People are flocking to Aussie Broadband's cheaper new Buddy Telco, but are its NBN plans good value?
Considering the switch? Read on to find out more about ABB's budget brand
![Buddy Telco logo/mascot on Laptop screen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mcUigaizWwKyWoQyMRqXEE-320-80.jpg)
The best Australian internet service providers offer their customers two things: stellar service and seriously damn good value. While most ISPs we recommend at Tom's Guide do at least one of the two, it’s rare for a provider to get top marks for both. A new affordable NBN provider just landed on the scene and is trying exactly that — and it hails from a brand that's a heavyweight in Australia's internet landscape.
A subsidiary of Aussie Broadband (ABB), Buddy Telco has been launched as a budget-focused brand that delivers a no-frills approach to NBN plans. Buddy only made its official debut into the internet landscape last month, but it’s already shaking things up by offering the cheapest NBN 1000 plan on the market.
Much like similar offshoot providers — Telstra-owned Belong is another example — Buddy uses its parent company’s core infrastructure, meaning you get Aussie Broadband’s renowned network coverage, speeds and optimisations, but in a much more affordable package. In simple terms, Buddy costs less than ABB but delivers the same benefits, making it all the more appealing for those with tighter purse strings.
But Buddy does come with a minor catch — the telco exclusively provides NBN services, meaning it doesn't sell or supply hardware, such as Wi-Fi modems. There’s also no telephone customer support, so consumers need to log requests through an AI-powered live chat. Both of these factors are ways in which the telco passes on savings to consumers, but if you do need human assistance, you can request it through the telco's app or a browser.
Over the past month, we've seen an uptick in our readers signing up for the telco — and we assume this is due to the pricing being rather attractive at face value. That said, when we dissect the telco beyond the surface, the results are rather surprising.
We've assessed Buddy's four home internet plans — NBN 25, NBN 50, NBN 100 and NBN 1000 — and compared them to other providers' options across the tiers. From advertised speed claims to first-year pricing and more, here's a look into how Buddy Telco stacks up against its competitors.
How do Buddy's plans compare?
NBN 25
Speedwise, Buddy's Standard NBN 25 plan comes in just under the maximum of 25Mbps, advertising 1Mbps less. Most Aussie providers reach the full speed for this tier, but this minor speed discrepancy is unlikely to cause any real-world difference.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Buddy's NBN 25 plan is also one of the cheapest available for AU$65p/m ongoing, despite not having an introductory discount. There are only four providers that offer cheaper prices for an NBN 25 plan — Tangerine, Kogan, Flip and Exetel — with the cheapest provider being Flip, which has an ongoing price of AU$57.90p/m.
Buddy Telco | NBN 25 | No lock-in contract | Unlimited data | AU$65p/m
Buddy's NBN 25 plan advertises 24Mbps during the typical evening hours, which is on par with its parent company, Aussie Broadband. You'll save around AU$5p/m compared to the average price of this tier, which is currently AU$70.21p/m.
Speed: Buddy's plan guarantees at least 24Mbps during the busy evening hours, which is the standard for this tier.
Pricing: With an annual cost of AU$780, this plan will save you up to AU$60 when compared to the average yearly price, even though it doesn't have an initial outlay.
Is it good value? The plan does provide adequate value, but you can find more inexpensive plans that offer full download speeds. Our current NBN 25 recommendation is Flip's AU$39p/m plan (for 6 months, then AU$57.90p/m).
Total minimum cost: AU$65 | Yearly cost: AU$780
NBN 50
Arguably the most popular NBN tier available, most Aussie providers claim NBN 50 speeds range from 40 to 50Mbps. In this scenario, Buddy's advertised 49Mbps is good but not quite class-leading compared to most on this tier. With average speeds being 49.57Mbps, Buddy's plan does come with a teeny discrepancy, but that is unlikely to make much of a real-world speed difference. It also doesn't offer the full uploads expected with this tier, cutting speeds short of 4Mbps.
