Compare broadband deals to find the best one for you
Whether you're in need of a brilliant broadband price or a fantastic fibre optic connection, we're at hand to help you find a banging broadband deal!
What broadband deal should I choose?
The best broadband deals available to you will be partly decided by where you live and what’s available in your area. You should think about speed and cost, as the best speed broadband packages are likely to be more expensive.
The speed you need depends on how you use the internet and your level of usage. Once you've considered these factors, finding the right broadband package for you should be simple.
What are the different types of broadband?
There are a few different options when it comes to broadband, and where you live can narrow your options.
Get informed
- The actual speed your home receives may be lower than the speed advertised
- Truly unlimited broadband means you can use the internet 'till your heart's content without getting charged
- Parental controls mean you can limit what your child sees while they're online
- Want to know more? Read more in our broadband guides
- ADSL broadband - (a type of digital subscriber line) which uses the existing telephone network. A phone socket filter, also known as a microfilter, converts the phone line into two separate signals, one for telephone and one for internet access.
- Cable broadband - transfers data using a system of fibre-optic cables laid underground, which means that they're able to deliver faster broadband than phone line cables, which tend to be made of copper.
- Satellite broadband - predominantly used in rural areas where there's no ADSL or cable broadband service available.
Mobile broadband - uses the mobile phone network to connect to the internet - but you don't need a mobile phone to use it. Instead, you use a data card or a USB dongle, which plugs into a USB port on your computer.
What’s the best broadband speed?
Broadband speed is likely to be one of the major factors you consider but be aware that you may not get the advertised maximum speed at your property. The best broadband speed depends on your usage (and how patient you are!).Be aware of the words 'up to' when choosing your broadband deal. These innocent enough words mean that you won't necessarily reach that top speed but could get anything ‘up to’ that level.
You'll also want to get clued up on whether your provider will implement any pesky download caps or traffic management.
What is unlimited broadband?
Unlimited broadband means being able to use the internet as much as you like with no restrictions or added charges... but when you choose this option take care.
Most policies carry certain restrictions and you may need a product known as 'truly unlimited' broadband.
A fair usage policy may apply to some unlimited packages. This means that what they deem as excessive usage could result in having to restrict your use online. If you fail to do this, they could terminate your contract.
Get up to speed
- 21% of people have never switched their broadband provider meaning they could be missing out on a brilliant broadband deal[2]
- 90% of adults in the UK were recent internet users in 2018, while only 8.4% of adults had never used the internet.[3]
Who is the best broadband provider?
The best broadband provider depends on things like where you live and what your household needs are.
If you use the internet a lot, then an unlimited broadband with a high speed might be right for you, but this could cost a fair bit.
Not much of an internet user? Opt for a basic package, so you’re not paying for broadband you don’t need. Just bear in mind you could be lumbered with extra charges or have your internet temporarily cut off should you use more internet than your broadband plan allows.
What are the costs of broadband?
Having the fastest broadband on the market is all well and good, but if you have to eat beans every day to fund your internet habit, that’s not so good.
Consider the first-year cost, line rental and how much it would cost to upgrade if your current package does nothing to quench your insatiable internet hunger.
Of course, you'll want to find out whether there's any connection fees for installation or one-off costs and how much you'll be charged monthly for your chosen package.
Can I switch broadband at any time?
You may find that if you want to leave a contract with your current provider, you could get charged an early cancellation fee.
Check with your provider whether it's worth making the switch.
How can I save money on my broadband deal?
Compare the latest broadband and broadband bundle deals, to hopefully save money and find a broadband package that really satisfies your internet appetite.
As well as price, you'll want to think about the level of customer service and technical support your chosen broadband package can provide.
Why compare broadband with GoCompare?
We want you to know exactly what you’re getting, understand what all the jargon means and know how much it’s going to cost.
When you compare broadband, you can see deals from a range of UK broadband providers so you'll easily be able to find the right one for you.
What else should I consider?
You may want to think about your hardware, security and parental controls, and look at our money-saving tips.
FAQs
Most providers will require you to have a landline to connect you to the internet. But you don’t need to pay for phone service if you don’t need it.
Line rental is the fee you pay to your internet service provider to allow you to use the broadband cable. Before deciding on a broadband deal, make sure you're aware of how much you'll be charged for line rental as sometimes it's not immediately apparent.
The usage limit is the cap that your provider puts on the amount of data you can receive. If you surpass this amount before the month is out you could be charged extra or your internet may be cut off until the next month begins.
Traffic management is the system that your broadband provider employs to prioritise internet traffic.
For instance, if you're downloading a large file this may run slowly so that services like online streaming can take precedence and run at the speed they need to, without the dreaded buffering.