How to check internet speed?

It is a good idea for you to know how to test and benchmark your nbn® speed. This quick guide provides detail on how you can do just that.

Trustpilot
  • 1300 730 863
  • 1300 652 369
  • 1300 756 460
  • 1300 729 605
  • 1300 790 125
  • 1300 434 427
  • 1300 060 722
  • 1300 767 058
  • 1300 041 278
  • 1300 710 263
   
Compare Broadband compares plans from the above providers and can connect you with our participating providers. Not all plans available from these providers are compared by Compare Broadband and depending on your location or service availability not all plans may be available to all customers.

Written by:

Hayley Griffin

The speed of your nbn® is affected by several factors such as network congestion or, depending on your type of connection, even the weather. For this reason, it is a good idea for you to know how to test and benchmark your nbn® speed. This article will provide a quick guide on how to do just that.


$43
.99 /Month info-icon
for first 6 months, then $73.99/mth ongoing.
Min. total cost $43.99
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
25 Mbps Download
upload-icon
9 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon Modem options to suit you: Pay upfront, in installments or BYO
tick-icon Save up to $10/mth on your internet when you bundle electricity, gas, and internet
tick-icon Dodo has over 360,000 happy customers
star Special Offer
Special Offer: $30/mth off for 6 months available to new Dodo broadband customers only. Offer ends September 1st, 2026.
$77
/Month info-icon
for first 6 months, then $92 ongoing.
Min. total cost $77.00
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
50 Mbps Download
upload-icon
8 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fixed Wireless
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon Sign-up friends or family to Superloop nbn and you’ll get 10% off your monthly bill
tick-icon Bundle & Save and get $5/mth off your internet when you add a mobile SIM
star Special Offer
Get a $0 eero 7, eero Pro 7*, or TP-Link modem when you sign up to an eligible plan and stay for 24 months. Offer ends August 31st, 2026. New customers only. *eero Pro 7 only available on 2Gbps plans.
$79
/Month info-icon
Get the Fast nbn plan for $79/month for 12 months, then $99/month ongoing or as notified. Offer ends 05/07/2026. Min. cost $79. N/A with Bundle Bonus. T&Cs apply.
(typical evening)
download-icon
100 Mbps Download
upload-icon
18 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon $0 Start Up Fee
star Special Offer
EOFY offer: Get the Fast nbn plan for $79/month for 12 months, then $99/month ongoing or as notified. Offer ends 05/07/2026. Min. cost $79. N/A with Bundle Bonus. T&Cs apply.
$79
/Month info-icon
Get the Fast nbn plan for $79/month for 12 months, then $99/month ongoing or as notified. Offer ends 05/07/2026. Min. cost $79. N/A with Bundle Bonus. T&Cs apply.
(typical evening)
download-icon
500 Mbps Download
upload-icon
43 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon $0 Start Up Fee
star Special Offer
EOFY offer: Get the Fast nbn plan for $79/month for 12 months, then $99/month ongoing or as notified. Offer ends 05/07/2026. Min. cost $79. N/A with Bundle Bonus. T&Cs apply.
$79
/Month info-icon
For the first 6 months then $99/mth after promo period.
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
94 Mbps Download
upload-icon
18 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon 100% Australian-based support
tick-icon Award-winning customer service
tick-icon No lock-in contracts
star Special Offer
Save $120 over 6 months with code BEST120*
$79
/Month info-icon
For the first 6 months then $99/mth after promo period.
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
500 Mbps Download
upload-icon
44 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon 100% Australian-based support
tick-icon Award-winning customer service
tick-icon No lock-in contracts
star Special Offer
Save $120 over 6 months with code BEST120*
$79
.99 /Month info-icon
for first 6 months, then $109.99/mth ongoing.
Min. total cost $79.99
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
840 Mbps Download
upload-icon
94 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon Modem options to suit you: Pay upfront, in installments or BYO
tick-icon Save up to $10/mth on your internet when you bundle electricity, gas, and internet
tick-icon Dodo has over 360,000 happy customers
star Special Offer
Special Offer: $30/mth off for 6 months available to new Dodo broadband customers only. Offer ends September 1st, 2026.
$80
.90 /Month info-icon
for first 6 months, then $105.90 ongoing.
Min. total cost $80.90
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
100 Mbps Download
upload-icon
34 Mbps Upload
connection-icon NBN Fibre/ HFC
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon 24/7 Days Technical Support: We're here for you, weekends included
tick-icon Save 10% on monthly plan fees when you bundle mobile SIM-only plans with an nbn® plan under one Tangerine account
$81
/Month info-icon
Min. total cost $81.00
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
48 Mbps Download
upload-icon
20 Mbps Upload
connection-icon OptiComm
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
unlocked-contract-icon
Month to month plan
Features
tick-icon Fast typical evening speeds
tick-icon 7 days a weeek support
tick-icon Owner of the Opticomm Network
$81
/Month info-icon
Min. total cost $972.00
Typical evening speed (7-11pm)
download-icon
48 Mbps Download
upload-icon
20 Mbps Upload
connection-icon OptiComm
unlimited-icon Unlimited Data
locked-contract-icon 12 months contract
Features
tick-icon Fast typical evening speeds
tick-icon 7 days a weeek support
tick-icon Owner of the Opticomm Network
Compare Broadband cannot guarantee that all plans or providers shown will be available at your property address. Connection and plan availability will need to be confirmed by the internet service provider. Additional charges may apply for non-standard connections. Like to know more? Take a look at how we work.

