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Deals last updated: 14th September 2024
Using our postcode checker is the fastest and most reliable way to find the best broadband deals in your area. Every household is different, so you must consider your budget, internet habits, contract lengths and what type of broadband will best suit your needs.
We surveyed over 2,000* broadband customers in the UK to better understand how they feel about their broadband. We’ve included our findings here to offer more insights into the best broadband in your area and how to spot the best deal.
Checking the broadband in your area is crucial.
Not every provider will operate in your region, so after finding one which serves your address, you must deduce the one that best fits your needs.
You should then compare by price and speed to ensure your budget is balanced and you can seamlessly engage with your usual internet habits without slow loading times or excess buffering.
Using our postcode checker is incredibly easy to use, just follow our simple three-step process to discover your perfect deal.
The best way to find broadband in your area is to use our comparison journey. Enter your postcode and address to be given instant access to all the best deals in your region.
To shed some light on the most broadband connections in your area, we have highlighted the most popular broadband types by UK region.
Keep in mind this is not entirely dependent on the broadband available in these areas but will also be impacted by personal preferences, budgetary considerations, and other factors.
Before committing to a deal, you need to weigh up some common considerations first. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when comparing broadband in your area.
We have also included the best broadband provider for each consideration to help guide you on your journey.
Our survey revealed the average broadband contract costs £52.66 per month.
Price will fluctuate depending on speeds, contract length, broadband type and provider. Ensure you can afford the monthly costs and consider any upfront fees that come at the start of your contract.
Community Fibre offers some of the cheapest deals considering the high speeds, and our survey revealed Vodafone to be one of the best value for money providers.
Busy households who engage in internet-intensive activities, such as video conferencing, 4K streaming or gaming, will require faster speeds.
EE and Virgin Media are both nationwide providers, meaning you will likely have them in your area, and offer top speeds of 1,600Mbps and 1,130Mbps respectively; more than enough for any household.
As a rule, more people in the home need faster speeds. Use our speed test guide to find out more about which speeds you need.
A variety of factors can impact your broadband speeds; here are some common issues to look out for if your speeds aren’t what they should be.
| Factors | Broadband connections affected | How it impact your speeds |
|---|---|---|
| Population density | Fibre and full fibre | Rural areas generally have slower speeds than urban areas |
| Peak times | Standard, fibre and full fibre | Speeds tend to be slower from 8-10pm [1] due to network congestion |
| Fair usage policies | All broadband types | Although they’re uncommon, these policies reduce your speeds at certain times of the day (for example, at peak times). If they apply, they willl be specified in your contract |
Knowing your new broadband provider will take care of you during your contract will provide peace of mind and ensure any issues you encounter are quickly resolved.
In our survey, 100 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with Hyperoptic, and 89 per cent were satisfied with Plusnet.
Visit our guide to the different broadband providers for a thorough breakdown of each of their offerings, as well as their key strengths.
A reliable broadband connection means fewer disconnections, which results in happier customers and easy browsing.
In our survey, BT received the fewest complaints about frequent disconnections. 51 per cent of respondents claimed they hadn’t experienced any issues whatsoever with NOW, proving their worth as reliable providers.
While cost is important, underpaying for a bad service will cause more stress in the long run.
Finding which broadband providers operate in your area gives you a better insight into high speeds and reliable brands. Always look at smaller brands in your region as these can be more affordable. Providers with price guarantees will also ensure you’re not subject to the annual CPI price hike.
Plus, a higher monthly fee can significantly enhance your online experience; faster packages with bundled features, like TV services, add convenience and can result in a deal that’s more expensive, but offers better value for money.
The table below shows the most common types of broadband and their availability across the UK.
| Types of broadband | Best suited for | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Full fibre broadband (FTTP) | Busy households with internet intensive habits | 62 per cent [2] |
| Fibre broadband (FTTC) | Busy households without access to full fibre | 97 per cent [3] |
| Standard broadband (ADSL) | Households that only browse the web and check emails | 96 per cent |
| Mobile broadband | Those without access to traditional broadband who have good signal | Dependent on 4G/5G signal |
| Satellite broadband | Those in very remote areas with low signal | Very widely available |
For an in-depth look at what broadband is available in your area, visit our dedicated pages where we’ve catalogued what deals you can find in each region.
Over 150 broadband providers operate in the UK, but none offer blanket coverage across the country.
To find out what broadband providers offer coverage in your area, use our postcode checker. You will be provided with every provider that operates in your area, from big names to smaller companies, with the option to filter these results further based on your preferences.
Our postcode checker will reveal the best broadband packages in your area in mere minutes.
Before you enter your postcode, make sure you consider these quick points:
Higher speeds can be costly, but they allow for a seamless, stress-free connection.
Ensure you won’t need to terminate early by picking the right contract length. If you’re a student or moving house soon, consider no-contract broadband.
Compare providers to find the one that suits your needs best, from new customer incentives to yearly price increases.
If you don’t like the broadband providers available to you, the options we’ve listed below won’t require a moving van.
*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24-64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents, totalling Sky (489), BT Broadband (412), Virgin Media (396), EE (134), Vodafone (124), Other (102), Plusnet (66), NOW Broadband (45), Three (31), Hyperoptic (14), Community Fibre (8), Unsure (7). Respondents who selected Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Other or Unsure were discarded from our review, however, the information gathered for Hyperoptic and Community Fibre was used in our Broadband Providers evaluation. Respondents were asked to rate each category on a five-point scale, from Very Poor to Excellent, or from Never to Always, with the option of selecting Don’t Know for all questions. For the question “What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider”, respondents could select from the following: Price Hikes, Slow Speeds, High Prices, Frequent Disconnections, Poor Customer Service, Billing Issues, Other and N/A.
[1] Ofcom – Broadband speeds: what you need to know, November 2022
[2] Ofcom – Connected Nations update: Spring 2024, April 2024
[3] Ofcom – Connected Nations UK Report 2023, December 2023
Using our postcode checker is the best way to find cheap broadband packages in your area. Filter by price and speed to ensure you’re committing to an affordable deal that offers adequate speeds for your household.
Yes. The fastest broadband connection available is full fibre broadband, which can reach over 1,000Mbps. The slowest is standard broadband, which uses copper wires and can only reach peak speeds of around 11Mbps.
Since broadband and TV packages are common among a wide range of broadband suppliers, you should be able to invest in one no matter where you live. These types of deals are generally more expensive than broadband-only offers and may require costly installation fees, especially if you need a satellite for your chosen package.
Explore our picks of the best broadband deals in your area in September
Deals checked by Gemma Ryles, our broadband expert
With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Gemma to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.