Broadband providers

The number of UK broadband providers continues to grow, so if you go for one of the big names or prefer the idea of a smaller, budget provider, there is plenty to choose from.

Broadband providers

Below you'll find a list of broadband providers we compare and review.

As well as broadband and phone services, Sky offers TV packages that can be adapted with a variety of extra channels, such as Sky Cinema and Sky Sports. It also now offers Sky Mobile.

Sky broadband deals Sky broadband review

BT offers home broadband, phone and TV packages in the UK, along with a mobile service. Its fibre optic service reaches up to 76Mbps. BT TV uses BT broadband to deliver programmes.

BT broadband deals BT broadband review

Virgin Media provides the fastest widely available broadband in the UK – up to 500Mbps – along with a range of TV packages to rival Sky. The Virgin Mobile service operates on the 4G EE network.

Virgin broadband deals Virgin broadband review

TalkTalk supplies a range of well-priced fibre and standard broadband packages, available with a choice of TV and phone plans. TalkTalk TV is only available with TalkTalk broadband.

TalkTalk broadband deals TalkTalk broadband review

Largely known as a mobile provider, EE also offers standard and fibre broadband, and EE TV, which is only available with EE broadband. The EE network offers the fastest 4G mobile connection in the UK.

EE broadband deals EE broadband review

Multi-award winning Plusnet provides fibre and standard broadband at fair, competitive prices. Plusnet boasts high-quality customer service and has a good customer satisfaction record.

Plusnet broadband deals Plusnet broadband review

John Lewis brings its trustworthy reputation to the broadband industry with three broadband and phone packages, no activation charges or usage caps, and an emphasis on value, simplicity and service.

John Lewis broadband deals John Lewis broadband review

NOW Broadband is the ideal partner for NOW TV. Owned and operated by Sky, it offers competitively priced fibre and standard broadband deals on a 12-month contract.

NOW Broadband deals NOW Broadband review

Shell Energy broadband is new to the broadband market, offering extremely well-priced, clear and straightforward broadband and fibre packages with no fuss or complicated extras.

Shell Energy broadband deals Shell Energy broadband review

Vodafone is best known as a mobile network, offering phone and mobile broadband services. It now also offers home broadband, with fibre broadband speeds up to 76Mbps.

Vodafone broadband deals Vodafone broadband review

SSE offers both standard and fibre broadband packages at low prices, with regular discounts for existing SSE energy customers. All its broadband packages are unlimited.

SSE broadband deals SSE broadband review

Hyperoptic is part of a new wave of providers offering gigabit broadband. It does this using its own network and has a strong focus on apartment blocks in big cities.

Hyperoptic deals Hyperoptic broadband review

Direct Save Telecom might not be a household name, but it has been a broadband provider since 1999. It offers low-cost, no-frills broadband, framing itself as a budget provider.

Direct Save deals Direct Save review

Gigaclear aims to bring some of the fastest broadband in the country to rural locations which have been let down by Openreach and Virgin Media in their network rollout plans.

Gigaclear broadband deals Gigaclear broadband review

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.

Origin broadband deals Origin broadband review

It may not be the biggest name in the broadband market but Hove-based iTalk Telecom has been around for more than a decade .

italk broadband deals italk broadband review

Onestream broadband launched in the summer of 2018, and it’s part of the Hampshire-based broadband specialist Onecom.

Onestream broadband deals Onestream broadband review

How to choose a broadband provider

This page provides a basic overview of some of the UK’s biggest broadband providers: the services they provide, average speeds, special features, and how to compare deals from different providers.

As there are currently more than 150 providers in total, we’ve included only the biggest, most popular, and most affordable broadband companies who provide a range of services including standard broadband, fibre broadband, and mobile broadband.

Not all services are provided in areas of the UK. Our postcode checker can tell you what’s available where you live.

Compare broadband providers

Broadband provider help and advice

We provide help and information about most popular internet providers, including:

BT broadband – The largest broadband provider in the UK, BT offers award-winning home broadband, along with phone and TV packages and mobile broadband.

Direct Save broadband – With UK based customer service centres and technical support teams, Direct Save offers fantastic value broadband.

EE broadband – Best known as a mobile phone provider, EE offers a speedy 4G mobile broadband service, along with affordable and reliable standard and fibre broadband for the home. Existing EE mobile customers can boost their data plans by purchasing EE broadband.

Hyperoptic broadband – With a range of packages offering broadband speeds of up to 900Mbps, hyperoptic offers a range of flexible broadband deals.

John Lewis broadband – John Lewis brings its trustworthy reputation to broadband provision with three simple broadband and phone packages.

NOW Broadband – The provider offers competitively priced standard and fibre broadband deals, typically on a 12-month fixed contract.

