What's the best broadband in my area?
- Broadband postcode checker
- Fastest broadband in my area
- Cheapest broadband in my area
- Best broadband provider
- Types of broadband
- Which providers are available to choose from?
- Why does broadband availability vary in different areas?
- What affects broadband speed?
- Frequently asked questions
Having a quick and secure home broadband connection is vital for most modern households. With so many different providers and deals on the market, it’s easy to feel confused and frustrated when looking for broadband that’s right for your household.
Our broadband postcode checker will help you discover the best broadband services available where you live. Don’t waste time contacting providers directly - we’ve found the best broadband deals in your postcode and put them right in front of you.
We’ll also help you understand the types of broadband available in your area, the average speeds you can expect (including a speed test to find out your current broadband speed), why broadband provision differs from area to area, and what can impact your broadband speed.
How to use our broadband area checker
Our broadband checker couldn’t be easier to use. Simply enter your postcode, and you’ll have instant access to the best deals available in your area. You can then filter deals by the things that are important to you - whether that’s price, speed, contract length, bundles, or type of provision - to find the best broadband provider.
If you already know what type of broadband you’re looking for, you can browse our deals to find one that’s right for you.
If you’re unsure about what you want from your broadband provider, however, you might want to consider the following questions:
- What do you tend to use the internet for? (online shopping, social media, streaming TV, movies, and music, downloading large documents, gaming, etc).
- Are you happy with a standard 12 month contract, or are you planning on moving house or experiencing any uncertainty in your life at present, making a month-to-month contract a better option?
- Will multiple users be accessing your broadband connection, and are they likely to need to use it at the same time?
- Do you have a fixed monthly budget to spend on broadband provision, or can you be flexible on price?
- What internet speed will best suit the needs of your household?
- Do you want to combine a landline phone, TV contract, or mobile phone package with your broadband (this can sometimes save you money, and dealing with only one supplier is more convenient).
What’s the fastest broadband in my area?
Broadband speed is measured in megabits (Mbps). The higher the number, the faster the connection.
If you regularly enjoy streaming TV, film, or music online, and especially if you’re an internet gamer, a fibre optic broadband deal is an affordable option with a fast and reliable connection.
If you only use the internet occasionally for browsing and social media, however, speed is much less important. In this case, your needs will probably be met by a standard broadband connection.
Currently, Hyperoptic offers the fastest internet available on the UK market, reaching average speeds of up to 1Gbps on its FTTP (fibre to the premises) network. If you’re a large and busy household that’s online most of the time, a Hyperoptic deal is probably your best option.
Unfortunately, this type of broadband isn’t yet available across the country. In fact, only 350,000 homes can currently access this type of broadband.
The second fastest cable broadband provider is Virgin Media broadband, who held the top stop for seven years until Hyperoptic came along. Virgin offer average speeds of up to 516Mbps, which is still incredibly fast and ideal for very active internet users. Virgin Media is also much more widely available within the UK.
Visit our broadband speed test to learn more about average speeds by broadband provider and type, to check your current broadband speed, and to find out what the top speeds are for broadband in your area.
What’s the cheapest broadband in my area?
While it’s possible to list internet providers based on average price, it’s important to remember that not all types and deals are available in every area.
Our cheap broadband area checker can tell you the specific deals where you live, but the table below is a good place to start for general guidance on the best broadband provider for cheap internet deals.
| Broadband Provider | Average Speed | Prices From |
|---|---|---|
| Shell Energy broadband | 11Mb | £16.99 per month |
| NOW Broadband | 11Mb | £18 per month |
| Direct Save Telecom broadband | 11Mb | £18.95 per month |
| Plusnet broadband | 10Mb | £18.50 per month |
| John Lewis broadband | 10Mb | £20 per month |
| Origin broadband | 11Mb | £19.99 per month |
| TalkTalk broadband | 38Mb | £23 per month |
Who's the best broadband provider?
Most providers operate on the same network except for the Virgin Media and some independent providers (like Hyperoptic). If providers are on the same network, the broadband speeds offered will be roughly the same give or take a few Mbps. To try and differentiate themselves, providers will offer improved customer service, incentives, upgrades or more relaible WiFi.
Our handy table below lists the providers and their strengths. For a full review, click on the provider logo. For the record, we think Virgin Media is the best provider but only if it's available where you live.
| Broadband provider | Our rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
 |
WiFi strength, rewards | |
 |
Value for money, rewards | |
 |
Broadband speeds / Reliability | |
 |
TV & broadband bundles | |
 |
Customer service, rewards | |
 |
Mobile rewards | |
 |
No frills, no credit checks | |
 |
Energy discounts, 60-day guarantee | |
 |
Value for money / No upfront costs | |
 |
Energy discounts, rewards | |
 |
Fast speeds, no phone line | |
 |
Budget broadband |
What type of broadband is available in my area?
Currently, most areas of the UK are serviced with both ADSL / standard broadband that runs along pre-existing BT copper chone lines, and fibre broadband which uses fibre-optic cables for a faster and more reliable connection.
Cable broadband provides a much faster connection but is only available through a couple of UK providers, including Virgin Media broadband. At the moment, it’s also only available in some parts of the UK.
Our broadband area checker can tell you exactly what providers offer services in your area, along with supplying detail on the best current deals in your postcode.
