TalkTalk Plusnet cheapest for fibre broadband

Plusnet is currently offering the UK’s cheapest broadband service. An average 36 Mb costs £22.99 ($29.89) monthly, plus a £70 cashback offering. While smaller operator Onestream has a better offer, its average speeds of 17 Mb put it closer to ADSL than to fibre, according to TechRadar.

So far this year, the majority of the country's leading broadband providers, including BT, EE, Plusnet, Shell, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone increased their prices by as much as 14.4%. In fact, even NOW Broadband raised its prices for the first time in the company's history.

Whether or not the cost of your broadband has increased will depend on a number of factors that we've outlined in this explainer guide. However, the good news is that if the cost of your internet has increased and you're out of contract, you can switch providers without paying a penalty fee. Due to this, by switching providers now and locking in a great new deal, you could save a considerable sum.

To help you save on your broadband, we've put together this detailed guide that provides a rundown of the best broadband deals available on the market today.

Regardless of whether you're simply after something cheap and easy, lightning-fast fibre speeds, or you want to go all out with broadband, TV and extra add-ons, we've hunted down all the best broadband deals available from the country's top providers. If you already know what kind of broadband plan you want, simply use the price comparison widget below to compare the best and cheapest options from big names like BT, Sky, Virgin Media and EE.

Not sure what you need with your internet or want to learn more? Read this guide to the best broadband deals available right now. You'll discover more about choosing fibre speeds, what broadband deals are currently available and much more.

Latest Broadband Deals

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Which provider has the best broadband deals? Here in the UK, we're lucky to have a wide range of popular broadband providers. But, as a result of this, finding the right broadband provider for your needs can be difficult. Going back a decade, only a handful of providers were available and all of them used the Openreach network. Due to this, customers had a very limited amount of choice and it was difficult to find value. Thankfully, this is no longer the case and today customers can choose from almost 20 different internet service providers (ISPs), including both household names and challenger brands that specialise in cheap deals. As you may expect, each ISP has its own specialisms. For example, Virgin Media is known for providing the fastest speeds on the market. Meanwhile, Sky is best known for its impressive range of broadband and TV bundles. At the other end of the scale, Plusnet and TalkTalk usually compete to offer the very cheapest deals on the market. With this in mind, here are the main broadband providers and the broadband deals they're best known for providing:

Virgin : best for super-fast speeds

: best for super-fast speeds Sky : best quad-play provider

: best quad-play provider BT : best all-round internet provider

: best all-round internet provider Vodafone : affordable pricing for fibre internet

: affordable pricing for fibre internet Plusnet : frequently the cheapest provider for both fibre and ADSL

: frequently the cheapest provider for both fibre and ADSL TalkTalk : affordable internet across all categories

: affordable internet across all categories Now Broadband: cheapest for broadband and TV

However, it's important to stress that although each provider does have its own specialism, each also offers a great range of deals. For example, although Sky offers the best broadband and TV deals on the market, they also regularly cut the prices of their broadband only packages. When they're on sale, these are competitively priced.

Similarly, although we think Sky's broadband and TV packages are the best available, you may find that an option provided by Virgin Media or BT is actually better for your needs... or cheaper.

For this reason, before you commit to one provider, you should run a broadband comparison and check exactly what's available in your area. This will also help highlight any special offers that are currently available.

(Image credit: CASEZY)

Speeds & Availability

Do I need ADSL or fibre broadband? There are several different types of broadband available in the UK. However, the two most popular are undoubtedly ADSL connections, which are slower and more affordable, and fibre broadband deals, which are usually faster and slightly more expensive. Deciding whether an ADSL connection or a fibre package is right for you can be tricky. This is because this decision is influenced by a number of factors, such as: where you live, what you'd like to use the internet for and how much you'd like to pay. Firstly, whether or not your property can actually receive a fibre connection will be determined by where you live. Thankfully, the availability of fibre broadband has improved significantly over the past few years, and now estimates suggest that around 95% of homes in the UK can now receive a fibre connection. However, but many homes and businesses in rural and remote locations cannot. For this reason, before you look into whether fibre or ADSL is right for you, we recommend that you try a postcode checker (like the one at the top of this page). This way, you can check exactly what packages are available at your address. It's also worth adding here that, if your home is eligible to receive a fibre connection, then some broadband providers will not provide you with an ADSL connection. This is because these older connections are slowly being phased out. But, this varies on a provider-by-provider basis and a postcode checker will reveal all. If you discover you can receive a fibre connection, you need to decide whether this type of connection is right for you. If you only use the internet to send emails, check your social media and browse the web, then an ADSL internet deal might be the best option for you because otherwise you may be paying for download speeds you won't use. So, in these instances, you can probably shop around for a provider that will still offer you an ADSL connection and save a little bit of money. But, if you regularly stream your favourite shows on Netflix, game online, or live in a household with lots of connected devices and family members who also want to get online, you'll be much better served by a fibre broadband deal. This is because the faster speeds you'll receive will prevent buffering and lag. In these scenarios, the small additional cost will likely be worthwhile. Of course, although ADSL and fibre packages are the two most popular types of broadband in the UK, other types of broadband are available. If you'd like a full rundown, take a look at our guide to the different types of broadband available in the UK. You may find that a connection that relies on mobile data or satellite signal is better for you. Alternatively, you may find that, given your demands, a full fibre deal that provides rapid download speeds is actually the best choice for you.



