Ah, the search for broadband deals. If your internet plan has finally reached its end, you’ll be thinking of diving back into the slightly confusing pile of offers, prices, discounts and promotions.
However, there is no need to worry – we’re going to guide you through it. We’ll bring you the best and cheapest broadband deals, inform you on the kind of speeds you need and help you find your perfect plan.
Of course, if you’re one step ahead of the game and already know the kind of package you’re looking for, this will be easy. Simply use the table below to compare broadband plans, with affordable ADSL, super fast fibre, and TV add-ons from all of the big names.
For those a little more unfamiliar with the world of internet deals, we’ve done the research for you and answered all of the key questions you may have further down this page. So if you’re not sure what separates BT from Sky, or whether Virgin is the best broadband provider for you, we’re here to help you decide.
The great news for all potential buyers is that the market is looking very affordable right now with options well under £20 a month, a lot of variety with TV package extras and a host of rapid fibre broadband deals that won’t leave you with daunting bills.
Broadband deals in September 2020
The best fibre broadband plans this month:
Plusnet Unlimited Fibre | 18 months | 36Mb avg speed | FREE upfront | £22.99 per month + £60 Mastercard
Plusnet is doing what it does best right now – cheap bills. For its base fibre plan, you pay just £22.99 a month for speeds averaging 36Mb. While that is already one of the cheapest prices out there, it does get even better thanks to the £60 Mastercard it is throwing in on top. That effectively brings your costs down to £19.65 each month.View Deal
BT Fibre 1 | 24 months | 50Mb average speed | £27.99 per month | £9.99 activation + £80 Mastercard
This deal from BT provides you with speeds averaging 50Mb for just £27.99 a month. On top of that, you’re getting an £80 Mastercard which effectively brings your costs all the way down to just £24.65 a month. That’s the kind of price you see on other much cheaper brands which often offer slower speeds.View Deal
The best cheap broadband deals this month:
Plusnet Unlimited Broadband | 12 months | 10Mb avg speed | FREE upfront | £18.99 per month + £60 Mastercard
Plusnet has snagged the UK’s cheapest broadband deal with this offer. It starts with monthly bills of £18.99 – already one of the cheapest options – but it gets lower when you include the added Mastercard. With that extra £60 value, Plusnet comes down to an effective £13.99 a month.View Deal
Now Brilliant Broadband | 12 months | Avg speeds 11Mb | Line rental incl. | £5 activation | £18pm
This deal from Now Broadband sneaks in just below Plusnet as the UK’s cheapest plan right now, costing you just £18 a month for speeds averaging 11Mb. However, it does have a £5 activation cost whereas Plusnet is free so both are going to be top choices for low bills.
View Deal
John Lewis broadband | 12 months | Avg speeds 10Mb | Line rental incl. | FREE activation | £20pm
Better known as a high-street shop brand, John Lewis also has some excellent prices on broadband right now. The standout offer is this plan, providing speeds averaging 10Mb for just £20 a month. It also comes with a complete lack of upfront fees which helps bring the overall cost down.View Deal
The best broadband and TV deals:
Vodafone Superfast 1 + Apple TV 4K | 24 months | Avg. speed 63Mb | Weekend calls | FREE upfront | £33pm + £75 voucher
Something a little different compared to the above offer, Vodafone is offering speeds averaging 63Mb and a subscription to 4K Apple TV. That all comes together at a price of £33 a month and Vodafone will even throw in a £75 voucher that you can use at ASOS, Zizzis, Amazon and more.View Deal
Virgin Media Big Bundle | 18 months | 108Mb avg speed | Weekend calls | £35 set-up | £29.99 per month + £50 bill credit
Virgin has very recently brought its best value broadband and TV deal down in price. Now, Virgin’s Big Bundle will only set you back £29.99 a month while securing you speeds that average 108Mb. On top of that, Virgin throws in a load of TV channels, weekend calls and the ability to pause or rewind live TV.View Deal
Broadband deals: FAQ
Which provider has the best broadband deals?
There is a lot of providers offering a wide range of broadband deals, making it difficult to know which plan is best for you. Some offer cheap bills, other fast speeds but each ISP has a unique aspect that makes it worth your time.
- Virgin broadband: best for super-fast speeds
- Sky broadband: best quad-play provider
- BT broadband: best all-round internet provider
- Vodafone: affordable pricing for fibre internet
- Plusnet: frequently the cheapest provider for both fibre and ADSL
- TalkTalk: affordable internet across all categories
- Now Broadband: cheapest for broadband and TV
Can I order these broadband deals over the phone?
We understand that buying broadband is a big purchase that you’re going to be committed to for at least a year. If you feel more comfortable ordering over the phone, we can offer a call centre service – but only for a selected few providers:
- BT broadband: 0800-783-5426
- TalkTalk broadband: 0808-783-5462
- EE broadband: 0800-079-0075
- Plusnet broadband: 0808-168-5438
- Sky broadband: 0800 759 1470
What broadband speed do I need?
Super fast fibre broadband deals may sound appetising, but they may not be necessary for your home – especially if you want to cut costs. It could be worth considering slower, cheaper ADSL internet instead.
