Tangerine is the latest NBN provider to break ranks with an early 500Mbps plan – and it's the cheapest yet

NBN 500 plans are already among us, with two providers — SpinTel and Exetel — dropping their offerings well ahead of the September rollout. Yet another budget-focused provider has just introduced its plan to the mix, and prices surely won't get better than this.

Australia's fruitiest provider, Tangerine, supplies internet connections via the Vocus network. Tangerine previously offered a full suite of NBN plans, ranging from 'basic II' 25Mbps to the 'ultrafast' tier of 1,000Mbps. The ISP has since cut down its tiers, now advertising 25Mbps, 50Mbps and 500Mbps.

Right now, Tangerine's newly minted NBN 500 plan is just AU$68.90p/m for the first six months before the price increases to AU$88.90p/m ongoing. When compared to the other early launchers, this plan has the cheapest rate so far, slashing AU$66.60 off Exetel's One Plan and AU$30.60 off SpinTel over the first six months. What's more, this plan is in line with the average costs of the NBN 25 tier (AU$72.29p/m) and delivers over 20x the speeds. It also has unlimited data and works on a no-lock-in contract basis.

It’s worth noting that Tangerine's plan is currently set to the NBN 1000 tier, meaning it provides up to 700Mbps at all hours. However, this plan will switch to the new NBN 500 tier on September 16. If you sign up before early September, you'll get an extra 200Mbps to enjoy. Even better, you'll lock in the AU$68.90 introductory rate for the next 6 months, so regardless of the tier change, you'll pay the same low rate. You'll need to act quickly if you want the extra megabits, as this high-speed trial offer is only available until September 14, 2025.

This deal has a lovely long expiry too, ending on December 31, 2025. But there's no time like the present to sign up, especially if you want to jump the NBN 500 queue.

With 700Mbps downloads and 42Mbps uploads, Tangerine's plan is great for lag-free gaming, streaming and remote work. It can easily support 4K video calls, downloading game patches and 4K viewing simultaneously, meaning you and the whole clan will be entertained at all times without interruptions.

Do note, though, Tangerine's ongoing rate does spike above its competitors after the first 12 months, totalling AU$1,066.80p/y. If you want to maximise your savings in the long run, you may want to consider switching to Exetel's plan after the introductory period ends.

Tangerine's plans don't come with a modem included, but new customers have the option of adding an Amazon Eero 6+ to their order for AU$169.90 upfront. You can also order a 2-pack for AU$309.90 or a 3-pack for AU$439.90, depending on your needs.

When it comes to NBN modems, we'd always suggest BYO hardware, especially if you're keen on having one of the best Wi-Fi mesh systems or the best Wi-Fi routers, so you can easily chop and change providers if needed. You can also bundle your NBN connection with a Tangerine mobile plan and save 10% off your total bill, too.

Interested in an NBN 500 plan? Here's a summary of plans available right now: