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Getting the right broadband for your home isn’t just about staying connected – it’s about making life smoother, faster, and a little less frustrating.
Whether you’re streaming, working, or gaming, the right connection keeps everyone happy. And when you know how to compare broadband deals like a pro, you can find a plan that not only fits your needs but also saves you money.
Read on to discover how to compare deals effectively, spot genuine value, and choose broadband that fits your life perfectly.
Broadband key features
First things first, you’ll want to know what sort of things are most important to you when looking for the perfect broadband deal, and it starts with looking at what a provider has to offer.
The key features to look for are:
- Speed
- Reliability
- Price
- Contract length
- Customer service
Speed
Speed should be towards the top – if not at the top – of your requirements for your broadband. You should have a speed in mind as to what could be good for your household and start aiming your search for deals at that mark.
Your speed needs will depend on how you plan on using the broadband and how many people will be using it. If it’s just you and you don’t have heavy usage, maybe say you only use it for casual browsing and working from home, you could get away with less.
For those who have multiple heavy usage devices and numerous people connected at one time, you’ll most definitely want to look for the fastest speeds possible.
It is important to note that any speeds you see advertised from providers are variable and are completely dependent on where you live. You might not even be able to get certain providers in your area, or you might not be able to get the fastest speeds available.
Reliability
Reliability should be another high-priority want. It’s all well and good having a network that has hyperfast speeds, but if it can’t stay connected for extended periods of time or is susceptible to dropping out under heavy strain then what use is it really?
You also don’t want to find that the speeds fluctuate too much, as this can create frustrating situations where you’re unsure if your connection will be able to hold up as you do whatever it is you are doing.
Checking reliability isn’t something that a provider will tell you themselves but instead can be monitored by looking at what others say about the provider, particularly those in your area.
Most providers will come with a minimum speed guarantee, which goes hand in hand with the speed feature as it can give you a piece of mind that you are ensured to be getting at least that certain speed, and if you don’t get it for an extended period, the provider will sort you out by offering some compensation and then hopefully improvements to your local network.
Price
This is more of a subjective feature as everyone’s desired price point will be different. Some will be looking to get the most for the least while others are happy to pay the premium to get the good stuff.
You should want to compare pricings between providers to ensure you are getting a good deal regardless of if you want to save as much as possible or don’t mind your monthly bill.
Once you have your desired speed figured out, you should take a look at what various providers offer at that speed and how much they will cost each month. This can help weed out any that you feel are overcharging for what you need.
Contract length
Contract length may be an important feature for you if you have various considerations that may stop you from opting for a longer contract.
Most broadband contracts will be for either 12 months or 24 months although this is dependent on the provider. Some may offer something in between the two like an 18 month contract while others may even offer monthly rolling contracts.
Contract lengths and monthly costs are directly connected as typically a shorter contract will come with a higher monthly cost. If you’re looking to keep the costs as low as possible and have the stability of knowing you’ll be staying at your current abode for at least the duration of your desired contract, then a longer contract could be the play.
However, should you desire to change provider sometime during your contract for whatever reason, you’ll find yourself more stuck than if you had opted for a shorter contract as you would have to pay some kind of early exit fee to get out of the contract.
Customer service
A provider with good customer service is key as you never know when you will need them. The main hope when you’re under contract is that you never have to contact customer service about any issues, but should you have to, it’s best to be with a provider who is highly rated in this category.
With broadband being so essential to many people’s everyday life, if or when a problem occurs, you need a fix quickly, which means you will want to speak to someone as soon as possible. That’s where a provider with a track record of good customer service operates best as it means others have found them to be very helpful in that regard.
It’s not just with problems as well. Sometimes you want to actually contact someone at the provider for more information or about getting a better deal. You’re more than likely to get what you want or need from a provider with a good rating over one without.
How much should I pay for broadband?
How much you should spend on your broadband is entirely up to you and how much you’d like to spend. There are reference points you can base your budget on, though, such as average spend in your area or for each provider.
The average UK monthly cost of broadband is £26 a month as of January this year, which is very reasonable especially given that the latest count of the average internet speed was 157Mbps, recorded in 2024*.
Speaking of, since higher speeds often come with a higher cost, you can expect to pay a bit more for faster broadband – although that’s not always the case.
