How to get broadband with no upfront costs
Trying to save money with a new broadband deal? One way to cut costs is choosing broadband with no upfront fee.
While the monthly payment is the most significant expense to focus on, getting free setup can really help too. Here, we’ll answer any questions you might have about broadband with no setup fees.
Ready? Let’s get into it.
Why do some of the deals have setup fees?
If there are times we can’t offer any deals without fees, we still want to give you an opportunity to find the best broadband. This is why some offers listed on this page will have setup costs.
However, we’ve only included packages with upfront charges of £10 or less, so you can still keep costs down.
Deals change all the time, and at Broadband Genie we update our offers constantly. So, if you don't see what you're after right now, check back soon to see what we’ve found for you.
What kind of upfront fees could I have to pay?
There are several different types of upfront fees often associated with a new broadband package. To help you compare deals and avoid any surprises, Broadband Genie bundles them into one. But when we break it down, upfront fees can include the following:
Setup/activation fees
You’ll find providers use both of these terms and they essentially mean the same thing. Setup or activation fees cover the costs of signing you up. That includes the activation of a broadband service and the provider’s administrative expenses.
Installation
An installation charge can apply if you require an engineer to set up a new phone, fibre, or cable line.
There’s often no cost for phone lines because many homes already have an active BT Openreach line. So, it's simply a case of switching to a new provider.
If you have a phone line and you’re already making calls or using broadband, you won't need to pay so long as you’re not moving to a different network (going from BT to Virgin Media, for example).
But if you do not already have a phone line, you’ll usually have to pay an additional fee to have this fitted. There can also be a charge to have an inactive line switched back on.
The cost varies widely depending on the provider, from as little as £20 to more than £100.
It's important to note that this charge can still apply even if the broadband package has free setup.
It’s more likely that an engineer will be needed if you choose an internet service provider (ISP) that doesn’t use the BT phone line network, as fewer homes already have a Virgin Media or full-fibre line. However, you’ll find many of these providers have special offers with free setup where you can get a new connection for free even if they have to install a new line and socket.
Router delivery
Some providers charge a small fee for delivering the Wi-Fi router (usually in the region of £5-£10).
TV box delivery
Like the router, there may also be a fee for the delivery of a TV box. Sometimes there’s a small charge toward the cost of the box.
First month's payment
Some providers ask for the first month's payment when you sign up — so not an extra cost, but a further potential upfront payment.
Which broadband providers offer deals with no setup fees?
The following providers frequently offer broadband with free setup:
- EE Broadband — Some EE packages don’t have a setup cost. If you need a new phone line, you’ll be charged a fee of £50.
- John Lewis — There’s no charge for setup or Wi-Fi router postage with any John Lewis broadband deal. However, if a new line is required, you’ll have to pay £49.99.
- Plusnet — You won't pay setup fees with Plusnet broadband unless you require a new phone line, in which case there's a charge of £50.
- TalkTalk — TalkTalk deals are often available with free setup. Their broadband and TV bundles do still include a charge for the TV box.
- Vodafone — There’s no charge for either broadband or a new phone line with Vodafone fibre.
Some other providers normally have setup fees but may offer free installation as part of a special offer.
BT does cut its setup fees from time to time. More often you'll find BT offering free gifts like shopping vouchers and reward cards.
Sky sometimes provides free setup for a short period, but it's also often available with other more valuable free gifts.
NOW usually has a small upfront cost, but this is sometimes waived as part of a promotion
Virgin Media only offers free setup on rare occasions. It does have higher setup fees than many, so this can be a nice bonus when on offer.
Sold on free installation? Here's how to get the best deal
As with any type of broadband deal, those with no upfront costs have certain things to look for when buying:
- Unlimited broadband. We always recommend unlimited broadband and every offer we share will be unlimited. In fact, many will be truly unlimited with no restrictions at all.
- Broadband speed. A cheap fibre deal with a speed of around 35Mb is our recommended minimum for any home; it will suit both individuals and households of 2-3 people. Faster fibre is best for larger households with 4-6 people sharing. Ultrafast/full fibre could be what you'll need if you have even more than this. ADSL/standard broadband can be suitable for a single person who doesn’t use the internet much. But it’s increasingly outdated and may not even be much cheaper than fibre, as fast broadband is now very affordable.
- Contract length. A longer contract is often a really good option, as these deals usually have the lowest setup costs and monthly fees. Alternatively, a shorter contract means you can switch sooner — perhaps saving even more. Just watch out for very short term deals, as anything less than a 12-month contract will probably have a high setup cost.
When it comes to value, there are a few things you should also consider when thinking about upfront costs.
- Line installation. Is there already an active line or network box at your property? It would probably be cheaper to go with a provider that will use this rather than installing new equipment.
- Monthly charge. Often, the key to a great value deal is simply the amount you're paying each month. Again, even if you're looking for broadband with free setup, you may want to accept a small upfront fee if the deal offers a low monthly price. This could save you money in the long run.
- Rewards. Free gifts such as vouchers, reward cards, or pre-paid Mastercards can be crucial when looking for the cheapest deal. It can often be worth sacrificing free installation for an amazing reward.
