Best NBN 100 plans: our top picks for fast 100Mbps internet
We dive into Australia’s 100Mbps internet option
The best NBN 100 plans are perhaps the most appealing in Australia. Not only should they allow four or more people to comfortably use the internet at the same time, whether they’re streaming in 4K or downloading large files, but they're also accessible by the vast majority of NBN connection types.
While faster NBN 250 plans and NBN 1000 plans are also available, 100Mbps is perfect for families or small households that still rely on the internet to connect multiple devices.
NBN 100 plans started dropping in price way back at the start of the year thanks to reduced wholesale costs. However, those same costs increased as of July 2024, which meant some plan prices started to become a tad more expensive. There are still some good deals to be found, and on the whole, we think a 100Mbps plan presents itself as better value compared to a slower 50Mbps, due to the relatively small difference in cost.
If you feel your home would benefit from even faster downloads, then you'll be interested to learn of the NBN Co's free fibre upgrade program, which is open to 80% of homes and businesses currently stuck on a fixed-line fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) or fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) connection (it's expected that 90% of the fixed-line network can access it by December 2025). Those eligible for a free fibre upgrade are first required to sign up to an NBN plan with download speeds of 100Mbps or higher, which is helping to encourage more people over to some of the fastest NBN plans.
Noteworthy NBN 100 deals
While we’ve picked out the best NBN 100 plans on the market just below, we’ve also dug up all the top deals and discounts from the providers and listed them here for a quick comparison:
- Flip: save AU$14.90p/m for 4 months on NBN 100 plan (from AU$69p/m)
- Spintel: save AU$16.95p/m for 6 months on NBN 100 plan (from AU$65p/m)
- Mate: save AU$30p/m for 6 months with code 'MATE30' (from AU$60p/m)
Best NBN 100 plans
Deciding on the best NBN 100 plan in Australia can be pretty tricky. Although, there was a time when just AU$6.60 separated the first year cost of five most affordable providers. Following recent price changes, that's no longer than case, and the difference is closer to AU$50!
We haven't automatically jumped to the cheapest providers however, but instead have dug a little deeper to determine which providers we think will offer the best overall service.
Best overall NBN 100 plan
Why you can trust TechRadar
Dodo | 100Mbps | AU$68.90p/m (first 12 months, then AU$88.90p/m)
Ok, we know we just said we wouldn't automatically pick the cheapest provider, but Dodo's deal is far too compelling to ignore. A current promotion saves you AU$20p/m for a full 12 months, making it unbeatable value. Dodo also advertises maximum plan speeds and was recently found to deliver 102.4% of plan speeds during the busier evening hours in the latest ACCC report.
• AU$68.90 minimum cost
• AU$826.80 first year cost
• AU$1,066.80 ongoing cost
Best fast NBN 100 plan
Exetel | 100Mbps| AU$65.99p/m (first 6 months, then AU$84.99p/m)
We've chosen Exetel as the best fast NBN 100 plan primarily because of its Speed Boost days feature. Along with maximum plan speeds, you get to temporarily boost the speed of your service to the next tier – 250Mbps in this instance – for free. Do note, that you will need an NBN connection type that supports these speeds (FTTP and HFC) but if you do, you're getting much faster speeds without spending any extra. If you have an FTTN/C connection, Dodo is still our top pick.
• AU$65.99 minimum cost
• AU$905.88 first year cost
• AU$1,1019.88 ongoing cost
Cheapest NBN 100 plan
Dodo | 100Mbps | AU$68.90p/m (first 12 months, then AU$88.90p/m)
We've mentioned it already, but Dodo isn't just our top overall pick, but also the cheapest provider right now. You'll want to be relatively quick to snap up the AU$240 savings over 12 months, as this deal ends on January 28th, 2025.
• AU$68.90 minimum cost
• AU$826.80 first year cost
• AU$1,066.80 ongoing cost
- Telstra vs Optus NBN: who has better broadband?
NBN 100 FAQ
How fast is NBN 100?
NBN 100 plans offer download speeds up to 100Mbps, although actual usage will vary, particularly during the busy hours between 7pm and 11pm. Most NBN providers who offer a plan on this tier don’t report a typical evening speed of 100Mbps, with the average speed sitting at 97Mbps.
There are two types of NBN 100 plan, and what differs between them is their maximum upload speed. The more popular NBN 100/20 plan offers maximum uploads of 20Mbps, while the less common NBN 100/40 plan has a maximum upload speed of 40Mbps.
NBN providers don’t always disclose which of these two plans you’re signing up for, so check the provider’s critical information summary if you’re unsure. In the meantime, the ACCC is pushing for internet providers to be more transparent about upload speeds.
How much does NBN 100 cost?
The market has plenty of variety when it comes to cost for an NBN 100 plan. Prices now range between AU$82 to AU$110 a month for an ongoing rate, but the average monthly price among the NBN 100/20 plans we monitor sits just around AU$90 a month, while an NBN 100/40 plan will set you back approximately AU$96 a month on average.
Plenty of telcos will also offer you a six-month discount when you first sign up to an NBN 100 plan, and these prices start around the AU$60 mark.
As you might expect, the telco with the most expensive NBN 100 plans is Telstra. You’ll typically find that Telstra sweetens the deal by offering other inclusions or discounts, such as a modem with 4G back up, and sometimes free subscriptions to Binge, Kayo and others for a limited time.
Can I get NBN 100?
While all connection types can sign up for an NBN 100 plan, not all of them may be capable of getting the full speeds offered by the service. Before signing up with a provider, it's worth double checking what connection type you have – such as hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) cable or a fibre-to-the-node (FTTN) connection – and asking the telco if it’ll be suitable for the speed tier.
To check what NBN connection type you have, you only need to enter your address on the provider’s website, or check your address on NBN Co’s website. Some providers offer a trial period to test their service, so be sure to make use of this if it’s an option, and let them know if you’re unsatisfied with the speeds you’re receiving. We have a dedicated guide on how to do an NBN speed test if you need.
What providers have NBN 100?
Almost every provider offering an NBN service is offering the NBN 100 tier as its top-rung option, with only a select number of telcos offering the superfast NBN 250 plans and ultrafast NBN 1000 plans above it.
This means that Telstra, Optus, TPG, Aussie Broadband, Exetel, Spintel, Tangerine and plenty of others all have compelling NBN 100 plans to choose from.
NBN 50 vs NBN 100?
As with any purchasing decision, the 'better' option won’t be better for everyone. For light internet users – that’s households of two to four users that stream content and don’t plan to use it for anything more intensive – an NBN 50 plan is likely to be more than enough.
But for anyone currently running into congestion problems, or anyone that wants their download wait time drastically cut down, the extra AU$200 or so per year is certainly a small price to pay for double the download speeds – particularly in the context of a plan that already costs around AU$750 annually, in the case of NBN 50 plans.
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Max is a senior staff writer for TechRadar who covers home entertainment and audio first, NBN second and virtually anything else that falls under the consumer electronics umbrella third. He's also a bit of an ecommerce fiend, particularly when it comes to finding the latest coupon codes for a variety of publication. He has written for TechRadar's sister publication What Hi-Fi? as well as Pocket-lint, and he's also a regular contributor to Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. Max also dabbled in the men's lifestyle publication space, but is now firmly rooted in his first passion of technology.