The best broadband deals in May 2018
Find the best broadband deal for you
Let's face it...shopping for broadband deals is a pain in the proverbial. With internet providers like BT broadband, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk all trying to get your business and all claiming to have the best rates, it can be bewildering to say the least.
And then there's all the different broadband plans you can choose from. Do you need superfast fibre broadband? Should you go for a cheap broadband only deal for less than £20 per month, or add TV and phone plans to your internet package? There are dozens upon dozens of combinations to pick from.
TechRadar's custom-built broadband choosing tool is here to help you decide. Simply pop in your postcode above and we'll give you a list of the cheapest home broadband deals available in your area. From there, you can play with the filters until you've narrowed down the deal for you - it literally takes less than a minute! It's difficult to look past Vodafone and its astonishingly priced £20 per month fibre deal at the moment, but dig deeper and you can get BT broadband with BT Sport and a £125 pre-paid Mastercard at a reasonable rate, too.
And below that, we have some handpicked handpicked favourite deals for fibre (if you can get it), broadband and TV packages and broadband only plans that are really impressing us this month. Keep scrolling down and you'll find our advice on what else you should consider when buying broadband - from the speed you'll need, to whether getting fibre broadband is a must for your household.
- Check your internet speed with TechRadar's broadband speed test tool
Best fibre broadband deals (subject to availability at your postcode)
Best broadband only deals in the UK this month
The best broadband and TV deals in the UK this month
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:
- Sky broadband: 08000-142-334
- Virgin broadband: 08000-492-102
- TalkTalk broadband: 08000-492-103
What broadband speed do I need?
Superfast fibre broadband may sound appetising, but it may not be necessary for your home - especially if you want to cut costs. It could be worth considering slower, cheaper ADSL 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 maximum and doesn't necessarily represent the actual speed you'll end up getting. That varies depending where you live.
0-25Mb This entry-level broadband speed is transmitted via an ADSL connection to your nearest BT exchange. The equivalent to around 2.1MB 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+Mb 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.
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.
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 plans, 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?
Usually. 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. The amount usually depends on what level of package you go for, but it will likely be somewhere between £10 and £60. Only TalkTalk bucks the trend - they've scrapped their activation fee completely, while other brands 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. And some, including BT and EE, charge delivery for the router.
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.
