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Home Broadband Providers 5 Cheapest Broadband Providers in the UK

5 Cheapest Broadband Providers in the UK

Last updated on: May 7, 2024

Choosing your broadband can be extremely confusing as there are different broadband types, as well as too many different providers. The good news is that if you are on a budget and have specific needs for broadband service, you’ll find plenty of cheap providers in the UK. It is true that large internet service providers offer great services, but there are also advantages to opting for a less-known provider.

For your convenience, MovingWaldo has compiled a list of the 5 cheapest broadband providers to help you browse all the options and choose the most suitable deal for your needs.

Cheapest Broadband Deals in the UK

What is MovingWaldo?

MovingWaldo is the Free Moving Concierge Service. Since 2016, we help millions of Americans tackle moving tasks in minutes. We care to take the stress away from moving by offering free tools, tips and tricks and referral of service providers that you can trust. MovingWaldo is everything moving under the same roof!

How are broadband providers selected?

All broadband providers listed are selected carefully from the best companies on the market. We care to help you through the maze of information the web provides about this industry. You will certainly find the perfect match for your Internet needs!

Are you a good, trustworthy broadband provider?

1. Hyperoptic

Six-time winner of Best Superfast Broadband (2013-2018)

About

Hyperoptic started its broadband services in 2011 setting a new connectivity standard in the community by specializing in FTTP (fibre to the premises) broadband. Engineered all the way to keep the service reliable, efficient and cost-savvy, Hyperoptic is known for its promise to price match, their 24/7 customer support and their “monthly rolling” services. The purpose-built full fibered network is all set to meet everyone’s connectivity needs.The company offers 18x more speed than any average internet service provider. Covering 64 towns and counting to transform UK’s connectivity, Hyperoptic is a wise choice for affordable broadband.

Company rate

Prices start at £20 a month with a 24 month commitment

What services are offered by Hyperoptic?

Broadband: Hyperoptic broadband brings the full fibre to your home to guarantee super speed and reliability wherever you are in the registered locations. There are 4 packages available offering an average download and upload speed range of 900Mbps. It is perfect for gaming, HD streaming, online meetings and downloading/uploading heavy files. With the addition of a mini-hub, the broadband can reach the whole house.

TV: Hyperoptic does not offer any of their own home entertainment services. Although they have a partnership with Sky TV which you can take in the bundle offer.

Home Phone: The broadband package comes with a home phone facility. The phone port becomes active as soon as your setup is done. Almost every handset is compatible with the phone port (RJ11). Call display, waiting, forwarding, and barring features are standard.

Pros

No price hike during the committed period
Packages offered are budget friendly
No exit fee within the first 30 day trial period
Excellent 24/7 customer service
Broadband-only deals, you don’t have to get a landline if you don’t want one

Cons

£29 activation fee for the majority of the packages

Why MovingWaldo recommends Hyperoptic

As a six-time winner of Best Superfast Broadband award (2013-2018), Hyperoptic is a broadband service provider that is committed to evolving the UK’s connectivity into a full-fibre network through FTTP. With its flexible plans, anyone can be pleased by Hyperoptic and no need to commit with their no exit fee within the first 30 days.1GB package offers a speed of 900Mbps at unbeatable market rates. And the best part is that there are no hidden fees and the packages are budget friendly.

2. NOW Broadband

Award-winning broadband provider for Best Value by Uswitch

About

Established in 2012, NOW Broadband is a broadband and television service and a subsidiary of Sky group. They specialize in internet and TV with a variety of entertainment that is streamed on NOW Broadband. NOW is an award-winning broadband; the company is notably the winner 2022 of the Best Value Broadband Provider by Uswitch. Regardless of where you are, NOW Broadband can be streamed on any device.

Company rate

The pricing plan for Now Broadband starts at £18 a month with a year’s contract.

What services are offered by NOW Broadband?

Broadband: NOW Broadband offers three plans with average speeds reaching up to 63 Mbps. These plans come with landline and home entertainment services. The basic plan offers a speed of 11Mbps. The broadband is based on Openreach networking.

TV: NOW entertainment, NOW sports, NOW cinema, NOW Hayu and NOW boost are NOW TV plans. You can avail of membership for any of these with no contract. You are free to stream on any device from anywhere. There is a restriction on the number of devices on which you can avail of the services.

Home Phone: Landline comes with all broadband packages. There is no liability to use the service. But for those who are interested, there are three plans pay-as-you-go, evening and weekend calls and anytime calls. All UK landlines and mobile are covered under the umbrella. Additional features like voice call and call divert caller ID are also available.

Pros

No downloading limit
No activation fee
Provides full convenience when switching from the previous service provider
Comes with a no-contract option for certain packages

Cons

The maximum speed offered is 63 Mbps

Why MovingWaldo recommends NOW Broadband

NOW Broadband provides their clients with fast unlimited downloads at low prices. Cancellation is easy and won’t cost you a penny. Plus, you don’t need any contract for the entertainment membership. In addition, NOW Broadband handles the process of switching from your previous provider hassle-free. Most importantly, NOW Broadband award-winning broadband provider for Best Value by Uswitch in 2022.

