Compare and review the best UK broadband providers

What is Broadband Genie?

Broadband Genie provides a place on the web where consumers can learn about broadband and how to compare broadband providers in an unbiased, independent, plain-English environment. We maintain reviews and price data for all the leading broadband ISPs, and many of the smaller ones too. The broadband comparison guide below provides some introductory help which is well worth a read if you're just starting to compare broadband prices, or our broadband help section contains bags of guidance and advice. When you feel like you've got it sussed, dive into our broadband comparison service to find the best broadband provider for you.

What is broadband?

Broadband is a technology that allows you to access the internet (email, the web, downloads, remote access to office PC, and so on) at high speeds. Similar technologies include dialup internet (now outdated, but the first technology to allow mass internet access) and 3G/HSPA mobile internet (also known as mobile broadband), which allows internet access through mobile phone networks via your phone or laptop). Broadband itself comes in two main and quite different forms: ADSL (broadband internet down your BT phone line) and cable (delivered in the same way as cable TV).

But you don't need to worry about all that yet. The important point about broadband is that it allows you internet access which is fast (and getting faster), continuous (doesn't need to be turned on and off) and independent of your phone calls (so you can use phone and broadband at the same time). Very often, broadband is also wireless, which means you can wander round your house with your laptop and access your broadband connection wirelessly.

The companies that provide broadband services (BT, TalkTalk, Virgin Media, and so on) are known as ISPs: internet service providers.

How do I compare broadband prices?

The cost of home broadband varies greatly according to factors such as length of contract, download speed and download caps. You may also find that you get a better deal if you sign up to one of the UK broadband providers that bundles in a television or phone call service. We would certainly advise carrying out some research and shopping around before signing up to fixed-line broadband service – especially as you could be signed into the contract for anything up to two years. The best broadband provider may be that extra five minutes research away.

Your average home broadband UK product probably comes in at about £15/month. However, if you shop around and take multiple services from the same provider the price can come down to as cheap as, well, free. For many cheaper subscriptions you could be obliged to pay a one-off set-up cost; these average at around £30 for those providers who impose them, but can still give you lower broadband prices in the long run.

Keep an eye out for special offers and introductory rates from broadband providers - UK deals are very competitive, so broadband providers often launch cheaper deals, encouraging customers to sign up with the promise of several months' broadband at a reduced rate. This can represent a significant saving, but make sure you realise the price will go up!

How do I find the best broadband provider for me?

To compare broadband providers in your area, simply use our free availability checker to see what broadband is available where you live. You'll probably find a big list of ISPs and packages within your budget. But which has the best broadband? To get you started, think about these six factors when you compare broadband prices:

• Brand. It's important to some people to go with a trusted brand. You can use the ISP profile pages on Broadband Genie to read our expert overviews, plus the reviews of real customers.
• Speed. Is connection speed important to you? If you are only a casual internet user and simply want to do things like check your email, read the news and do your banking online, you can probably make do with a standard service – up to 8Mb (megabits per second) is ample for tasks like these. However, if want to use your broadband connection to carry out more bandwidth-intensive tasks such as downloading TV programs through the BBC's iPlayer, or online gaming, something faster - such as a 24Mb service - will make the experience much quicker and enjoyable.
• Download limit. Broadband providers normally impose a download 'cap' on customers, so you also need to think about the volume of data you will be downloading. Even checking your email or visiting a web page requires you to download data. For occasional users only, a download cap of 5GB-10GB/month should be plenty. However, if you exceed your limit you could have your speeds cut to a very slow level, or even be charged extra. If you are a heavy user or do not want to worry about going over your download cap, an 'unlimited' service is probably best. These generally cost a little more than capped services per month, but you shouldn't need to restrict your usage at all. However, even so-called unlimited packages are generally subject to a 'fair use policy', though, so make sure you read the small print.
• Contract length. Contract Lengths vary from one month to two years, so there really is something for everyone. When you sign up to a broadband package you are obliged to stick with that service for the stated time. This means you can't cancel within that period without incurring substantial charges: even exceptional circumstances will probably lead to some kind of penalty. Longer contract terms offer better value for money, but you should be completely happy to be tied into a contract for the stated period before you sign on the dotted line: you need to be sure you have the best broadband provider for you to take on a two-year tariff.
• Price (obviously). Before you search for the best broadband it's a good idea to sit down and work out how much you want to spend every month. Generally (but not always, of course) if you afford more then you'll get a better service with more bells and whistles. But don't be drawn to a deal simply for the offer of a free gadget or bundled service unless you are absolutely sure you can keep up with payments for the total term of your contract.
• Extras. When it comes to broadband, UK customers are the same as they are with everything else - we love a bargain offer. Rather than seek out a solitary broadband deal you could drastically cut your household's monthly bills by seeking out a bundled broadband package that includes services such as free phone calls or digital TV subscriptions.