Broadband speeds are represented in megabits per second, or Mb. Crudely speaking, the more Mbs, the faster the broadband speed. But remember that the advertised speed is the ‘average’ (more on which below) and doesn’t necessarily represent the actual speed you’ll end up getting. That varies depending where you live.
0-12Mb This entry-level broadband speed is transmitted via an ADSL connection to your nearest BT exchange. The equivalent to just over 1MB per second, It should be fast enough for small households where only one or two people are using the internet at once. Be aware that if you stream TV, you may experience the odd interruption.
25-50Mb Where Virgin led the way, the rest followed. Now every big provider offers rapid fibre broadband. This is the sweet spot between fast speeds and good value and just the ticket for a family household where four or five members are all streaming, downloading and surfing at once.
50-100Mb If you stream 4K TV or have loads of people trying to use your broadband connection at once, then it may be worth shelling out for the extra speed. It may cost you more, but you’re pretty much guaranteed lag-free use – plus, the providers often sweeten the deal with added extras and rewards.
100Mb+ Now we’re getting really fast. But we’ll be honest, at this point you’re only really getting value out of this if you’re needing to enhance your upgrade speeds or living in a house with loads of devices connected.
What is ‘average’ speed for broadband?
Since May 2018, the Advertising Standards Authority changed the requirements for how internet providers promote the speed of their service. Instead of ‘up to’ speeds, they must now give an ‘average’.
For these purposes, average means the speed in Mb received by over 50% of their users between the peak usage hours of 8pm and 10pm in the UK. You’re not guaranteed that speed though, so double check with the provider exactly what their minimum speed provisions are.
Is fibre broadband available in my area?
There’s one very easy way to find out…scroll to the top of this page and input your postcode. We’ll tell you straight away whether you can get fast fibre broadband – alternatively head over to our best fibre deals guide for all your options and some handy buying advice.
Roughly speaking, 90% of UK homes now have the option of connecting to fibre broadband. But if you have your heart on Virgin Media fibre optic broadband deals, it’s more like around 60%.
What contract length should I go for?
Most broadband providers lock you in for at least 12 months, with one year plans being by far the most common. That said, perhaps taking their cue from mobile phone contracts, we are now seeing some providers experimenting with longer plans, with 18 month contracts rearing their heads.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, some providers now offer short term rolling contracts. Virgin Media, for example, have 30 day plans for commitment-phobes. The downside is you’ll be expected to play a larger setup fee.
When your contract comes to an end, be prepared for your monthly tariff to be hiked – especially if you were lucky enough to get a great introductory offer at the outset.
Will I have to pay anything upfront for broadband?
Possibly. Sometimes known as ‘setup’, ‘upfront’ or ‘activation’ fees, most of the major broadband providers ask for at least some payment when you kick off your contract, even if it’s just to cover the cost of delivering your new router. The amount usually depends on what level of package you go for, but it will likely be somewhere between £10 and £60.
But plenty of providers now bucks the old trend and have scrapped their activation fee completely (TalkTalk for example), while others run frequent promotions where they temporarily scrap their upfront cost.
There may be other added extras, too, however. If you take a broadband and TV package, you might be charged for the TV set-top box – that could be totally worth it if you don’t already have a device to pause and record live TV.
Do I have to pay more to have a phone line?
If you still use a home landline to make and receive calls, you’re in luck – many broadband plans don’t just feature a landline, but they actually include it in your monthly price.
You will have to start paying more though when you have a personalised call plan. You’ll see your standard monthly bill begin to escalate when you start adding unlimited evening, daytime or international calls to the mix.
Is Wi-Fi and broadband the same thing?
Yes and no. For the majority of broadband deals now available, you will be getting both Wi-Fi and broadband.
Wi-Fi is what enables you to connect your laptop and phone…you guessed it, through wireless connections. This is achieved thanks to the routers that come with your broadband package.
Broadband however is the actual Ethernet, meaning having to connect your device via an Ethernet cable.
Can I get free gifts with my broadband deals?
The ISPs out there love a good freebie! The likes of BT, Plusnet, Virgin and more will frequently throw in cashback, TV or other top-tier gift. However, these tend to be thrown in quite randomly and we wouldn’t rely on them too much.
What we can more reliably predict is cashback. BT and Plusnet almost always throw in some money off or a tasty Mastercard.
Can I cancel my internet plan early?
Cancelling your internet plan early is possible but usually it will cost you a decent amount to do so. Most ISPs carry early-cancellation fees with some asking you to pay per month that you have left, some a percentage or some a flat fee.
While you can cancel early, if you are able to ride it out, this will be the better option, saving you a large amount of money.
My contract has ended, should I change plans?
Yes…always yes! When broadband deals come to an end you end up rolling on but the costs sky-rocket up. This could leave you paying double or even more for the same plan.
When your internet package is coming to an end, take a look at what is available and see if you could get better speeds, prices or freebies somewhere else.
Can I get internet on a temporary rolling basis?
Yes you can…Technically. Most traditional broadband providers do not offer temporary contracts or rolling plans. Instead, the shortest you will find from the providers above is a 12 month contract.
For anything shorter you will need to turn your gaze slightly. 4G internet deals and mobile broadband contracts (both mentioned above) are a more temporary solution to internet.
Many providers offer them on 1-month rolling plans allowing you to use them as a stopover purchase until you can get something more permanent.
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