BT broadband deals

About BT broadband

BT is arguably the best known broadband provider in the UK. Thanks to its heritage as British Telecom, it is one of the most recognisable communications brands in the UK, offering comprehensive home phone packages and broadband alongside mobile services via the EE network.

BT offers broadband to suit all needs and budgets, from basic ADSL services through to ultrafast, full fibre plans, and is available to just about every household in the country.

Why choose BT?

BT might just be the most trusted brand in broadband. It does a lot of the basics very well, with a wide range of plans to suit every budget and every kind of customer. And it's decent value compared with some of its household-name rivals too.

As you might expect, coverage is the UK's widest. So you're got a good chance of being able to get BT - wherever you are. More recently, its ultrafast, full fibre plans are becoming more widely available too.

We also like BT's impressive Complete WiFi add-on, for improving signal strength in 'problem areas' around the home.

And as a homeworker, I appreciate the peace of mind that the Hybrid Connect back-up service add-on providers too.

What's more, while it's not everyone's experience, it's well worth nothing that Ofcom studies rate BT's customer service highly as well.

Read our full BT broadband review to find out more.

Pros of BT broadband

• Wide availability. Especially for its superfast fibre optic plans, which are almost certain to be available at your address
• Good selection of packages and price points. Choose standard fibre if you're on a budget, or full fibre if you'd like an ultrafast service
• Option to bundle. You can pair your BT broadband with other services, such as TV and landline, which can spell significant savings
• Rewards and discounts: Including vouchers and low-cost introductory periods, which are on offer to new and existing customers
• On-the-go Wi-Fi. All BT customers get free access to millions of BT Wi-Fi public hotspots
• Good customer satisfaction record. BT generally consistently outperforms many of its household-name rivals in Ofcom customer service studies

Cons of BT broadband

• Not the cheapest provider around. You can get cheaper broadband from NOW TV and TalkTalk.
• More extensive TV packages on offer elsewhere. Sky and Virgin Media offer more comprehensive TV package (albeit at higher prices)

What broadband speeds can I get with BT?

Here are the average download speeds for each BT broadband package:

• ADSL – 10Mbps
• Fibre Essential – 36Mbps
• Fibre 1 – 50Mbps
• Fibre 2 – 67Mbps
• Full Fibre 100 – 150Mbps
• Full Fibre 300 – 150Mbps
• Full Fibre 500 – 300Mbps
• Full Fibre 900 – 910Mbps

Of course, the speeds you’ll actually get might differ to those advertised. If you’re not reaching the speeds you’re expecting, read our page on broadband speed tests to see what you can do.

What are BT broadband's packages?

BT broadband bundles break down into the following broad categories:

• Broadband only
• Broadband + home phone
• Broadband + TV
• Broadband + home phone + TV
• Broadband + home phone + TV + mobile phone

On all BT bundles, there's also the option to add Complete WiFi. Best suited to larger homes, this is a mesh-network add-on that boosts your WiFi signal to ensure it reaches 'problem' areas around your property.

You can also add Hybrid Connect. This includes a supplementary mobile broadband router, which kicks in if your standard home broadband connection goes down.

So you've got a back-up connection, which offers real peace of mind if you're a home-worker.

Does BT offer broadband-only options?

Yes, it does. If you don’t use or want a landline, you’ll be able to get broadband-only deals with BT.

However, bear in mind that as well as not being able to make calls, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls, nor make calls to emergency services.

BT TV packages

BT offers five flexible TV packages: Sport, Big Sport, Entertainment, Big Entertainment and VIP.

They all work on a 24-month contract, but they’re flexible as you can change between TV packages every 30 days.

Plus, you’re free to add and remove monthly subscriptions – such as NOW TV Memberships (which get you access to Sky channels), Netflix or Prime Video – whenever you want. So, it’s easy to explore and curate a selection of channels that best suits you.

BT’s newest YouView TV box, dubbed the BT TV Box Pro, comes with up to 600 hours’ worth of storage, and lets you pause, rewind and record live TV.

There are also over 70 Freeview channels included, plus access to apps like BBC iPlayer, Netflix and NOW TV.

You can only get BT TV if you’re a BT broadband customer. You’ll also need an aerial if you want to watch free-to-air channels, though you can watch your premium channels and subscriptions via broadband.

Does BT offer better deals for new customers?

BT does indeed offer incentives to new customers, such as money off or vouchers.

However, unlike a number of other providers, BT will also allow existing customers to get the same deals as existing customers, with the proviso that they must take out a new contract to qualify.

Does BT offer social tariffs?

Yes. BT Home Essentials is a low-cost broadband and phone package for people on certain benefits.

You can choose between two fibre optic broadband and landline plans. At the time of writing (May 2024), you can get average speeds of 36Mbps and 700 minutes to UK landlines or mobiles for £20 a month. Or, for £23 a month, you get speeds of 67Mbps and unlimited UK calls. Otherwise, you could opt for a home phone-only deal for £10 a month.

All tariffs are on shorter 12-month contracts. There aren’t any early exit fees, so you’re not tied to your plan should your circumstances change – for example, if your benefits end.

Both new and existing BT customers can apply. To qualify, you’ll need to be receiving one of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit (all claimants)
• Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support

It’s quick and easy to apply – just enter your details on BT’s website and they’ll check your eligibility.

Alternatives to BT broadband

If you're able to get BT at your address, you'll also be able to take your pick of the all the other Openreach-based providers on offer.

That means you could opt for Talk Talk or NOW TV, if you're on a budget. Or you could sign up for EE, if you're the market for the UK's speediest full fibre service.

If you're not able to get BT where you live, take a look at Virgin Media which uses its own network and teams impressively fast broadband with a similarly well rated TV service and set top box.

Alternatively, if neither Openreach or Virgin Media's network cover your address, you may want to consider

Compare broadband deals with MoneySuperMarket to see what’s available in your post code.