NOW Broadband vs TalkTalk Broadband

NOW Broadband specialise in offering low-cost broadband deals, come with a home phone line and can be bundled with Sky TV.

TalkTalk have now moved towards offering faster broadband deals with the latest routers, so prices are higher, but TalkTalk also have discounts on Sky content through NOW TV.

Those who want ultrafast or gigabit broadband will need to pick TalkTalk as NOW doesn't offer this, yet NOW Broadband are the cheaper option for entry-level deals.

At a glance

Best deals

	Package	Broadband	Monthly price	Upfront price	Contract term
Go	Full Fibre 75	75Mb average	£23	Free	24 months
	Offer: Free setup
Go	Full Fibre 150	152Mb average	£29	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P

Price

Winner: NOW Broadband offers cheaper prices on broadband and phone than TalkTalk does, although they only offer up to 100Mbps speeds.

NOW Broadband offer superfast part-fibre and full fibre broadband from just £22 per month with free setup, while TalkTalk's Fibre 65 and Fibre 150 plans cost from £28 to £29 per month for equivalent speeds.

	Package	Broadband	Monthly price	Upfront price	Contract term
Go	Full Fibre 75	75Mb average	£23	Free	24 months
	Offer: Free setup
Go	Full Fibre 65	77Mb average	£28	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P

Setup is currently free on NOW Broadband's cheapest deals, and the packages also include a home phone line as standard too, with the option to add inclusive call plans.

TalkTalk only include a home phone line with their part-fibre packages, while all full fibre packages are broadband-only deals with no option to access a home phone.

Both providers do increase prices during the minimum term on an annual basis, although TalkTalk raise prices by inflation (CPI) + 3.7%, while NOW Broadband say "prices may rise", so they aren't specific but prices went up by £3 per month in 2024.

Lastly, in terms of discounts on TV bundles, TalkTalk offer a TV service in partnership with NOW and customers get NOW Boost included for free as well as occasional discounts on NOW TV Memberships.

Ironically, NOW Broadband no longer offer bundles with NOW TV, but instead allow customers to bundle Sky TV during checkout, which could work out more expensive than the rolling contracts available with TalkTalk TV.

Overall, NOW Broadband easily beats TalkTalk on price, and now they're powered by Sky the router is more up to date with options for WiFi boosters too, so customers get a similar quality service as with Sky but for less money.

Broadband packages

Winner: TalkTalk offer more full fibre broadband options than NOW Broadband does, although both customers can still access a WiFi guarantee and parental control tools.

While NOW Broadband is well suited to households on a budget who just want a simple broadband connection, TalkTalk offer both ultrafast and gigabit broadband packages that aren't available with NOW.

Although it should be said, since becoming powered by Sky after a relaunch in June 2024, NOW Broadband customers will benefit from more of Sky's higher quality service offerings, including a more up to date router, parental control software, and optional add-ons including a WiFi guarantee.

Here are NOW Broadband's packages side-by-side with those equivalent deals from TalkTalk:

	Package	Broadband	Monthly price	Upfront price	Contract term
	Superfast	61Mb average	£23	Free	24 months
	Offer: Free setup
	Full Fibre 75	75Mb average	£23	Free	24 months
	Offer: Free setup
	Full Fibre 100	100Mb average	£25	£5	24 months
	Offer: £5 refundable advance fee for new customers if applicable
	Fibre 65	67Mb average	£28	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P
	Full Fibre 150	152Mb average	£29	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P

As well as being cheaper, there are some note-worthy benefits to taking NOW Broadband over TalkTalk broadband.

Firstly, all NOW Broadband packages come with a home phone line and pay as you go calls as standard, with the line rental included in the low monthly fee listed above. In contrast, only those living in part-fibre areas will receive a home phone line with TalkTalk, and for those in full fibre areas it's not even possible to add one even by paying extra.

Also, since NOW Broadband relaunched their packages and became 'powered by Sky', customers who sign up to NOW will now receive the more up to date Sky Broadband Hub (instead of the previous NOW Hub Two, and they'll also get the option to upgrade to the latest Sky Max Hub which supports WiFi 6.

While most households will find NOW Broadband's Full Fibre 75 and 100 plans more than adequate, those who want faster speeds will have to opt for TalkTalk (or NOW's parent company Sky).

Here are the faster broadband packages available from TalkTalk:

	Package	Broadband	Monthly price	Upfront price	Contract term
	Full Fibre 500	525Mb average	£39	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P
	Full Fibre 900	944Mb average	£49	Free	18 months
	Offer: Free setup and P&P

There's also a case where TalkTalk may be available in locations that NOW Broadband isn't, as TalkTalk resell access to CityFibre full fibre as well as the Openreach network NOW uses.

