What do I get with a broadband and phone deal?
You get broadband...and a phone line!
Where some broadband deals include all manner of bells and whistles like premium TV packages and mobile phone services, a broadband and phone deal is a more straightforward offering where you get just the basics required to get online.
Some packages may only come with broadband and line rental, so calls are charged at a standard per-minute rate, while others are bundles that have inclusive calling minutes.
Broadband
Internet and phone deals are available with ADSL broadband and fibre optic broadband via the Openreach (BT) network and Virgin Media network. This means you’ve got a wide choice of packages to suit most requirements.
Phone line
Phone line rental is included in the total cost along with the broadband - there are no hidden line rental costs. The telephone and broadband package may come with inclusive free calls, but if you don’t often make calls on the landline you can opt for a basic service without free calls to save a few quid.
In terms of the packages themselves, providers will usually offer free weekend calls; evening and weekend or unlimited free call packages. Some will also offer inclusive international calls on special packages.
Will I get Wi-Fi with my broadband and phone package?
Most broadband packages include a free Wi-Fi broadband router which will supply a home Wi-Fi network to share the connection with all your devices. It is also possible to use your own Wi-Fi router but check with the ISP first as not all providers support this.
Some broadband providers also include access to public Wi-Fi hotspots as part of the deal, giving you free broadband away from the home to reduce your mobile data usage.
Which providers offer broadband and phone deals?
All home broadband providers - such as BT, Sky, Virgin, TalkTalk and EE - offer broadband and phone packages.
What should I look out for when comparing broadband and phone packages?
Inclusive calling
If the phone is regularly used for calls then an inclusive call package can be very good value. Phone deals with unlimited anytime calls, weekend calls or evening and weekend calling to UK landlines are available from most providers. But most of the cheapest broadband and phone deals will not have inclusive calling.
Mobile and international calls
As well as free calls to UK landlines, there may be an option to add inclusive calls to mobiles and international numbers.
Call charges
Check how much the provider charges for calls outside the allowance, especially if you’re not getting inclusive calling.
Setup fees
If you already have an active line then setup costs will be fairly minimal, and there are usually a few deals offering £0 setup. But if a new line is required then the costs will be higher.
How do I compare phone and broadband deals?
Before anything else, check availability in your area to find out what type of broadband service you could get. Do this right here on Broadband Genie by entering a postcode in our comparison table.
Once you’ve narrowed down the deals by location, use the filters and package details to filter and sort the offers.
How can I find the best phone and broadband deal?
Consider the following when comparing:
Contract
Most broadband and phone deals will have a contract length of 12, 18 or 24 months while some student broadband packages are available for a handy nine months. But remember: cancelling early will result in a termination fee. Some short term packages are available too, though these often have higher setup and running costs. If you have poor credit you may not be able to sign up for some providers, but no credit check deals are also available.
Speed
This column shows the average speed of the broadband connection. These figures are supplied by the provider and show the performance achieved by 50% of customers. Your speed will vary depending on location, but when joining the provider you should be given an accurate speed estimate.
Data limit
Some of the cheapest phone and broadband deals will have a monthly data allowance limit. However, it’s usually best to go for an unlimited broadband service; there’s little difference in price and you’ll never have to worry about exceeding the cap.
Monthly price
This is the fixed monthly price including broadband and phone line rental. It does not include additional costs such as inclusive call add-ons, calls made outside your inclusive allowance, or extra charges for broadband data usage (if the service is not unlimited).
Phone package
Click 'Offer details and pricing' to view more information about the phone line package - inclusive calls and other important info will be displayed here, alongside any extra features and offers.
For more guidance, why not check out our guide to switching broadband?
Are there broadband and mobile phone deals?
Some providers offer broadband bundles including a mobile phone SIM, though these are not commonplace.
Otherwise, ISPs such as Sky and EE offer discounts or bonuses on either mobile or broadband if you already have one of their services.
Can I get broadband without a phone?
Virgin Media offers fibre optic broadband without a phone line. It has packages with speeds up to 630Mb, and you can also get a Virgin Media TV bundle.
Virgin is the only mass-market provider to offer such a service. Almost all other ISPs sell ADSL and fibre optic broadband services using the Openreach (BT) telephone network, which requires an active phone line to function. So even if you don’t use the landline for calls it’s still necessary to pay line rental to get broadband. Some ISPs sell broadband only, but you must still get phone service from another provider.