Your guide to Sky broadband packages
Dan Howdle | September 23rd, 2024
A large and popular provider with a long history of great service, Sky Broadband is a great choice for many reasons.
Sky offers competitive average speeds for both their Fibre and newer Full Fibre services. It also consistently scores the high in customer satisfaction surveys as well as Ofcom's own annual measure of service standards, and offers the best combined TV and broadband bundles on the UK market.
For a better idea of what Sky Broadband has to offer, and what it’s really like being a Sky customer, read our expert Sky broadband review.
Key features
- Wide range of packages – Sky Broadband offers a variety of options, including Superfast (61Mbps) and Full Fibre (75Mbps to 900Mbps), catering to different household needs
- WiFi Guarantee – Sky promises reliable coverage throughout your home, offering money back if coverage is insufficient with the Sky WiFi Max add-on
- Can be bundled with Sky TV – Sky Broadband can be bundled with Sky TV packages – the best subscription TV packages in the UK
- Sky Shield security features – Sky's free online protection service helps block malware, phishing attempts, and inappropriate content, as well as providing the full gamut of parental controls
- Sky Talk options – Sky Broadband can be taken out with landline call packages, offering anytime calls and mobile-inclusive options for those who still rely on home phones. Full Fibre packages don't come with a phone line, however, and you will have to add one on if you need it
- Free Sky Broadband Hub/Sky Max Hub – All Sky Broadband packages come with the Sky Broadband Hub, and anyone can upgrade cheaply to the Max Hub – Sky's top Wi-Fi 6 router
- Sky VIP loyalty programme – Customers can enjoy perks like free cinema tickets and exclusive offers based on the length of their Sky membership
Sky broadband speeds and pricing
There are five different Sky broadband packages to choose from, each with a different average download speed.
| Broadband Package | Download Speed | Upload Speed | Contract Length | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superfast | 61Mbps | 16Mbps | 24 months | £26 per month |
| Full Fibre 75 | 75Mbps | 17Mbps | 24 months | £26 per month |
| Full Fibre 150 | 145Mbps | 28Mbps | 24 months | £27 per month |
| Full Fibre 500 | 500Mbps | 60Mbps | 24 months | £33 per month |
| Full Fibre Gigafast | 900Mbps | 100Mbps | 24 months | £43 per month |
As with any type of service, you can find out if Sky Broadband – either Superfast or Full Fibre – is available where you live by using our quick postcode checker.
"Sky's had a major shake-up of late, streamlining its broadband line-up and making its bundles more modular, allowing you to add whatever you please to completely customise your package. There truly is something for everyone here, and Sky compares favourably with competitors when it comes to pricing and customer service."
Dan Howdle, Broadband and mobile expert
Sky broadband packages
Sky has recently narrowed its offering of broadband packages, dropping ADSL and its entry-level Fibre package. What remains is just one package that's not Full Fibre (Sky Superfast at 61Mbps), along with a host of Full Fibre packages that not everyone can get, ranging from 75Mbps to 900Mbps.
Superfast | Full Fibre 75 | Full Fibre 150 | Full Fibre 500 | Full Fibre Gigafast
Sky Superfast
- Average download speed: 61Mbps
- Average upload speed: 16Mbps
- Monthly cost: £26 per month
Offering average download speeds of 61Mbps and 16Mbps uploads, Sky Broadband Superfast should be more than enough speed for small to medium households with reasonable internet usage. We’d really only recommend it if you’ve checked and you just aren’t going to get faster speeds at your address, though. That’s because Sky often has good deals running on its mid-level package Sky Broadband Ultrafast, meaning there’s often very little or no difference when it comes to price. Sky Broadband Superfast also comes with the high spec Sky Broadband Hub.
Sky Broadband Superfast is now only available to users who aren't in an area that's had the necessary upgrades to access the new Full Fibre packages.