Plusnet broadband – A multi-award winning budget provider, Plusnet boasts high-quality customer service and affordable ADSL and fibre broadband deals.

Shell Energy broadband – The provider offers well-priced, straight-forward, simple standard and fibre broadband packages that come with no fuss or complicated extras.

Sky broadband – Sky is one of the biggest digital TV providers in the UK, offering a great range of TV and home phone services within their broadband bundles.

SSE broadband – SSE offers unlimited standard and fibre broadband packages at low prices, with regular discounts for existing SSE energy customers.

TalkTalk broadband – TalkTalk are one of the biggest internet providers in the UK, offering great-value ADSL and fibre broadband deals.

Virgin Media broadband – Virgin Media provides far and away the fastest widely available broadband in the UK, with speeds of up to 500Mbps.

Vodafone broadband – A mobile phone operator turned broadband provider, Vodafone offers competitively priced broadband packages.

Compare broadband deals

Compare broadband providers with Cable.co.uk

We help you compare great deals from the best broadband providers in the UK - both for stand alone broadband, and for broadband bundles that include TV, landline phone calls, or mobile phone service.

We’ll help you find the broadband deal that’s right for you, filtering with criteria that includes broadband type, broadband speed, size of household, additional services like TV and landline phone, provider, contract length, upfront charges, early-exit fees, and more.

It’s simple, really. All you have to do is enter your postcode and we’ll display a list of deals available in your area.

Compare deals in your area

Broadband provider speeds and networks

Although broadband speeds by type are similar across the most popular UK broadband providers, there are some small differences - and a huge leap between Virgin Media’s average speeds and the competition.

Before comparing broadband deals through different UK internet providers, you should use our broadband speed checker to find out what speed you’re currently receiving. If you’re happy with this, you can filter your results by similar speeds. If not, we’ll help you search for a deal that gives you a faster connection.

Broadband Provider	Top Average Speed	Network
Virgin Media	516Mbps	Own network
Gigaclear	1Gbps	Own network
Hyperoptic	1Gbps	Own network
BT	67Mbps	Openreach
EE	67Mbps	Openreach
TalkTalk	67Mbps	Openreach
John Lewis	66Mbps	Openreach
Plusnet	66Mbps	Openreach
SSE	63Mbps	Openreach
Vodafone	63Mbps	Openreach
Sky	59Mbps	Openreach
NOW Broadband	63Mbps	Openreach
Shell Energy broadband	63Mbps	Openreach

If you’re not sure what internet speed you need, our Guide to Broadband Speed will help you work it out.

Compare fast broadband

Who is the best UK broadband provider?

Each broadband provider has their own strengths and their own range of deals, bundles, and special offers.

It’s also important to decide what factors matter most to you (e.g. speed, price, contract length, etc) and look for a deal that combines these features in a way that’s right for you.

All of our broadband providers come with plenty of broadband customer reviews, which is a great way to find out what it’s genuinely like to sign up for one of their deals.

It’s important to remember that not all types of broadband or provider are available to all areas of the UK. Before deciding what provider or deal you’d like, it’s worth using our postcode checker to make sure what you want is available in your area.

We’ve put together a shortlist of providers who are known for offering the best broadband packages by the following:

Speed – Virgin Media is the fastest widely available provider in the UK with speeds up to 500Mpbs.

Popularity – TalkTalk is our most popular provider – low prices with decent incentives.

Free gifts – BT is the king of vouchers and reward cards – and they regularly score highly for satisfied customers

Cheapest – Shell Energy broadband currently offer the cheapest standard and fibre broadband deals in the UK.

Packages and bundles – Sky’s TV and broadband offering provides you with a massive range of channels and great broadband options.

Broadband in London – Hyperoptic is only available in a few areas across the UK and offer some of the fastest broadband available.

Compare broadband

Contacting your broadband provider

If you experience an issue with your home broadband, or have questions about your contract or provision, you should contact your provider directly. Cable.co.uk do not have access to the customer records of any provider, and will be unable to assist you with your query.

Here are some contact numbers for the UK’s biggest broadband providers:

BT: 0800 800 150
Virgin Media: 0870 444 1820
Sky: 03442 411 653
TalkTalk: 0870 444 1820
Plusnet: 0800 432 0200
Post Office: 0345 600 3210
EE broadband: 0800 079 8586
Vodafone broadband: 08080 034 511
SSE: 0800 975 8292
John Lewis broadband: 0800 022 3300
Origin broadband: 01302 235060
Hyperoptic: 0333 332 1111
XLN: 0344 880 7777
Zen: 01706 902100
Direct Save Telecom: 0800 280 2228
Gigaclear: 01865 591 131

If you need to make a complaint to your broadband provider, read our guide.

Broadband provider help

How to switch your broadband provider

Broadband installation & activation

How to complain to your broadband provider

See all broadband guides