Vodafone vs Plusnet broadband: Which is better?

Vodafone vs Plusnet broadband at a glance

Vodafone vs Plusnet: Cost

When it comes to cost, Vodafone and Plusnet are extremely competitive – both offer reasonably priced broadband that won’t break the bank.

Vodafone’s cheapest deal is usually its Fibre 1 plan, which costs £26 a month at the time of writing (November 2023) on a 24-month contract and delivers average speeds of 35Mbps.

Plusnet’s most comparable deal is its Fibre plan, coming in at £24.99 a month on an 24-month contract and with average download speeds of 66Mbps.

What’s more, both Vodafone and Plusnet sometimes throw in a reward card or voucher for new customers signing up. It’s also worth looking out for special promotional events, such as Black Friday, as you may be able to bag a discounted deal.

So while Plusnet is generally a shade cheaper, the best deal from either provider may simply depend on when you look.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: average broadband speeds

Vodafone has a greater selection of fibre optic broadband packages, with speeds all the way up to 900Mbps. In comparison, Plusnet’s range is a little more limited, reaching 500Mbps in select locations.

• Vodafone’s broadband speeds: 38Mbps, 67Mbps, 100Mbps, 200Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps

• Plusnet’s broadband speeds: 10Mbps, 66Mbps, 74Mbps, 145Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps

The speeds available to you will depend on your location. Be sure to use our postcode checker to see which packages you can get.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: broadband packages

Vodafone has more choice when it comes to broadband speeds. It offers six fibre optic broadband packages, with speeds ranging between 38Mbps to 900Mbps.

However, speeds of 200Mbps and above are only available if you upgrade to Vodafone Pro – an add-on service that strengthens your home broadband signal.

Meanwhile, Plusnet offers three main packages: one standard ADSL broadband deal with average speeds of 10Mbps, and a standard fibre optic one with average speeds 66Mbps. It now also offers a Full Fibre option, with a range of speeds reaching 900Mbps.

All of Vodafone’s plans are available on 24-month contracts. In comparison, Plusnet offers some shorter-term options, as you can choose between a 12-month or 24-month contract. However, 12-month contracts aren't available online.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: home phone

All Plusnet packages are broadband-only with no home phone - but you have the option to add it on if you wish.

Vodafone broadband packages, meanwhile, come with line rental included. But don’t worry if you don’t plan on using your home phone – ‘pay as you go’ calls are standard, so you’ll only need to pay for any calls you make.

You can also choose to add a call plan to your Vodafone or Plusnet package.

Vodafone has two call plans – Evening and weekend calls to UK landlines, and Anytime UK Landline and Mobile Calls – as well as some extra features like Voicemail Plus.

Plusnet has a bit more choice in this area, with its Anytime International calls plan.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: TV

If you’re looking to add TV to your broadband deal, Vodafone is your only option – Plusnet no longer offers TV plans.

With Vodafone, you get an Apple 4K TV set-top box, plus a free three-month Apple TV+ subscription. It’s a straightforward and handy way to get all your favourite streaming services and apps in one place.

While it’s not on the same level as the likes of Sky or Virgin Media, it suits those who prefer streaming shows to watching live TV. Plus, it’s far cheaper than those major TV providers, and it doesn’t require you to install a satellite dish.

It’s important to note, however, that TV is only offered with Vodafone’s more expensive Pro Xtra plans.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: Fibre broadband and availability

Both providers use BT’s Openreach network to provide an internet connection to your home. And with Openreach being the biggest network in the UK, both Vodafone and Plusnet have wide availability.

Chances are, you’ll be able to get Vodafone and Plusnet fibre broadband at your address. But both providers' faster speeds of 100Mbps and above are only available in certain areas covered by the FTTP network.

To see what broadband deals you can get, enter your post into our postcode checker.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: Download limits

Both Vodafone and Plusnet offer truly unlimited downloads. This means you can online game and stream media as much as you like, without ever having to worry about hitting a download limit or having your internet speed slowed down.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: Extras

As both providers are more on the budget-friendly end of the scale, you don’t get the same exclusive rewards and extras as you’d get with big-name, more expensive providers. Instead, you’re getting no-frills broadband at affordable prices.

Still, existing Vodafone Mobile customers can get their hands on certain perks, such as money off their monthly broadband bill and a discounted upgrade to Vodafone Pro.

Vodafone vs Plusnet: Customer service

Plusnet scored well in Ofcom's latest annual report on broadband customer satisfaction, with Plusnet customers more likely than average to recommend it to a friend.

And in the same report, Vodafone scored bang on average.