For some, if you know where to look, superfast broadband internet is available for free. Yet even for those who have to pay, you can find a range of packages for under £10/month. This is a full guide to the cheapest providers, allowing you to slash your costs and save £1,000s.
How Broadband works
Broadband is fast internet and has now mostly replaced the old dial-up type (see Cheapest Dial-Up). Most people use an upgraded home telephone line called ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line), although there’s also cable TV or satellite broadband. Broadband is always connected, so you needn’t link up each time, and you can make phone calls on the same line while it’s being used.
How does ADSL make the line faster?
With dial-up, the computer's modem converts data into a noise, the phone converts this into electrical signals and they’re returned to noise at the other end for another computer to interpret. Yet with ADSL the data is more efficiently converted straight into electrical signals, plus it’s transmitted over a much wider frequency range, so more is carried.
New to broadband?
If you're new to broadband, when you subscribe to a provider it will organise for the line to be set up to receive broadband. If it hasn’t already been, this takes around a week and you shouldn’t notice any difference to your phone line.
Often it'll also provide a broadband modem/router, which is the piece of equipment allowing your computer to get the signal; though they tend to lock you into a contract to recoup the cost. You should also get one or two 'microfilters'; this is a little piece of kit you plug into your phone socket before your modem and phone line. It's very important you put these on every phone socket in the house, even those where there's no modem. If you don't, you'll get interference and possibly lose your broadband signal.
Switching broadband provider
Switching broadband provider should be simple, yet unfortunately the industry has a deserved poor reputation for providing smooth transfers. Thankfully this is gradually changing as the regulator, Ofcom, is coming down hard on them.If you are switching provider there are a couple of checks to make:
- Are you locked in?
Check you’re allowed to switch from your current provider. Many broadband providers' contracts last a year or 18 months; try to leave before that time and you may be charged a penalty. -
Is there a migration fee?
Most providers nowadays will transfer you to their service for free, since they want your business, but a few still charge a migration fee of around £15. It’s also important to note that for technical reasons the new company usually only allows you to switch to its service at the same speed as your current provider’s speed, but after that it should allow you to upgrade. - Ensure you know your MAC code.
Call up your existing broadband provider and ask it for your MAC code (Migration Authorisation Code), don’t worry this is a standard process and they should give it to you without a hassle. It does however give it an opportunity to persuade you to stay by offering a much more competitive deal than you currently have, possibly even better than what you're switching to.
Once you have the MAC code, give it to your new chosen provider and it should mean much less downtime when you transfer, possibly even just a few hours. Without it the transfer across could take weeks.
Choosing a broadband package
There are a range of variables to take into account when choosing a broadband package:
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How fast is it?
Internet speed is measured in Kb, the amount of information transferred per second. Basic broadband is 512Kb, nearly ten times faster than dial-up, yet 8 MB (c.8,000 Kb), a further 20 times faster, is becoming increasingly common, and super-fast 24MB is now available in some areas.
Yet just because a package says up to 8 MB don't assume that's what you'll get; it's dependent on your line, so your speed may be much less. You can check yours using Think Broadband's speed detector.
If it’s pure web surfing you’re doing; the difference between 512Kb and faster broadband has an impact, but it’s not huge, as some websites simply aren’t capable of pumping information out more quickly. The real impact of faster broadband is when downloading music, streaming videos or online gaming, or if different family members connect to one line with different computers. - How much will you use it?
Providers usually set their charges based on the volume of data used. This is measured in Megabytes, MB, or Gigabytes, GB (1,000 MB) and has nothing to do with the time spent online. Leaving the internet connected doesn’t cost anything, it’s only ‘doing things’ that uses up the bytes.
Viewing 25 web pages takes very roughly 1 MB, so a low 1 GB monthly limit means roughly 25,000 pages meaning for those doing just a little web-surfing or downloading e-mails, the limits are irrelevant. Yet downloading music, software or videos eats up the data much faster, although even then only real musos or online gaming gurus will feel an impact.
For example downloading a half hour BBC programme from iPlayer will use about 300MB of your allowance. It's worth noting that streaming instead of downloading a programme will cut down on usage but you will sacrifice quality because of a lower quality picture. If you’re likely to watch a lot of TV, use an unlimited broadband package.
To help Rokario and Netmeter are free bandwidth monitors that warn you when you’re nearing your limit. If you’re going to use one be aware that it only works on the PC it’s downloaded to, so with more than one PC you’ll have to add up the different bandwidth amounts. - Technical Phone Support.
