Best Cheap NBN Plans: Why Exetel is For You

Nothing tastes as good as getting a good deal. $59 for the first six months. Fantastic speeds.  

But remember… cheap doesn’t always mean good value. A flashy promo might save you cash upfront, but sometimes there’s a real tradeoff. You might need to spend the weekend troubleshooting slow speeds.  

Then month seven hits… and suddenly you spot $99 leaving your bank account as you’re trying to buy those Lady Gaga tickets. Terrible timing.   

The only logical next step is switching providers. Rinse, repeat. Six months later, you're doing it again. Apparently the only way to get the best cheap internet plan in Australia is an internet provider musical chairs-esque situation.   

And sure, you might be saving a bit chasing promos. But what’s more valuable, the temporary sugar rush of a discount, or your time? Instead of playing round-robin with providers every six months, it might be worth looking for a plan with a great ongoing price from the start.  

So, what if you didn’t have to do the switching dance at all?  

Scroll on for the lowdown on finding a cheap internet plan (and why Exetel’s The One might be for you).  

How do I get fast internet (without paying a fortune)?  

Let's talk about the secret of Australian internet pricing: most "cheap" plans aren't actually cheap. They're traps.  

You see ads screaming "$60/month for NBN 100!" and it looks like a bargain. It doesn’t mention in the big bold text that it’s only for six months. Then it jumps to $95. Or it's bundled with a phone plan you don't want. Or there's a 24-month contract with brutal exit fees.  

In this scenario, you end up doing one of two things: 

1. Play the switching game — set calendar reminders, port your service every six months, deal with activation delays and hope nothing goes wrong during the switch.  

2. Just cop the increase — who can be bothered switching? It’s lowkey exhausting and life is busy.  

Both options are not…ideal.  

Changing the way you think about “cheap” internet plan 

Sometimes the best, cheap internet plan isn’t usually the one with the biggest promo. It’s the one with fair pricing, enough speed for your life and flexibility. Look for:  

1. Competitive ongoing pricing (not just a 6-month intro offer!)  

2. Speeds that comfortably handle multiple devices 

3. Features that let you adjust your plan month to month 

One example of this approach is Exetel The One Plan, which offers 500/50 Mbps (TES 500/40 Mbps) for $80 per month ongoing — slightly below the reported Australian average of around $85 per month, according to Canstar research.  

Is NBN 500/50 Mbps worth it?  

Here’s what it comfortably handles: 

• Multiple 4K streams at the same time — whether that’s White Lotus, Star Wars, or a guilty-pleasure binge of Emily in Paris. 

• Large game downloads in under 30 minutes (a 100GB game takes around 25–30 minutes). 

• Smooth video calls while others are streaming or gaming. 

• 20+ connected devices running at once without constant buffering. 

Your home is more connected than you think…  

The average Australian household now has 25 connected devices, projected to hit 44 by 2030. Phones, laptops, smart TVs, security cameras, gaming consoles, smart speakers and more. All of them share the same connection. 

And that’s just the obvious stuff.  

The background internetting you don’t see 

Even if your home looks like there’s not much internetting going on, there’s a lot of things in the background. Devices are constantly connecting to the cloud: backing up files, syncing photos, downloading updates or uploading security footage.  

Right now that might include things like smart doorbells, connected lights or a robot vacuum. Soon it could be home sensors, automated garage doors or connected fridges.  

Individually, they don’t use much bandwidth. But together they create a home network that’s always juggling multiple tasks at once.  

Does more speed make a difference?  

Could 50 Mbps or 100 Mbps work? For very light usage, sure. But that’s not really all that possible anymore.  

Faster plans aren’t about making one thing quicker. They actually give your connection more breathing room, so all those devices, uploads and gadgets can run at the same time without competing for bandwidth.  

For families (genetic or sharehouses) 500 Mbps is often where the “is the Wi-Fi slow?” conversations stop.  

At $80 per month ongoing, that kind of speed can represent solid value. Especially if it means fewer compromises and less peak-hour slowdowns. 

What's the best value mobile plan right now?  

While we're talking about not overpaying for getting connected, let's address mobile plans. The same promotional pricing trap exists here as well… until the Plus One eSIM plan:  

Why is Exetel's Plus One eSIM plan good value:   

• You get 130GB for $40/month. It’s plenty for streaming, social-ing, navigating and FaceTiming.  

• Ongoing pricing. No promo traps here.  

• It runs on the Telstra Wholesale Mobile Network, which covers 98.8% of the Australian population and over 1.7 million square kilometers.  

It’s not on one of those budget networks that drops out when you leave the CBD or leaves you friendless when you’re at a music festival trying to find your mate.  