Search by postcode on our broadband comparison tool and filter by TalkTalk and NOW Broadband to see the exact packages available in your area.

You can also find out more by reading our full reviews of TalkTalk broadband and NOW Broadband where we cover the providers in more detail.

Broadband speed

Winner: TalkTalk offer faster broadband speeds than NOW Broadband, with top download speeds up to 944Mbps compared to 100Mbps with NOW.

TalkTalk offer much faster broadband speeds than NOW Broadband, with both ultrafast and gigabit options that NOW doesn't offer.

However, even in superfast part-fibre areas, TalkTalk offer faster download speeds on average at peak times than NOW Broadband does on equivalent packages. This speed difference is likely down to how TalkTalk manages its network as well as the different equipment it's installed in exchanges to compared to how NOW Broadband operates.

Here are the average speeds of each provider at peak times:

Advertised average speeds must be received by at least 50% of a provider's customers during the busiest times of 8pm to 10pm in the evening. So, these speeds are a reliable indicator of how fast a broadband connection is likely to be.

One point that's also worth making in terms of speed, which we look at in more detail below, is that speeds experienced can be affected by the wireless router too, as well as helped by WiFi boosters which both providers offer.

Minimum download speeds

Both NOW Broadband and TalkTalk offer customers personalised speed estimates and a guaranteed minimum download speed when they sign up.

These personalised speeds give an even more accurate picture of what a customer can expect from their new service, and the minimum guaranteed speed also works like a service guarantee.

We tested the same location with NOW and TalkTalk and were given these speed estimates and guarantees:

Minimum speed guarantees are part of Ofcom's code of practice on broadband speeds, which while it's voluntary, both NOW and TalkTalk have committed to provide it.

It means that if a customer's broadband speed drops below the minimum on 3 consecutive days, and the provider is unable to resolve the issue within 30 days of being notified, the customer is free to exit their contract without penalty.

Speeds with full fibre broadband connections are usually closer to the advertised averages due to the technology being more reliable and not affected by distance from the exchange.

So, where full fibre is available, customers should really consider the upgrade for a better broadband experience.

It's reassuring that both providers offer minimum guaranteed download speeds, although TalkTalk may offer a faster experience with faster average download speeds on both part-fibre and full fibre connections, as well as faster minimum speed guarantees than NOW Broadband across equivalent packages.

Router

Winner: NOW Broadband offer a better router than TalkTalk for part-fibre customers, yet TalkTalk include a WiFi 6 router as standard on their full fibre plans.

Customers taking one of TalkTalk's superfast broadband packages will be provided with the TalkTalk branded WiFi Hub.

This device offers 7 internal antennae, with dual-band wireless channels and supports up to the WiFi 5 protocol (802.11ac). It also supports WPA2 security and has four 1Gb Ethernet LAN ports for any wired connections.

In comparison, now NOW Broadband is more closely linked with Sky, all customers receive the Sky Broadband Hub. It comes with 8 internal antennae, and matches all other specifications of TalkTalk's WiFi Hub.

Here are the specifications of the two routers side-by-side:

Customers who take TalkTalk's full fibre broadband will be provided with a more up to date Amazon eero device, which is WiFi 6 and mesh enabled, so the network can be easily extended with additional devices.

Full Fibre 150 and above customers can also subscribe to TalkTalk's Total WiFi add-on, which costs an extra £8 per month and includes one additional eero device. Customers who take TalkTalk's fastest Full Fibre 900 plan get Total WiFi included for free.

All NOW Broadband customers can opt for Sky's WiFi Max add-on. It costs £6.50 per month but includes both an upgraded router - the Sky Max Hub - as well as their WiFi guarantee, with up to three Plume WiFi Pods.

Here are the specifications of the faster routers available from TalkTalk and NOW Broadband side-by-side:

The Amazon eero devices also have a built-in Zigbee home for smart home connections, and customers who take TalkTalk's faster Full Fibre 500 and Full Fibre 900 plans get an eero 6 Pro, which has tri-band wireless giving it an additional channel to transfer data.

TalkTalk offer a better router to full fibre broadband customers than NOW Broadband does, although NOW customers can upgrade the router to a better model.

Call plans

Winner: NOW include a home phone line with all of their broadband packages, while only part-fibre TalkTalk customers can access one.

Both NOW Broadband and TalkTalk include a home phone line on their superfast part-fibre broadband connections.

However, only NOW Broadband offer customers living in full fibre enabled areas a home phone line, with TalkTalk not providing the option at all.

For those who can get a phone line with either provider, calling plan options are similarly priced, with both NOW Broadband and TalkTalk charging £8 per month for off-peak calls and £16 per month for anytime calls.

