Are you still within your contract?
If you're still in your minimum term, you'd be subject to an early repayment charge if you ended the contract early.
If you're out of contract or approaching the end, you can switch without penalty.
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time (8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Fibre/cable services at your postcode are subject to availability. You can confirm availability on the provider's website.
Some broadband providers may increase monthly prices each year during your contract. Please refer to individual broadband provider's terms and conditions before signing up.
Best is subjective, so when comparing broadband deals consider if:
The speeds meet your household needs
You're happy with their customer service scores and recent reviews
If they can bundle your broadband with another service, like TV or a home phone
If they can provide the equipment you need to get started, like a router
If you're happy committing to a 12 or 24-month contract, or if a rolling deal suits your needs better
After choosing a package, you'll be sent to the provider's website to sign up - if you want any extra services, now's the time to do it
Once you're signed up, your provider will handle the switch (including contacting your new provider and cancelling your old service), so you shouldn't be charged beyond this point by your old provider
If any works or an engineer visit are required your new provider will arrange that with you
If you are left without service for more than one working day, or if they miss any arranged appointments, your provider must pay you compensation
Your 14-day cooling off period typically starts after your new broadband connection is activated, so you'll have plenty of time to figure out if you want to remain with the provider you've chosen
Use our postcode checker to filter what's available in your local area
There are three simple steps to compare broadband deals and switch providers
Ensure you're no longer within the minimum terms of the contract length with your current broadband provider. You can find out by looking at your original contract, confirmation email, or by contacting their customer service.
We algorithmically sort broadband packages based on your location, the speed you'd get, and how much it costs.
Your new provider should contact your current provider and arrange the switch for you. And you'll receive letters and emails updating you on this.
According to our latest HMI report, the average monthly cost for broadband was £49.50, which is 0.7% higher than the previous year.
This ranks the UK 17th in global broadband affordability, costing 1.24% of the average monthly income.
Londoners pay the most for broadband, paying up to 24% more than the national average, whereas residents of Brighton pay up to 28% less than the national average.
Areas with a higher demand for faster, more reliable connections may see higher prices, as providers cater to this demand with premium services.
The costs associated with upgrading and maintaining this infrastructure are higher, leading to more expensive broadband packages.
The type of broadband, and the broadband speed you can get, changes depending on your postcode.
ADSL stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line, also known as standard broadband. It provides an internet connection through the same line as your home phone.
ADSL broadband speeds are comparatively slower than those with cable or fibre. There are two different types of ADSL broadband:
ADSL1 is the slower of the two, usually reaching up to around 10Mbps
ADSL2+ is capable of faster speeds, often around a maximum of 24Mbps
FTTC (sometimes called 'part-fibre') is basic fibre broadband, available in most UK homes and is how you're most likely connected to the internet.
Superfast FTTC uses fibre optic cables to connect to your local street cabinet and copper cables to connect the cabinet to your premises.
With FTTC, you can expect download speeds anywhere from 30 to 250Mbps, which is enough for most households.
Since Virgin Media uses its own technology to deliver broadband to your premises rather than the Openreach network, it's not reliant on the same copper cabling used by other FTTC providers. Instead, it uses coaxial cables to connect your home to the local street cabinet.
This is why Virgin Media often delivers the best broadband speeds in areas it serves, competing even with full fibre download speeds.
Full fibre broadband connects your home to the internet using nothing but fibre optic cables, meaning it doesn't rely on slower copper or coaxial cabling. Setup can take a little longer but the benefits are huge.
Full fibre, on average, has better upload speeds, download speeds, and latency compared against copper-based technologies and Virgin Media's coaxial cabling.
As of July 2024, full fibre is available in 61% of the UK, with Northern Ireland leading the way at 91% coverage.
Beyond fixed broadband, mobile broadband connections are becoming more commonplace and can deliver speeds rivalling fibre.
With mobile broadband, there's typically no engineer visit as you're using the same kind of internet signal found in your phone.
Beyond the home, you can use a mobile broadband connection as portable Wi-Fi - though hot-spotting with your phone is generally fine for remote working and travel.
In extreme cases, satellite broadband can keep you connected when there is no fixed or mobile broadband availability, such as on a boat or in very rural areas.
You won't find any satellite internet providers on our panel, so if you need this service you'll need to consult specialist providers.