If you don’t know your modem from your mobile you may find yourself on the phone to technical support a lot while setting up your broadband. As this can cost up to 50p/min a few 20 minute calls easily eat away any saving from getting a cheaper package. Of course you could ask for help from fellow MoneySavers on the Technical Board but only if you’ve managed to get online. - Traffic Shaping.
A trick used by all cheaper providers; during peak times or heavy traffic they may cut the speed of your connection. It will be especially noticeable if you’re using peer to peer software (e.g. sharing music files) as this type of traffic gets the least priority. Again for the average user it shouldn’t be a problem but for heavy downloaders it’s worth taking into consideration. - Do you want it bundled with your telephone line?
Some of the very cheapest broadband packages come as part of an overall phone/broadband package. If you’re looking to get this all in one status then instead please read the Cheapest Home Phones article.
- Are you on the move?
If you're on the move with your laptop or don't want to have a BT landline, it's possible to connect to the web via mobile broadband from as little as £10/month.Instead of connecting through a landline, 3G web access makes use of mobile phone networks to send data, meaning you can connect wherever there's a mobile signal. Yet you don't need a mobile phone to do it; these packages come supplied with a little modem that takes its place For full options read the Cheapest 3G Web Access article.
Can you get broadband free or subsidised?
There are a few providers offering free or cheaper broadband as an add on to other products. While it is rarely worth getting these products just because of the broadband, if you already have them and are happy with what you’ve got, you may as well use the broadband.
- Got Sky TV?
Free to all Sky TV customers (provided you're in an area that can connect to its line), Sky broadband* gives speeds of up to 2 MB with a 2 GB usage cap, although it is upgradable to faster speeds and higher limits at a reasonably competitive cost. There is an activation fee of up to £30 depending on the product. You can check availablity here.
- Do you have an o2 contract or just grab an o2 Pay-As-You-Go?
If you have any o2* mobile you can get unlimited broadband at specially discounted rates; 8 MB is £7.50/month, 16 MB is £10/month or 20 MB is £15/month. These are much cheaper than you'll find elsewhere, connection is free plus you get a wireless router and free technical help thrown in. It doesn't impose a download limit, though it is subject to a 'fair usage' policy. It's only available to roughly 50% of the country at the moment, though this should increase.
Alternatively if you're willing to play, it's possible to get cheap unlimited broadband just by grabbing a free PAYG sim. Simply pick up a free sim* and top up by £10 every three months to qualify for the cheap broadband.
- Got an Orange Monthly Mobile Contract?
If you have an 18 or 24 month Orange contract, you’re entitled to Orange broadband* at discounted rates; 2 MB with a 6 GB download costs £5 and 8 MB for £15. This isn't as good as Orange's previous free broadband offer but if you're an Orange customer is cheap for you, it's still much cheaper than elsewhere.Do remember, the cost of the mobile bill will usually easily dwarf the benefit of the subsidised broadband, so don't plump for the mobile provider because of it. Read both Mobile Phone Contracts: Batter Your Network Down and the Mobile Phones: Full Cost Cutting Plan to make sure you're get a good deal.
- Get Free Wireless Broadband.
As a final thought, if you've got a laptop which allows you to use wireless internet (most new-ish lapto will do, and even some new phones!) it's worth noting that along the high street there are a growing number of places that will allow you free wireless access. The pub chain Wetherspoons will give you a half hour pass if you buy anything (even a lime and soda) and McDonalds is also now introducing free broadband. Chain Coffe Republic will also offer wireless to customers from 1 May, but you'll need to spend £2 for 20 minutes access and £5 for 45 minutes. For full details read the Free Wireless Internet access article.
Best Buys - Cheapest broadband packages
Below are my top picks after comparing over 50 broadband products. It’s purely focused on price, as customer service in broadband tends to have a huge ‘luck of the draw’ element; with every provider having its ‘disgusteds of Dorset’ and ‘delighted of Devon’. For further info on customer service reputations use the Broadband Forum section, or on a website such as Thinkbroadband.
Many providers quote prices without VAT; here I always include it. Before signing up for any package, check whether cashback is available; some sites'll pay you to buy via them, see the Cashback Sites article.
Are you willing to have a broadband/phone package together?
If you're willing to opt for a bundled package TalkTalks home phone and broadband is worth looking at:
- Broadband with home phone.
