broadband comparison

Start with the speed you'll actually use - not the biggest number.
Most homes pay for more than they need. As a rough guide:

• Light use (one or two people, browsing, email, the odd film): around 35–40Mbps is plenty.
• Medium use (HD streaming, a few devices, working from home): 60–100Mbps keeps everyone happy.
• Heavy use (4K on several screens, gaming, a busy full house): 100–500Mbps+ earns its keep.

Speed is shared across everyone at once, so size it for your busiest evening, not a quiet Tuesday.

Know your fibre from your "fibre".
The word "fibre" on a deal can mean two very different things:

• Full fibre (FTTP) - fibre all the way to your home. Fastest, steadiest, and the advertised speed is genuinely what you get.
• Part-fibre (FTTC) - fibre to the street cabinet, then old copper to your door. Usually labelled just "fibre". Tops out around 80Mbps and slows the further you are from the cabinet.
• ADSL - pure copper, the slow old stuff. Fine for very light use, not much else.

If you can get full fibre at your address, it's almost always the better long-term buy.

How much speed do I actually need?

For most homes, 60–100Mbps comfortably covers streaming, a few devices and working from home. Go higher only if you've got 4K on several screens at once, serious gaming, or a houseful all online together. Paying for 900Mbps when you stream the odd box-set is money down the drain.

What's the difference between "fibre" and "full fibre"?

"Full fibre" (FTTP) runs fibre all the way to your home - fast and reliable, with the advertised speed being what you actually get. Plain "fibre" usually means part-fibre (FTTC): fibre to the street cabinet, then copper to you, which is slower and fades with distance. Same word, very different broadband.

Why might my real speed be lower than the advert?

On part-fibre lines, the advertised figure is the average half of customers get at peak - yours depends on your line and how far you are from the cabinet. Wi-Fi, old routers and lots of devices at once also nibble at it. Full fibre is the exception: you get the speed on the tin.

Will my price go up mid-contract?

Quite possibly - but since January 2025, providers must spell out any in-contract rise in pounds and pence before you sign, rather than tying it to unknown inflation. Check that figure upfront. And diarise your contract end date, because the bigger jump usually comes when the term finishes.

Do I still need a phone line?

Mostly no. Full-fibre broadband doesn't need a traditional phone line at all, and even most part-fibre deals don't make you pay for calls you won't use. The old "line rental" bolt-on is largely a thing of the past.

How long should I fix for?

If you're settled and want the lowest price, an 18–24 month deal usually wins. If you might move, switch, or just want freedom, a shorter contract is worth the small premium. Don't be talked into the longest term purely for a few quid off.

Can you tell me what's available at my exact address?

Not yet - we list deals nationally with their headline specs, and the provider runs the precise address check when you click through (full fibre and cable availability varies street by street). Address-level checking is on our roadmap; for now, treat our speeds as the deal's offer and let the provider confirm your line.

Is it really free? How do you make money?

Yes, free - no sign-up, no data harvested. When you click through and take a deal, the provider may pay us a commission. It never buys a better ranking: our order is led by value, the commercial nudge is capped, and you can re-sort by price or rating any time to see for yourself.