What do I get with a broadband and phone deal?

You get broadband...and a phone line!

Okay, that’s not too helpful, let’s go into a little more detail…

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

The 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 this to save a few quid.

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 anytime 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’s usually a few deals offering free 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. But remember: cancelling early will result in a termination fee. Some short term packages are available too, though these often have comparatively higher setup and running costs.

Speed

This column shows the maximum possible speed of the broadband connection - your actual performance will almost certainly be lower. When joining the provider you should be given an accurate speed estimate based on your line and location.

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 addons, 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.

Are there broadband and mobile phone deals?

Some providers do offer broadband bundles including a mobile phone SIM, but there are fewer of these types of deals. At present the only broadband and mobile option we have listed is TalkTalk, which throws in a free SIM card with 500MB data and unlimited texts.

Otherwise, some providers offer discounts on either the 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 of 50Mb, 100Mb and 200Mb, 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 require 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.