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61Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
Sky Full Fibre 75
Not long ago, the speeds offered by Sky's new Full Fibre 75 package would have been among the highest most people could hope to access. Now the situation has reversed, and for a majority of households this is now the slowest broadband package Sky can offer. With average download speeds of 75Mbps, and average upload speeds of 17Mbps, you'll find this fast enough for most households with normal day-to-day needs.
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75Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
Sky Full Fibre 150
We reckon this is the Sky broadband package that most people are going to end up going for. It offers a good average download speed of 145Mbps, which is going to be more than enough for most households to do what they need to do online. That’s multiple devices using the internet, streaming, gaming and for just a little more per month than the entry level package.
As with the Sky Full Fibre 75 package, Full Fibre 150 comes with the newer Sky Broadband Hub and you have the option to add Sky Broadband Boost to your package for a small additional monthly fee. And if you opt to include Sky's Broadband Boost, you 'll access features like the WiFi Guarantee along with enhanced security and parental controls.
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145Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
Sky Full Fibre 500
Sky's newly branded Full Fibre 500 (previously marketed as Broadband Ultrafast Plus), competes with the mid-range ultrafast speeds being offered by Virgin Media. With download speeds of 500Mbps, this should future-proof most households as it enables you to have lots of devices connected to the internet at any one time without anything going on the go-slow. There’s also the impressive 60Mbps upload speed, which is going to be important if you’re moving a lot of big files around when working from home or if you’re serious about your online gaming.
Sky Full Fibre 500 comes with the newer, updated router, the Sky Broadband Hub, and again, you have the option to add Sky WiFi Max to your package for a small additional monthly fee.
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500Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
Sky Full Fibre Gigafast
Sky's Full Fibre Gigafast is their absolute top-of-the-range package. It comes with the latest route and it offers incredibly fast download and upload speeds of 900Mbps and 100Mbps respectively. We think it’s probably too much for the average household but that said, if you can afford the comfort of such huge bandwidth, why not get it? There aren't many options from other providers that can beat this for sheer speed.
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900Mb average speed
- Unlimited monthly downloads
- £5 one-off cost
- 24 month contract
- Pay as you go calls
Broadband bundles
Sky offers a versatile range of broadband packages, which can be tailored to suit your specific needs, whether you’re looking for broadband-only or to bundle with TV and phone services. Here are your options:
Sky now only offers two types of broadband: Fibre, and Full Fibre. ADSL is no more, and what's more, Sky only offers one traditional Fibre package: Sky Superfast, at 61Mbps.
- Sky broadband only – You can choose standalone broadband from Sky, which is ideal for those who just need an internet connection without extra services. It does require a landline, and any calls made from the landline will be charged on a pay-as-you-go basis. This option is common among many broadband providers, but it keeps things simple if all you want is internet access
- Sky broadband and phone – All Sky Broadband packages include a phone line as standard now, on a pay as you talk basis. Inclusive call packages such as evening and weekends, or anytime calls can be added during the sign up process should you need one
- Sky broadband and TV – For those who want more than just broadband, Sky offers attractive bundles that include both broadband and TV services. These packages come with a wide variety of channels – from sports and entertainment to shopping and news. Additionally, if you sign up for a combined broadband and TV bundle, you’ll receive a Sky Stream box as part of the deal
- Sky broadband, TV and phone – Sky also offers fully comprehensive bundles where you can combine broadband, TV, and phone services. This option not only streamlines your bills but can also offer considerable savings compared to purchasing each service individually. For those who want everything from fast internet to extensive TV packages and inclusive phone calls, this is a solid all-in-one solution.
You don’t have to be an existing Sky TV customer to get Sky Broadband, or vice versa, but their bundles can offer great value. Find out what’s available to watch on Sky TV.