According to our latest Household Money Index, the average monthly broadband cost was £49.50, meaning many of you could save by shopping around and switching if you're out of contract.
Switching today could save you an average of £193.92i per year. That’s nearly three weeks’ worth of groceries for the average family of four.
If you're still in your minimum term, you'd be subject to an early repayment charge if you ended the contract early.
If you're out of contract or approaching the end, you can switch without penalty.
A tariff may offer everything you’re looking for, but does it come at the right monthly price and offer good value for money? Shop around to find the right tariff at the best possible price.
Many providers offer tempting incentives, such as cashback or reward cards, to new customers, but you should consider whether these gifts are as important as factors such as speed and overall cost
Many providers offer other services alongside broadband, including home phone, TV and streaming bundles, and mobile SIMs.
Bundling your services can save you up to 36% on your broadband bills - just be sure you're using the services you pay for
Broadband and TV packages are cost-effective if you already pay for TV services like Netflix, Sky Sports, or other Sky channels.
One bill could save you money, and Ofcom estimates that bundling services is up to 34% cheaper than buying them individually from separate providers.
Beyond landlines, broadband providers are starting to bundle SIM cards with a broadband connection. If you're currently on a SIM-only contract and it's up for renewal soon, look into combining your phone and broadband - it could work out a lot cheaper.
Bundling your broadband, phone, and TV packages will typically cost less than buying them all from separate providers - just be sure you're using what you're paying for.
Many providers offer just the broadband connection, so if you don't need TV channels, a landline, or any other services, then opting for a 'broadband only' connection could save you up to 15% on your broadband bills.
Mobile broadband has come a long way, with providers like Three offering 4G & 5G home broadband connections at speeds of up to 150Mbps.
'Best' will depend on what you need from your broadband provider, but we've collected speed and customer service data from Ofcom to help steer your decision.
Sky was the least complained about, and had above-average satisfaction with complaint handling.
Virgin Media have the best download speeds, whereas Gigaclear recorded the best upload speeds
Plusnet customers are most satisfied with their overall service, including the speeds they're getting.
One Touch Switch is a new system for switching your home broadband.
It helps make it easier than ever to switch to a new provider – by having that provider handle absolutely everything about the switch for you, including cancelling with your old provider.
Under the new system, you do not have to pay notice-period charges beyond the switch date – meaning you don't pay for the old service after the new one starts.
Under the new One Touch Switch process, landline and broadband customers only need to contact their new provider to make the change. This means you don't need to cancel with your current provider.
Your switch should happen within a single day, but if engineering works are required or if you're switching networks, for example, from an Openreach provider like BT to Virgin Media, then that still may delay your new contract starting.
One Touch switching impacts fixed broadband customers only, so if you're switching to or from a mobile broadband connection, you'll still need to cancel with your old provider.
Whether you're looking for a cheap and cheerful connection or high-spec ultrafast full fibre broadband, there's a deal for everyone. Finding the best deals for you starts with understanding how you plan to use it or if bundling your services lowers your monthly bill.
Up to 15Mbps: This is ideal if you live alone or just with one other person, and you use the internet for basic use like browsing, social media and emails. Opt for standard ASDL deal and save money for choosing the cheapest option, and if you don't need a landline, a broadband only deal can save you money.
30-60Mbps: A household of four or more users will need a superfast connection, especially if they have multiple devices. A fibre broadband connection with speeds over 30Mbps should be robust enough to handle multiple users, from streaming Netflix to making video calls.
Up to 500Mbps: Gamers need great upload speeds to minimise lag, and if you've got a lot of smart devices in your home that bandwidth can add up fast. Our curated broadband for gamers deals takes these requirements into account.
Up to 1Gbps (1,000Mbps): If you want buttery smooth buffering and more bandwidth than you could ask for, gigabit broadband delivers. These come at a premium, but the ultrafast download speeds let you download files quickly, stream without interruption, and use lots of devices at once.
Find out your download speed, upload speed, and ping - all for free, and in under a minute
Check you're getting what you pay for
See if you can switch to a faster, or cheaper, provider
Simply buy a qualifying product to join our SuperSaveClub
SuperSaveClub members, can now earn up to 10% cashback shopping with 50 top brands via our website or app.
