Claire Nottage | October 8th, 2021
SSE broadband review 2021: Is it any good?
SSE is one the UK’s ‘Big Six’ energy companies, and since 2015 it has been offering broadband deals in addition to gas and electricity. So what do you get, and is SSE broadband any good?
Results of our broadband survey
We interviewed 6,000 household broadband decision makers in 2021. This is how SSE broadband customers rated their service:
| Installation/switching | |
| Speed satisfaction | |
| Reliability |
| Equipment/routers | |
| Value for money | |
| Likeliness to recommend |
Our review of SSE broadband
An energy company may not be the first place you’d go to for broadband but as one of the UK’s ‘big six’, SSE is a solid business. Regular discounts for existing energy customers and no long-term contracts, are plus points.
Reasons to buy
- Discounts for energy customers
- Value for money
- 60-day guarantee
Reasons to avoid
- Basic router
- No TV bundles
- No inclusive security software
If you’re looking for a no-frills broadband provider and you aren’t bothered about all the extras on offer from the likes of BT and Sky, then SSE could be a good option. Especially if you’re already an energy customer and can enjoy a £75 credit on your energy bill. Plus, if you decide it’s not for you, you can leave without penalty in the first 60 days.
-
£50 Bill CreditM100 Fibre Broadband- 108Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- Effective Cost Only £21.22pm
- £0 Setup Fee
- You Save £445
£24 per month(usually £44)£50 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contractGet Dealthis deal is anOnline exclusive -
£50 Bill CreditM200 Fibre Broadband
- 213Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- Effective Cost Only £25.23pm
- £0 Setup Fee
- You Save £481
£28 per month(usually £50)£50 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contractGet Dealthis deal is anOnline exclusive -
Super Fibre Broadband- 63Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- PAYG calls
- Super Fibre for Fab Fibre price
£21 per month£5 one-off cost12 month contractGet Dealor call NOW on0330 041 2479 0330 041 2479
Overview
Here’s a quick look at what you can expect to find in an SSE broadband deal.
| Average download speed | 35Mbps, 63Mbps |
|---|---|
| Average upload speed | 9Mbps, 19Mbps |
| Broadband | Fibre |
| Home Phone | Yes |
| Prices from | £23 per month |
Broadband speeds
SSE previously offered standard ADSL broadband in addition to fibre, but now it simply offers Unlimited Fibre, with average download speeds of 35Mbps, and Unlimited Fibre Plus, with average download speeds of 63Mbps. There are no data caps on either deal, so you won’t have to be concerned with hitting a limit and being charged. These speeds are typical of what’s offered by most fibre broadband providers.
A fibre connection should comfortably support a home with several devices being used at once, whether that’s a mobile, a laptop, a games console or any other internet-connected household appliance such as a smart meter. If you’re not sure what internet speed is right for your household, take a look at our guide to what broadband speed you might need.
Upload speeds
Upload speeds determine how quickly you can send emails and upload files to the internet. SSE offers standard average speeds of 9Mbps and 19Mbps, respectively, with its two fibre packages. This reflects what most other providers offer, and these speeds are easily fast enough for sending photos by email or uploading images to social media.
-
£50 Bill CreditM100 Fibre Broadband
- 108Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- Effective Cost Only £21.22pm
- £0 Setup Fee
- You Save £445
£24 per month(usually £44)£50 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contractGet Dealthis deal is anOnline exclusive -
£50 Bill CreditM200 Fibre Broadband
- 213Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- No phone line
- Effective Cost Only £25.23pm
- £0 Setup Fee
- You Save £481
£28 per month(usually £50)£50 Bill Credit£0 one-off cost18 month contractGet Dealthis deal is anOnline exclusive -
Super Fibre Broadband
- 63Mb average speed +
- Unlimited usage +
- PAYG calls
- Super Fibre for Fab Fibre price
£21 per month£5 one-off cost12 month contractGet Dealor call NOW on0330 041 2479 0330 041 2479
Router and installation
When you sign up to SSE you will be sent a TG589vac Wi-Fi router. The device offers dual-band technology so you will always get a good signal throughout your home. It also has four ethernet ports that can support up to 1,000Mbps.
If you want to leave before the 18-month contract is up you will have to return the router and you may have to pay a fee. On the other hand, SSE does offer a 60-day Happiness Guarantee. This means that if you are not happy with the service, you can leave within the first 60 days without penalty. This is much more generous than other providers who only offer a two-week window in which you can cancel without penalty.
Installation
SSE does not charge any upfront costs, even for router delivery, and your service should be up and running within 18 days.
If an engineer needs access to your home, SSE will let you know as an adult will need to be in at the time. If not, the switch will be made remotely. If you need a new phone line for any reason, you will be charged £60. This is the standard cost imposed by Openreach and passed on by all broadband providers.
Check out our guide for more information on how to switch broadband providers.
Customer service
You can call the SSE customer service helpline on 0345 026 2658 from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Or you can send an email by using the web messaging service. The provider also has active social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook where you can get in touch.
Our verdict: Good
So what to make of SSE as a broadband provider? Well, for one, you’re in safe hands. If you’ve not heard of SSE, it’s a huge company backed by its energy supply business. You’re unlikely to have to worry about losing your broadband connection at any time, and the same can perhaps not be said of other very small providers you also might not have heard of.
Its packages are generally cheap, but its contracts are long. That’s the trade-off. The ‘cheapness’ also extends to the equipment supplied. You’ll get a very basic router that will be fine for smaller households or for people who have their own more powerful device, but it likely won’t be enough for a large household without wifi range extenders.
There are no bells, whistles or TV packages, but you will get a further discount if you also get your energy from SSE, and its to those people we most strongly recommend giving SSE a try. For everyone else, there are better options available from BT, Virgin Media and Vodafone.
Our experts are available from 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday