How to find the best broadband in your area
The availability of broadband services varies across the UK, with some locations lucky enough to have the choice of multiple types and providers, while others may be more restricted in their selection.
The first step to finding a new broadband deal is finding out what's available in your area. You can do that right now using our free deals checker. Simply type your address into the box below:
Once you've entered your address, you'll only see deals available to you. We partner with Thinkbroadband to bring you the most accurate information possible (see our privacy policy for further details).
Once you’ve narrowed down the options, the comparison table can be sorted by speed, price, contract length and data allowance. You can also filter to show all sorts of deals; everything from broadband with no setup fees to broadband only deals or TV and phone bundles.
Should you come across search results which seem incorrect, please get in touch with us.
Which broadband is right for you?
There are four different types of fixed-line broadband connections commonly available across the UK, and choosing the right one comes down to what you want to do with the service and how much you want to spend.
ADSL Broadband
ADSL broadband uses a traditional copper telephone line and can offer average speeds of 10-11Mb and is available to the majority of us throughout the country. Its major drawback is that speeds are highly variable and can be very slow if you’re far from the exchange. By the end of 2025, these copper lines will be switched off. You may find that you no longer find you can sign up to an ADSL option as providers work towards phasing these out.
Standard Fibre Broadband
Fibre optic broadband using a standard Openreach telephone line is widely available. There's a huge choice of deals from many different providers.
This type of broadband can provide speeds up to around 65Mb, so it’s a big improvement over ADSL. The actual speed you’ll receive is typically much closer to the theoretical maximum.
It's slightly more expensive, but this is a good choice for anyone who needs the extra speed for demanding tasks like large file downloads and HD video streaming. It's also the best choice for busy households with multiple users.
Cable Broadband
Cable Broadband from Virgin Media is the fastest service from a nationwide provider, currently offering a rapid 1.1Gb on the top packages. However, prices can be higher than fibre and ADSL, and the coverage of the Virgin network is more limited than BT Openreach (just over half of UK homes can currently get it).
Full Fibre Broadband
Full fibre broadband doesn't use a telephone line. Instead, the fibre optic cable runs all the way into your home. This means it can be much faster than other fibre broadband that relies on a BT telephone, with speeds of 1Gb or more available with most full fibre providers. But coverage is more limited than other types of broadband. Currently, just over 60% of UK homes can sign up to a full fibre broadband service.
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What is Openreach?
Openreach is the company that maintains the former British Telecom Network used for the majority of broadband and phone services. If a repair or installation is required, it’s Openreach who will send an engineer, not your provider.
More than 650 service providers using the Openreach network. That’s the majority of the UK’s broadband providers. This includes Sky, TalkTalk and BT. The exception to this is Virgin Media - it uses its own, separate cable network.
What to look for in a broadband deal
When you use our broadband comparison tables, you'll see a list of packages. To find a deal that suits you best, it's worth making a note of the following:
- Contract
This is the length of time you'll be committed to the service. 12-24 months is most common, but shorter-term options are available too, including rolling monthly, no contract deals. You might end up paying a fee if you cancel early, so take this into consideration if you’re planning on moving in the near future. And remember that any changes to your broadband service — like an upgrade to a faster speed — will probably reset the contract term.
- Speed
The maximum speed of the connection. This is an ‘up to’ figure based on the technology used for the connection (including your Wi-Fi router) and should be taken as a rough guide only. When signing up to a service, the ISP must provide an accurate speed estimate for your property.
- Data Limit
This isn't really an issue anymore. All of the deals listed on Broadband Genie come with unlimited data.
- Monthly price
The cost of the broadband service per month, including any line rental. To see the total cost, including setup and special offers, click on the 'offer details and pricing' dropdown.