Compare the Best Broadband Deals in the UK

Best Broadband Deals in the UK

The best broadband deal for you will depend on what you need from your service. If you just use the internet for social media and emails, then a cheap package with low average speeds could be good for you. If you binge-watch Netflix shows and do a bit of online gaming, you should go for deals offering fast download speeds.

If you’re often on the move, the best option may be either a no-contract internet package or a mobile broadband deal. Look at mobile deals from providers like Vodafone and EE to find the best mobile broadband deals. Ultimately, the best broadband deal is one that offers the services you need for a monthly price you can afford. We’re here to help you compare broadband providers and their deals to ensure you get one that meets your needs.

Our Picks for the Best Broadband:

• Best Cheap Broadband: Hyperoptic
• Best Fibre Broadband: Community Fibre
• Best No-Contract Broadband: Community Fibre
• Best Broadband and TV Package: Sky or Virgin Media
• Best Broadband and Phone Package: Vodafone

Best Cheap Broadband Deals

1. Shell Fast Broadband
2. Hyperoptic Fibre Broadband-Only
3. Community Fibre 35
4. Gigaclear Superfast 200

At the moment, the cheapest broadband deal belongs to Shell. The provider offers an affordable broadband package to suit those who don’t need fast speeds. Hyperoptic offer the cheapest fibre broadband - the provider’s network is limited for now, but, if you’re lucky enough to live in an area it reaches, you could get superfast broadband for less than £20 a month!

For those looking for cheap, fast broadband with less commitment, the Community Fibre 35 package offers speeds of 35 Mbps on a 12-month contract. If you’re willing to pay acouple of quid more for a faster broadband speeds, you may prefer Gigaclear Superfast 200. This plan offers more than 4x the speeds offered by other cheap broadband providers and only a slight jump in price.

The cheapest internet plans, however, tend to come with a low average download speed and even lower upload speeds. Shell Broadband offers the lowest price for internet at the moment, but its 11 Mbps average download speeds may not be enough to suit your usage.

If you’re not looking to stray from the larger UK broadband providers, Plusnet offers affordable plans backed by the BT Openreach network. Plusnet deals also include BT products, such as BT Sport and phone packages, as add-ons for those looking to get more form their package.

Explore more cheap broadband deals, but be aware that some deals shown could be temporary and once the offer ends, they will revert to standard pricing.

Provider	Deal	Average download speed	Monthly cost*	Minimum term
Shell	Fast Broadband	11 Mbps	£15.99/month	18-month contract
Hyperoptic	Fibre Broadband	30 Mbps	£17.99/month	24-month contract
Community Fibre	Full Fibre 35	35 Mbps	£18/month	12-month contract
Gigaclear	Superfast 200	200 Mbps	£20/month	18-month contract

*Updated as of 21/12/2021. Prices may vary by location.

Best High Speed Fibre Broadband Deals

1. Shell Full Fibre 900
2. Community Fibre 1Gbps Fibre Broadband
3. Gigaclear Hyperfast 900 with Smart WiFi 

Shell and Community Fibre offer the fastest fibre connections around with their full fibre, or “fibre-to-the-premises” deals. Similar packages are starting to emerge from other providers. Gigaclear Hyperfast 900 with Smart Wi-Fi is another excellent option. A little pricier, Hyperfast 900 adds value through its Smart Wi-Fi, which includes a mesh Wi-Fi network to give the best possible internet connection everywhere in your home regardless of where your router is placed.

While these three broadband providers offer the fastest average speeds, they won’t be available to everyone. If you can’t get the above broadband packages for your home, you can now find hyperfast fibre broadband packages from providers such as Virgin Media and BT Broadband. Virgin Media also offers broadband without line rental for those not interested in a phone line.

Explore more fibre broadband deals.

Provider	Deal	Average download speed	Monthly cost*	Minimum term
Community Fibre	Full Fibre 1Gb Gigafast	920 Mbps	£45/month	12-month contract
Shell	Full Fibre 900	1,000 Mbps	£49.99/month	18-month contract
Gigaclear	Hyperfast 900 with Smart Wi-Fi	900 Mbps	£49/month	18-month contract

*Updated as of 21/12/2021. Prices may vary by location.

