Cheapest broadband in the UK

The cheapest broadband in the UK starts from £17.99 per month, depending on location and availability

Lyndsey Burton
Lyndsey Burton - Founder & Managing Director, Choose

The cheapest broadband deals currently start from around £17.99 per month in London, although prices vary depending on which networks are available in your area.

UK-wide providers typically offer full fibre broadband from around £19.99 per month, while smaller local and alternative networks can sometimes offer lower prices where they operate.

Broadband prices depend on which networks are available at your address, so searching by postcode will show the cheapest deals and providers where you live.

cheapest broadband router with money illustration
Illustration: Choose.co.uk

Quick answer: What is the cheapest broadband deal?

The cheapest broadband prices currently available in the UK are:

  • £17.99 per month - full fibre from smaller providers such as Community Fibre in London and Hyperoptic, where available
  • £19.99 per month - full fibre from national providers such as Plusnet
  • £22.50 per month - widely available fibre broadband from providers such as Vodafone

The cheapest broadband in the UK currently costs from around £17.99 per month, although most households will find widely available full fibre deals from around £19.99 per month, depending on which networks serve their postcode.


Cheapest full fibre broadband (nationwide)

These are the cheapest entry-level full fibre broadband deals from providers with nationwide or near-nationwide availability. Most offer average download speeds of at least 74Mbps, which is fast enough for streaming, video calls, and everyday household use.

Package Broadband Monthly price Upfront price Contract term
Full Fibre 74 74Mb average £19.99 Free 24 months
offer Offer: No setup fee + Exclusive offers and discounts for Plusnet customers
Full Fibre 150 150Mb average £22.50 Free 24 months
offer Offer: Existing Vodafone pay monthly customers get a £75 bill credit + £2 off for Vodafone pay monthly customers
Full Fibre 145 145Mb average £22.99 Free 24 months
offer Offer: £140 Reward Card + No setup fee + Exclusive offers and discounts for Plusnet customers (Ends 11/03/2026)
M125 Fibre Broadband 132Mb average £23.99 Free 24 months
offer Offer: No setup fee (was £35)

These providers use large national networks such as Openreach or Virgin Media, meaning they are available to most UK households. However, prices can be lower in areas served by smaller independent fibre networks, covered below.


Cheapest fibre broadband in part-fibre areas

Full fibre broadband is now available to most UK homes, but some properties are still limited to part-fibre (FTTC) connections, which use fibre to the street cabinet and copper lines into the home.

In these areas, the cheapest broadband deals are usually part-fibre packages offering average speeds of around 35Mbps to 80Mbps, which remain sufficient for smaller households and general internet use.

Package Broadband Monthly price Upfront price Contract term
Fibre 40 38Mb average £19.94 £4.95 24 months
offer Offer: Upgrade to WiFi 6 for £3 per month extra
Fibre 2 65Mb average £22.50 Free 24 months
offer Offer: Existing Vodafone pay monthly customers get a £75 bill credit + £2 off for Vodafone pay monthly customers
Fibre 80 67Mb average £22.94 £4.95 24 months
offer Offer: Upgrade to WiFi 6 for £3 per month extra
Fibre 66Mb average £22.99 Free 24 months
offer Offer: £80 Reward Card + No setup fee + Exclusive offers and discounts for Plusnet customers (Ends 11/03/2026)

Part-fibre broadband is gradually being replaced by full fibre, but it remains the cheapest widely available option in areas where newer networks have not yet been built.


Cheapest full fibre from independent providers

Smaller independent full fibre providers operate in specific towns, cities, and rural areas, rather than across the whole UK.

Where available, these networks often offer the lowest prices, with full fibre broadband deals starting from around £17.99 per month.

