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Best broadband in my area

Explore our picks of the best broadband deals in your area in October

Gemma Ryles new profile April 2024

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.

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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 should consider your budget, internet habits and contract lengths as well as 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 help you spot the best deal.

Why should I check broadband in my area?

Not every provider will operate in your region, so checking the broadband in your area is crucial.

Once you’ve found a broadband company that serves your address, you will be able to work out which one best fits your needs.

You should then compare by price and speed to ensure your budget is balanced. You’ll also want to make sure you can seamlessly engage with your usual internet habits without slow loading times or excess buffering.

How does our postcode checker work?

Our postcode checker is easy to use. Follow our simple three-step process to find your perfect deal.

  1. Enter your postcode
    Enter your postcode, address and current provider
  1. Filter to your needs
    Filter by speed, price and contract length
  1. Find your perfect deal
    Compare your available packages, and pick your new deal

Why should you use our postcode checker?

When comparing deals, you don’t want to fall in love with a package only to find that the provider doesn’t operate in your area.

Our postcode checker presents you only with deals that work where you live.

It also offers the flexibility to filter deals by speed, price, contract length and provider, among other factors. This ensures budget-conscious buyers can find the cheapest offers while households needing faster broadband can find a speed that can keep up with them.

Switching broadband deals can save one in two customers £141*, and our postcode checker is the easiest way to do that. Enter your postcode now to find the best new deal to suit your needs.

What broadband is in my area?

The best way to find broadband in your area is to use our comparison journey. Enter your postcode and address to get instant access to all the best deals in your region.

To give you an idea of the broadband connections available in your area, we’ve highlighted the most popular broadband types by UK region.

Keep in mind that your decision will also be impacted by factors such as personal preferences and budgetary considerations.

How to compare broadband in my area?

Before committing to a deal, you need to keep in mind some key factors when comparing broadband in your area.

We’ve included the best broadband provider for each consideration to help guide you with your decision.

Price

Our survey revealed the average broadband contract costs £52.66 per month.

The 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 its high speeds, while our survey revealed Vodafone to be one of the best-value-for-money providers.

Speed

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. They offer top speeds of 1,600Mbps and 1,130Mbps respectively, which is more than enough for most households.

As a rule, the more people there are in the home, the faster the speed you will require. Use our speed test guide to find out more about which speeds you need.

Factors affecting speed

Several factors can impact your broadband speeds. Here are some common issues to look out for if your speeds aren’t what they should be.

FactorBroadband connections affectedImpact on your speeds
Population densityFibre and full fibreRural areas generally have slower speeds than urban areas
Peak timesStandard, fibre and full fibreSpeeds tend to be slower between 8pm and 10pm [1] due to network congestion
Fair usage policiesAll broadband typesAlthough uncommon, these policies reduce your speeds at certain times of the day (for example, at peak times). If applicable, they will be specified in your contract

Customer satisfaction/service

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 breakdown of their offerings and their key strengths.

Reliability 

  • Best providers for reliability: BT, NOW 

A reliable broadband connection means fewer disconnections, which results in happier customers and easier browsing.

In our survey, BT received the fewest complaints about frequent disconnections, while 51 per cent of respondents claimed they hadn’t experienced any issues whatsoever with NOW, proving the company’s worth as a reliable provider.

Gemma Ryles new profile April 2024

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 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 consumer price index (CPI) price hike.

 

A higher monthly fee can also significantly enhance your online experience. Faster speed packages with bundled features, such as TV services, add convenience and can result in a deal that’s more expensive but offers better value for money.

Common types of broadband and their availability

The table below shows the most common types of broadband and their availability across the UK.

Type of broadbandBest suited forAvailability
Full fibre broadband, also known as fibre to the premises (FTTP)Busy households with internet-intensive habits62 per cent [2]
Fibre broadband, also known as fibre to the cabinet (FTTC)Busy households without access to full fibre97 per cent [3]
Standard broadband, also known as asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL)Households that only browse the web and check emails96 per cent
Mobile broadbandHouseholds with good signal but no access to traditional broadbandDependent on 4G/5G signal
Satellite broadbandHouseholds in very remote areas with low signalVery 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. 

Do any providers offer coverage across the whole of the UK?

Over 150 broadband providers operate in the UK, but none offer blanket coverage across the country.

Use our postcode checker to find out what broadband providers offer coverage in your area. You’ll be able to see 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 top recommended broadband providers
Hyperoptic
Ultrafast speeds at affordable prices
Plusnet
Fast speeds & reliable customer service
Vodafone
Perks for existing mobile customers
BT Broadband
The UK’s largest broadband provider
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How do I find the best broadband package in my area ?

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:

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Speed

Consider higher speeds. Theycan be costly, but they allow for a seamless, stress-free connection.

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Contract length

Pick the right contract length to ensure you won’t need to terminate early. If you’re a student or moving house soon, consider no-contract broadband.

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Provider

Compare providers and consider factors such as new customer incentives and price guarantees to find the deal that best suits your needs.

What if I don’t like the broadband providers available in my area?

If you don’t like the broadband providers available in your area, take a look at the options we’ve listed below.

  • Mobile broadband: if you can only access slow standard broadband, mobile broadband is a reliable option. Three is one of the most popular mobile broadband providers
  • Satellite broadband: while being one of the most expensive broadband solutions at £68.57 per month on average, satellite broadband is one of the few dependable choices for those without access to traditional or mobile broadband

Compare broadband in your area

To start comparing broadband deals in your area, simply enter your postcode, address and current provider into our comparison journey.

Methodology and sources

*Survey of broadband customers aged 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) and 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 to select ‘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’.

*51% of customers could save £141 or more a year on their broadband-only/broadband and phone contract. Our average savings figure is based on an average monthly bill of £34.76 from a nationally representative survey sample (n=2000, reduced to 349 to remove any outliers) compared with our cheapest superfast broadband deal (>55Mbs) with a headline price of £23/month. Independent Advisor survey conducted in March 2024. Deal prices correct as of April 2024. All prices are subject to independent broadband providers and CPI changes.

[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

Broadband in my area FAQs

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 dish for your chosen package.

Broadband availability is highly dependent on infrastructure. Urban areas usually have higher access to fibre and full fibre broadband since the required infrastructure is present. The same cannot be said for rural areas.

In our survey, urban city centre residents had an average broadband speed of 141Mbps. Rural areas had a lower average of 109Mbps. Mobile and satellite broadband are viable options for people living in rural areas who require faster speeds than traditional broadband can allow.

Gemma Ryles new profile April 2024

Gemma Ryles

Home Tech Writer

Gemma Ryles is a BJTC and PPA-accredited journalist with three years of experience writing across various publications. As a home tech expert at Independent Advisor, Gemma tests, researches and writes about broadband and home security. 

Previously, Gemma reviewed and curated lists about consumer technology at Trusted Reviews, where she honed her skills in creating buying guides and features to help customers make informed decisions. She has previously worked at Yorkshire Post, BBC Yorkshire, Glitterbeam Radio and Bonus Stage. 

Gemma has a BA in Journalism and in her free time can be found writing short stories, gaming and crocheting.