Sky broadband versus major providers
There are a lot of providers out there vying for your custom, and while Sky is certainly top dog when it comes to TV bundles, there are other games in town, most of whom have their own speciality to tempt you in. Here's a quick overview of how Sky compares with it main competitors.
| Provider | Speed range | Customer service satisfaction | Extra features | Contract length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT Broadband | 10Mbps to 900Mbps | 83% | Complete Wi-Fi, Digital Voice, Halo for extra features | 24 months |
| Plusnet | 66Mbps to 910Mbps | 89% | Smart wireless, good range, family-friendly features | 24 months |
| Sky Broadband | 61Mbps to 900Mbps | 82% | Wi-Fi guarantee, Sky Shield security, parental controls | 24 months |
| TalkTalk | 67Mbps to 900Mbps | 78% | HomeSafe security, future-proof Wi-Fi 6 options | 18 months |
| Virgin Media | 54Mbps to 2Gbps | 81% | Intelligent Wi-Fi, security features, child-friendly filters | 18 months |
| Vodafone Broadband | 35Mbps to 1.6Gbps | 83% | Pro Broadband with mesh extenders, 4G backup | 24 months |
Customer satisfaction source: Ofcom
Buying tips and advice
You will need an active phone line to self-install the 61Mbps Superfast Fibre package – if you don't you'll need an engineer visit. All Full Fibre packages will require setting up a new Full Fibre line though, provided you've never had Full Fibre before. Sky will advise you on what that involves as it will vary depending on the particular needs of your home.
Sky doesn't offer Sky Q (satellite TV) to new customers anymore (though it continues to support it for existing customers). Instead, you'll get a Sky Stream box (or Sky Glass if you need a telly to go with your TV subscription). All you'll need to do is plug it into the Wi-Fi, and you're off to the races.
Sky Stream doesn't require you take out Sky Broadband – you can get it on its own if you like. In that case, you can be up and running with it the next day after you sign up.
Installation (set-up) fee
Sky usually waives any up-front installation fee, but this can depend both on the type of package you’ve signed up for, and the time of year of your order. Make sure you check what installation costs will be before signing on the dotted line. One small thing to bear in mind is that Sky often requires a £5 upfront fee at the time of ordering to ensure the payment details are working. But that's refunded on your first bill, so it's not really an extra charge.
For full information about installing Sky broadband, check our installation guide.
Sky broadband routers
When you sign up with the provider, they’ll send you a router so you can get hooked up to the service.
Sky Broadband Hub: All of the providers current packages come with the Sky Hub router, which is the latest device available and a considerable improvement on the previous models. One of the best features is the improved Wi-Fi reception throughout the home
Sky Max Hub: If you upgrade to the Sky Wi-Fi Max add-on, which guarantees strong Wi-fi around the home with the addition of mesh extenders, also offers a superior router equipped with longer range and Wi-Fi 6 (much faster Wi-Fi speeds)
For more details about the various routers Sky has offered in the past and the latest offering, read our guide to Sky routers.
If you don’t need an engineer to help you set up your service, you may need a bit more help to get up and running. Our guide to setting up your router should have you connected in no time.
Contract lengths
Sky has a minimum contract term of 24 months, and doesn’t offer short-term broadband contracts on a rolling, month to month basis. If you cancel part-way through a contract, you’ll have to pay an early exit fee, so it’s best not to sign up for a deal when you know you might have to cancel within the minimum term – perhaps if you want to move house or you’re a student living in temporary accommodation.
Rewards, vouchers and gift cards
Sky Broadband often runs promotions that include gift cards and other rewards for new customers. Typically, these gift cards range in value, with recent offers providing up to £100 in gift cards from major retailers such as Amazon, Tesco, and M&S. These incentives can add considerable value to your Sky deal, provided you qualify as a new customer (not been with Sky for at least 12 months).
Rewards like these vary across Sky Broadband packages and Sky Broadband/Sky TV bundles and tend to be time-sensitive – running for a limited period. Sometimes you'll also see alternatives like cashback or bill credit, which can reduce the overall cost of your broadband package.
To ensure you don’t miss out, you can use the 'Deals with rewards and offers' filter on this page. If nothing is shown, you can try back in a few days since such offers come and go frequently.