The cheapest independent full fibre broadband deals currently available include:

Package Broadband Monthly price Upfront price Contract term
150Mb Fibre Broadband 150Mb average £17.99 Free 24 months
offer Offer: Installed in as little as 48 hours + Free setup
home150 150Mb average £18 Free 18 months
offer Offer: Special Offer (Usually £22)
Ultrafast 300 300Mb average £16 Free 18 months
offer Offer: Free activation
Full Fibre 150 106Mb average £24.99 Free 18 months

Coverage is limited to certain locations. For example, Community Fibre focuses on London, Gigaclear serves mainly rural areas in southern England, and Fibrus operates in Northern Ireland and Cumbria. Other networks such as toob, LightSpeed, Hey! Broadband, Quickline, and Hyperoptic cover selected towns and cities.

Because availability varies significantly, entering your postcode in this search will show whether any independent fibre providers are available at your address.


Cheapest broadband for people on benefits

For people receiving Universal Credit and certain other means-tested benefits, social broadband tariffs can provide some of the cheapest available internet prices.

Social tariffs typically cost between £15 and £20 per month, with the cheapest starting from around £12.50 per month, depending on the provider and speed. Faster full fibre social tariffs are also increasingly available as fibre networks expand.

These plans are available from providers including BT, Virgin Media, Vodafone, Sky, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, and others. Full details of eligibility, speeds, and providers are available in our social broadband guide.

Unlike standard broadband contracts, social tariffs usually do not have annual price rises or higher out-of-contract pricing. Instead, eligibility is reviewed periodically, allowing customers to remain on lower prices while they qualify.

Some providers also offer additional discounts on home phone services for social tariff customers, including BT and KCOM.


Easier switching for cheaper broadband prices

The cheapest broadband prices are usually reserved for new customers, including people signing up for the first time or those switching from another provider. These introductory offers often include lower monthly prices, bill credits, or free setup, while customers who remain on older contracts may pay higher standard pricing.

Broadband providers must send end-of-contract notifications when a minimum term is coming to an end. These alerts show the current price and the new out-of-contract price, reminding customers they can re-contract or switch to avoid automatic price increases.

Switching broadband is now much easier under Ofcom's One Touch Switch rules, which allow customers to move between any major network using a single request to their new provider. This applies even when switching between separate networks such as Openreach, Virgin Media, Hyperoptic, or other independent full fibre providers, with the new provider managing the transfer and cancellation of the old service.

Re-contracting with an existing provider can sometimes reduce the monthly bill, but providers are not required to offer the same pricing available to new customers. Customers who are out of contract can usually switch immediately, while those still within a minimum term may face early termination fees if they leave early.

See our guide on how to negotiate a broadband contract for tips on lowering your monthly price, whether switching to a new provider or agreeing a new deal with your current one.


What affects the real cost of broadband

The lowest advertised monthly price is a useful starting point, but the cheapest broadband deal overall depends on contract terms, annual price rises, and whether introductory offers apply.

  • Contract length. Most cheap broadband deals require a 12-, 18-, or 24-month contract. Longer contracts often offer lower monthly prices, but leaving early can trigger substantial early termination charges, sometimes including most of the remaining monthly payments. Cancelling early rarely saves money.
  • Annual price rises. Many providers increase prices each spring. Since the move to pound-and-pence pricing in 2025, broadband prices typically rise by around £3 to £4 per month each year, with TV and phone services often increasing by £1 to £2. These mid-contract price rises apply even during the minimum term, although some providers still offer fixed-price broadband.
  • Setup fees and special offers. Activation can cost between £0 and £60, although providers frequently waive these charges or offer bill credits and reward cards. Promotional offers can make faster packages cheaper than slower entry-level plans.
  • New customer pricing. The cheapest broadband deals are usually reserved for new customers. Once a contract ends, prices typically increase to a higher standard rate, which is why providers must send end-of-contract notifications reminding customers to switch or re-contract.

Because prices, contract terms, and availability vary by postcode, comparing broadband deals in your area will show the cheapest options currently available.


How broadband prices are changing in the UK

Broadband prices in the UK have shifted significantly as full fibre networks expand and regulators change how annual price rises work.

Ofcom's latest affordability research shows the average household broadband bill is around £26 per month. However, customers who remain on older contracts often pay more, while new customer offers and full fibre competition have reduced entry-level prices to under £20 per month in some areas.

