Guide to comparing mobile broadband

Before you sign up to any mobile broadband package it’s worth doing plenty of research to ensure the provider has coverage in your area and that the terms of contract and price are right for you. Mobile Broadband Genie has a regularly updated mobile broadband comparison tool where you can quickly compare prices and package details, as well as link straight to the provider’s own website to sign up.

There is a lot to consider when comparing mobile broadband deals; if you're new to it, it can seem a daunting task. To make your job as easy as possible, we've broken down each part of the decision process below and explained them step by step.

Mobile broadband coverage

Before you set your heart on a particular dongle, laptop or tariff, you need to make sure that the mobile internet service provider you want has good coverage in the areas you're most likely to use its service. For more on this, see our dedicated guide to mobile broadband coverage.

Mobile internet hardware

There are a variety of hardware solutions available which let you receive mobile broadband. These devices receive the mobile broadband signal and contain the SIM card that manages your account (in the same way a mobile phone SIM works). On the comparison tables, click on the 'info' link for more details on each product:

Built-in mobile broadband: An increasing number of laptops are now available with built-in mobile broadband. If you don't want a dongle to carry around, why not pick up a machine where your mobile broadband SIM slips straight inside? If you're interested in getting a laptop deal with built-in mobile internet, look in the far right hand 'extras' column of our comparison tables for the phrase 'built-in mobile broadband' in bold.

USB modem: The majority of users connect to the mobile internet via a USM modem, more commonly now known as a dongle (or sometimes mobile broadband stick) which attaches to a laptop or PC via one of your USB ports. They are small and easily transportable, while being easy to transfer between multiple machines. Not all dongles are created equal. The standard dongles from the leading mobile broadband suppliers have very little to choose between them, and it is unlikely your choice of dongle should impact much on your overall package decision.

Data card: These allow you to slide your SIM card into a bay on the side of the card, which can then be slotted into your laptop. Newer generation laptops come with a specially designed plug for this, but the data cards come with an adapter for use on older PCs. Data cards have largely been replaced by USB dongles.

MiFi: The latest innovation in mobile broadband, MiFi devices are wireless modems that receive the mobile broadband signal, allowing you to share that signal between several devices at once.

SIM-only: If you buy a dongle direct from your mobile internet provider, it will come with the software for that individual company and is unlikely to be able to be used with a different SIM card from another provider. However there are plenty of independent dongles on the market, and SIM-only deals are bound to become more popular as everyone ends up with a draw full of dongles!

Monthly price

This usually consists of a set-up fee, plus a monthly tariff or pay as you go rate – special offers will also be listed here.

However, don't fall into the trap of thinking the advertised rate is the maximum you can be charged: mobile broadband packages have extra costs for things such as getting online abroad, or going over your agreed limit (T-Mobile is currently the only provider not to charge you for going over your allocated allowance, although you may face a reduction in connection speed). Make sure you are aware of these charges before you sign up, to avoid any nasty bills.

Download speed

This refers to the maximum speed your connection is capable of. This is a contentious area, with 'up to' speeds of anything from 3Mb to 7.2Mb being advertised by the mobile internet service providers. In reality, most users will currently find they should be able to get an average speed of around 1-2Mb.

We would not currently advise taking a particular package based on its advertised 'up to' speed. Instead, remember you can return a product bought online within seven working days thanks to the UK's distance selling regulations. If you've checked coverage in your area, get your mobile broadband up and running, but find the speed is unacceptable, be sure to return it and find a provider who can offer you a service that lives up to your expectations.

Contract, or pay as you go?

As with mobile phones, you have two basic choices before looking into greater detail: contract, or pay as you go (PAYG). As time has gone by, the traditional differences between the two have blurred a little. You can now get one month contracts, for example, while its possible to get PAYG gift packs that come with huge amounts of credit preloaded. However, the principals remain the same.

PAYG: The main advantage of pay as you mobile broadband is that you're not tied in to a lengthy contract, instead 'topping up' your account with credit when you think you're going to need it. If you're not a regular internet user, this could be a good way of saving money. However, for this flexibility, you will tend to find the initial cost of the dongle will be more, as will the rate per GB of usage.

Contract: Generally, contract deals will work out better value for money. Mobile internet providers will reward your commitment to the long haul with all kinds of incentives, such as laptops, free dongles and cheaper download rates. Of course, once you've entered into the contract, that's that – it will be costly to buy yourself out. Be sure this is exactly what you want before committing.

Downloads

Download allowance is the amount of data (film clips, music, etc) you can download from the internet to your computer each month and can be a key differentiator between mobile broadband deals. If you go over your limit, providers will usually charge you on a pay-as-you-go rate if you exceed the monthly download limit (with the exception of T-Mobile – see 'monthly price' above).

If you don't know how much data you might use up, take a look at our guide to what you get for a gigabyte (or GB). Also, if you're intending to use your dongle outside of the UK, please see our guide to using mobile broadband abroad.

Extras

This section will list any extra details of the deal, including sweeteners such as free Wi-Hi hotspot use or laptop specifications.

And finally...

Once you're sure you've found the right package for you, the best place to go to sort out a fixed-term contract is directly through the provider, which we link to via the 'go' button (you can also click on the company logo in the 'Package' column). By going directly to the provider's website you should be able to fill in an online form (or call a number) to set up your mobile broadband deal. Your should be up and running in a few days. so head off to our main mobile broadband comparison page, and get comparing!