How to choose an NBN plan perfect for your family's needs

Both phone and internet plans can seem overwhelming, especially if you don't have a good grasp on how much data you need.

When it comes to home internet, this will vary from household to household, with different-sized families having different needs. A couple with small kids might be able to get away with less data, whereas a family with teenagers (who will need the internet for homework and social media) are definitely going to need more to go around. This is why it's always wise to do your research.

To help you get started, these are some of the most affordable NBN plans, sorted by price and speed tier.

NBN 25 plans

Best for: Homes with 1-2 people

Speed-tier 25 offers 25Mbps download and 10Mbps upload. It's a basic speed tier that's perfect for homes of 1-2 people, so definitely one to avoid if you're a larger family.

However, there are pros to this type of plan if it suits your needs. It can cost as low as $40 a month, and you can also get unlimited data.

NBN 50 Plans

Best for: Homes with 3-4 people

Offering both affordable prices and good internet speeds, it's no surprise that most Australian households connected to the NBN are on this type of plan. They offer affordable, unlimited data, and a good balance between speed and affordability.

While NBN 50 is a popular choice, and can work for up to a four-person household, if you're all using the internet at the same time, it might not be quite enough. Also, once your promotional period ends, they can get more expensive.

NBN 100 Plans

Best for: Homes with four or more people

NBN 100 plans are super fast and very suitable for a household of four or more people. However, not every NBN technology type can achieve NBN 100 speeds, which is something to consider.

NBN 100 is not available on fixed wireless and satellite connections, and Fibre to the node (FTTN) connections 300m from the node also don't support NBN 100 plans.

This may not be the fastest plan if you upload a lot of large files, with the upload speed being 20Mbps.

NBN 250 Plans

Best for: Homes with four or more people

Both Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) and Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) connection types can support NBN 250 plans, but it's important to know that no other technology type can.

These plans have super-fast download speeds and pretty good upload speeds. There are also plenty of no-contract options available for you to look into, given that NBN 250 plans can get quite expensive after the promotional period.

NBN 1000 plans

Best for: Large households

This is the fastest NBN you can get, but it doesn't come cheap.

Like NBN 250, this type of plan is only available on HFC and FTTP connection types. On NBN 1000, you can get 50Mbps maximum upload speeds, but it's worth considering if this is something you need, given this is not a budget option when it comes to NBN.

READ MORE: What parents need to know when choosing a mobile plan for kids