Let’s look at the average monthly cost of UK broadband by download speed:
- 0-30Mb = £22
- 30-100Mb = £26
- 100-300Mb = £23
- 300-900Mb = £28
- 900+Mb = £32
Where FTTP (fibre to the premises, better known as full fibre) is becoming more prevalent, the price for the lower end speeds (around 100Mbps) is gradually reducing as well since it is becoming the standard.
It should also be noted that some providers will charge an installation or activation fee when you sign up.
There are multiple reasons behind why they might do this but the standard explanations are either; its needed to cover the cost of an engineer calling out to instal the cables and router; or to cover the lost costs of frozen contract prices (since most providers implement yearly price rises to account for network upgrades and rising business costs).
*Stats found from Uswitch.com.
How do I check which broadband is best in my area?
The best way to check which broadband is best in your area is by using a postcode checker – one of which you can find on SwitchGenius.
Once you enter your postcode and find your address, you’ll find a list of broadband deals that are available to you from the providers that have service in your area. You can then look through and compare the different offerings to find the right package for you.
Similarly, if you have an idea of which provider(s) you want to go with, you can head directly to their website and you’ll find their own postcode checker which will tell you exactly which packages of theirs are available to you.
Does it matter which broadband provider I choose?
Absolutely, especially if you and/or your household relies heavily on a fast and reliable connection, or really any of the key features listed at the start.
Every provider has something different to offer and some are better than others in certain areas. If you are specifically looking for one key feature or another, you’re better off going for the provider who is rated highly in that category.
What you may also find is that some providers aren’t actually capable of delivering what you need in your area. They may advertise these top speeds and great packages but the reality may be that it’s not available in your region.
It all depends on the providers’ network and the infrastructure. Openreach is the largest network in the UK and supplies many providers such as BT. Their full fibre currently reaches approximately 18 million premises, but the network’s strength varies by location.
Is it worth getting full fibre broadband?
In short, yes it is worth it to get full fibre broadband, even if you aren’t a heavy usage household.
Full fibre broadband isn’t just about faster speeds; by utilising fibre cables throughout the network, full fibre offers more reliable connections compared to older technology (FTTC or fibre to the cabinet, which saw a fibre cable run to a roadside cabinet then a copper wire to premises).
The use of fibre optic cables throughout provides a more stable and consistent connection, especially for households with multiple devices and users at one time. It is also future-proof for increasing demands of newer technologies.
Most of all, you can count on full fibre even during peak times. Bandwidth throttling due to peak time usage is a thing of the past thanks to FTTP connections.
Is it cheaper to just have broadband?
Generally, it is cheaper to go for just broadband. If you already have things such as your TV provider sorted out and are just looking for some broadband then you’ll be able to find a cheaper deal than looking for packaged bundles.
However, what you may find in that case is that you’re spending more separating the two. You’re often better off looking for a broadband bundle deal that includes TV with it, especially if you’re moving to a new home and would be looking for a good TV deal anyways.
Most top providers will have multiple offers to browse that allow you to find the broadband you need paired with TV which can be amended to add the channels you want.
With SwitchGenius, you can find many great broadband and TV deals that are available for your home. By using the postcode checker, you’ll get a list of packages that are available to you.
Do you need a landline for broadband?
Nowadays, a landline isn’t needed to be able to get broadband. Many providers give the option of an offering at a certain speed with a landline and another offering at the same speed but without a landline.
The reason as to why you don’t always need a phone line for your broadband is because of fibre optic cables. The traditional copper wires used for FTTC were actually copper phone lines, so those technologies (as well as ADSL) required you to pay for line rental. This didn’t necessarily mean you needed a landline phone, but since you were already paying for line rental you may as well have got one.
These days, the fibre optic cables are dedicated for internet, and while you can still get cable lines for phone services, they aren’t required to be installed together for them to be able to work.
Does mobile broadband need a phone line?
No, a phone line isn’t required to be able to get mobile broadband.
If you’re unsure as to what mobile broadband is, it is an alternative to standard broadband technology, using a 4G or 5G mobile network to connect to the internet without the need of a fixed-line connection – hence why a phone line isn’t needed.
Mobile broadband is becoming a popular option amongst those who live in more rural areas which don’t typically get full fibre.
Genius Tip: Check out our roundup of the best broadband deals this month and use your new knowledge to get yourself a great deal!