3. Shell Energy

Fuel discounts with the Shell Go+ rewards program

About

Shell Energy was established when the company acquired First Utility, back in 2018, a company with a long heritage of supplying Britain’s homes with good energy and broadband. The strategy offers everyone 100% renewable energy, smart home technology, exclusive customer rewards and reliable broadband. The service is simple with competitive rates and good download and upload speeds. Shell Energy has yet to expand their broadband network nationwide.

Company rate

Shell Energy’s broadband pricing starts at £18.99 a month

What services are offered by Shell Energy?

Broadband: Shell Energy offers three different plans: Standard, Ultrafast and Full Fibre. Full Fibre is a supreme service which uses FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) networking with speeds as high as 1Gbps. Shell Energy’s broadband ranges from 11 Mbps to 900 Mbps, a big enough range to satisfy anybody. With Ultrafast and its 290 Mbps speed average, feel free to browse, stream and download as much as you want, whenever you want.

Home Phone: The broadband plans (excluding Full Fibre) come with free landline calls between Shell Energy customers and phone users. With a small fee, you can add one of the optional call packages to your order.

Pros

Prompt customer service
No hidden charges
No caps on usage limit
Shell Go+ plus comes with exclusive rewards
No activation charges
Free router

Cons

Landline is excluded in full fibre broadband plans
All packages are 18 months, no short term contracts

Why MovingWaldo recommends Shell Energy

As a widely known company worldwide, Shell Energy is quite the unique yet wise choice for broadband in the UK. They are recognised for offering prompt customer service without hidden charges. Shell Energy offers no usage caps, no activation charges, and a free router. Also, with the Shell Go+ rewards program, you can enjoy fuel discounts at Shell petrol stations as well as personalised offers and surprises. You can count on Shell Energy for customer satisfaction as they were recognised in 2020 by Resolver for their excellent customer service.

4. Origin Broadband

Most affordable broadband provider

About

The business model at Origin Broadband aims at providing quality products with affordable pricing. Their service is backed up by diligent and friendly customer support. The company was founded in 2011, and from then on the target focus has been connecting the UK with cheaper costs so that everyone can afford to stay connected. The company offers broadband along with landline and home entertainment services.

Company rate

The broadband pricing plan starts at £20.99 a month

What services are offered by Original Broadband?

Broadband: Origin Broadband offers three broadband products. The base product offers a speed of 11Mbps. The networking for two of these products is based on fibre. Origin Max Fibre and Origin Superfast Fibre offer great downloading speeds. Max offers twice as speedy as the Origin fibre plan offers which is 38Mbps.

TV: Origin TV offers a box that shows channels that are available in your area. It comes with parental control features and easy recording that is available on all devices. You also have the option of pairing your Origin TV with Alexa.

Home Phone: Origin offers a variety of landline plans that are engineered to meet your needs. These come with features like call barring, call display, voice mail and ring back. The international calling package includes 36 destinations. All UK landline and mobile numbers are included in all Origin calling plans.

Pros

No hidden charges
UK-based online support for prompt solutions
No set-up costs
All packages come with unlimited downloads
Referral program

Cons

Less variety of higher speeds

Why MovingWaldo recommends Original Broadbank

Origin Broadband is suitable for those looking to get good internet on a budget. By good internet, we mean efficient and reliable speeds. The broadband comes with a landline service, which is not something less than what the competitors offer. And you are getting all of this in a cost-savvy bracket. Moreover, there is a referral perk (refer-to-a-friend) of £25 credit on your bill.

5. Onestream

All plans come with no usage caps, a free router and free installation

About

Onestream is a broadband provider established in 2018 that believes in delivering only the most affordable broadband. Their business model revolves around a strong emphasis on reliability and quality of the product. They offer two broadband products. Both come with different price plans. The customer support is UK based and readily available without missing a beat. Onestream’s prime focus is to provide a limit-free service which is why their broadband comes with no caps.

Company rate

Onestream’s broadband plans start at £18.95 a month.

What services are offered by Onestream?

Broadband: Onestream offers two products for broadband: Onestream 55 and Onestream 80 which come with an average speed of 45 Mbps and 67 Mbps, respectively. These plans allow you to browse the web and stream your favorite shows and games. This technology is based on no broken connection and ensures a glitch-free service.

Home Phone: Onestream offers a home phone service with a line rental of £22.50 a month. You can modify your call bundle according to your needs with added features like call divert, voicemail, 3-way calling, smart divert and many more without additional costs.

Pros

Offers a 14-day trial with no cancellation fee
Includes 2 month free trial of award-winning McAfee (antivirus)
Offers unlimited usage with all the packages
Free installation
Free router

Cons

No price lock on contracts
No ultrafast packages (no FTTP)

Why MovingWaldo recommends Onestream

What sets Onestream apart from other broadband providers is that all their plans come with no usage caps. With no usage caps, you can browse the internet as long as you like without having to worry. If you’re not sure about committing to a long term contract, you can sign up for 14 days and cancel without a fee. On top of it all, Onestream offers a free router and free installation with all broadband plans.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about broadband in the UK

Do all Internet service providers offer cheap unlimited broadband?

