Compare NBN 12 Plans in Australia

If you’re looking for a plan on the National Broadband Network that won’t break the bank, you might be considering an NBN 12 plan. NBN 12, or NBN Basic, is both the cheapest and slowest NBN speed tier currently on the market but can be a great choice for some households. To find out if this NBN speed is right for you, continue reading below to compare plans and learn more about what you can and cannot do on an NBN 12 plan.

What is NBN 12?

NBN 12, also known as NBN Basic is, well, the most basic NBN speed tier.

NBN 12 plans can only achieve a maximum download speed of 12Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 1Mbps, which is about the same as the old ADSL technology that once connected Australia. With NBN 12, you can browse the web relatively easily, but probably won’t be able to do a lot of streaming and uploading.

Most NBN 12 plans (as with most NBN plans overall) come with unlimited data. However, if you're looking to keep your broadband budget especially low, you can find NBN 12 plans for as little as $30 per month with limited data caps.

What Can NBN 12 be Used For?

In all honesty, NBN 12 plans can’t be used for much these days but if you’re someone who doesn’t really use the internet then NBN 12 might be perfect for you.

With NBN 12 you can:

• Stream one Standard Definition video
• Check emails
• Browse social media
• Connect one or two devices

Typical Evening Speeds for NBN 12 Plans

When comparing broadband plans, you’ve probably noticed most NBN providers advertise their “Typical Evening Speed” alongside their NBN plans.

Typical evening speed is the average estimated download speed of their plan during the busiest evening hours, between 7pm and 11pm, when demand on the network is at its peak. During this time you might not be able to achieve a full 12Mbps download speed.

With NBN 12 plans, most providers advertise their typical evening speed as 12Mbps, though some advertise 11Mbps or less. At this speed tier, you’ll probably want to choose a provider that promises a full 12Mbps to ensure you can still access the internet during these peak hours.

Compare NBN 12 Plans with Unlimited Data

NBN 12 is the entry-level NBN speed tier on the National Broadband Network.

With NBN 12, your download speeds are about the same as the old ADSL broadband. These days, most ISPs aren’t even offering NBN 12 as the higher speed tiers are much more popular and not that much more expensive. However, if you are a low-internet user with your heart set on an NBN 12 plan, you still have a few options available.

Below, you will find a comparison of available NBN 12 plans with unlimited data, along with their cost, inclusions, and typical evening speed.

NBN for Seniors and Pensioners Discover discounted NBN plans for seniors and pensioners

Compare Budget NBN 12 Plans

Most broadband providers these days offer NBN plans with unlimited data, particularly for faster speed tiers.

However, some budget NBN 12 plans are available with data caps between 10GB and 500GB per month, often with discounts available for new customers. If you’re a budget-conscious, low-internet user, then one of these plans might be better suited for you. 

Below you will find a comparison of the cheapest budget NBN 12 plans with data caps, ordered from cheapest to most expensive, along with their data inclusions and typical evening speed.

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It should be noted that while the above budget NBN 12 plans are through different ISPs, they’re all owned by TPG Group and come with more or less the same features.

With these budget NBN 12 plans, choose between:

• A 6-month contract + modem included for +$59.95 upfront (except through TPG - your modem will be included for $0)
• No-contract + BYO modem for $0 activation
• No-contract + modem included for +$99.95 upfront

Not Sure if NBN 12 is Right for You? Compare 4G and 5G Home Wireless Broadband Plans as an NBN alternative

Is NBN 12 Right for Me?

With download speeds of 12Mbps and only 1Mbps upload speed, NBN 12 is best if you live alone, or with one other person, and are a light internet user with limited smart devices.

If you’re trying to decide if NBN Basic is best for you, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you live alone or with one other person?
• Are you a household with few WiFi-enabled devices (ie: Only one computer and one phone)?
• Do you only use the internet to check your emails or browse social media?
• Do you usually use the internet outside of your home (for example, at work)?
• Are you looking to keep your broadband costs low?

If you answered yes to these questions, NBN 12 might be a good choice for you. Give our friendly Broadband Experts a call to get yourself set up with a new NBN 12 plan, or let us help you find the best NBN plan for your family.

Not sure which NBN speed is right for you?

Learn more about NBN speeds and NBN providers

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What Other NBN Speeds are Available?

As the most basic speed tier, NBN 12 is only an introductory step into the NBN. There are many other, faster, NBN plans available that you can sign up for.

Below, you can find a summary of what else is available on the National Broadband Network.

 NBN 25 - 25Mbps download/5Mbps upload: Best for low-to-moderate internet users in households of 1-3 people who still want to save money. You can watch Netflix in Standard Definition, browse social media, and stream music without worrying about low bandwidth.

 NBN 50 - 50Mbps download/20Mbps upload: A good compromise between budget and speed, medium and larger households will be able to stream, game, and work from home across multiple devices.

 NBN 100 - 100Mbps download/40Mbps upload: The fastest standard NBN speed tier. Large families can comfortably game and stream in Ultra HD/4K, work from home with video conferencing, and upload large files across multiple devices.

 NBN Superfast - 250Mbps download/25Mbps upload: Only available for select NBN connections, this is best for large households with multiple people who work from home, game online, and watch Netflix across multiple devices without worrying about fighting over bandwidth.

 NBN Ultrafast - 1000Mbps download/50Mbps upload: The fastest NBN speed tier available and only for select NBN connections. If you’re a small, home-based business or professional gamer and budget isn’t an issue, this may be the speed tier for you.