In terms of price, this plan is under the average of AU$82.50p/m, but it doesn't offer an introductory discount. Moreover, this plan costs AU$900 per year, which is reasonable, however, several providers come well under this yearly price tag and come paired with maximum advertised speeds.
Buddy Telco | NBN 50 | No lock-in contract | Unlimited data | AU$75p/m
Advertising 49Mbps downloads and 16Mbps uploads, this NBN 50 plan will cost you AU$75p/m and AU$900 per year.
Speed: Buddy's plan does come with a small speed discrepancy, but it is so minimal it will unlikely make much of a difference to the service.
Pricing: The pricepoint for the plan is under the average for the tier, saving you an estimated AU$90 per year.
Is it good value? Yes, but it does come with some minor caveats. It doesn't reach maximum speeds for the tier and is priced in the middle of the NBN 50 tier. If you want to maximise savings, you're better off signing up for a cheaper plan with similar speeds. Our top NBN 50 pick is Spintel's AU$66p/m plan (for 6 months, then AU$76.95p/m ongoing).
Total minimum cost: AU$75 | Yearly cost: AU$900
NBN 100
Much like its parent company, Buddy advertises only 98Mbps during the busy evening hours, which is a mere 2Mbps off the magic triple-digit maximum. That said, the average speed for this tier is 98.25Mbps according to our research across ISPs that we monitor, so in this case, Buddy isn't too far off the mark.
Now, when it comes to monthly spend, Buddy's current introductory rate is rather attractive for an NBN 100 plan. On average, NBN 100 plans will set you back AU$91.34p/m, however, Buddy's outlay is an impressive AU$75p/m, before increasing to AU$85p/m after six months (which is still a stellar discount).
Buddy Telco | NBN 100 | No lock-in contract | Unlimited data | AU$75p/m (for 6 months, then AU$85p/m)
Buddy's Speedy NBN 100 plan will save you AU$10p/m for the first six months — that's AU$60 total — before the price increases to AU$85p/m. The plan promises to reach 98Mbps download speeds and 16Mbps uploads during the busy evening hours.
Speed: Coming in just under 100Mbps, Buddy's 98Mbps plan is on par with the average speed claims for the tier.
Pricing: The plan does offer incredible value for money, shaving off a massive AU$16.34p/m compared to the average of this tier.
Is it good value? Yes — but again, this plan does come with a speed caveat, however, it will not likely make much of a noticeable real-world difference. With that in mind, you'll save AU$60 in your first year and have a relatively low ongoing cost for an NBN 100 plan, so it's a clear winner for us.
Total minimum cost: AU$75 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$960 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,020
NBN 1000
When it comes to speed, Buddy's NBN 1000 plan promises 600Mbps, which is low compared to the theoretical maximums on this tier. However, only one provider — Swoop — reaches 969Mbps, whereas most others reach between 650Mbps and 850Mbps.
In terms of price point, however, this plan really shines, as it is the cheapest NBN 1000 plan currently available. Over the first year, you'll save a mammoth AU$390 compared to ABB's offering. When compared to another budget provider, SpinTel, you'll save AU$6p/m for similar speed claims.
Buddy Telco | NBN 1000 | No lock-in contract | Unlimited data | AU$89p/m (for 3 months, then AU$99p/m)
Buddy Telco’s Zoomy NBN 1000 plan advertises 600Mbps downloads and 41Mbps uploads during the busy evening hours of 7pm to 11pm. Do note though, that this plan is available for HFC and FTTP addresses only.
Speed: Buddy's NBN 1000 plan promises 600Mbps, which is a little lower than the average of 691Mbps for the tier.
Pricing: With a total first-year cost of AU$1,158 (AU$89p/m for the first three months, then AU$99 ongoing), this is now the cheapest NBN 1000 plan in Australia.
Is it good value? Absolutely. You'll save AU$22.51p/m compared to the tier's average cost of AU$121.51p/m, achieve adequate download speeds during the busy evening hours, and pay less than AU$1,200 for the first year.
Total minimum cost: AU$89 | Total cost for first 12 months: AU$1,158 | Yearly cost after discount: AU$1,188
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.