Much of this downward pressure comes from wholesale pricing changes. Ofcom approved discounted Openreach full fibre pricing, building on earlier Equinox fibre pricing changes, allowing providers to sell faster full fibre broadband at lower cost. Independent fibre networks have also increased competition, often undercutting traditional Openreach-based providers where they operate.

At the same time, the structure of annual price rises has changed. Ofcom banned inflation-linked mid-contract price rises in 2024, requiring providers to state future increases clearly in pounds and pence. Most major providers now apply fixed annual increases of around £3 to £4 per month, with BT, EE, and Plusnet increasing broadband prices by £4 per month for new and renewing customers.

Customers on older CPI-linked contracts are also being moved onto fixed pound-and-pence increases as agreements change, with BT and EE ending CPI-linked rises for out-of-contract customers.

Overall, as fibre coverage expands and wholesale costs fall, faster full fibre broadband is increasingly becoming the cheapest option for new customers, even compared with older copper-based connections.


Is cheapest always best?

Price is often the main factor when choosing broadband, especially with household budgets under pressure. However, competition in the market means many providers are separated by only a few pounds per month.

This means it can be worth considering other factors alongside price before choosing a broadband deal.

Most broadband connections work reliably day-to-day, but when faults do occur, customer service and repair times become important. Providers with greater control over their own networks, such as Virgin Media, can sometimes resolve faults more quickly, while providers including Plusnet and Sky have consistently strong customer service records.

At the same time, some of the cheapest providers have experienced higher complaint levels during periods of rapid growth. See our guides to the best broadband customer service and the most reliable broadband providers for detailed comparisons.

Speed is also an important consideration. Smaller households may find entry-level fibre broadband sufficient, while larger households, shared homes, or families with multiple simultaneous users may benefit from faster full fibre packages. Larger homes may also require better in-home coverage, such as newer routers or mesh Wi-Fi systems. Read more on what broadband speed you need.

Ultimately, the cheapest broadband deal is not always the best choice if it does not meet the needs of your household. Choosing a reliable provider with suitable speeds and good coverage can provide better long-term value, even if the monthly price is slightly higher.


Verdict: Cheapest broadband deals and what to consider

The cheapest broadband deals in the UK currently start from around £17.99 per month in areas served by smaller independent full fibre networks such as Community Fibre and Hyperoptic. However, these networks only cover certain towns, cities, or individual buildings.

For most households, the cheapest broadly available full fibre broadband from national providers starts from around £19.99 per month, with providers such as Plusnet, Vodafone, and others offering entry-level full fibre plans across the Openreach network, which reaches the majority of UK homes.

Competition between networks has significantly reduced entry-level prices in recent years, meaning full fibre broadband is now often cheaper than older copper-based connections. However, the lowest advertised prices are typically reserved for new customers, and monthly costs can increase after the minimum contract ends unless customers re-contract or switch.

Price is an important factor, but it is not the only consideration. Broadband speed requirements vary depending on household size, number of connected devices, and usage such as streaming, gaming, or working from home. Homes with larger layouts may also benefit from better routers or mesh Wi-Fi systems to ensure consistent coverage throughout the property.

Customer service, reliability, and fault repair performance can also differ between providers. Some low-cost providers rely entirely on third-party infrastructure, while network operators such as Virgin Media manage their own networks directly. Providers including Plusnet and Sky have historically reported strong customer satisfaction, while others have experienced higher complaint levels in Ofcom reporting.

Ultimately, the cheapest broadband deal depends on which networks are available at your address, and whether full fibre is already installed locally. Checking availability will show the lowest prices, speeds, and providers currently available where you live.

Which broadband deals are available in your area?

independent comparison

We're independent of the products and services we compare.

fair comparison

We order our comparison tables by price or features - never by referral revenue.

charity donations and climate positive

We donate at least 5% of net profits to charity, and operate a climate-positive workforce.

Receive consumer updates that matter in our newsletter