Written by:

Hayley Griffin

The actual speed you'll get from your nbn® internet plan varies depending on the wholesale speed your provider has purchased from nbn® Co, as well as other factors like the type of connection you have and any network congestion. You can test your current nbn® speeds using an online speed test tool.

To get a more accurate picture of your average speed, we recommend testing at different times of the day and over several days. This will give you a good idea of the speeds you can expect during peak and off-peak times.

How do I test my nbn® speed? 

There are a few different ways you can test your nbn® speed. One popular method is to use an online speed test tool like the one provided by Ookla at www.speedtest.net. Simply visit the website and click on the "Start Test" button. The speed test will then run a series of tests to determine your download and upload speeds.

Another way to test your nbn® speed is to use a speed testing app on your mobile device. Ookla also has a Speedtest app available for both iOS and Android devices. The app will run the same series of tests as the website and provide you with your download and upload speeds.

As soon as the results page is displayed, compare the upload and download speed presented with the features of your plan. As much as possible, the figures should not be that far from each other. If they are, then you may need to start figuring out why you have a slower or different speed than published by your provider.

Before you get in touch with your internet service provider, it is a good idea to try and figure out what seems to be the problem in case you are experiencing a slow internet speed. In this case, what you can do is to connect to the internet through a LAN cable before running the speed test again. This will help you isolate the problem in case it is your router or your modem that is having issues. If not, then this is the best time for you to get in touch with your internet service provider.

What is a good nbn® speed?

The nbn® has various speed tiers, each aiming to suit the needs and preferences of different households. For you to have a good idea of the different speed tiers of the nbn®, below is a reference table:

Speed tier Download/upload speeds
Basic II nbn® 25 Potential 25 Mbps download/5 Mbps upload
Standard nbn® 50 Potential 50 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload
Fast nbn® 100/20 Potential 100 Mbps download/20 Mbps upload
Fast nbn® 100/40 Potential 100 Mbps download/40 Mbps upload
Superfast nbn® 250 (available in eligible areas) Potential 250 Mbps download/25 Mbps upload
Ultrafast nbn® 1000 (available in eligible areas) Potential 1000 Mbps download/50 Mbps upload

While the speeds listed above are the ideal speeds, you have to take note that certain nbn® providers publish a typical evening speed (usually around 7 pm to 11 pm) which is a bit lower than these ideal ones. This can be attributed to the fact that during peak hours, or when several people are connected to the internet at the same time, the speed of your connection may slow down. If this is the case, you have to be aware of the published typical evening speed of your provider.

For you to have a good idea of the poor nbn® speeds in each tier, you can refer to the table below:

Speed/quality Poor Good Great
Basic II nbn® 25 0 – 15 Mbps 15 – 22 Mbps 22 – 25 Mbps
Standard nbn® 50 0 – 30 Mbps 35 – 40 Mbps 40 – 50 Mbps
Fast nbn® 100 0 – 60 Mbps 60 – 85 Mbps 85 – 100 Mbps
Superfast nbn® 250 0 – 150 Mbps 150 – 200 Mbps 200 – 250 Mbps
Ultrafast nbn® 1000 < 250Mbps 250 - 500 Mbps 500 - 1000 Mbps

In case you are not aware of your speed tier, you can always check it through the most recent bill that you got from your internet service provider. There is also the option for you to check their portal where you can log in. Rest assured that whichever method you choose, you will be able to verify the speed tier of your nbn® plan through these approaches.

Otherwise, you can always get in touch with them through phone or the channel they use for customer support. These days, most ISPs already implement live chat to address the concerns of their subscribers. Just keep in mind that they may ask you some questions, such as your name and address, for them to get you the information that you need.

How much nbn® speed do I need?

The answer to this will depend on the number of devices that are connected to your network and how you use the internet. In general, if several devices are using the internet all at the same time, then you will need a higher speed tier so that everyone can still enjoy a good connection.