Can I get a broadband and landline phone deal with no activation fee?
Yes! A broadband and phone deal won’t usually cost any more in setup fees than the equivalent package without calls.
Use our price comparison filters to quickly locate deals with calls included.
Can I get a broadband and TV deal with no installation fee?
Broadband and TV packages are more likely to have setup fees than other deals because the providers will often charge for the TV box. But that doesn't mean you can't get them.
Some options for broadband and TV with free setup include:
- BT TV. BT typically charges upfront for its TV box but will occasionally have special offers where it removes the setup fee for broadband and TV bundles.
- TalkTalk TV. Some TalkTalk TV and broadband bundles do not have a setup fee. But these tend to include a basic TalkTalk TV box which will not be able to record. If you want the ability to record live TV, you’ll need to ask for a more advanced TalkTalk TV box, and these will often require an upfront cost.
- Virgin Media TV. Like BT, Virgin Media usually charges for TV bundles but will waive the setup fee as a special offer.
Pros and cons of free setup broadband
Pros
- No upfront costs mean you can save straight away.
- Many providers offer these, so you'll have a great selection of options across the broadband market.
Cons
- You may miss out on amazing deals that sometimes have a small setup fee.
- Line installation may still be a 'hidden' cost in a small minority of cases.
- You may not be able to get a top-end TV deal and pay nothing upfront.
What happened to free broadband deals?
We sometimes get people coming to the page looking for free broadband deals. They, unfortunately, don't exist.
In the past, you may have seen offers such as 'free broadband for the first six months’. But the catch with these was that you still had to pay for phone line rental. So, these services weren't completely free of charge.
Providers are no longer allowed to split the cost of phone and broadband, which has put an end to these sorts of special offers.
But that doesn't mean you can't still get a similar deal. Many cheap broadband packages cost a comparable amount to the old "free" broadband deals when you take line rental into account.
Frequently Asked Questions about broadband with free setup
Will I get a router with free installation broadband deals?
Almost all broadband deals come with a free router, and that includes deals with free setup.
If there’s a cost for the equipment, we will include it in the setup costs section on our comparison table and mention it in the offer details.
Can I get broadband with free installation if I have bad credit?
Getting broadband when you have bad credit can be tricky as might find you’re not accepted by some providers.
However, you can get broadband without a credit check from Direct Save Telecom, NOW Broadband, and Plusnet. All of them also offer free setup deals. TalkTalk is also a good option as its credit checks are quite easy to pass.
It’s still worth trying the biggest providers, too, as broadband credit checks are generally much less strict than going for a loan or credit card.
Another option would be a mobile broadband deal with Three, EE, or Vodafone. These packages do not generally require a credit check.
Read our guide to broadband without a credit check for further help.
Can you get fibre broadband with no upfront fees?
Yes! Most of the providers we mentioned above offer fibre optic broadband without setup fees.
Will I have to pay installation fees if I don't have a phone line?
If you don’t have a phone line and the service requires it to operate, there will usually be an additional fee for line installation. Though there are sometimes special offers where they remove the fee.
If you want broadband without a phone line, then Virgin Media, BT, and full-fibre ISPs such as Hyperoptic can provide this service. But these providers still require a line to operate and so may still charge for installation if the infrastructure isn’t already in place.
Can I get full-fibre broadband with no upfront costs?
Yes, this is possible. However full-fibre broadband does still require a line. So even if you have an active phone line, you may need a new fibre line installed. Many providers will charge for this, so keep an eye out for any deals offering free setup.
Will free setup cost more in the long run?
Free setup should mean that you shouldn’t find any hidden costs down the line.
This doesn't mean that broadband with no upfront fees is always the best value. When comparing deals on Broadband Genie, check the offer details for a breakdown of all costs and rewards and an effective monthly cost calculation that takes everything into account.
Is no upfront cost broadband cheaper?
This is not always the case, there are many other factors you want to consider with broadband when you are looking at getting the cheapest broadband. See below for more.
How do I get cheap broadband deals?
Begin by entering your postcode into our comparison table to see what's available in your area.
You can then compare monthly prices to quickly see the cheapest deals.
But also pay attention to special offers with free rewards, because these can add a lot of value and make the effective monthly price cheaper than other deals.
For more help, see our guide to cheap broadband
How long does broadband installation take?
Broadband installation typically takes around 14 days from the time you sign up for the service. It can be longer if the provider or engineers are very busy or if there’s an unexpected issue that requires more work.
If you have more questions, our pages on broadband installation and new phone line installation can provide you with more details. At Broadband Genie we’re here to help, from choosing the best deal all the way through to troubleshooting problems with our handy guides.
Summary
When you’re looking for a new broadband deal, setup costs are something that you have to bear in mind. Fortunately, there are lots of providers out there that offer free setup.
Setup costs may still apply if you need a new line or other engineering work; we have a guide explaining broadband installation if you need more information on that.
If you’re trying to save money and are worried about credit checks, we can also help you find a deal.
Overall getting broadband doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money upfront. In fact, most deals won’t. It’s just about finding the cheapest deal that works for you.