Dan Howdle | September 16th, 2024
It's often overlooked by people looking to cut back on the household budget – probably because it's such an essential – but it's true that a great many people are simply paying too much for their broadband. Just switching to another provider offering a similar, or often better service for a lower monthly cost can be a great way to save money. So here we're looking at the best cheap deals out there, without skimping on things like customer care or reliability.
The overall best broadband deal available now that's relatively cheap, that we feel doesn't compromise quality, and that offers a little something extra.
Sky's just-rebranded Broadband Full Fibre 75 is now, if you live in an area with the latest fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband, the cheapest and lowest speed broadband they can offer. But we think those 75Mbps download and 17Mbps upload speeds are much more than adequate for most households. And to celebrate the launch of their full suite of Full Fibre packages, Sky are offering some very generous gift cards – in this case you'll have one worth £60 to spend as you see fit.
If you're not located in an FTTP-enabled area, then fear not – Sky can still provide fast broadband in the form of their long-running Broadband Superfast package, which offers slightly lower speeds of 61Mbps uploads and 16Mbps downloads. Both of which are also fast enough for most users.
Another thing we really like about Sky Full Fibre 75 is that you'll get the same Sky Hub router Sky supplies with its much faster packages (probably in anticipation that you'll soon be able to upgrade to a faster package). Also, for £3 a month extra you can also upgrade to Sky Wi-Fi Max and get the best router in Sky's arsenal, but really we're not sure that's necessary. Plus, this being a Sky service, it's simple to add TV subscriptions if you so desire. All that, and some of the best over all customer service in the business.
Not the cheapest, but rather the best broadband deal right now that offers a little something extra. That might be bill credit, gift vouchers or free gifts.
Rather than the giftcards favoured by some other providers, Virgin Media generally prefers to offer a bill credit. This can really be thought of as a price reduction, because the bill credit just goes towards paying your bills. So, in the case of the £70 bill credit being offered with Virgin's M125 Fibre Broadband deal, it's enough to cover the first two bills entirely, and significantly reduce the third bill too. You can also think of it as bringing down the effective cost per month to under £23. So it's a decent saving.
Virgin Media's M125 broadband package has long been one of the best deals available – if you can get it, of course. It's an excellent blend of fast-enough for most people broadband, a quality router, flexibility to upgrade and add various extras from TV to phone services, and all from a premium provider. In fact, the speeds you see will be higher than the M125 name suggests, at about 132Mbps, although the uploads are a little less impressive at 20Mbps. However, both should be enough for most households who don't have lots of people streaming and gaming at the same time.
The best and cheapest broadband deal that comes with a phone line.
Despite the fact that it includes a pay-as-you-go phone line (which is increasingly rare these days), it's also just about the cheapest entry-level broadband deal on the market right now. And it's not even that slow. In fact until recently it was NOW's fastest package, period. You'll see downloads averaging 63Mbps and uploads of 19Mbps. They're respectable figures on their own, but at £22 per month, with no extra fees, it's extremely good value. And another thing to take into account is that NOW Broadband doesn't conduct credit checks, meaning it's probably the go-to provider for customers who may have low credit scores.
One thing to watch out for – NOW Broadband would probably rather you went for their Full Fibre 100, if it's available in your area. That's because it's delivered via the latest full fibre technology which all providers are keen to get people signed up to. This isn't a bad thing as you'll actually see much faster speeds for the same £22 per month cost, but be aware you will be signing up for a different service, and not NOW Super Fibre Broadband. Also, all NOW's services are in reality delivered by Sky, who are their parent company. So you'll be dealing with Sky customer services, but Sky's wide range of TV packages will only be available to add-on if you switch to them. And generally speaking, Sky is will always be more expensive than NOW.
Full fibre is the next generation technology which is still in the process of being rolled out across the UK. But we're getting to the point where about two thirds of properties can access it, which is a huge milestone to have reached. Depending on location, if you can access full fibre, you'll be able to experience speeds of up to 1000Mbps or even much more in some cases. That's as quick as anyone is likely to need and about as future-proof as it gets. So here's our choice for the cheapest way to get onboard the full fibre broadband train this month.
