Last updated: 15 August 2026. Prices checked 15 August 2026 and move often; treat them as a guide.
Here’s the thing the modem aisle doesn’t tell you: most NBN connections don’t need a modem at all. If you’re on FTTP or HFC, the modem is the NBN box on your wall and all you need behind it is a router, which is why buying a “modem router” for those connections wastes money on a DSL chip you’ll never use. The only people who genuinely need a modem router are FTTN and FTTB households, where the VDSL2 modem is the box doing the heavy lifting. Sort out which you are first (our connection types guide shows how to check), then buy accordingly.
FTTP, HFC, fixed wireless: you just need a router
Any decent Wi-Fi 6 router works, and for whole home coverage the smarter spend is usually a mesh system with the main unit doing router duty; our mesh guide has the current picks from $499. If your provider offered you a modem router for $10 a month, this is why you can usually skip it on these connection types.
FTTN and FTTB: the VDSL2 modem router picks
The provider add-on: TP-Link VX420-G2v
Reviews.org’s testing rates the VX420-G2v the best of the modem routers providers sell as plan add-ons, and the pricing through providers is the cheap way in: TPG lists it at $114.95 and Dodo at $159.90 as add-ons at the time of writing. It handles every NBN technology, does Wi-Fi 6, and supports a phone port for those who still want one. The catch: provider-supplied units are provider-configured, so check it’ll be unlocked if you later switch.
The retail version: TP-Link VX420-G2h
The retail sibling adds a 4G SIM slot for mobile failover and sells for around $499 at Australian IT retailers (down from $549 where we checked). That’s a lot for FTTN gear, but the 4G backup makes it the FTTN answer to the failover setups WFH households build; pair the thinking with our outage checker.
The cheap seats: provider modems and the NetComm NF20MESH
The NetComm NF20MESH turns up cheap from several providers and covers every connection type; reviews at WhistleOut and Reviews.org rate it middling, with early speeds fine and opinions split on long term reliability. If your provider throws one in free, use it; if you’re paying, the TP-Link is the better spend. Whirlpool’s community-maintained FTTN compliant modem list is the reference for everything else that works on VDSL2.
At a glance
| Device | Suits | Price (checked 15 Aug 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your existing provider modem | FTTN/FTTB | free to $10/mth | fine in bridge mode behind a mesh |
| TP-Link VX420-G2v | all NBN types | $114.95 (TPG add-on) to $159.90 (Dodo) | best provider add-on per Reviews.org |
| TP-Link VX420-G2h | all NBN types + 4G backup | around $499 retail | failover pick for WFH |
| NetComm NF20MESH | all NBN types | cheap via providers | use if free; mixed long term reviews |
| Any Wi-Fi 6 router or mesh | FTTP/HFC/fixed wireless | from $150 (router), $499 (mesh 3 pack) | no modem needed on these types |
Setting it up
Whatever you buy, our BYO modem setup guide covers the connection settings per NBN type, the ethernet guide covers the cables, and the speed test tells you whether the new gear changed anything. If speeds are still short of your plan after a modem upgrade on FTTN, the copper is the limit, not your hardware; at that point read Starlink vs NBN and the 5G comparison for the alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a modem for the NBN?
Only on FTTN and FTTB, where a VDSL2 modem router is required. On FTTP, HFC and fixed wireless the NBN equipment is the modem and you only need a router or mesh system behind it.
What’s the best NBN modem router in Australia?
For FTTN/FTTB, the TP-Link VX420-G2v is the standout provider add-on (from $114.95 via TPG, checked August 2026), with the retail VX420-G2h adding 4G backup at around $499.
Can I use my own router on the NBN?
Yes on every connection type. On FTTN/FTTB you need a VDSL2 modem in front of it (or a modem router); everywhere else your router plugs straight into the NBN box.
Will a better modem make my NBN faster?
Only if the old one was the bottleneck. On FTTN the copper line sets the ceiling; a better modem can hold sync more reliably but can’t beat physics. Test before and after so you know.
