*Prices may fluctuate throughout your contract unless otherwise specified. Your broadband provider may adjust monthly fees in line with the retail or consumer price index each year. Please review the terms and conditions of individual broadband providers before signing up.
Fortunately, the UK has over 100 internet service providers (ISPs), offering a wide range of options that help keep prices competitive. If you’re looking to lower your bills, there’s a good chance you can find a cheaper broadband deal in your area. The market is dominated by the 'Big Four'—BT, Sky, Virgin Media, and TalkTalk—mainly due to their large-scale coverage. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are the best providers in your area.
Word of mouth can be a great starting point when hunting for a better deal. Alternatively, enter your postcode into our availability checker above to compare broadband deals available in your area. We often have exclusive offers that are cheaper than going directly to the provider. If there's a bargain out there, we'll help you find it! You can also filter your results by price, speed, provider, and contract length, ensuring you find the best broadband package for your needs.
There's a bewildering amount of terminology that internet service providers (ISPs) use, and it can be confusing. While fibre optic broadband is generally faster, standard fibre connections still rely on your existing copper phone line for the final stretch from the exchange to your home. This is why some customers are surprised when offered a 'Full Fibre' upgrade for their 'fibre' connection. Below, we explain the different broadband options available, helping you make sense of the terminology.
ADSL Broadband (also referred to as ‘Standard Broadband’) is when the broadband connection is delivered using the original, old copper phone wire infrastructure. This method is being phased out as ISPs push to sell faster broadband. With a standard ADSL broadband connection, you can expect an average download speed of 10Mbps. The connection speed will drop significantly the further you are from the telephone exchange. Whilst ADSL broadband might be the slowest option, it’s not necessarily cheaper than ‘fibre broadband’. If you’re out of contract and have an ADSL broadband connection, you’re likely to be paying more than you would with a new provider. The broadband market is very competitive, so it’s worth asking your current provider to see if you can get a better deal, then compare that offer with alternative broadband deals in your area.
Most home broadband connections in the UK are fibre to the cabinet (FTTC). FTTC Broadband is when the local (street cabinet) has upgraded its incoming connection to fibre broadband. This means that the local telephone exchange can deliver a faster broadband connection to your home. The broadband connection from your home to the local (street cabinet) will still be sent down the old copper phone line, but your broadband speed will be significantly faster than a standard ADSL broadband connection. A typical FTTC broadband connection in the UK would have an average download speed of 66Mbps. Your broadband connection speed will vary depending on how congested the network is and your distance to the street cabinet.
According to Ofcom, as of January 2024, 62% of UK homes have access to install ‘Full Fibre Broadband’, also known as Fibre to the Premises (FTTP). As the name suggests, the fibre broadband connection doesn’t stop at the local street cabinet but continues directly to your premises. This means you no longer need to rely on your old copper telephone cable to get broadband. FTTP broadband doesn’t cost much more than a typical fibre broadband package. With FTTP, you can expect download speeds between 300Mbps and 1Gb, and it is seen as the future of broadband in the UK. Slower FTTP speeds are also available for those who need a more affordable option. The upgrade also reduces line interference and dropouts, which are often caused by ageing copper phone wires.
G.Fast is a broadband technology that can supercharge your FTTC speeds up to 300Mbps without fibre running directly to your premises. Since G.Fast uses most of the existing infrastructure, it's quicker and cheaper to roll out. However, there are limitations. Your property must be within 500 metres of your local street cabinet, and we’re not entirely convinced of G.Fast's long-term viability. It’s a clever interim solution until fibre coverage becomes as widespread as copper cables are today — think of it like the mini disc player before Apple launched the iPod. G.Fast is only available if your local exchange has been upgraded to support the technology. To check if G.Fast is available in your area, enter your postcode into the broadband availability checker above.
Cable broadband is uniquely different from fibre broadband. Instead of using a fibre cable, it’s delivered via a coaxial cable. Currently, Virgin Media dominates this market with its independent cable network, which uses DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) technology. DOCSIS allows for faster speeds and improved performance. Cable broadband can achieve download speeds of up to 1130Mbps with Virgin Media's Gig1 broadband package.