Which broadband speed do I need? Broadband speeds are represented in megabits per second (Mbps). Put simply, the more Mbps, the faster the broadband speed you receive at your property. To help you work out which speed is right for you, here's a rundown of what some of the advertised average speeds mean in practical terms: 0-12Mbps - A package offering these speeds is likely to be an ADSL broadband deal. Now considered to be an old form of broadband, ADSL deals are slowly being removed from the market. This is because these packages simply are not quick enough for the demands of the modern household. This is particularly the case if you like to download films or watch your favourite shows on Netflix. That said, ADSL deals remain the cheapest on the market. So, if you only want to browse the web, check your social media or send and receive emails, a package like this could be a good option. 25-50Mbps - These speeds fall at the bottom end of the fibre broadband category. As they're at least twice as quick as ADSL packages, these speeds are likely to be right for you if you live in a medium-sized household where multiple family members are continually online at the same time. However, if you live in a particularly large home or you have high download demands, you may suffer from some buffering and lag with a package like this. 50-100Mbps - If you have lots of connected devices, a large home or high download demands, then a package that falls in this range could be good for you. That said, although these speeds are quick and will allow you to stream 4K TV or download films in UHD, quicker packages are still available. 100Mbps+ - These speeds fall under the 'full fibre' category and they're the fastest available. Although the headline speeds are eye catching and enticing, you should be aware that unless you live in a vast house or a home where every family member is continually streaming in UHD, you're unlikely to get much value from a package like this. It might be the case that you live in an incredibly connected household that needs these speeds. But, if not, you'll be paying a premium to access speeds you're not using.

What is 'average' speed for broadband? When you're looking at broadband deals, you'll find that each tells you about the average download speeds you can expect to receive. This will be displayed in megabits per second or Mbps. However, it's important to remember that these are 'average' figures. This means they're not a guarantee of the speed you will actually receive. In this context, the 'average' is defined as the speed in Mbps that is received by over 50% of users in the UK between 8pm and 10pm, which is the peak time for internet use. Thankfully, as well as an average speed, ISPs must also provide a minimum speed guarantee to customers. So, before you sign up with your chosen provider, you should check this and ensure that even this slower speed is quick enough to suit your needs.

Is fibre broadband available in my area? As we mentioned earlier, fibre broadband deals are now widely available. In fact, around 95% of households are now eligible to receive a fibre broadband connection. Those that aren't are usually located in remote or isolated areas; particularly in Scotland. On top of this, the fibre network has become so advanced that around 10 million homes are now also eligible to receive so-called 'full fibre' broadband. Some of these packages are much quicker than traditional fibre packages and are even capable of delivering gigabit-capable speeds! But, the availability of either a fibre or a full fibre package shouldn't be taken for granted. Thankfully, it's incredibly easy to see what broadband packages are available at your home address. The easiest way of doing this is heading to the widget at the top of this page. Simply provide us with your postcode and we will run a broadband comparison and find out exactly which options are available for you.

Broadband contracts and pricing:

What contract length should I go for? The shortest broadband contracts last for 30 days, but the longest run for two years. It's important that you find the right deal for you as each offers different pros and cons. For example, one-month contracts are favoured by people who are looking for increased flexibility. This is because you can leave the contract and switch providers at almost any time. However, this increased flexibility comes at an additional cost and these deals are usually the most expensive on the market. Added to this, they often also come with upfront costs. On the other side of this equation, two-year deals cost less on a monthly basis and you may not have to pay any upfront fee at all. In fact, you may even receive an incentive for signing up, like a gift card or a voucher. But, these contracts tie you in for a long time and the majority also come with hefty cancellation fees. As a result, they're not a good choice if you might be moving soon or you're unsure whether that deal really is the right one for you. We should point out that these are the extremes and a lot of the major providers do offer deals that last for 12-18 months. Whether you opt for a long-term deal, a short-term option or a mid-length contract is largely a personal choice. So, carefully consider which option fits your circumstances best before you commit.

