Origin broadband review
By Dan Howdle | Friday, June 24th 2022
Yorkshire-based Origin launched in 2011, and it’s one of many smaller broadband providers that are competing with the big players like BT and Virgin Media, chiefly by offering a cheaper alternative. But is Origin broadband any good?
Overview
Average download speed | 11Mbps, 36Mbps, 67Mbps |
---|---|
Average upload speed | 1Mbps, 9Mbps, 17Mbps |
Broadband | ADSL & fibre |
Home Phone | Yes |
Prices from | £17.99 per month |
Broadband speeds
Origin broadband offers three different speeds – one ADSL and two fibre packages. The three speeds are more or less the same as those offered by most broadband providers. If you’re not sure what broadband speed you might need for your household, our guide can help.
Origin’s cheapest plan is an ADSL line with average download speeds of 11Mbps and average upload speeds of 1Mbps. This might not sound a lot, but it will be plenty if there are only a couple of you using the internet. It is fast enough to stream Netflix and to do most everyday things online (our guide to the broadband speeds needed for streaming TV can give you more info).
Origin Superfast is Origin’s entry-level fibre broadband plan. It offers average download speeds of 36Mbps and upload speeds of 9Mbps. If there are a few people in your household who all like to be online at the same time, then fibre is what you need. You can use our fibre checker to see if you can get fibre broadband where you live.
Origin Max Fibre gives you even faster speeds – 67Mbps download and 17Mbps upload. This should be enough bandwidth to keep you going even with quite a few of you using the internet or streaming at the same time.
All of Origin’s broadband deals come with 18-month contracts, but aside from a free router, they offer little in the way of extras. Unusually, Origin also offers pay upfront deals in addition to pay monthly deals.
Router and installation
Router
Like most providers, Origin will give you a free router when you sign up to one of its broadband deals. It supplies the same Zyxel T50K router with all its packages – unlike some providers Origin offers the same decent router to both standard ADSL broadband and fibre customers.
The Zyxel T50K is an impressive bit of kit. A dual-band router with gigabit ethernet ports for connecting wired devices, it also comes with beamforming technology to ensure optimal speeds and minimal lag, perfect for gaming and streaming. When placed optimally, it can comfortably support several devices at speeds of up to 1.7GBps with a strong wireless signal.
The router will be sent in the post at least two days before your broadband goes live. If you have any issues getting set up, there is help available on the Origin website – and our guide to setting up your Wi-Fi router offers a few tips, too.
Installation
You’re looking at a couple of weeks to get a new broadband service up and running, or to switch from one provider to a new one. Origin says 10 to 14 days, so that’s fairly standard.
There's no certain installation timeframe because Origin depends on engineers from Openreach, its partner company, to handle it. As soon as Openreach’s staff provides a possible date, the company will inform you through email or SMS. You should expect the first message following your order confirmation in around four working days.
If you already have an active phone line, then your service shouldn’t be interrupted. You’ll just need to plug in your new router and off you go. If you don’t already have a phone line, Origin will install a new one and charge you less than many other providers charge.
However, if you're in a fixed contract with your current provider or your current provider is Virgin Media, ensure you contact and notify them of your switch to Origin to avoid being billed twice.
Customer service
As an Origin customer you get access to free phone support from its Yorkshire-based team.
The telephone support lines are available from 9.00am - 6:30pm on Monday to Friday and 9:00am - 1:00pm on Saturdays, but not on Sunday.
During festive periods, when the telephone support team is usually unavailable, Origin Broadband provides live chat support between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm as a temporary replacement .
Customers also get access to the ‘Customer Portal’ on Origin’s website. This allows you to search a range of help topics and get information about your bill including call charges.
Deals and offers
Origin is very focused on offering good value broadband and phone packages. It does not offer the extras you get from some of the bigger providers, such as free Wi-Fi from public hotspots. But if you want good, clean broadband for a good price then Origin could be for you. Here’s a few current deals.
-
£55 Bill CreditVirgin Media M125 Fibre Broadband
- 132Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- £55 Bill Credit
- No 2024 Price Rise
£26.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£55 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
Sky Stream + Entertainment + Netflix
- 150+ channels
£19.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£0 one-off cost18 month contract -
Sky Ultrafast Plus
- 500Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- PAYG calls
£33.00 per month(prices may change during contract)£5 one-off cost18 month contract
Our final verdict
The good
- Choice of routers
- Competitive prices
- Yorkshire-based customer support
The bad
- Packages are on 18-month contracts
- Not as fast as Virgin
- No extras or freebies
Origin broadband retains many of the same ideals that it was founded upon, and the company is still based in Yorkshire. Its quest to deliver quality broadband and high standards of customer support remain intact.
Due to the lack of extras, Origin’s broadband deals don’t quite measure up to the extensive packages offered by other, better-known providers. But if price and customer service are high on your checklist, Origin broadband is well worth checking out.