Most broadband providers do offer cheap unlimited Internet plans; however it is always best to directly contact your provider for details on these services and check their website for the latest voucher codes.

It’s important to note that cheap internet providers may not always be the best choice. Sometimes they will offer attractive packages at low prices, but when reading the fine print, you will notice that the prices are only for a limited time, and you’ll have to pay more than the average price a few months into the contract. Cheaper internet providers are also often smaller companies that have limited customer service, making it difficult to reach them when your internet is having problems.

The UK Government is dedicated to investing over £22 million for the costs of building faster broadband by 2025. Fifty-eight percent of the UK make up the hard-to-reach rural areas.

(*Comparethemarket.com)

Will I get a penalty if I cancel my Internet contract?

Depending on your Internet provider, if you cancel your internet contract before the end of your offer period you may be subjected to early termination charges. The early cancellation fees usually vary from customer to customer depending on the services you previously paid for and the minimum period which remains of your service.

Keep in mind, if you plan on cancelling your internet service, you will need to return your broadband kit to the respected provider.

If you are looking to improve speed, an easy way would be to gather your neighbors and discuss purchasing a faster broadband service altogether. You may also get fibre broadband delivered by fibre optic cables, this is amongst the most popular options that appear in most English households because it is high-speed, reliable, and efficient especially for rural areas. Another way to improve broadband speeds would be to ask a private company to install a local network to sharpen your internet speeds.

Is it worth getting a cheaper internet package?

Of course, it is always worth saving money each month with your broadband provider, but it is also extremely important to read the fine print on what the internet provider is offering for these reduced prices.

To give you an idea, if you use the internet for emails, basic streaming and browsing, the cheapest broadband package should be perfect with an average speed of 11mb speed. Take for example streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney+, they recommend having an internet speed of 3Mb, therefore it is worth getting cheaper internet packages depending on your needs.

Can you have 2 broadband providers in 1 house?

Yes, you can have 2 broadband providers in 1 house (or more), whichever type of internet you want to install. It is recommended to let both providers know that you want to install two separate lines so that they can properly plan your home’s wiring.

What does Mbps mean?

Mbps means megabits per second. It is a way to quantify the speed of your broadband connection. The higher your Mbps are, the faster your broadband speed will be!

What are the different types of broadband?

Fibre, cable, and ADSL are the three most common types of broadband in the UK:

Fibre: Fibre broadband is ranked #1 when it comes to the fastest broadband speeds. Fibre broadband will typically have 30-1000 Mbps. The average price for fibre broadband is around £27-£65 per month. Fibre broadband is good for families, gamers, and businesses. If you want to increase your broadband speed, fibre broadband is a great option.

Cable: Cable broadband is not as widespread as ADSL in the UK but it’s usually faster. It uses a coaxial cable setup and its speed ranges from 35Mbps to over 300Mbps. The UK’s main cable service provider is Virgin Media. The average price for cable broadband is around £22-£52 per month.

ADSL: ADSL broadband is considerably slower than cable broadband. In terms of speed, there is ADSL2+, with a maximum speed of around 24 Mbps, while ADSL1 has a maximum speed of around 8 Mbps only. The average price for ADSL broadband is around £18-£35 per month. ADSL broadband is good for completing online assignments, social media browsing, and casual internet users.

How do I check my broadband speed online?

To check your broadband speed online you can use a broadband speed checking tool. There are various broadband speed checking tools online, but the easiest way is to search “speed test” directly into Google and the tool will immediately appear.

What can affect the speed of my broadband?

Several factors can affect the speed of the plan you choose from your broadband provider. These factors include other people using it at the same time, your type of usage, and if you choose a plan that is too low in megabits per second based on your lifestyle.

What broadband speed do I need to look for when choosing my broadband provider?

Speed needed by lifestyle

Speed	Good for what	Good for who
5 – 10 Mbps	Checking emails Browsing Listening to music	Minimal internet users People living alone
10 – 40 Mbps	Online assignments Social media Netflix YouTube	Students Casual internet users Children and teens
40 – 100 Mbps	Video calls Netflix Working from home Online classes	People working from home Students Families
100 – 500 Mbps	Video calls Gaming Streaming	Gamers Streamers Big families
500 – 1000 Mbps	Heavy gaming Streaming Commercial internet	Heavy gamers Heavy streamers Businesses

Special Mentions

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Relevant for your move

Broadband Providers

5 Cheapest Broadband Providers in the UK

Cheapest Broadband Deals in the UK

What services are offered by Hyperoptic?

What services are offered by NOW Broadband?

What services are offered by Shell Energy?

What services are offered by Original Broadband?

What services are offered by Onestream?

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about broadband in the UK

Do all Internet service providers offer cheap unlimited broadband?

Will I get a penalty if I cancel my Internet contract?

Is it worth getting a cheaper internet package?

Can you have 2 broadband providers in 1 house?

What does Mbps mean?

What are the different types of broadband?

How do I check my broadband speed online?

What can affect the speed of my broadband?

What broadband speed do I need to look for when choosing my broadband provider?

Special Mentions

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