Carphone Warehouse's TalkTalk option 2* package includes broadband and is £18 a month for line rental, free UK evening and weekend calls and up to 8 MB broadband with a 40GB download limit. While there has been some shaky feedback, reports have improved and it’s still a market leader. For more info on this and bundled home phone packages, read the UK's Cheapest Home Phone article.
- Cheapest alternative broadband. Virgin Broadband with phone. £16/month
If you've been cut off from BT or don't have a landline your broadband options are limited. The cheapest non-BT broadband is Virgin's Broadband with phone* for £16/month which includes a cable landline. If you're already with Virgin try haggling. Threaten to leave and users have reported substantial savings on packages. Some have also managed to get installation fees refunded, no questions asked. Read the Virgin Media Haggling article for more details.
No BT landline?
Cheapest standalone broadband package
From here on in, we’re simply talking about standalone broadband packages – where the only thing you change is the broadband. All the package deals where you need to take a phone package too are excluded; the price of calls usually plays a bigger part than broadband costs.
- The Overall Cheapest. Plusnet Option 1. £9.99/month plus free wireless set up
- Top non-traffic shaping deal. NewNet Home Broadband £12.95/month
- Unlimited downloads inc wireless set up. Tiscali £10.87/month
For unlimited download limits Tiscali* offer an 8 MB broadband package for £10.87/month; subject to a ‘fair usage’ policy, so those who are constantly downloading things may make it invoke this clause. However, you’d need to be using really serious amounts for that to happen.
This also comes with a free wireless router so if you have a laptop you'll be able to connect to the net anywhere in the house. If you don't it will work in the same way as a normal modem. Usually providers charge up to £40 for these, though it's possible to pick up a good model for under £30.
- No contract broadband. Plusnet Option £13/month
If you're moving house soon, or don't want to be tied down to a 12 month contract both Plusnet* and Newnet offer monthly contracts at an extra cost. Plusnet's cheapest package Plusnet Option 1 is available with no commitment but you'll pay a £40 charge to install it, making it £13.33/month. Alternatively Newnet's package is £12.95 for a month by month contract though you may have to pay an exit fee of about £13.
QUICK FACTS. See Plusnet Option 1 above.
Plusnet's* £10/month package has received pretty good feedback. It’s fast, offering up to 8 MB, but has a 1 GB download limit, yet this only applies during 8am to midnight. Over night there are no limits, so if you set the computer to do downloads then, and just surf the rest of the time, this is a real bargain. Yet don't go direct for this, the wireless router is only available at this price via a deal Plusnet has with commercial comparison site Uswitch.
Yet even if you go beyond that during the day, as it only charges a paltry 75p/ GB in advance, or £1/GB otherwise, it’s not such a problem. This means you could use it with a 4 GB limit for £12.99/month which is still reasonable.
QUICK FACTS. Speed: Up to 8MB Download Limit: 1GB (peak times only) Modem & Connection Fee Included: Yes (subject to 12 month contract) Migration Fee for switchers: None Technical Support Phone Costs: 4p (Geographical 0114) Traffic Shaping: Yes
NewNet's home broadband service offers 8 MB speed with a middling 3 GB download limit for £12.95 per month or £143.40 ( £11.95/month) if you pay upfront for 12 months. Its main selling points are strong customer service feedback, it doesn’t traffic shape, so speeds should be consistent and there’s no contract so you can leave it whenever you want. If you want a bigger limit it offers 12 GB for £17.95/month.
Yet if you’re new to broadband, it doesn’t include a modem or connection fee, so it's only really for those who are switching.
QUICK FACTS. Speed: up to 8MB Download Limit: 4 GB Modem & Connection Fee Included: £39.95 if you're new to broadband but no modem. Migration Fee for switchers: Free Technical Support Phone Costs: 4p/min (Lo-call 0845) Traffic Shaping: No
Be's Value* broadband also does not traffic shape and has consistent feedback from users. For £16/month (including £24 connection) you get 8 MB
and unlimited downloads.
QUICK FACTS. Speed: upto 8MB Download Limit: None (Fair usage policy applies) Modem Connection Fee Included: Yes, including a wireless router Migration Fee for switchers: None Technical Support Phone Costs: Free (0800) Traffic Shaping: Yes, moderate.
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External Daily Updated Comparison Services |
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WARNING! Always check the providers listed in this article first, as the comparison links below don’t cover anywhere near as many products; yet they are updated daily so it occassionally may provide better buys if they’ve been launched that day. |
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