What the Plus One eSim plan comes with:  

• 5G speeds up to 150 Mbps  

• 1000GB Data Bank – unused data rolls over, so you're not losing gigs every month!  

• Unlimited calls and texts in Australia and to 15 countries 

• eSIM delivery – It’s a digital setup, which means no waiting for physical SIM cards  

Is there a way to make my internet bill even cheaper?  

We’re not about gatekeeping value. That’s why we’ve got some ways to help you actively control your costs. The power truly is in your hands at Exetel:  

Refer a Friend aka it pays to have friends  

Refer a friend using your unique code and you both get $1 off your monthly bill. As long as you're both still connected to The One plan. 

• Refer 10 friends = $10 off your $80 bill = you're paying $70/month 

• Refer 40 friends = $40 off = you're paying $40/month 

• Refer 80 friends = your internet is free??  

Finding 80 friends is ambitious. But even referring a few mates or family members can drop your bill noticeably.   

But don’t just take our word for it. See how customers like Alan and Yici slashed their bill internet bills (one even down to $0* a month!) just by sharing their referral code.  

And the best thing about referrals is you’re not the only one getting a good deal, your friends and family are benefiting too. You save on your internet bill with Exetel, your referrals save on their internet bill, and that’s more money to spend on fun things to do together. It’s a win-win-win. 

*$1 off referrer & referee monthly bills, if both remain connected. 80 referrals to achieve $0 monthly bill. T&Cs apply.  

Spend on Warp Speed only when you NEED it  

Most providers make you pick a speed tier and stick with it. Want faster internet? Upgrade permanently and pay more every month. Even if you only need that speed occasionally. 

How Warp Speed works and saves you money: 

Your base plan is 500/50 Mbps (Typical Evening Speed 500/40 Mbps). That handles all of life’s regular internetting.  

If you need to download a massive 200GB game update… or you’ve got 3 creative freelancers under the same roof with a Black Friday campaign deadline, you can increase speeds to a whopping 1000 Mbps (TES 860/85 Mbps) with Warp Speed.  

Increase speeds for $1/day only when needed. Use it 5 days a month and that’s only $5 extra vs $40-50 extra a month.  

How to kick on Warp Speed:  

• Open the Exetel app

• Toggle Warp Speed on  

• Your speeds jump to 1000/100 Mbps (TES 860/85 Mbps) for $1/day  

• Set it for however many days you need, then it automatically switches off

Save when you’re not at home  

Euro summering for a month? Travelling to Singapore for work? Pet sitting in a giant waterfront house in Mornington Peninsula? Digital detox after your phone said you’re averaging an 8 hour daily screen time?  

Turn on Hibernate in the app. Your internet speed drops to 12/1 Mbps (slow, but still connected), and you save $1/day.  

Why not just turn it off completely? 

Sometimes you need basic connectivity at home, even when you're not there: 

• Security cameras stay online so you can check your house remotely 

• Smart home devices that need the internet to function  

• Someone house-sitting who needs to check email  

• Automated systems that freak out without a connection  

What are the savings like?  

• Two-week holiday across Southeast Asia = 14 days hibernating = $14 saved 

• Month-long Europe trip = 30 days = $30 saved.  

• Frequent business traveller doing 10 trips/year, averaging 5 days each = 50 days = $50/year saved 

Every dollar counts. It's money you'd otherwise waste paying full price for internet you're not using. 

Plus, you don't have to deal with disconnection/reconnection hassles. Just flip a switch, save money and come home to speedy internet.

Here's what one of the best, cheap internet plans looks like in 2026

Check out The One Plan and stop switching providers every six months just to get decent pricing. It really is that easy. 

Stop Overpaying & Start Saving

You're not setting calendar reminders to switch providers. You're not calling retention teams trying to negotiate. You're just paying a fair ongoing price with tools to control costs when your usage changes. 

That's what actually makes an internet plan cheap — not the promotional rate, but the ongoing value and the control you have over your bill.   

FAQ 

Is $80/month actually cheap for internet? 

The Australian average is $85/month according to Canstar research. So yes, $80 for 500 Mbps (TES 500/40 Mbps) ongoing is cheaper than average, especially considering most "cheap" plans are promotional rates that expire. 

What if I forget to turn off Warp Speed? 

Set it for specific days in the app. Yes, it’s possible. It auto-switches off after that period. Or use infinite mode and manually switch off when done. Either way, you control it. 

Does Hibernate completely disconnect my internet? 

No. Speeds drop to 12/1 Mbps but you stay connected. It’s enough for security cameras, smart devices and basic browsing. Not enough for 4K streaming or heavy usage. This is what makes it perfect for when you're away.