Calculate your annual broadband costs, compare UK providers, and find the best internet deal for your needs. Our calculator helps you understand total contract costs including setup fees, mid-contract price rises, and switching options.
Answer these questions to find out the ideal broadband speed for your household.
Largest network, reliable service
✓ Free BT Sport option ✓ Smart Hub 2Cable network, fastest speeds
✓ No line rental ✓ TV bundlesGreat TV integration
✓ Sky Glass ✓ Ultrafast availableBudget-friendly, UK support
✓ Award-winning service ✓ No price rises| Provider | Speeds | From/mo | Contract | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT | 36-900 Mbps | £29.99 | 24 months | Free |
| Virgin Media | 54-1,130 Mbps | £28 | 18 months | £35 |
| Sky | 36-500 Mbps | £25 | 18 months | Free |
| Plusnet | 10-145 Mbps | £22.99 | 18 months | Free |
| EE | 36-1,600 Mbps | £27.99 | 24 months | Free |
| NOW Broadband | 11-100 Mbps | £18 | 1-12 months | £5 |
| Hyperoptic | 50-1,000 Mbps | £29 | 12-24 months | Free |
| Community Fibre | 150-3,000 Mbps | £22.50 | 24 months | Free |
Prices as of 2025. Subject to availability. Mid-contract price rises apply to most providers.
| Activity | Min Speed | Recommended | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web browsing & email | 1-5 Mbps | 10+ Mbps | Basic ADSL works fine |
| HD Video Streaming | 5 Mbps | 25+ Mbps | Per stream (Netflix, iPlayer) |
| 4K/UHD Streaming | 25 Mbps | 50+ Mbps | Per stream |
| Online Gaming | 10-25 Mbps | 50+ Mbps | Low latency more important |
| Video Calls (Zoom, Teams) | 3-4 Mbps | 10+ Mbps | Upload speed matters too |
| File Downloads | 25 Mbps | 100+ Mbps | For large files/games |
| Cloud Backup | 10 Mbps upload | 50+ Mbps upload | Full fibre for fast uploads |
| Live Streaming (Twitch, YouTube) | 10 Mbps upload | 50+ Mbps upload | Symmetrical connection ideal |
Uses existing copper phone lines. Speeds of 10-24 Mbps download, 1-2 Mbps upload. Cheapest option but slow by modern standards. Being phased out by 2025/26 in many areas.
Fibre runs to your street cabinet, then copper to your home. Speeds of 30-80 Mbps download, 10-20 Mbps upload. Most common UK "fibre" connection. Speed depends on distance from cabinet.
Fibre optic cable runs directly to your property. Speeds of 100-1,000+ Mbps, symmetrical upload/download. Most reliable and future-proof. Available to 60%+ of UK premises as of 2024.
Coaxial cable network (independent of Openreach). Speeds of 54-1,130 Mbps download, 50-100 Mbps upload. Only available in cable areas (about 50% of UK). No line rental needed.
Uses 5G mobile network with home router. Speeds of 50-500 Mbps (variable). Good alternative where fibre isn't available. Offered by Three, EE, Vodafone. No installation required.
Most UK broadband providers now include annual price rises in their contracts, typically CPI inflation + 3.9%. This means a £35/month deal could become £38-40/month in year two.
| Provider | Price Rise Policy |
|---|---|
| BT, EE | CPI + 3.9% in March/April |
| Virgin Media | CPI + 3.9% in April |
| Sky | CPI + 3.7% in April |
| Plusnet | No mid-contract rises |
| Hyperoptic | Fixed price guarantee available |
| Activity | Data Per Hour | 10 Hours/Week |
|---|---|---|
| Web browsing | ~100 MB | 4 GB/month |
| SD Video (iPlayer, Netflix) | 1 GB | 40 GB/month |
| HD Video streaming | 3 GB | 120 GB/month |
| 4K/UHD streaming | 7 GB | 280 GB/month |
| Online gaming | 50-150 MB | 6 GB/month |
| Game downloads | 50-150 GB each | Varies |
| Video calls (Zoom/Teams) | 1-2 GB | 80 GB/month |
Average UK household uses 450+ GB/month. All UK home broadband is now unlimited data.
✓ Expert Reviewed — This calculator is reviewed by our team of financial experts and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: January 2026.
Last updated: January 2026 | Verified with latest UK rates
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