There are alternative ways to get a faster broadband connection, such as satellite broadband, microwave radio transmission, or the more familiar 4G broadband. However, as fibre broadband now covers 95% of the UK, you're likely to be able to get a fast connection from one of the many UK ISPs. Enter your postcode into our broadband availability checker to explore the best broadband options in your area. Alternatively, you can compare 4G and 5G home broadband packages on our mobile broadband comparison page.
The right broadband speed for your household depends on how you and your family use the internet. The information below will help you choose the best package based on the number of users and their online activities:
Ideal For: Casual users who primarily browse the web, check emails, and use social media.
Typical Activities: Light browsing, reading articles, and streaming TV. You may experience occasional buffering of TV content at the lower end of this speed. (Not suitable for ultra-high definition 4K).
Ideal For: Households with a few users who stream videos, engage in light gaming, or have children attending online classes.
Typical Activities: Moderate browsing, light gaming, and streaming TV. Speeds at the lower end of this range (25 Mbps) may struggle to maintain smooth TV streaming during busy periods with three users. For a more reliable experience, consider a minimum speed of 40 Mbps.
Ideal For: Families with multiple users who frequently stream, game, or work from home, especially those needing faster upload speeds.
Typical Activities: Streaming in HD or 4K, online gaming, and video calls. If you're working from home and need to upload or download large files (e.g. videos), we recommend the higher end of this speed range (closer to 100 Mbps), especially if others are heavily using the connection.
Ideal For: Larger households with multiple users engaging in high-demand activities like 4K streaming, gaming, and working from home.
Typical Activities: Streaming in ultra-high definition (4K), online gaming, and frequent video calls. If you’re working from home while others are streaming in 4K or HD, speeds above 100 Mbps would be beneficial.
If working from home is a priority, consider a broadband provider that offers a built-in 4G/5G backup solution. This feature seamlessly activates for all connected devices if your main broadband connection fails and restores once the problem is resolved. Providers like Vodafone, EE, and BT offer this service for an additional monthly cost.
(Be sure to check the terms and conditions for data usage on backup 4G/5G services if you choose this option. Your minimum guaranteed speeds do not apply to 4G / 5G backup connections)
Keep in mind that the internet speeds advertised by providers are an average based on 50% of their customers. For example, an 80 Mbps broadband package might actually deliver 55 Mbps at your property. Before signing up, you'll be given the estimated speed and a minimum guaranteed connection speed. Make sure the minimum speed is still adequate for your needs.
As of 2024, the average broadband speed in the UK is 108.61 Mbps. While this is more than enough for most households, it's not available everywhere, and rural areas often experience significantly lower speeds.
When selecting a broadband package, especially for tasks like video content creation, gaming, or uploading large files, the type of connection makes a big difference. Full-fibre (FTTP) broadband can offer symmetrical speeds, meaning upload speeds match download speeds—ideal for top-tier performance. This feature is not available with fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) packages, which typically have slower upload speeds.
For example, Sky Full Fibre Gigafast delivers 900 Mbps download and 90 Mbps upload speeds. While 90 Mbps is fast enough for live broadcasting or streaming 4K content, uploading large files—like videos or high-resolution images—will take significantly longer.
In contrast, Hyperoptic offers 900 Mbps for both download and upload speeds. This means your uploads are up to 10x faster than Sky’s option at a similar price (at the time of writing). For users who frequently upload large files, this can significantly speed up transfers and improve productivity.
If speed is critical for your needs, we recommend choosing an ISP that offers symmetrical speeds. It’s likely to cost the same as a standard fibre package. Some of the main UK broadband providers offering symmetrical speeds include:
Please note that availability may vary by region.
To compare your options, enter your postcode into our broadband availability checker above. By clicking "more options," you can view the download and upload speeds offered by each provider.
Lastly, remember to review the specific terms and conditions of any provider before signing up.
There are many broadband providers to choose from, and the best deal depends on your individual needs, such as cost, speed, reliability, and location. While large providers like Virgin Media, BT, and TalkTalk cover most of the UK, smaller alternative networks (alt-nets) like Hyperoptic and Gigafast can offer highly competitive pricing and full fibre broadband. However, their availability may be limited to certain regions.
For those seeking ultra-fast speeds, Virgin Media is a strong option with its broad network. Hyperoptic and Gigafast also deliver excellent full fibre services where available. If you’re an online gamer focused on low latency and high upload speeds, BT broadband, EE and Zen Broadband are worth considering.