Best Broadband Deals with No Contract

1. Community Fibre Superfast
2. Hyperoptic 50 Fibre Broadband & Phone 
3. Community Fibre Ultrafast 
4. Hyperoptic 150 Fibre Broadband & Phone
5. Community Fibre Hyperfast 
6. Hyperoptic 500 Fibre Broadband & Phone
7. Community Fibre Gigafast 
8. Hyperoptic 1Gb Fibre Broadband & Phone 

The best no-contract broadband deals come from Community Fibre and Hyperoptic. These two providers are relatively new to the UK broadband market and offer similar broadband speeds at similar pricing. If phone service is important to you, you will want to go with Hyperoptic, which offers broadband with line rental.

If you’re fine with a broadband-only service, you can save a few quid a month by choosing Community Fibre. With the similarities between these packages, the best no-contract broadband deal for you will be whichever provider is available. All of these packages give you the flexibility of a month-to-month plan. Virgin Media also offers rolling 1-month plans across all its deals, though this will set you back a little more.

Provider	Deal	Average download speed	Monthly cost*	Minimum term
Community Fibre	Full Fibre Superfast	50 Mbps	£25/month	1 month
Hyperoptic	50 Fibre Broadband & Phone	50 Mbps	£26/month	1 month
Community Fibre	Full Fibre Ultrafast	150 Mbps	£29.50/month	1 month
Hyperoptic	150 Fibre Broadband & Phone	150 Mbps	£32/month	1 month
Community Fibre	Full Fibre Hyperfast	400 Mbps	£40 /month	1 month
Hyperoptic	500 Fibre Broadband & Phone	500 Mbps	£42 /month	1 month
Community Fibre	Full Fibre Gigafast	920 Mbps	£54 /month	1 month
Hyperoptic	1 Gb Fibre Broadband & Phone	900 Mbps	£52 /month	1 month

*Updated as of 13/09/2021. Prices may vary by location.

Best Broadband and TV Packages

1. Virgin Media Bigger Bundle
2. Sky TV, Ultrafast Broadband & Netflix
3. TalkTalk TV, Fibre 65 & Netflix

There’s no shortage of options when looking for broadband and TV packages. Finding the best deal will depend largely on what TV channels you want access to. Some packages include more channels and faster internet speeds at a higher cost. The Virgin Media Bigger Bundle is our top choice if you’re looking for a deal that does it all. With impressively fast speeds and a wide variety of channels, the comprehensive nature of Virgin Media’s offer is worth considering for those who can afford it. 

If you want a bit of everything but are more limited by price, TalkTalk broadband offers a great deal with lower speeds, a fair number of channels, and a much lower cost. This deal also includes a Netflix subscription and speeds fast enough to stream your favourite shows.

Explore more broadband and TV deals in our comparison.

Provider	Deal	Average download speed	Channels	Monthly cost*	Minimum term
Virgin Media	Bigger Bundle	362 Mbps	370+	£49 /month	18-month contract
Sky	TV, Ultrafast Broadband & Netflix	145 Mbps	150+	£51 /month	18-month contract
TalkTalk	TV Fibre 65, & Netflix	67 Mbps	100+	£33.99 /month	18-month contract

*Updated as of 13/09/2021. Prices may vary by location.

Best Broadband and Phone Deals

1. Vodafone Pro Ultrafast 500 Xtra
2. Hyperoptic Fibre Broadband & Phone
3. Now Brilliant Broadband

As with most broadband offers, finding the best internet and phone package will closely tie to your personal preferences. If you’re looking for unlimited calling with extremely fast broadband service, and don’t mind paying a bit more for that speed, Vodafone’s Pro Ultrafast 500 Xtra could be the perfect fit for you.

For more price conscious customers who want to pair unlimited anytime calling with a slower average download speed, Hyperoptic offers reasonable speeds of up to 50 Mbps for an amazingly low price, and NOW Broadband offers a similarly cheap deal. Although NOW’s speeds are slower, the shorter 12-month contract could save you money in the long run if you aren’t willing to commit to 24 months.