Every qualifying purchase you go on to make as a SuperSaveClub member rewards you with a gift card or pre-paid MasterCard worth up to £15, every time.
*Based on 1 visit per month - average ticket value £15.07 (March 24)
Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming benefits, such as Universal Credit, Pension Credits, and Jobseeker's Allowance.
They're available from major providers, including BT, Virgin Media, Sky, and TalkTalk.
These tariffs are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Some providers have different criteria for meeting their social tariff eligibility.
It's estimated that over half of all low-income households could benefit, but are unaware of the scheme.
Criteria can vary between providers, but if you use any of the following financial support schemes, you'd likely qualify for cheaper broadband:
Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Pension Credit
Jobseeker's Allowance
Disability Allowance
Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
Employment and Support Allowance
For more info, consult our low-income broadband breakdown.
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Broadband is a type of high-speed internet connection.
The name 'broadband' comes from how it differs from the ‘narrowband’ dial-up connections of the 1990s and early 2000s. Broadband is much faster than dial-up, and is available in 99% of UK households as of 2024.
Typically, you access broadband from a router. This provides both a wireless (Wi-Fi) and a wired connection (via ethernet cables) to connect to the internet.
Broadband is delivered into your home or business through a few different methods, each with its own benefits and drawbacks:
ADSL stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line, also known as standard broadband. It provides an internet connection through the same line as your home phone.
FTTC (sometimes called 'part-fibre') is basic fibre broadband, available in most UK homes and is how you're most likely connected to the internet. It uses fibre optic cables to connect to your local street cabinet and copper cables to connect the cabinet to your premises. With FTTC, you can expect download speeds anywhere from 30 to 250Mbps, which is enough for most households.
Cable broadband (co-axial) is similar to fibre, but uses co-axial cables to connect your home or business to the local street cabinet. Currently, only Virgin Media use this type of broadband connection.
Full fibre broadband connects your home to the internet using nothing but fibre optic cables, meaning it doesn't rely on slower copper or coaxial cabling. Setup can take a little longer but the benefits are huge. Full fibre, on average, has better upload speeds, download speeds, and latency compared against copper-based technologies and Virgin Media's coaxial cabling.
As of July 2024, full fibre is available in 61% of the UK, with Northern Ireland leading the way at 91% coverage.
Beyond fixed broadband, mobile broadband connections are becoming more commonplace and can deliver speeds rivalling fibre. With mobile broadband, there's typically no engineer visit as you're using the same kind of internet signal found in your phone.
You should be notified when your contract comes to an end, but you don’t have to wait until then. You can check when your contract expires – or if it already has done – by logging into your online account or calling up to check.
Prices can shoot up once the contract expires, so you should switch to a new deal as soon as possible.
At the end of your contract length, you can either choose to remain with your current provider, or switch to a better deal without having to pay any early exit fees.
Ask yourself if you’ve been happy with the speeds, customer service and overall experience. If the answer is no, it’s well worth shopping around for a better deal.
Even if you’re generally happy with your current provider, it might still be worth switching once your contract finishes. This is because prices often increase once the minimum term is up, and you can get the best discounts and extra rewards if you’re a new customer with another provider.
If you don’t want to switch just yet, you can also call your current provider to haggle for a better deal.
As a rule of thumb, the advertised speeds must be available to at least 50% of the provider’s customers between the peak hours of 8pm to 10pm.
However, even though a broadband package may be advertised as a certain speed, it’s common that it won’t always reach that. Many factors can affect your broadband speed, such as your location and the amount of network traffic in your area.
Many providers have minimum speed guarantees. If your speeds are still below the guaranteed minimum after 30 days and your provider hasn’t been able to improve that, you have the right to leave your contract without paying early exit fees.
Whether you're a small or larger business, there are plenty of business broadband and landline deals to choose from. Services can vary from provider to provider, but getting business broadband is pretty straightforward. The first step is to type in your postcode on our business broadband checker to find what's available at your address.
If you require an engineer visit or equipment, this often carries a setup cost.
You can compare broadband contracts with no upfront cost, but note that sometimes, a deal with slightly higher upfront costs might also come with a lower monthly charge, so you’ll actually pay less overall. It’s important to weigh up any upfront costs with the monthly cost.
To see the lowest-cost deals, sort your results by ‘total first-year cost’.
