While you might be tempted to think cheaper broadband providers are less reliable, the reality is that many budget-friendly providers offer good, consistent broadband speeds. The lower prices they provide are thanks to increased competition in the broadband market, advances in technology and regulatory oversight, which have paved the way for companies to offer reliable connectivity without a hefty price tag.

The cheapest deals on the market tend to be broadband and landline packages. These use older copper phone lines to connect to the network and tend to be cheaper than faster full fibre broadband deals. However, if you do live in an area that has access to fibre broadband, you might find cheaper broadband-only deals. 

Low-income households can benefit from a selection of social tariff broadband deals. These discounted plans are available to customers on certain government benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Universal Credit, among others. Find out more about social tariff broadband and whether you qualify by reading our guide.

Most broadband providers will list two speed measurements in their deals: average speed and minimum guaranteed speed. The latter is more accurate in terms of the speeds you will receive on a day-to-day basis and is a baseline of what you should expect. 

If you are experiencing frequently low speeds, contact your broadband provider to resolve the issue. If the issue persists, you may be entitled to compensation or an early exit option to switch deals without paying a fee. It’s advisable to run broadband speed tests every now and then, particularly if you think your internet speeds are lagging behind what your provider has promised.

Once your broadband contract comes to an end, you have a couple of options; you can stay on with your current deal, stay with the same provider and move to a new deal, or pick a new deal altogether. 

If you are happy with your current contract – including the cost, speeds and any price hikes that may come in the future – simply contact your provider to inform them that you want to stay on. If you like the provider but want to experience faster speeds, for example, you can sign up for a new deal. Depending on the type of contract you want, you may be able to keep your existing hardware and avoid going without broadband during the switch. 

If you want to change your deal and your provider, you need to find a new broadband deal. Use the postcode checker at the top of this page to find all the best deals in your area and consult our guide to switching broadband deals for more information.

You may need to pay for a phone line if you live in an area where there is no access to FTTP broadband (full fibre). This means you need the copper cables used for landlines to access the internet. 

However, in most parts of the country, many providers are starting to phase out traditional landline services in favour of digital landlines; the move to digital home phones will take place by December 2025 for many providers including BT.

4G and 5G home broadband, also known as mobile broadband, offer a broadband connection without the need for a landline, copper cables or fibre optic cables connecting to your home. 4G and 5G work just like the cellular data that enables you to connect your smartphone to the internet when you’re on the go.

5G (which stands for 5th Generation) has faster upload and download speeds, and as such has been the standard for mobile data connections since 2019. However, it’s still not available everywhere, especially outside of urban areas, so it’s still common to have to use a 4G connection even if your phone or contract is 5G-enabled.