Will I have to pay anything upfront for broadband? Although the majority of broadband deals do come with some form of upfront fee, this isn't always the case. Whether or not you need to pay an upfront fee as part of your internet package will largely be determined by the provider you choose and the length of contract you take out. While some broadband providers don't charge anything upfront when you take out a new contract, they tend to be lesser known. Unfortunately, the majority do charge some form of delivery fee, setup fee, or installation fee. However, while major providers do tend to charge some form of upfront fee, they're usually happy to either waive these fees or vastly reduce them if you sign-up for a long-term contract. Many also eliminate fees entirely when they put offers on. Upfront fees vary on a provider-by-provider basis, but generally speaking they vary between £5 (for delivery of your new router) to £60 (for an engineer visit and installation). If you add a TV package to your deal, there may also be an additional fee to pay for a separate engineer visit.

Do I have to pay more to have a phone line or a landline? Generally speaking, most broadband contracts do work out cheaper if you take out a 'broadband-only' deal and don't get a landline as part of the package. However, this isn't always the case and many providers put deals on throughout the year that include free call plans as part of the package. For this reason, you shouldn't just assume that a broadband-only deal will be the cheapest option. But, before you pay for a landline, it's first important to understand whether you actually need one. Nowadays, a lot of people use the terms 'phone line' and 'landline' interchangeably, but they actually mean very different things. If you'd like to learn more about this, check out our detailed explainer guide on the subject. It's well worth doing your research, as you don't want to pay for a landline if you don't actually need one. Done your research and decided you do need a landline? Well, we recommend that you run a broadband comparison on this page. This way you'll be able to see exactly how much one will cost. If you're certain you need a call package, you can filter your results so you only see options that include 'broadband & phone' options.



Broadband FAQ

(Image credit: Kittichai Boonpong / EyeEm)

Are Wi-Fi and broadband the same thing? Yes and no. It's slightly confusing because most people use these terms interchangeably. However, 'Wi-Fi' and 'broadband' are actually two different things. Let's explain in greater detail... For your home to receive a stable and reliable broadband connection, a cable is usually run from a cabinet on your street into your home. This cable is then used to connect you to an internet service provider. Once you're connected, the cable provides you with a high-speed connection that's known as a broadband connection. Once you have a broadband connection, you can then receive Wi-Fi. This is the method by which your broadband connection is distributed from your router or hub to your devices. This process occurs wirelessly.

Can I cancel my internet plan early? In some limited instances, you can cancel your broadband contract for free even if you're still under contract. However, the majority of the time, you'll need to pay a cancellation fee. This can be expensive, so we only recommend taking this step if you absolutely have to. Generally speaking, while you're still under contract, your current provider can charge you a fee for leaving unless they've failed to meet the terms set out within your contract. Some examples of this include failing to offer a reliable connection or failing to provide an internet connection that meets a minimum speed guarantee. The exact reasons why you may be able to leave your contract early differ on a provider-by-provider basis. Yours will be detailed in your contract, so we recommend that you read it closely. If your provider has met the minimum standards expected of them and you'd still like to leave, then you'll need to pay a fee to leave your contract early. The exact amount you'll need to pay for leaving your contract will primarily be determined by your current provider and the amount of time you have left on your deal. For example, if you still have a year left on your contract, then it will usually cost you more to leave than if you only had a few months left. However, while some internet service providers ask you to pay a certain amount per month you have left, others charge a flat fee. To find out exactly how much you'll need to pay, you should check the information within your contract. This document should clearly state both what you need to do to cancel your contract early (you can't just cancel your direct debit) and how much it will cost. If this information is unclear, you should speak to your provider directly. In an attempt to not lose you as a customer, they may switch you to a different deal that's better for your needs. However, you should be aware that they're under no obligation to do this and may charge you a fee for this service.



My contract has ended, should I change plans? Absolutely! If you're not currently under contract, then it's more than likely that you're paying far too much for your broadband. Plus, you might also find that you're able to access faster speeds than you were before your current contract started. Many of the UK's top broadband providers save their best deals for new customers. Plus, most also offer incentives like gift cards. So, if you're out of contract or your current contract is coming to a close, then we recommend that you use this page to find the best broadband deals available in your area. After all, if you fail to run a broadband comparison and instead allow your current provider to move you onto a new deal, then you'll likely be paying over the odds. If you instead actively hunt out the best deals, then you'll be able to save a considerable sum. That said, if you like your current provider and you want to stay with them, then it's worth ringing them and haggling over price. Even though loyalty isn't often rewarded, certain providers like Sky are now gaining a reputation for customer retention.