It's a no-brainer really. Hands down, we think that at £30 per month Vodafone's Full Fibre 500 is the best value, widely available full fibre broadband on offer right now. Plus Vodafone has highly regarded customer service and provides a really great router. There's no set-up cost and, if you're an existing Vodafone mobile customer you'll be offered a free gift in the form of an Amazon Echo Show 5 and may also be able to secure a decent reduction on your bills to boot. As with many providers these days, you'll be expected to commit to a quite long 24 month contract.
All in all, this may be one of the stand out best-value packages out there, from any provider at any speed. It's an awful lot of broadband for the money, and from a very reputable provider.
Here we'll look at the best bundle we see which includes both broadband and TV services. That narrows things down a bit provider-wise, so often the deals are a bit limited. But we'll show you what we feel is the best choice right now.
Virgin Media have surprised us this week with the reintroduction of an offer they ran recently, back in August. For a very limited time only, they're offering either a £200 bill credit, or a 43" Hisense Smart 4K TV, which usually retails for about £230. That's a very strong offer, and if you opt for the bill credit with this, their lowest priced package where the offer applies, you'll basically have no bills to pay whatsoever until the fourth month. You'll see average download speeds of 132Mbps, which while low by Virgin's standards, is still fast enough for most users. In addition to that, you'll be able to feast on over 230 TV channels, stream to your heart's delight via the included Netflix subscription, view Sky Movies in HD and get to tell all your friends about it with the inclusive weekend calls.
Be aware though, these deals are never around for long, and in this particular case Virgin Media will be withdrawing the offer at midnight on the 22nd September, meaning it's only available for one week.
Sadly, mainstream providers have pretty much stopped offering no price-hikes mid-contract. TalkTalk used to offer it, but no more. We're therefore left only with a handful of providers, many of whom are small local providers (known as 'altnets') you're unlikely to find in your area. However, that said there are a few new providers who are jumping in to fill that space. And Rebel Internet definitely falls into that category.
Because it takes advantage of the nationally available Openreach network, new 'challenger' provider Rebel Internet is available to just about every UK households. The offer speeds up to 1000Mbps, but when it comes to saving money, we think their 74Mbps standard fibre plan is fast enough for most people, plus it's supported by an excellent router.
What you also get is a nice bonus in the form of a £60 Amazon voucher to spend as you please plus you can opt for either a 12-month or 24-month contract with no price difference between the two. That's very unusual. And, unlike other providers, this means the 24-month contract becomes more enticing when you consider it means that price is effectively locked in for two years.
"Switching broadband isn't always about going faster for the same money. Sometimes we need to cut back on our household overheads, which is why we've built this tailored cheap broadband comparison to show you only the thriftiest deals where you live. Just enter your postcode and we will do the rest."
Dan Howdle, Broadband and mobile expert
There are various factors to think about when shopping around for cheap broadband and WiFi. The main things to consider when deciding between broadband deals are:
Cable.co.uk's broadband postcode checker will find you the best deals, providers and speeds where you live. It's free and takes less than a minute to check and compare.
Bundling your broadband, TV, and/or phone services usually means you’ll save money. This is because providers offer large discounts to customers who want to sign up to multiple products. Bundles are always cheaper than individual contracts, and you can have your bills and customer service with the same provider, giving you one point of contact. Virgin Media lets you bundle in a SIM too, making that option particularly good value, while Sky offers very attractive pricing when bundling Sky Broadband and Sky Stream TV.
Many broadband providers offer freebies and special offers alongside their broadband tariffs, such as introductory pricing discounts, cashback rewards, gift cards, vouchers, or bill credit. While the rewards can be enticing, it’s important to consider the deal apart from the rewards, as the rewards will not impact the speed or quality of the service you’ll get. Sometimes, rewards can also look attractive at first glance, but in reality the package may still work out more expensive than competing packages across the length of the contract.
Some broadband providers offer attractive introductory pricing for the initial period of your contract, which is a great way to save money, but you might find a big price increase or extra charges after the introductory period of your contract. Be sure to read the contract terms carefully to make sure you really are looking at the cheapest deals, not just a great deal for a few months before you get hit with an unexpected monthly price increase.
