Last updated: 16 May 2026
The short answer: 5 Mbps for HD, 25 Mbps for 4K. If you’ve got an NBN 25 plan or better, you can stream Netflix without trouble. NBN 50 is the practical sweet spot for most Australian households because it leaves bandwidth for everyone else in the house while one TV is streaming.
The rest of this article covers the details: how many Mbps each Netflix quality actually needs, how much data Netflix uses per hour, whether you can stream on 4G/5G or your phone, and which NBN plans suit different types of Netflix users.
For broader context, see our hub on NBN, broadband and wireless internet in Australia.
How fast does your internet need to be to watch Netflix?
Netflix publishes its recommended speeds. They’re modest by modern standards.
| Quality | Recommended speed |
|---|---|
| Standard Definition (SD) | 3 Mbps |
| High Definition (HD) | 5 Mbps |
| Ultra HD (4K) | 25 Mbps |
These are per stream minimums. If you have two TVs streaming HD at once, you need at least 10 Mbps. Three TVs in 4K simultaneously needs 75 Mbps. In practice, you want a buffer above the minimum so other devices in the house (phones, laptops, gaming consoles) can do their thing without affecting playback.
Is X Mbps enough for Netflix?
The five most common variants of this question, answered directly.
Is 1.5 Mbps enough for Netflix?
For SD only, yes. The picture quality is noticeably soft on a modern TV. Anything above SD will buffer constantly.
Is 3 Mbps enough for Netflix?
For SD on a single device, yes. HD will work but with occasional dips in quality.
Is 5 Mbps enough for Netflix?
For one HD stream, yes. This is Netflix’s HD recommendation. For households with multiple devices, the buffer is too thin.
Is 25 Mbps enough for Netflix?
Comfortably yes, including a single 4K stream. NBN 25 is the entry-level NBN tier and handles Netflix well for most one or two person households.
Is 50 Mbps enough for Netflix?
Yes, with plenty of headroom. NBN 50 supports two 4K streams plus other household browsing. This is the safe choice for families.
Do you need internet to watch Netflix?
Yes. Netflix is a streaming service, so you need an internet connection to watch the content live.
The exception: Netflix lets you download certain shows and movies to your phone or tablet via the Netflix app. Once downloaded, you can watch offline. This only works for some titles (Netflix Originals plus some licensed content) and only on mobile devices (phones and tablets, not smart TVs).
So you can use Netflix offline if you download in advance, but live streaming always needs internet.
How much data does Netflix use?
Streaming video uses real data. Here’s how much Netflix uses per hour, and per typical 90 minute movie.
| Quality | Data per hour | Data per 90-min movie |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Definition | 1 GB | 1.5 GB |
| High Definition (1080p) | 3 GB | 4.5 GB |
| Ultra HD (4K) | 7 GB | 10.5 GB |
7 GB an hour for 4K adds up fast. A household watching one 4K movie a night uses roughly 220 GB a month, just for Netflix.
If you’re on a typical Australian NBN plan in 2026, this isn’t a concern because nearly all NBN plans are unlimited. The exceptions are mobile broadband plans, Starlink Roam, and some budget 4G/5G plans which still have monthly caps.
A typical Australian household
For most Australian families:
- 2 adults streaming HD at night, occasional 4K weekend movies
- Kids on tablets watching HD content
- Adults checking phones and laptops in the background
The honest minimum is NBN 25 (around $55–$70/month in 2026). NBN 50 ($70–$85/month) is more comfortable. We cover the tier comparison in detail in our how to compare NBN plans guide.
