✓Multiple 4K streams
- ✓Professional gaming and streaming
- ✓Very fast downloads
- ✓Multiple people working from home
- ✓Smart home with many devices
- ✓Content creation
Not Recommended For
- ✗Budget-conscious users
- ✗Small households with light usage
NBN 1000
Power users, content creators, and small businesses
Specifications
- Download: 1000 Mbps
- Upload: 50 Mbps
- Typical Users: 5+ people / Business
- Price Range: $149-165/month
Perfect For
- ✓Maximum possible speeds
- ✓Professional content creation
- ✓Very large file uploads/downloads
- ✓Multiple simultaneous 4K/8K streams
- ✓Server hosting
- ✓Future-proof connection
Not Recommended For
- ✗Typical household needs
- ✗Areas without FTTP technology
Understanding NBN Speeds
What is Typical Evening Speed?
Typical evening speed refers to the download speeds you can expect during peak usage hours (7pm-11pm). This is when most people are online, and it's the most realistic measure of your internet performance. Good providers maintain speeds close to the advertised maximum even during peak times.
Download vs Upload Speed
Download speed affects how quickly you can stream videos, download files, and load web pages. This is what most people care about for everyday internet use.
Upload speed matters when you're video calling, uploading files to cloud storage, or streaming your own content. If you work from home with lots of video calls, upload speed is important.
Technology Limitations
Not all NBN speeds are available on all connection types:
- • FTTP/HFC: Can support up to NBN 1000
- • FTTC: Usually limited to NBN 100
- • FTTN: Speeds vary by distance, typically up to NBN 50-100
- • Fixed Wireless: Usually NBN 25-50
Pro Tips for Choosing Your Speed
- 1.Consider future needs: Think about how your internet usage might grow over the next 1-2 years.
- 2.Check typical evening speeds: This is more important than the maximum speed tier.
- 3.Start lower, upgrade later: Most providers let you upgrade easily without penalties.
- 4.Check what's available: Verify which speeds your connection type supports before committing.