Cashback rewards are incentives that refund you part of your initial payment, after a fixed period of time has passed (usually between 30-90 days) from when you first signed up for your contract; the details will be included in your contract terms). The claims process for rewards differs from provider to provider, but most of the time you will need to submit a claim using an online form. Your cashback reward will likely be paid directly into a bank account, or sent via cheque, made out to the person who is being billed for the service being provided.
Shopping vouchers or gift card rewards are similar to cashback offers, but they are specific to certain retailers. Internet providers will often reward new customers with vouchers for popular high-street or online retailers to entice them to sign up. Similar to cashback rewards, claims processes vary and you’ll likely be required to submit an online form to get your reward.
See more: How to claim vouchers and rewards
Some broadband providers have initial setup fees, and/or phone line installation charges, but these charges are often waived or reduced for new customers. Be sure to check these fees up-front to avoid any unexpected costs.
Broadband with no upfront fees
If your new deal requires equipment, for example, a new router, some cheap broadband offers will give it to you for free when you sign up. Many providers will offer free or reduced delivery charges for any required equipment, so be sure to check your terms up front so you know what you’re being charged for. At the end of your contract with a provider, you will likely need to return any equipment or recycle it, and the process will vary depending on your service provider.
Standard contract terms – A standard broadband contract is a two-way agreement, covering both your obligations as a customer, and your service provider in terms of the services you’ll receive. Broadband contracts usually run for 12, 18 or even 24 months and, in theory, the longer you can commit, the cheaper the price – although each provider tends to have their preferred contract length and won't vary from that.
Broadband price hikes – Unless explicitly stated, your broadband provider can change any part of your broadband provision at any time, including the monthly cost. If this happens, however, the 30-day cooling off period you’re entitled to will be refreshed, allowing you to switch away to a new provider without incurring a penalty.
Broadband providers are currently wise to this rule, though, and are now explicitly stating they intend to raise their prices annually (every April 1) to the tune of roughly RPI inflation plus 3.9%. It's a way of side-stepping this get-out clause, but Ofcom is currently looking at this practice closely, so expect it to be banned soon, and shortly thereafter providers finding yet another way around the rules.
Fixed-price contracts – Sometimes, broadband providers will offer fixed-price contracts, which means you won’t be subject to a price increase during the minimum term of your contract period. Many of the larger broadband providers don’t offer fixed-price contracts, and you should check the contract terms for mid-contract price increases to avoid any unexpected charges.
In addition, when a fixed-term contract ends, a provider is likely to steeply raise or ‘hike’ the monthly price of your service, unless you switch to a new deal. That’s why when you know your contract is nearing completion, it’s worth shopping around between providers to secure a better deal. Thanks to Ofcom regulations, broadband providers must inform you when your contract is due to finish so you can decide what you want to do before it happens.
Some deals offer fixed, cheap monthly rates, but also include extra costs like installation, delivery or activation fees – sometimes payable upfront. You may also have to purchase equipment, such as a router, although that's unlikely. We always show the extra costs that we're aware of, but be sure to read the fine print on the provider's website or in the contract terms if in doubt.
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Set reminderThe cheapest broadband deals are subject to change daily. The cheapest broadband price is currently £22 per month. Please refer to the table at the top of this page to find out what the cheapest deal is available today.
Our experts search the market to ensure you get the best broadband deal for your budget. Use our postcode checker to find out what the best deals in your area are available today.
Not often, but you might find free gifts or vouchers if you check regularly. You may also find cheaper monthly costs as limited time offers, particularly around Black Friday. And if you see any of these providers reduce or remove their extra costs, then you know it's probably a good deal.
Most cheap broadband deals in the UK are for entry-level fibre broadband, also known as 'superfast' broadband. This is usually fine for single people, couples, and smaller households where nobody uses the internet to stream content or play games very often. Larger households and heavy users may be better suited to Virgin Media or Full Fibre deals if they can get them.
These days you can find true broadband-only deals without landline requirements, even though they were rare just a few years ago. Even big players like BT offer broadband-only packages. Due to its separate network, Virgin Media has always provided the option of no landlines.
Yes, there are some providers who don’t do credit checks on new broadband customers. Direct Save Telecom, Plusnet and NOW Broadband offer cheaper broadband deals with no credit checks required - perfect for finding a fast and affordable home broadband deal if you’re worried about your credit. The bigger providers tend to check credit before accepting new customers, so this is good to be aware of before you apply.
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