BT Home Essentials: Speed, pricing and eligibility
Dan Howdle • October 15th, 2024
BT is one of the largest broadband providers in the UK, offering various broadband packages, including low-cost options for those on government benefits. With speeds of up to 67Mbps, BT caters to a wide range of customers, from standard broadband to more affordable solutions.
Home Essentials is BT's low-cost broadband package for customers receiving specific benefits, such as Universal Credit. Starting at just £15 per month, you get unlimited fibre broadband with speeds up to 67Mbps, along with additional call options.
Key features
Here's a quick summary of what you can expect to find with BT Home Essentials.
| Price | £15 per month (Unlimited Fibre) / £20 per month (Broadband & Calls) |
|---|---|
| Download speed | Up to 67Mbps |
| Router | Smart Hub 2 |
| Packages available | Broadband only, Broadband & unlimited calls |
| Contract length | 12 months, no early exit fees |
| Eligibility | Available to customers on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, JSA, or Income Support |
Who is BT Essentials for?
Home Essentials is an affordable package targeted at customers with tight budgets who may struggle to pay for a broadband and phone package otherwise. To qualify, you'll need to be receiving at least one of these government benefits:
- Universal Credit (all claimants)
- Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
How to apply for BT Home Essentials
To sign up, you will need to visit BT's Home Essentials page rather than BT's usual home broadband page. Enter your postcode to check which plans are available, and then choose the one you want. Eligibility verification is instant, allowing you to proceed with signing up immediately.
BT Home Essentials offers two broadband packages: Unlimited Fibre Essential with speeds of up to 67Mbps and unlimited calls for £20 per month, or a call-only plan for £10 per month. There's a one-time £9.99 charge for postage and packaging for new broadband customers.
What's included with BT Home Essentials
Here's what you can expect from the BT Home Essentials package:
- Reliable Wi-Fi – You'll receive BT's Smart Hub 2, offering dual-band Wi-Fi on 2.4GHz and 5GHz for a strong home signal, plus four Ethernet ports for wired connections
- Unlimited Broadband – No data caps or download limits, so you can browse freely
- Guaranteed Speeds – Guaranteed speeds with £20 compensation if BT can't deliver the minimum promised speed
- Security – BT's team of 3,000+ experts work to protect you from online threats 24/7
BT Smart Hub 2 router specification
- Seven antennas – The Smart Hub 2 has seven antennas, which means more bandwidth for your devices
- Dual-band – This router can transmit data using both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies
- Smart Scan – The Smart Hub 2 router constantly monitors your hub's connection and quietly makes changes if it spots any problem
- Four gigabit ports – The Smart Hub 2 has four Gigabit ports, which are 10 times faster than normal Ethernet ports, so you're guaranteed a fast connection.
- Advanced filtering – This router is capable of filtering out interference that can negatively impact your WiFi speed and performance.
Extras
Home Essentials subscribers benefit from free internet protection tools powered by Norton, one of the top cybersecurity providers. Subscribers also get unlimited access to BT's Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK and 10GB of free cloud storage. However, the six-month subscription to BritBox, previously offered, is no longer included in the current package.
What we think
Home Essentials is a good plan if you're on a tight budget and you have the qualifying criteria. For as little as £15 per month, you can enjoy fast, unlimited broadband and anytime calls. BT's Home Essentials offers value for money if you're an eligible customer.
Visit BT
