Best NBN 250 plans: the cheapest, fastest and best overall options

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Best NBN 250 plans

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If you want to boost your internet speeds, then it's worth considering switching to one of the best NBN 250 plans.

With most 'superfast' plans advertising a theoretical maximum of 250Mbps during busy evening hours, finding the best NBN plan to suit your internet needs is no easy task. However, if you have the right connection type to support a superfast plan (e.g., FTTP or HFC connections), we've noticed a significant drop in the prices of NBN 250 plans, making them a cost-effective choice compared to an average NBN 100 plan.

Some NBN providers may reach only 240Mbps, while others reach a maximum of 200Mbps during busy evening hours. With such big discrepancies in potential speeds you can achieve, shopping around and understanding the plan that you’re signing up for is beyond paramount. If you find a plan advertising typical evening speeds of around 240Mbps, we'd recommend it, as a 10Mbps difference is unlikely to have as much of a real-world effect as a 50Mbps difference between 250Mbps and 200Mbps.

Currently, nine telcos—including Superloop, AGL, Swoop, Southern Phone, and Telstra — advertise the maximum 250Mbps speeds during busy evening hours, while other providers like Optus average around 245Mbps during peak hours.

We’ve taken speed differences, hidden fees and more into account, as we round up the best NBN 250 plans currently available below. If you’re looking for more ways to save on your monthly internet bill, you can check out our cheap NBN plans guide too.

Best NBN 250 plans

Best overall NBN 250 plan

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Dodo | AU$83.90p/m (for 12 months, then AU$98.90p/m)

Using the data provided through our partnership with WhistleOut, Dodo makes this list again, as it offers one of the most attractive NBN 250 plans right now. This current introductory offer slashes AU$20 off the first 12 months — that's AU$120 — before the price increases.

Like other 250Mbps plans, Dodo's deal is only available for customers with FTTP and HFC connection types.

Total minimum cost: AU$83.90 | Total first year cost: AU$1,006.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,186.80

Optus | AU$84p/m (for 6 months then AU$119p/m)

This Optus offering is one of the best we've seen from the big three telcos in some time. With the current introductory offer, you’ll save AU$180 over the first six months of your plan — which is pretty phenomenal for Optus — before the price increases.

The plan's minimum cost is AU$395, as it includes the modem; however, you won't pay any additional fees for the modem if you remain connected for 36 months or more. If you disconnect your service, you’ll pay an AU$8.50 monthly fee for any remaining time.

Total minimum cost: AU$395 (including modem) | Total first year cost: AU$1,218 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,428

Best fast NBN 250 plan

Swoop | AU$82p/m using code LOVE37 (for 6 months, then AU$119p/m)

Highly rated by customer reviews, Swoop offers a budget-friendly, speedy plan that clocks in at the 250Mbps mark during busy evening hours. Right now, the telco is slashing AU$37 off per month using code LOVE37 for the first six months before the price increases.

Do note though, that the regular monthly price is one of the more expensive options, but the initial outlay is highly competitive. Swoop is only available for FTTP addresses only, so you’ll need to confirm your connection type before signing up.

Total minimum cost: AU$82 | Total first year cost: AU$1,206 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,428

Superloop | AU$85p/m (for 6 months, then AU$99p/m)

Advertising theoretical maximum speeds of 250Mbps during the evening hours, Superloop's NBN 250 plan is down to just AU$85p/m for the first 6 months.

You can also boost your speeds to ultrafast heights if you like, by using the five free Speed Boost days every month. And like most NBN 250 plans, this deal is only available to those with FTTP or HFC connection types.

Total minimum cost: AU$85 | Total first year cost: AU$1,104 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188

Cheapest NBN 250 plan

Spintel | AU$78p/m (for 6 months, then AU$89.95p/m)

Advertising 240Mbps download speeds during the typical evening hours, this Spintel deal slashes AU$11.95 off a month for the first six months — that's a saving of AU$71.70 — before the price increases to AU$89.95, which is pretty incredible value compared to other providers.

Plus, it's one of the cheapest NBN 250 plans after the initial discount ends, priced under the monthly average of AU$106.25 for the tier.

Do note, though, that this Spintel NBN plan is only available for addresses with FTTP and HFC connections.

Total minimum cost: AU$78 | Total cost of first 12 months: AU$1,007.70 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,031.40

Tangerine | AU$79.90p/m (for 6 months, then $104.90p/m)

Tangerine's Summer Sale has shaved its NBN 250 plan by AU$25p/m for the first six months, offering an attractive introductory rate of AU$79.90.

Claiming 250Mbps maximum speeds during the busy evening hours, this is the tier's second-cheapest offering, just AU$100 more than SpinTel's comparable plan. This plan would provide more than enough internet for any heavy internet user, making it perfect for online gamers who need to download larger files.

Do note, though, that this Tangerine NBN plan is only available for addresses with FTTP or HFC connections and this offer will expire come March 31, 2025.

Total minimum cost: AU$60.90 | Total first year cost: AU$1,108.80 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,258.80

NBN 250 FAQ

How fast is NBN 250?

NBN 250 plans offer a maximum download speed of 250Mbps. However, only four telcos in Australia currently advertise this maximum speed: Telstra, AGL, Swoop, and Southern Phone. All other NBN providers in Australia advertise a range of speeds, from 196Mbps up to 245Mbps, so it’s always good to shop around to find the right balance of speed to monthly cost that works for you.

Can I get NBN 250?

Not everyone in Australia will be able to sign up to an NBN 250 plan. In order to access the superfast speeds, you will need to have either a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) or hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) connection type at your property.

However, you will need to pay close attention to which connection(s) each individual internet service provider supports, as some will only support a 250Mbps NBN 250 plan on an FTTP connection and not HFC.

How much is an NBN 250 plan?

The cost of NBN 250 plans varies rather dramatically. The cheapest NBN 250 plan, as we mentioned further up this page, comes from Flip, with prices starting at AU$84 p/m. But, the major telcos such as Aussie Broadband and Telstra charge AU$129 and AU$135 per month, respectively, for their NBN 250 plans, after any introductory discounts.

According to our research, the average monthly cost of an NBN 250 plan is AU$106.25 per month.

Lucy Scotting is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, primarily covering NBN and internet-related news. Lucy started her career writing for HR and staffing industry publications, with articles covering emerging tech, business and finance. In her spare time, Lucy can be found watching sci-fi movies, working on her dystopian fiction novel or hanging out with her dog, Fletcher.

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