Here’s everything you need to know about no upfront cost broadband, including how to find a deal, and whether avoiding setup fees is worth it in the long-term
If you see a broadband package touted as having ‘no upfront cost,’ it means you won’t have to pay setup fees or, in some cases, equipment.
Broadband providers do this to entice prospective customers. But although you’ll save money in the short-term, deals with free setup might not necessarily be your best option.
Let’s take a closer look…
Can I get a broadband deal with no upfront cost?
Absolutely. Just enter your postcode below and we’ll show you deals available in your area.
Compare broadband deals in your area
After that, use our drop-down box to the right to filter for ‘Setup Costs.’ Deals which exclude setup costs will appear at the top of the table. You can also filter for package type, fast broadband, provider, and so on.
Bear in mind, you may be charged postage for a new router or any other equipment. And you’ll have to pay a monthly subscription for your broadband service – the connection itself isn’t free.
Which providers offer broadband with no upfront cost?
As we say, to find no upfront cost broadband deals enter your postcode into our postcode checker and sort by ‘Setup Costs.’ We’ll show you all the deals that don’t require a cost upfront.
It’s worth noting that some providers offer no upfront cost packages as standard. While others relinquish setup costs for a limited time – usually as part of a special offer.
Deals with no upfront costs are available on ADSL broadband, fibre optic broadband, plus broadband and home phone bundles. They are less common on TV packages, though, so bear this in mind if TV is particularly important to you.
Lastly, it’s important to note that no upfront cost deals won’t necessarily be the cheapest. Often, providers request a higher sum upfront in exchange for a lower monthly premium, so bear this in mind before you pick a deal.
Providers that offer no upfront cost broadband include:
What are the pros and cons of no upfront cost deals?
On the face of it, broadband with no installation sounds like a sensible choice. But, believe it or not, it might end up costing you a little more over the course of your contract.
We’ve listed the pros and cons of no upfront broadband to help you decide if it’s right for you.
Pros
- Save money on installation – installation costs can be expensive, especially if you need a new phone line installed at your home. To that end, a no upfront cost broadband deal is a good way to save money in the short-term.
Cons
- Might be more expensive long term – deals with no setup costs aren’t necessarily the cheapest packages overall. Sometimes, providers will offer a higher setup fee in exchange for a lower monthly subscription.
- Miss out on top speeds – Virgin Media, rarely offers no upfront cost broadband deals. If Virgin internet is available in your area, and you want the fastest speeds, be prepared to pay setup costs.
Sources and methodology
*Annual savings based on average monthly bill of £33.99 from nationally representative sample (1000) vs our cheapest monthly cost for superfast broadband (>55Mbs) £18.95/month, May 22. Annual saving: £180.48.
Can I get free broadband?
Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as free broadband. You can, however, find plenty of cheap broadband deals from some of the UK’s most well-known providers.
To find our lowest cost internet deals, simply enter your postcode into our postcode checker and filter by ‘First Year Cost.’ Alternatively, take a look at our cheapest broadband deals page.
Can I get broadband without a landline?
Right now while broadband deals without line rental are available, your choice is fairly limited.
This is because ADSL broadband and most types of fibre broadband are delivered via the Openreach network, which uses copper telephone wire for at least part of the journey to your home. So although you may not use a landline to make any calls you’ll still need to pay the line rental.
Alternatively, full fibre packages are available from the likes of Virgin Media and Hyperoptic, which don’t use copper wire at all and are delivered solely by fibre optic cables .
The good news is that these packages are some of the fastest around. But the catch is they’re more expensive than more widely available alternatives. That means that although you’re doing without a landline, you’ll actually probably pay more for your full fibre service than if you chose a broadband-and-landline product from the likes of BT, Plusnet, Sky or TalkTalk.