Our review of Plusnet broadband
Is it worth switching to Plusnet broadband in 2026?
We’ve updated our 2026 review of Plusnet broadband, highlighting the main pros and cons of switching to Plusnet. This review is based on our experience using and assessing Plusnet’s service, alongside the key terms and features customers should be aware of. Below, we cover what to expect from customer service, the latest incentives, and the key drawbacks to be aware of.
Reasons to switch to Plusnet broadband.
Plusnet is best suited to households that want reliable, good value broadband with clear, easy-to-understand pricing and consistently strong customer support. In our experience, Plusnet’s UK-based support team remains friendly and helpful, with calls answered within a few minutes.
If you’re happy with a broadband-only service and don’t need TV or mobile bundles rolled into your package, Plusnet continues to be a straightforward choice in 2026. It’s particularly well suited to customers who value simple billing and fair pricing, without the extra add-ons and bundled features you tend to get with more premium providers.
Reasons not to switch to Plusnet broadband.
Plusnet isn’t the best fit if you want an all in one bundle that includes TV and mobile services. It’s also not ideal if you expect your broadband provider to supply Wi-Fi extenders (mesh-style add-ons) to improve coverage around your home, as Plusnet doesn’t offer this as part of its broadband packages.
It’s also worth being realistic about the router. The Plusnet Hub 2 is a basic, adequate Wi-Fi router, but it won’t always cope brilliantly on its own in larger homes, over longer distances, or through thick internal walls. If you already have a similar Wi-Fi 5 router and you’re struggling with coverage today, Plusnet may not be the best “out of the box” choice. That said, if you’re reasonably tech savvy and happy to buy your own router and Wi-Fi extenders, you can often achieve stronger coverage without paying extra each month for add-on hardware.
Finally, if you’re leaving your current provider while still in contract, Plusnet does not contribute towards early exit fees. By comparison, EE currently offers up to £300, while Sky and Vodafone offer up to £200 towards switching costs (T&Cs apply).
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Plusnet pricing and contract options
Broadband packages are offered on a 24-month contract by default, but at checkout you can switch to view the 12-month contract price instead. We’re pleased to see the 12-month option available again in 2026, as it’s becoming increasingly rare among mainstream Openreach-based providers.
In general, the 24-month term works out better value, saving around £4 per month on average, while the 12-month option gives you extra flexibility if you don’t want to commit for as long.
Plusnet also keeps its pricing refreshingly straightforward. You won’t find heavily discounted introductory months that make it difficult to work out what you’ll actually pay over the length of your contract. Instead, the monthly price you sign up to is clear and easy to follow, which makes comparing costs far simpler.
Read Plusnet broadband features in more detail
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Despite its simple pricing structure, Plusnet, like many other internet service providers, applies an annual price increase mid-contract on 31 March each year. Broadband prices increase by £4 per month, with out of bundle charges rising by 5%. This applies to all new broadband contracts, including customers who are re-contracting or upgrading onto a new Plusnet package. There are a few providers that choose not to apply mid-contract price rises, and we applaud them for doing so. Unfortunately, Plusnet isn’t one of them.
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Plusnet regularly offers reward cards for new customers, and in 2026 we’re pleased to see these incentives appearing far more consistently than in previous years. The value of the reward card varies depending on the broadband package you choose, typically ranging from £50 to £110.
Once your broadband service has gone live, you’ll be sent information by email explaining how to claim your reward card. Claims need to be submitted within the timeframe provided, and the card then needs to be activated after it’s issued. The process is straightforward, but it’s important to follow the steps outlined in the email.
For existing customers approaching the end of their contract, renewal offers shown by email or within your online account don’t always reflect the best available pricing. In our experience, contacting Plusnet directly can sometimes result in your renewal being matched to the current new-customer price, including any reward card incentive. It isn’t guaranteed, but being friendly and polite on the call can go a long way and may secure you a better deal at the adviser’s discretion.
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In our experience, Plusnet customer service remains consistently excellent. Support is UK-based and available from 8am to 8pm, and there’s a clear sense that the team genuinely wants to help. If you value your time and want a sensible, straightforward approach to getting problems resolved, Plusnet should do you proud, to borrow their own phrase.
Outside of support hours, the Plusnet Community Forum is also worth knowing about. It has a loyal and active user base, and it’s often a useful place to find sensible guidance or answers from experienced customers.
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Plusnet supplies the Hub 2 router with its fibre and full fibre broadband packages. The Hub 2 is a rebranded version of the BT Smart Hub 2, originally released in late 2018, which gives a clear indication of where it now sits in terms of age and capability.
The Hub 2 is built around Wi-Fi 5 technology, introduced over a decade ago. It’s fine for everyday browsing and streaming, but it lacks the performance, capacity and efficiency you get from a more modern router. Wi-Fi coverage can also be limited in larger homes or properties with challenging layouts. Plusnet has customised the user interface, and the admin controls are straightforward to navigate, including device-level access controls for blocking or limiting internet access for specific connected devices.
The contrast is clear when you compare it with what some other providers now offer. EE’s Smart Hub Pro and Vodafone Pro 3 both support Wi-Fi 7, delivering faster speeds, lower latency and better handling of multiple connected devices. Against that backdrop, the Hub 2 is clearly showing its age in 2026.
Over the course of a 2 year contract, this becomes more noticeable. For many homes, the Hub 2 becomes the bottleneck that limits the faster Wi-Fi speeds you’d otherwise get from a full fibre connection. Plusnet doesn’t offer a paid router upgrade or Wi-Fi extender add-on, so if you want stronger Wi-Fi performance or wider coverage, you’ll need to buy and configure your own third-party router or Wi-Fi extenders. That’s a straightforward option for anyone comfortable managing their own equipment, but it’s worth factoring in if you want the best possible Wi-Fi experience at home.
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1 Smart wireless feature – will scan to find the least congested frequency automatically 2 Modem type - ADSL, ADSL2+ and VDSL2 3 Network protocol - IPV4 and IPV6 4 Simultaneous dual-band 5 Supported frequencies - 2.4GHz (3x3 11b/g/n/ac MIMO), 5GHz (4x4 ac) Wave 2 6 Data transfer rate - Max Physical interface rates are: 2.4GHz = 217Mbs | 5GHz = 1733Mbs 7 Beamforming (Implicit and Explicit Beamforming) 8 7 Internal antennas (3x 2.4GHz, 4x 5GHz) 9 3 x 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports 1x WAN port 10 USB 2.0 1 11 1 x RJ45 12 Encryption WPA2, WPA (Auto) 13 Built-in 4G filter - Designed to block interference from adjacent 4G signals -
Plusnet broadband is delivered over the Openreach network, which means it’s widely available across the UK. If full fibre isn’t available at your address, you can still take a Plusnet fibre package and move to full fibre later when it becomes available.
If you choose to upgrade mid-contract, Plusnet allows you to re-contract onto a full fibre package rather than paying off the remainder of your existing term. This means your contract simply restarts on the new full fibre package, with a new 12 or 24-month term, provided you stay with Plusnet.
Note: If your property hasn’t previously had full fibre installed, the engineer will need to bring the fibre cable into your home, which can involve drilling through an external wall. If you live in a rented property, you’ll need to get permission from your landlord before the installation goes ahead.
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Would we recommend Plusnet? Absolutely. The value for money is excellent, reliability is good and customer service remains first class. It’s perfect for anyone who wants straightforward broadband without TV or mobile bundles. The main compromise is the router: the Hub 2 is adequate, but in 2026 it’s starting to feel dated. If you're looking for bells and whistles and the latest Wi-Fi 7 router then check out our EE broadband review.
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