On the other hand, if you only use the internet for light activities such as checking your email or browsing the web, then you can get away with a lower speed tier. You can also choose to go for a lower speed tier if there are only a few devices that are connected to your network.

In any case, it is always best to have an idea of how you use the internet and the number of devices that are connected to your network before deciding on which speed tier to get. This way, you can be sure that you are getting the most appropriate nbn® plan for your needs.

Why is my nbn® speed so slow?

There could be several reasons why your nbn® connection is slow. It could be due to the time of day, the number of devices that are connected to your network, or your location.

If you are experiencing a slow connection during peak hours, then this is most likely due to congestion. This means that there are a lot of people who are trying to use the internet all at the same time and this can lead to a slow connection.

Another reason why your nbn® speed might be slow is because of the number of devices that are connected to your network. If you have several devices that are all trying to use the internet at the same time, then this can lead to a slower connection.

Finally, your location can also affect your nbn® speed. If you are located further away from the nbn® node, then you might experience a slower connection.

How to boost nbn® speed?

There are several ways that you can improve your nbn® speed. One way is to upgrade to a higher speed tier if you are not already on the highest speed tier available. Another way is to connect your devices directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable. This can improve your speed because it eliminates any potential WiFi interference.

You can also try restarting your modem or router. This can sometimes improve your connection speed. Finally, you can contact your internet service provider and ask them for help troubleshooting your slow connection.

It's also worth noting that the type of nbn® connection available in your area can also affect your speed. If you are on an nbn® FTTN connection, then you might experience slower speeds during peak hours due to congestion. If you are on an nbn® FTTP connection, then you should be able to get the fastest possible speeds.

Compare nbn® plans with Compare Broadband

Several factors can affect your nbn® speed. These include the time of day, the number of devices that are connected to your network, and your location. There are also a few things that you can do to improve your nbn® speed such as upgrading to a higher speed tier or connecting your devices directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable.

However, if you've done all the troubleshooting basics and your speed has not improved, maybe it's time to change providers. The table below shows the popular nbn® plans from our database.

Popular nbn® plans

Dodo broadband provider logo
nbn® 25 Unlimited Dodo broadband plan
  • Unlimited
  • 25/9 Mbps
  • Deal: $43.99 for first 6 months, then $73.99/mth ongoing.
$43 .99/ mth
for first 6 months, then $73.99/mth ongoing.
Min. total cost $43.99
Tangerine Telecom broadband provider logo
Tangerine Telecom Value nbn® Broadband Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 25/8 Mbps
  • Deal: $47.90 for first 6 months, then $72.90 ongoing.
$47 .90/ mth
for first 6 months, then $72.90 ongoing.
Min. total cost $47.90
Superloop broadband provider logo
Superloop nbn® Everyday Broadband Plan
  • Unlimited
  • 25/8 Mbps
  • Deal: $58 for first 6 months, then $78 ongoing.
$58 .00/ mth
for first 6 months, then $78 ongoing.
Min. total cost $58.00
Aussie Broadband broadband provider logo
Unlimited Basic Plus nbn® Aussie Broadband plan
$58 .10/ mth
For the first 6 months then $83/mth after promo period.
iiNet broadband provider logo
iiNet Unlimited NBN25 broadband plan + home phone
  • Unlimited
  • 25/4 Mbps
  • Deal: $59.99 for first 6 months, then $79.99/mth
$59 .99/ mth
for first 6 months, then $79.99/mth
Min. total cost $59.99
Belong broadband provider logo
Unlimited Belong Starter broadband plan on the nbn®
$75 .00/ mth
Min. total cost $75.00
Optus broadband provider logo
Optus Basic nbn® (BYO modem option)
$79 .00/ mth
Min. total cost $79. On 6 July 2026, the standard in-market price for this plan will increase by $4 to $83/month for all current and future customers.
iPrimus broadband provider logo
Fixed Wireless Standard Unlimited iPrimus broadband plan
To find out more about how we recommend plans, take a look at how we work.

If you are having trouble finding the right nbn® plan for your needs, then you can use Compare Broadband to compare different plans from a range of providers. Call us today on 1300 764 000.

Simply enter your address, and we will show you all of the available nbn® plans in your area. Then, you can compare the different speeds, prices, and data allowances to find the perfect nbn® plan for you. Start your search for a new nbn® plan today!

Latest articles

Start comparing NBN now!

Answer a few simple questions and we'll search hundreds of plans from some of Australia's leading providers.
Start by entering your postcode or suburb below.

Are you eligible for a FREE fibre upgrade?

The government is making 1.5 million Australian homes and businesses eligible for a speed upgrade to FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), which offers greater speed and reliability. Selected towns and suburbs with FTTC and FTTN are eligible for the upgrade with an eligible high speed nbn plan.

Check my address