Here are the prices of the call plan options from TalkTalk and NOW Broadband:

Both providers include UK mobiles in their call plans, and out of allowance calling charges are similar, with NOW charging 27p per minute plus a 25p connection charge, and TalkTalk charging 24p per minute.

Overall, NOW offer full fibre customers a way to keep a home phone line, which just isn't possible with TalkTalk broadband.

TV

Winner: TalkTalk TV offers discounts to NOW TV, which ironically NOW Broadband no longer does.

TalkTalk TV brings together an Android-powered 4K set top box, with access to on-demand apps from the Google Play Store, and exclusive discounts on NOW TV Memberships.

The subscription service costs £5 per month, but includes NOW Boost for free which is worth £6. Customers can also often get discounts on NOW TV Memberships, with NOW Entertainment currently reduced from £9.99 to just £4.99 per month.

It's kind of ironic then, that since NOW's relaunch, customers can't access discounts for bundling NOW Broadband with NOW TV, and instead are offered the option to bundle Sky TV.

Yet, the Sky TV bundle isn't any cheaper than taking the service separately, so this could in fact be added by TalkTalk broadband customers as well as if they wanted it.

Of course, NOW TV Memberships can also be taken separately, but TalkTalk's deals are still better value, with NOW Entertainment £4.99 for 12 months with TalkTalk TV, but only reduced to £6.99 for 6 months directly with NOW TV.

Here's some of TalkTalk's TV bundle deals, and the option for Sky TV:

	Package	TV	Broadband	Monthly price	Upfront price	Contract term
	Sky Entertainment + Netflix	150	N/a	£22	Free	24 months
	Offer: Save £6/mth + Free setup (Ends 31/07/2024)
	TV Hub + Full Fibre 65	70	77Mb average	£33	Free	18 months
	Offer: NOW Entertainment just £4.99 for 12 months (was £9.99) + NOW Boost free + Free setup and P&P

Overall, TalkTalk offers a comprehensive TV service with more value for money deals, including better prices for NOW TV.

Customer service

Winner: NOW Broadband receive fewer complaints in general, although a recent spike puts them more on a par with TalkTalk for service.

NOW Broadband have been listed in Ofcom's quarterly complaints figures since the start of 2022, when they received 8 complaints per 100,000 customers, which was less than the industry average.

Since then, they've remained below or on a par with the average, suggesting customers have few complaints about the provider and its services. However, complaints for NOW did spike in the most recent Q3 2023 complaints data, and remained high in the latest Q4 2023 report as well.

In comparison, TalkTalk's complaint figures have been higher than NOW's, although they too remain at a fairly steady rate at least.

Both providers are quick to answer the phone, with TalkTalk answering in 1 minute 22 seconds on average, and NOW Broadband picking up the phone in just 51 seconds.

Overall, we'd say it's difficult to draw a solid conclusion as to who is better between TalkTalk and NOW for customer service, but NOW's parent company are customer service super heroes Sky, so we'd expect that to filter down somewhat.

Verdict: NOW Broadband or TalkTalk?

Overall winner: TalkTalk offer a better broadband service than NOW, with options to take faster full fibre packages, although NOW are ultimately the cheapest.

People may think about whether NOW Broadband or TalkTalk is the better option for a budget broadband provider, but TalkTalk has now moved away from its budget roots to offer a more premium service.

NOW on the other hand still offer some of the UK's cheapest broadband prices, as well as a reasonable router, a home phone line, and options to access a WiFi 6 router and WiFi boosters.

We like NOW Broadband because:

• They have some of the cheapest prices for superfast broadband
• A home phone line is included as standard with all packages, call plans are also reasonable and include both landline and mobile calls
• Customers now get the more up-to-date Sky Broadband Hub, with options to upgrade to a WiFi 6 enabled Sky Max Hub as well

However, TalkTalk offer a better broadband service overall, because:

• They offer faster full fibre broadband packages with both ultrafast and gigabit options
• They provide eero 6 (or Pro 6) devices with full fibre plans
• TalkTalk TV is a more comprehensive service, with a range of other on-demand apps for watching content from Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, Paramount+, and Apple TV+, as well as NOW TV
• TalkTalk TV may also be better value for money as it includes NOW Boost worth £6/mth but costs just £5/mth to subscribe, as well as offering exclusive discounts on NOW TV Memberships.

It's always worth checking availability in an area and then comparing deals by price and special offer to find the best deal to switch to, however hopefully this guide has helped cover some of the main differences between the two providers.

Ultimately, while NOW offer the cheapest prices and could be the best option for those on a budget, TalkTalk offer a superior service overall, especially when customers use the Internet a lot or want to bundle a TV plan.