Broadband providers in the UK 2024

What is an internet provider?

An internet provider, or broadband provider, gives customers access to the internet by connecting them to a network. There are hundreds of broadband providers in the UK, but each provider offers different internet speeds and packages. Why not compare providers to find a broadband deal that meets your needs?

Major UK broadband providers

There are several major broadband providers operating in the UK. The best internet service providers (ISPs) are those that offer fast speeds and a reliable connection.

It can be useful to compare internet providers to find a broadband package that suits your needs, because what might be a good broadband deal for some households may not be the best deal for you. BT, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk and Plusnet are among the best internet providers in the UK, offering a variety of excellent deals. Take a look at our quick comparison of the best UK broadband providers to find the best one for you:

BT Broadband

BT offers a broad range of internet packages with medium-to-fast internet speeds. BT always guarantees a minimum speed, offers a smart WiFi hub, internet security and has a good customer-service team.

If you join BT Broadband, you could benefit from full-fibre, also known as fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), with up to 900Mbps download speed on some deals. To find out about the BT broadband deals available in your area, you’ll have to use an online broadband postcode checker.

Virgin Media Broadband

Virgin Media provides a reliable, high-speed internet connection, offering broadband-only deals or bundles that come with TV and phone services. Virgin offers six fibre-broadband deals that can be combined with other services:

Virgin Media bundles come with the Virgin internet plan of your choice and include TV channels and inclusive weekend calls to the UK and abroad. If you’re a TV enthusiast, a Virgin Media bundle may be right for you. It’s also a good option for those who aren’t interested in getting a landline.

Sky Broadband

Sky Broadband has been awarded the 2021 Ofcom prize for Best Performing Provider in the UK and offers three competitive broadband packages:

Uswitch also named Sky the Best Triple Play Provider in 2020 thanks to its customisable packages. Sky bundles include the internet service of your choice, a TV box set and a pay-monthly mobile-phone contract or SIM-only contract. You could get access to Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Sky Kids and hundreds of other channels.

TalkTalk Broadband

TalkTalk has an award-winning WiFi hub that gives customers inclusive access to the internet across thousands of public areas in the UK. Having free public access to the internet is ideal if you’re a frequent traveller or work on the go. TalkTalk offers three main packages:

Plusnet

Plusnet won the 2021 Uswitch title for Broadband Provider of the Year, Most Popular Provider and Best Value for Money Provider, and also has award-winning customer service. If you’re looking for a broadband provider with good quality customer support, Plusnet might be a good choice for you.

Plusnet has three best-selling broadband packages with low-to-medium internet speeds, perfect for individuals and small households.

More ISPs in the UK

There are some less well-known ISPs that specialise in phone and TV packages but also provide broadband services.

Vodafone

Vodafone stands out from its competitors with the new Pro Vodafone package that offers a built-in Alexa system. Alexa helps you control your devices, set reminders and ask any question you want. The Vodafone Pro plan also includes 12 months of Norton Antivirus, Vodafone WiFi Hub and three months of Apple TV. Standard Vodafone Broadband packages offer fast-to-superfast speeds, with the choice of an average speed of 35, 63, 100, 200, 500 and 900 Mbps.

NOW Broadband

NOW Broadband won the 2020 Uswitch award for Broadband Provider of the Year, Best Triple Play Provider, and Best Value for Money. NOW offers the option to include NOW TV Entertainment to any broadband package for a reduced price for the first 12 months. There are three NOW Broadband packages to choose from:

NOW deals include line rental, which might be useful if you plan on having a landline.

Specialist full-fibre providers in the UK

Certain providers, such as KCOM, Hyperoptic and Gigaclear, specialise in fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet. An entirely fibre-optic connection provides the fastest internet speeds, which can reach up to 900Mbps. An FTTP connection is also known as full-fibre broadband. Most providers still operate on a FTTC (fibre-to-the-cabinet) or a basic ADSL connection, which can only provide up to around 10Mbps.

KCOM

KCOM offers six fibre broadband packages with different average download speeds. The speeds available with the provider are 30, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 900Mbps.

All KCOM broadband plans include a Lighthub-A router, providing faster speeds and a more reliable connection, even when several users are streaming at the same time.

Hyperoptic

Hyperoptic provides a strong fibre internet connection and offers four competitive internet packages:

Gigaclear

Gigaclear offers good value for money broadband, with cheaper deals on full-fibre than its competitors. Availability is limited, but if it’s available to you then you could get a great deal on hyperfast and gigabit internet.

Zen Internet

Zen Internet provides fast fibre broadband to make sure your internet never slows down, even during the busiest periods of the day. Zen has been awarded the 2021 Which? award for Recommended Provider of the Year and holds a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. You’ll need to use a postcode checker to find out which Zen Internet contracts are available in your area.

How to compare broadband providers

There are plenty of ISPs out there offering great broadband deals, but if you know what you’re looking for, it will be easier to choose the right provider for you.

There are a few important factors to consider about the provider before joining, such as: monthly cost, availability in your area, average speeds, contract length, quality of customer service, packages and bundles including broadband and TV, and any other perks or add-ons offered by the provider.

Monthly cost

Cost is an important factor to consider when choosing the broadband deal for you. Is the provider offering good value-for-money deals? The overall cost of your internet package will vary depending on the internet speeds you choose, but bear in mind that the price will depend on the provider you go with. EE, Vodafone, Hyperoptic, BT and TalkTalk offer cheap broadband deals and bundles.

Availability

Use an online postcode checker to see which broadband providers there are and which are the broadband deals are available in your area.

While fibre-to-the-cabinet and fibre-to-the-premises connections are available across many locations in the UK, check to see if your area has the right infrastructure to support fibre broadband. If a fibre connection is not available, you’ll probably have to settle for an ADSL connection with limited average speeds.

Broadband speed

Internet speed is measured in megabits per second. Be realistic about the minimum broadband speed you’ll need for a good internet experience. Here’s a guide to help you understand what you can achieve within each speed range:

Contract length

In the past, broadband contracts used to be 12 months, but now it’s not always the case. Many standard broadband plans are 18-month or 24-month contracts. In some cases, you can choose your contract length, but you’ll probably get a better price on a longer contract. The option of a 30-day rolling contract is also a possibility, giving you the advantage of not being tied to a fixed term. If you want to cancel your contract at any point, you’ll have to give 30 days’ notice. If you’re mid-contract when you end it, you may be charged an early termination fee.

Customer support

Take a quick look at reviews concerning the provider’s customer service. Finding out about the quality of the provider’s customer support can help make sure you get decent tech support if there are ever any issues with your internet. Issues with internet connection are common and a good customer-service team will respond quickly in an attempt to solve the issue.

Packages and bundles

Consider whether you just want a deal on broadband or a broadband bundle with TV and line rental. Bundle deals are typically offered by providers to give you a good deal on your internet, phone and TV services. While a cheaper broadband-only deal might seem better, a broadband package deal such as broadband and phone deals can help you save money if you’re planning on having more than one service anyway. Using the same provider for your broadband, mobile contract, home phone and TV will be easier and is often more cost-effective, as you’ll only have to deal with one provider.

Perks and add-ons

Broadband customers can occasionally benefit from perks and add-ons. Perks can include freebies and discounts through the provider’s mobile app. Line rental included in your deal is common, while some providers even offer free TV add-ons with their internet plans.

Which broadband providers are available in my area?

To find out which broadband providers are available in your area, use an online postcode checker.