You Are Here » Home » Internet » Broadband Buyers Guide

How To Compare UK Broadband Internet Providers. A Buyers Guide.

I am regularly asked by friends and customers to advise on which is the best broadband ISP (Internet Service Provider) to choose. A lot of people just can't be bothered to browse around all the providers web sites to find the deal that best suits their requirements. I am not surprised, the amount of providers and their various options is bewildering.

To make it easier for you to compare the most popular broadband internet providers I have split their various offerings into the following categories:

The most popular broadband packages are those with speeds upto 8MB and I recommend you go for this speed if you can afford it. It only costs a few pounds more but the download speed is four times that of the value packages and that makes a big difference.

Compare Local Loop Unbundled (LLU) broadband packages.

Local Loop Unbundling is where a service provider fits their own equipment in your local telephone exchange enabling them to directly provide you with voice and broadband services without having to go through BT's network. Theoretically this should make LLU services cheaper.

LLU services are not available to all of the UK. To check if LLU services are available in your area, click the 'LLU Exchange List' links below which will take you to The Broadband Resource. (Note to my customers, there are currently no LLU services in Stamford Bridge)

Provider Package
& Price
/ Month
At Your
Exchange?
Usage
allowance
(S)peed
(C)ontract
(C)onnection
(R)outer
(W)ireless
(E)mail
Addresses
(W)ebspace
Phone
Calls
Included
Special
Offers

AOL Broadband
Wireless
£9.99 1st 6 Months
£14.99 thereafter.

AOL LLU
Exchange
List
10GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 18Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Free

(E) 7
(W) ?

Add Talk
Evenings and
Weekends at
no extra cost!
1 month FREE
when
ordered online

AOL Broadband
Wireless Plus
From £19.99 / M

40GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 24Mth
Includes
AOL Talk
Pay As You Go
FREE £450
laptop - while
stocks last

TalkTalk Talk2
International

Call plan £5.89
Line Rental £10.50
Braodband £0
Total £16.39

Talk Talk
Exchange
List
40GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 18Mth

(C) £29.99
(R) Free
(W) £20

(E) 5
(W) 15MB

Yes
Click the
TalkTalk
links for
more info
 

TalkTalk Talk3
International

Call plan £9.99
Line Rental £10.50
Braodband £0
Total £20.49

UKonline 1MB £9.99 Check
availability
Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 1MB
(C) 12Mth
(C) £25
(R) No
(W) £59.99
(E) 10
(W) 100MB
No  
UKonline 2MB £14.99 (S) 2MB
(C) 12Mth
UKonline 8MB £19.99 (S) 8MB
(C) 12Mth
UKonline 22MB £24.99 (S) 22MB
(C) 12Mth

Compare broadband only packages, non LLU.

These packages offer broadband only but add on call packages may be available, see below. Please click on the links for more information.

Provider Package
& Price
/ Month
Usage
allowance
(S)peed
(C)ontract
(C)onnection
(R)outer
(W)ireless
(E)mail
Addresses
(W)ebspace
Special
Offers

Madasafish Max
£11.99 1st 6 Months
£17.99 thereafter.

5GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Free

(E) Unlimited
(W) 100MB

£10 credit when
you sign up via a link
on this page.
Free Static IP Address
Free Domain Name

Madasafish Max Plus
£19.99 1st 6 Months,
£25.99 thereafter.

20GB

Madasafish Max Premier
£25.99 1st 6 Months,
£29.99 thereafter.

50GB

Pipexmax
£24.99

Unlimited
(F.U.P)

(S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) No

(E) 5
(W) 150MB

FREE Anti-virus
& Firewall
for 1 year
Pipexmidi
£19.99
15GB

(E) 5
(W) 250MB

Tesco

Broadband 2MB
£19.97

10Gb

(S) 2MB
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) No

(E) 15
(W) 50MB

 
Broadband 1MB
£17.97
6Gb (S) 1MB
(C) 12Mth
UKonline 1MB £19.99 Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 1MB
(C) 12Mth
(C) £25
(R) £59.99 extra
(W) No
(E) 10
(W) 100MB
 
UKonline 2MB £24.99 (S) 2MB
(C) 12Mth
Virgin Media

Broadband Plan 2
£17.99

Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) ?
(R) Free
(W) £40 Extra

(E) 5
(W) 10MB

Buy online, save £10.
Includes PCguard
Total

Visit the Tesco website for details of other equally low speed, poor value (In my opinion) packages.

Compare broadband and phone call bundles, non LLU.

These packages offer broadband and phone calls. Most inclusive calls are via an internet, or IP phone. Please click on the links for more information.

Provider Package
& Price
/ Month
Usage
allowance
(S)peed
(C)ontract
(C)onnection
(R)outer
(W)ireless
(E)mail
Addresses
(W)ebspace
Phone
Calls
Included
Special
Offers

AOL Broadband
Wireless
£14.99 1st 6 Months
£19.99 thereafter.

10GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 18Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Free

(E) 7
(W) ?