For budget-conscious users, TalkTalk regularly provides low cost packages with incentive deals. Plusnet is also competitive on price and scores well for its customer service. If portability is important or if fixed-line broadband isn't suitable for your home, 4G and 5G home broadband can be flexible alternatives. If you're receiving government benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or Income Support and struggling with the cost of broadband, discounted social tariffs may be available to you. Take a look at our broadband social tariffs comparison to find the best deal for your circumstances.
We also have over 3,500 customer reviews that provide valuable insights into each provider’s performance. However, it's important to remember that reviews often lean towards the negative, as customers are more likely to share frustrations than positive experiences. Keep this in mind when weighing up feedback and focus on what’s most important for your household. Ultimately, the best broadband deal is one that suits your needs. Use our broadband comparison tool to find the ideal package based on your requirements.
The fastest broadband in the UK is available through Full Fibre (FTTP) and DOCSIS 3.1 technologies, offering speeds that can reach up to 3Gbps in selected areas. However, these ultra-fast speeds are not yet accessible everywhere.
Full Fibre (FTTP): FTTP delivers fibre directly to your home, providing the most reliable and fastest connection. BT offers FTTP speeds up to 900Mbps, while EE can deliver up to 1.6Gbps in some locations. Community Fibre offers speeds of up to 3Gbps in parts of London. Vodafone, in partnership with CityFibre, offers 1.8Gbps and 2.2Gbps plans, with the first customer connected to the 2.2Gbps plan on 8 July 2024. Vodafone also provides speeds of up to 1.6Gbps via the Openreach network. FTTP is regarded as the future of broadband, and its availability is rapidly expanding. However, as of August 2024, the average UK broadband speed is 108.61Mbps, reflecting the combined speed of both fibre and other technologies.
DOCSIS 3.1 (Virgin Media): Virgin Media offers cable broadband via DOCSIS 3.1 technology, delivering speeds up to 1.13Gbps with its Gig1 package. This is a strong alternative where FTTP may not yet be available. For the fastest broadband in the UK, FTTP and DOCSIS 3.1 are the top choices, but availability depends on location. To check if these high-speed options are available in your area, use our broadband availability checker.
No ..... but we do compare the majority of major UK broadband providers, as well as some of the smaller ones. Our broadband results are not sponsored or driven by commission, unlike some other broadband comparison websites. Just apply filter options to tailor the results that you want to see. If you enter your postcode into the postcode checker, the results will only show you which providers are available in your area. Here are the broadband providers that we do compare (in no particular order): TalkTalk, Virgin Media, Trooli, NOW Broadband, Three, Truespeed, Zen, Gigaclear, KCOM, Vodafone, Community Fibre, 4G Internet, Cuckoo, Plusnet, Hey Broadband, Sky, Onestream, EE Broadband, G.Network, iTalk, O2 Mobile Broadband, Fibrus, Wightfibre, POP Telecom, 4th Utility, Hyperoptic, BT, V4 Consumer, Earth, Three & Pop Telecom.
Switching your broadband provider has become a more streamlined process, making it less cumbersome than in the past. Before initiating the switch, you must ensure you're no longer bound by a contract with your current broadband provider. Failure to do so may result in financial penalties, requiring payment for the remaining months on your contract. If your contract has ended and you're ready to switch, there's no need to contact your existing supplier directly. The switch is initiated by the new broadband provider you've chosen. An exception to this process arises when switching to Virgin Media. Virgin Media Fibre distinguishes itself by not relying on copper phone line cables for broadband delivery, setting it apart from other providers. If opting for a Virgin Media package, it's advisable to notify your current broadband provider after Virgin Media has provided an installation date. This ensures minimal disruption during the switch. If you're ready to start looking for a better broadband deal, enter your postcode into our broadband availability checker at the top of this page to compare broadband deals in your area.
The simple answer is YES! As long as you're not moving house away from your current telephone exchange. If you're switching to Virgin Media, they will allow you to keep your old telephone number. You will be asked which telephone number you would like to transfer during the sign-up process.
If you're only switching your broadband and not the telephone provider, your switchover should be almost seamless. If you are switching both your phone and broadband provider, this will require an engineer to visit your local telephone exchange. The switchover is usually complete within 3 hours of disconnection. If you are switching to Virgin Media, it is possible to keep your old broadband connection until your Virgin Media broadband has been installed and is active.