Explore more broadband and phone deals.

Provider	Deal	Average download speed	Price*	Minimum term
Vodafone	Pro Ultrafast 500 Xtra	500 Mbps	£43 /month	24-month contract
Hyperoptic	Fibre Broadband & Phone	30-50 Mbps	£17 /month	24-month contract
NOW Broadband	Brilliant Broadband	11 Mbps	£18 /month	12-month contract

*Updated as of 13/09/2021. Prices may vary by location.

Picking the Best Broadband Deal for You

Choosing the best internet plan can be easier when you can see and compare all of the packages you could get side by side.

Knowing the important factors upfront like;

• Your internet usage
• Your budget
• The broadband speed you’re after
• Additional services or features you want
• A contract length that works for you 
• The provider with the best customer service 
• Any added perks, extras, freebies or vouchers you can get by switching
• Which deals are available in your area
• New routers, hardware, or professional installation and whether a setup cost or activation fee will be charged

Don’t be fooled by providers who claim to have the best deal. Your needs will be unique to your internet usage requirements. While there is no one-size-fits-all internet package that’s best for everyone, we’ve compiled a few factors that can help you compare and make an informed decision based on what’s most important to you.

Usage 

Internet usage is often the main factor in determining which broadband deal is best for you. How often do you use the internet and what are you using it for? If you find yourself barely having time to check your email and don’t tend to stream TV, the best deal for you will be very different from someone who works from home, binges series, or frequently plays games online. 

Affordability 

What is your budget and does that budget align with your usage? If you’re a high usage customer, you’ll want at least a mid-tier package, but if you choose the cheapest plan, you’ll likely end up frustrated when your service cannot deliver the activities you care about. It’s better to understand what speed you need first and then compare deals in that range to find one that balances your budget and lifestyle.

We recommend paying attention to the standard pricing offered by providers as a guide. Users are often reeled in by a special offer and are caught out when the offer ends and they’re put on the provider’s standard pricing. 

Speed 

The general rule is: the higher the average speed, the higher the average monthly cost. Although it’s generally believed that it’s best to have the highest speed possible, it’s useless to pay extra for a speed you don’t need. If your internet usage only involves regular browsing and there aren’t many users or devices in your home, broadband that offers 30Mbps will be fine for you and help you save compared to a high-speed plan. This underlines the importance of step 1: it’s extremely important to understand your usage.

Availability 

It is very important to check whether the broadband deal you want is available in your area. If you live in a remote area, you might not be able to enjoy a fibre-optic broadband connection. Similarly, some broadband providers might have better broadband coverage in your area than another one. It’s a good idea to check which providers are available near you early on in the process of shopping for a broadband deal, so you don’t waste time comparing plans that won’t be available to you.

Additional services 

Are you also looking for additional services like phone and call allowances or features like TV bundles and entertainment deals? Instead of finding a separate deal for each of these services, you can find a bundle deal that offers all these services together. Bundling these services always results in a lower price than purchasing them separately, so it is important to know what you want before choosing your broadband deal.

Hardware requirements 

This is often overlooked when shopping for broadband service, but knowing your hardware requirements can save you money in the long run. One provider may have the cheapest deal, but if that deal comes with a hefty setup cost or requires you to purchase new equipment, you may end up spending more than you expected.

If you’re switching from BT to Sky, you will need a Sky broadband router at your home. Equally, if you’re switching to Virgin Media for the first time, you’ll need new wiring installed to link up to its cable network. If the price of that equipment pushes you over the budget you have set for your broadband, you will likely be better off finding a deal that does not require hardware upgrades.

Length of contract 

The benefit of a longer contract is that the payment is divided into smaller chunks. On the flip side, longer contracts mean that you are tied to a particular deal for a longer period, and if you want to switch internet providers, you’ll have to wait longer or end the contract by paying contract exit fees, which is often just as expensive as staying with your existing provider.