What types of broadband are available?

Broadband is a general term used to describe several types of broadband services that are delivered in different ways. Here are a few terms you may find when searching for a new broadband provider, along with a short explanation:

• ADSL. This stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, but all you need to know is that it's what transforms your standard BT phone line into a high-speed internet connection. Most broadband services are ADSL, so remember you'll need to pay BT line rental (currently £11.25 per month, or sometimes cheaper if bundled with a different broadband provider) in addition to the advertised broadband fee.
• Cable. Cable broadband works via a dedicated cable being provided to your home by Virgin Media (formed by the merger of NTL and Telewest). Telephone services and digital TV channels can be provided over the cable too, which means you could save some money on a bundled TV and broadband contract. Not all areas are capable of receiving cable though – this depends on your location. However, if you're in an area that is cabled and gets a poor television signal, for example, it could be the best broadband provider for you.
• LLU. LLU stands for local loop unbundling. This is where broadband providers put their own equipment into one of BT's telephone exchanges to improve on the quality, and in particular speed, that the line to a customer's house is capable of. Unfortunately, although LLU services are faster, there are drawbacks – it can be trickier to switch providers and services occasionally suffer more 'down time'.
• Mobile broadband.Mobile broadband is a broadband service that you can access away from home (in a cafe, on a beach, on site with a client, etc) on your laptop or PC using a USB dongle or modem which gets a 3G/HSPA signal from a mobile phone network. Mobile broadband can be signed up to separately from your home broadband service – either as a monthly contract or pay as you go. However, more and more joint home and mobile broadband contracts are beginning to spring up. As with all broadband services, the quality and reliability of your mobile broadband service very much depends on your location. If you live in an inner-city area you can expect to receive faster speeds and an improved signal than a customer who is accessing the internet from a rural location. Speeds and reliability depend heavily on the provider's network coverage. Broadband Genie has a complete mobile broadband comparison service if you're considering this option.

How do I change broadband provider?

It's unwise to stay settled with a broadband provider after your contract ends without at least exploring the possibility of switching ISPs. You could save yourself money changing your provider, or get yourself a faster service with a more generous download cap.

First of all you need to check the date your contract ends. If this has passed or is fast approaching, you can get in contact with your current broadband provider to obtain a MAC code. It's now much easier to get a MAC code, especially if you give them a call – they are now obliged to pass it over to you swiftly under rules enforced by telecommunications watchdog Ofcom. You may find they try and convince you to stay by offering you a better deal, but if you still want to switch then that's your choice! When you've found the provider and package you want to sign up to, you should provide them with your MAC code. Your new provider should keep you update with the switching progress and when you should expect to be able to carry out the installation for your new ISP service. however, you could be without the internet for a couple of weeks.

It's worth noting that switching from an ADSL provider (e.g. BT, TalkTalk) to a cable provider (Virgin Media), or vice versa, is simpler because you don't need a MAC code - you simply end the contract with one and start with the other.

What are modems, routers & dongles?

There are a few gadgets and gizmos that you will may to contend with to get up and running with your broadband service. From personal experience, the trick to getting your broadband hardware working is to follow the instructions and, what seems to be most important, switch everything on in the right order.

The first essential for home broadband is a 'modem', the magic box that receives the broadband signal in your home. Then you need a 'router', which is another magic box (or is sometimes combined with the modem into one very magic box) that distributes the broadband signal to your computer(s) and allows you to connect two or more computers to the internet through one line. Many routers are now wireless, which means a number of internet capable machines can access the internet at once via its wireless receiver (provided each machine has one; pretty much all laptops do these days, but you may need yo buy a wireless adaptor for your PC or games console). Most home broadband providers now supply a wireless router as part of their starter pack and will sent this out to you once you have signed up to a contract.

A 'dongle' is a term you only need to worry about if you want to use a mobile broadband service. A dongle is a USB device that you plug straight into your computer's USB port. It works in the same way as a portable modem and picks up a signal to connect you to the internet. Your mobile broadband dongle makes it possible to access a broadband service whilst you are on the move and away from home.