Best NBN plans for Netflix
The plans below are pulled live from our database and updated regularly. We’ve filtered to plans that comfortably handle Netflix streaming with unlimited data.
|
Everyday
25 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$72/mth | Go to site |
|
One Plan
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Extra Value
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
|
Value
49 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$93/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Family
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
| Click here to view more great value NBN internet plans for Netflix | |||
Best NBN plans for heavy Netflix users
Heavy users of Netflix will need the unlimited data and 50Mbs speed that these plans offer.
|
|
One Plan
500 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$80/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Extra Value
50 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$85/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Value
49 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$93/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Family
100 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
|
|
Fast
99 Mb/s
Unlimited data
|
$95/mth | Go to site |
| Click here to view more great value NBN internet plans for Netflix | |||
Best Wireless 4G and 5G plans for Netflix
4G and 5G wireless plans that should support Netflix are listed below
|
100GB
150 Mb/s
100 GB data
|
$40/mth | Go to site |
|
|
200GB
250 Mb/s
200 GB data
|
$55/mth | Go to site |
|
|
XLarge
250 Mb/s
120 GB data
|
$60/mth | Go to site |
|
|
400GB
250 Mb/s
400 GB data
|
$70/mth | Go to site |
|
|
XXLarge
250 Mb/s
220 GB data
|
$70/mth | Go to site |
| Click here to view more great value wireless 4G and 5G plans for Netflix | |||
Can you stream Netflix on 4G or 5G wireless home broadband?
Yes. 4G home wireless typically delivers 30–100 Mbps in good coverage areas, and 5G can hit 200–500 Mbps. Both are easily fast enough for HD or 4K Netflix.
Caveats:
- Coverage matters. Speed depends on how strong your mobile signal is. Two houses on the same street can get very different results.
- Tower load. Wireless connections slow during peak hours if the local tower is busy.
- Data caps. Some 4G/5G plans still have monthly data limits — Netflix will chew through these fast.
For more, see our 5G internet in Australia guide.
Can you stream Netflix on your phone?
Yes. Netflix has Android and iPhone apps, plus a tablet version. The same network rules apply: you need either Wi-Fi or a mobile data connection.
A handy detail: you can adjust Netflix’s mobile data quality from inside the app to save data when streaming over 4G/5G. Settings → App Settings → Cellular Data Usage.
What about Stan, Disney+ and other Aussie streamers?
Stan, Disney+, Binge, Paramount+ and ABC iview all have similar bandwidth requirements to Netflix. About 5 Mbps for HD and 15–25 Mbps for 4K, depending on the service. If your connection handles Netflix, it handles the others.
We’ve written a separate guide on internet speed for Stan for the platform specific details.
How many people use Netflix?
Netflix has over 300 million subscribers worldwide as of 2026 and around 6.5 million subscribers in Australia. Australia is one of Netflix’s higher penetration markets globally.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need broadband for Netflix?
Yes, you need an internet connection to stream. Any home internet plan (NBN, 5G, ADSL2+, Starlink) at 5 Mbps or higher will handle HD Netflix.
Do you need 4K NBN for Netflix?
Not specifically. You need 25 Mbps for 4K. That means NBN 25 or higher works. NBN 50 gives you headroom for other things happening in the house at the same time.
What’s the cheapest NBN plan that works for Netflix?
NBN 25 plans from Tangerine, Exetel and others start around $55/month. That’s enough for HD streaming on one device. See our list of the 10 cheapest unlimited NBN plans.
Does Netflix work on satellite internet?
Starlink, yes, comfortably. Speeds are 80–200 Mbps and latency is fine for streaming. Sky Muster (NBN satellite), yes for SD/HD, but 4K can struggle.
Why does my Netflix buffer when my speed test looks fine?
Usually one of three things: another device hogging the connection, Wi-Fi issues between the router and TV, or peak hour congestion at your provider. If the problem is consistent in the evening, check the typical evening speed on your plan.
Can I share my Netflix account with family?
Netflix’s rules around account sharing have changed several times. As of 2026, the standard plan allows sharing within a single household. Sharing outside the household requires the “extra member” add-on.
For more on choosing an internet plan, see our how to compare and choose an NBN plan guide. For the broader internet type decision (NBN vs 5G vs Starlink), start at our hub on NBN, broadband and wireless internet. Or browse our full plan comparison at /bestnbnplans.php.