Not sure what speed you need? Check out our guide to broadband speeds to determine what speed will best suit your household.
Which providers are available to choose from?
There are over 150 broadband providers in the UK to choose from. To help you narrow down the field, we’ve put together a rundown of the biggest, most affordable, and most popular providers:
BT broadband – A BT broadband deal won’t be the cheapest option, but look out for regular sales, cashback offers, and vouchers from the likes of M&S, Amazon, and BT Reward. Contract lengths are typically on the longer side.
Direct Save broadband – Direct Save Telecom have made a name for themselves as a budget broadband provider, with no credit checks for new customers.
EE broadband – EE offers standard and fibre broadband, and has the fastest 4G mobile connection in the UK.
Hyperoptic broadband – Hyperoptic is a brand in its own right that’s built its own network using only fibre optic cables. With a hyperoptic broadband deal, average speeds can reach a staggering 1GB.
John Lewis broadband – John Lewis brings its trustworthy reputation to the broadband industry with broadband and phone packages that come with no activation charges or usage caps.
NOW Broadband – With a NOW Broadband deal, you’ll enjoy competitively priced fibre and standard broadband, usually with a 12-month contract that’s ideal for students and home renters.
Plusnet broadband – With a Plusnet broadband deal, you’ll enjoy award-winning customer service along with a wide range of deals, including broadband only, basic broadband, and combined broadband and TV packages.
Shell Energy broadband – Shell Energy (formerly First Utility) offers well-priced, clear and straightforward broadband and fibre packages with no fuss or frills.
Sky broadband – Sky can’t match Virgin Media’s broadband for speed, but with a Sky broadband deal, you’ll enjoy unrivalled access to some enviable broadband and TV bundle deals.
SSE broadband – With an SSE broadband deal, you can enjoy unlimited standard and fibre broadband for a low monthly rate, with regular discounts for existing SSE energy customers.
TalkTalk broadband – A TalkTalk broadband deal will give you access to affordable monthly rates combined with incentives like gift cards from retailers like Amazon, Tesco, and Argos - though these must usually be spent on fibre broadband products.
Virgin Media broadband – Look out for incentives like bill credits of between £50 and £150, price discounts, free gifts, and free installation with a Virgin Media broadband deal. The brand also regularly runs flash sales lasting anywhere between three days and a week.
Vodafone broadband – Best known as a mobile network, Vodafone also offers a great choice of mobile broadband and phone deals. With fibre-optic provision, a Vodafone broadband deal can offer speeds as high as 76Mbps.
Our broadband provider page will give you full information on these providers and the deals they currently offer.
Why does broadband availability vary in different areas?
Broadband availability differs across the UK because of the infrastructure that’s in place. Very rural areas, for example, are unlikely to be as well serviced as towns and cities.
Thankfully, there’s been a big push in recent years to make gigabit speed broadband accessible to everyone in the UK by 2025, so those currently struggling with slow connections may have more options over the next couple of years.
If you’re currently not getting the broadband speed you need, you may be able to access a better deal from a different provider.
You can use our broadband speed test to find out what speed you currently receive.
What affects broadband speed?
A wide variety of factors can affect the speed of your home broadband, and many are not the fault of either your provider or network.
For users of standard broadband, the distance between your home and the nearest cabinet / exchange can play a role, as the existing copper wires that it uses aren’t well equipped to travel long distances. The further your broadband signal has to travel, the slower it can become. It can also be affected by the age and quality of the copper wires, which can become damaged over time. To learn more about how distance from the exchange affect your broadband speed , read our guide.
Traffic management policies can also halt speed performance during peak times. So you may experience slower connections during weekdays and evenings. If these restrictions are going to be an issue, it’s worth considering a truly unlimited broadband package. We’ve written about fair usage policies and traffic management in this guide to help you understand the impact this could have on your broadband.
Finally, what’s happening in your home can also make a difference. Wireless routers aren’t as effective as those connected by cable. Plus, they’re more likely to be interfered with by things like cordless phones, baby monitors and even microwaves. To combat this, place your router somewhere isolated like the hallway or landing. For more tips on where to set up your WiFi router, read our guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the best broadband in my area?
The easiest way to find the best broadband in your area is to use our broadband postcode checker. Jump back up to the top of the page and find out the best providers and deals available. Easy peasy.
Is super-fast fibre broadband available in my area?
Over 97% of UK households can access super-fast fibre broadband. To check if you can, simply enter your postcode to see the best providers and speeds available to you.
Can I get Hyperoptic broadband?
Hyperoptic is the fastest home broadband provider but there’s very limited availability. In fact, it’s available to less than half a million homes and businesses in the UK. And if you live in a new build or block of flats, it’s even more difficult to get connected.
Meanwhile, Virgin Media, the second-fastest broadband provider, is available to around 60% of homes in the UK. To find out if this includes you, enter your postcode using our broadband postcode availability checker.
How long is a standard contract?
Most broadband contract lengths tend to be between 12 and 24 months. If you want to exit your contract early, be aware that this incurs substantial fees. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re fully happy with the broadband deal from the off.
On the other hand, there are no contract broadband deals available. Although be warned - the set-up costs can be much higher.
Curious to find out more about broadband? Our broadband guides cover everything – from setting up your WiFi to monitoring your broadband usage.