If you move frequently, you could find that the best deal for you is a month-to-month broadband service, which works similarly to many pay-as-you-go mobile deals. Though the average monthly cost may be more, you’ll save by not having to buy out your contract when you move. However, if you have a home that you don’t intend to move from for several years, you can save quite a bit by choosing a lengthier contract.

No matter what you choose, it’s important to be aware of your contract end date. Most promotional pricing only lasts until the end of your contract period - after that date, the offer ends and your broadband provider is free to increase prices as they see fit.

Customer service 

No matter how good your internet provider is, you will always have to talk to customer service at some point. Whether it’s your initial setup, paying a bill, or dealing with an issue, it’s comforting to know that you’ll be dealing with a friendly and efficient customer service team. Talktalk, Vodafone, and Virgin Media reputedly have some of the best customer service teams among broadband companies.

Added perks and extras 

Some broadband providers offer freebies to promote their deals. Prepaid cards, cash back, vouchers are relatively common free perks often included in new customer deals. Gadgets, such as laptops, tablets, or mobile phones, are much less common but not unheard-of. This definitely something to keep an eye out for.

Free routers are common, being included in most packages, and most providers include line rental in the price of their internet. If you don’t want a phone line, some providers do offer broadband without line rental for less - Virgin Media is a notable example.

You will want to compare deals that offer free gifts against similar deals that don’t offer them. Often, the cost of the gift is simply added to the monthly price of your broadband. If the equivalent package is cheaper, then consider whether you really need a the gift at all.

Picking the Right Broadband Speed

The average speed of your internet is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). A download speed of 30Mb per second will allow you to download 30Mb of data in one second. To put it in perspective: a 5-minute YouTube video playing at 1080p quality is around 170Mb, so a download speed of 30 Mbps will get through it in under 6 seconds. 

The download speed of your broadband package affects streaming quality while watching shows and movies, and can result in buffering if your download speed isn’t fast enough. Although you always want to have internet service fast enough to keep up with your online activity, it’s not always worth paying the highest price for the fastest broadband speed. It’s important to match the speed you pay for with your actual usage.

Upload speed is another factor that some users will want to consider. Not often advertised by providers, a package’s average upload speed is the speed at which you can upload data to the internet. This will be particularly important to you if you have a YouTube channel or a Soundcloud account which you regularly add content to, or if you often have to send large files at work. Bear in mind that deals with slow average download speeds will have even slower average upload speeds.

An average speed of 30 Mbps may suit a user who only uses the internet for regular browsing or social media. However, if you stream a lot of videos, are into online gaming, or have a large household with many connected devices, you may need something faster.

0-35 Mbps

Best deal for: Checking email, web browsing, social media
Devices: 1-2

This speed is suitable for a home with one or two users online at a given time. It will work for those who don’t do much with the internet except for web browsing and social media. Netflix claims you need 25 Mbps to stream 4K content and only 5 Mbps for streaming HD. However, if you plan on having anything else connected to your broadband at the same time, you’ll need to opt for a higher speed. Ideally, this speed is for light internet usage.

45-100 Mbps

Best deal for: 4K streaming and online gaming
Devices: 3-5

This speed range is generally for households having 3 to 5 connected devices at any time with moderate to high internet usage. If you’re looking to stream 4K video, this will be an ideal range. For fans of online gaming, this speed range should keep you running smoothly without interruptions.

100-920 Mbps

Best deal for: Working from home, downloading large files, live video streaming Devices: 6+ 

100 Mbps to 920 Mbps represent the fastest broadband speeds available in the UK currently and provide the best speeds you can get. For those who want the best connections and the fastest download speeds, these are the deals to compare. These speeds can handle the heaviest workloads and are perfect for people who work from home and frequently share large files.

While some could save money by selecting an internet plan with lower average speeds, a 2020 study showed that, on average, UK citizens have access to 9 connected devices in their home. Ranging from tablets to headphones and game consoles to speakers, the average person is using their broadband connection on much more than just their laptop or smartphone.

Having trouble determining what broadband speed you need? We can help. For home broadband, there are various speeds available that you can pick from according to your activities and location.