Add Talk
Evenings and
Weekends at
no extra cost!
1 month FREE
when
ordered online

AOL Broadband
Wireless Plus
From £29.99 / M

40GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 24Mth
Includes
AOL Talk
Pay As You Go
FREE £450
laptop - while
stocks last
BT Total Broadband

Option 1
£8.95 1st 6 Months
or £12.99 1st 3 Months,
£17.99 thereafter.

5GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 18 or 12 Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) £30

(E) 5
(W) 15MB

Evening and
Weekend BT
Broadband
Talk calls
FREE BT Vision,
Freeview
Recorder.
BT Homehub
required, £30.

Option 2
£13.99 1st 6 Months
or £17.99 1st 3 Months,
£22.99 thereafter.

8GB (C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Free

FREE BT Vision,
Freeview
Recorder.

Advanced Norton™
security included

Option 3
£18.99 1st 6 Months
or £22.99 1st 3 Months,
£24.99 thereafter.
Unlimited
(F.U.P)
Orange

Home Select
£20 direct debit.
£21 other.

Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 8Mb
(C) 18Mth

(C) ?
(R) Hire charge
included in fee.
(W) Yes

(E) Unlimited
(W) 150MB

Second line £5 / M
with selected
mobile plans.
Home Max
£24 direct debit.
£25 other.
line rental, evening
& weekend calls.
Second line.
Pipexmini + hometime
£8.95 1st 3 Months
£14.99 thereafter.
2GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Yes

(E) 1
(W) 50MB

local & National
calls evenings
& weekends
FREE wireless
router.

Pipexmini + anytime
£19.00.

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) No
local & National
calls all day
FREE Anti-virus
& Firewall
for 1 year
Pipexmidi + anytime
£22.49
15GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(E) 5
(W) 150MB

Pipexmax + anytime
£27.49

Unlimited
(F.U.P)

(S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(E) 5
(W) 250MB

TalkTalk Talk3
Call plan £7.49
Line Rental £10.50
Braodband £15
Total £32.99

40GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) £29.99
(R) Free
(W) £20

(E) 5
(W) 15MB

Yes Click the
TalkTalk links
for more info
 
Virgin Media

Broadband & Talk
Bundle 1 £19.99

Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) ?
(R) Free
(W) £40 Extra

(E) 5
(W) 10MB

Anytime calls
to UK landlines
Includes
PCguard Total

Broadband & Talk
Bundle 2 £14.99

Evening & Weekend
calls to UK landlines
Includes
PCguard

Compare value / cheap broadband packages, non LLU.

Usually slower download speeds and / or lower monthly usage allowances. If you anticipate being a light user you may want to consider these options. Add on call packages may be available, see below. Please click on the links for more information.

Provider Package
& Price
/ Month
Usage
allowance
(S)peed
(C)ontract
(C)onnection
(R)outer
(W)ireless
(E)mail
Addresses
(W)ebspace
Special
Offers
Orange

Home Starter
£12 direct debit.
£13 other.

6GB (S) 2Mb
(C) 18Mth

(C) ?
(R) Free
(W) Free

(E) Unlimited
(W) 150MB

inclusive calls with
Orange calls service.
Free with selected
mobile plans.

PipexMini
Broadband only
£8.95 1st 3 Months
£14.99 thereafter.

2GB (S) 8Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) Free

(E) 1
(W) 50MB

FREE wireless router.
FREE Anti-virus
& Firewall for 1 year.
Tesco

Broadband 512KB
£13.97

3Gb (S) 512KB
(C) 12Mth

(C) Free
(R) Free
(W) No

(E) 15
(W) ?

 
Virgin Media

Broadband
Plan 3
£14.99

Unlimited
(F.U.P)
(S) 1Mb
(C) 12Mth

(C) ?
(R) Free
(W) £40 extra

(E) 5
(W) 10MB

Includes
PCguard

Add on Call Packages.

These call packages can be purchased as add ons when signing up for the providers broadband options above. Please click on the links for more information.

Provider Package Price Conditions Special
Offers
Madasafish
Talk Free
Free line rental at
£9.99 / M required
£5 credit when you
sign up via a link
on this page.
Madasafish
Talk Anytime
£5.99 / Month
Evenings
& Weekends
For a limited time only:
FREE for as long as you are
an AOL broadband customer.
only available
when you sign up to
AOL Broadband
 
Unlimited FREE for 6 months then £7.49

Are you a Pay T.V. customer or do you have a mobile phone contract?
Some mobile phone and pay T.V. providers offer cheaper or even free broadband to their customers. Check your providers web site to see if this applies to you.

But what about reliability and customer satisfaction?

Whilst price is important there is no point being with the cheapest provider if the service is poor. Thinkbroadband have some great graphs on their site that allow you can compare the speed, reliability and customer satisfaction ratings of the above providers.

To the best of my knowledge the information above is correct as of today, 8.October.2007. This page is intended as a guide only. Please ensure the packages suggested and equipment recommended are suitable for your requirements before purchasing.

Related Articles:

Your comments are always welcome, please Email us.

Bookmark with:

del.icio.us del.icio.us Digg! Digg Facebook