What is a broadband only deal?
Broadband only is a standalone deal that is not bundled with other services such as TV and phone.
However these deals are rare and, while you’ll find some here, the term has come to cover a broader spectrum of broadband tariffs that are commonly recognised as internet only packages, even though they also include phone services.
Why does the comparison table show broadband deals with a phone line?
As TV deals have become increasingly popular we've found that many of our visitors searching for broadband only are actually looking for broadband and landline deals without a television package. Additionally, the majority of broadband deals also require a phone line to work and are rarely sold without phone service included.
For these reasons, you’ll see that many of the broadband deals listed on this page include a phone line, but do not come with any other services.
Can I get broadband without phone line rental?
Most broadband services need a phone line to function. There are some broadband deals that do not require a phone line, but options are limited; the only mass-market provider that offers broadband without a phone line is Virgin Media (although it does still require a cable connection).
What are my options for broadband only packages?
There are three different types of broadband-only deals you’ll find listed on Broadband Genie.
Broadband only
These are internet only packages where you pay the supplier for just broadband, but an active phone line is still required. This gives you the freedom to choose a different phone company. However, these are now extremely rare, and they can be well hidden if you visit the provider pages directly as they’d really prefer you got a phone line at the same.
Broadband and phone deals
The most common type of home broadband package is broadband with a phone line, where you pay a single provider for both broadband service and phone line rental. This may not be what some of you are after when searching for broadband only, but as we explained above it is often the right choice if you’re looking at just broadband deals without extras such as TV.
Broadband without a phone line
These are broadband only services that do not require a phone line. Since most broadband technology needs a phone line they are not common — Virgin Media is the biggest provider offering it at this time. Other providers such as Community Fibre and Hyperoptic which operate broadband without a phone cover only a small percentage of premises in comparison to Virgin. Also, keep in mind that most deals still require some kind of fixed-line; if you want broadband without any kind of wire you'll have to look at a wireless broadband service instead.
Can I get Wi-Fi with a broadband only deal?
Most broadband only deals include a Wi-Fi router as part of the package. This is usually free of charge (though there may be a small fee for postage). The router will provide a home Wi-Fi network to easily connect all your devices to the broadband.
Is a broadband only deal right for me?
Broadband only is useful if you want to use different phone and broadband providers. There may be features you need for each service that are not offered by any single ISP.
However, we would recommend a broadband and phone bundle for most people as they are much simpler to set up, and often provide the best value. If you’re not planning on using the phone for calls and only need it for broadband, save some money by choosing a package without inclusive calling.
If you don’t ever use a landline phone and don’t want to pay for line rental you’ll need to look at a broadband without a phone deal from a network such as Virgin Media or Hyperoptic.
What should I look for when comparing broadband only deals?
Monthly price: The fixed monthly cost of the package. If the deal includes phone the line rental is bundled with broadband in the monthly price.
Contract: The length of your deal. No-contract deals are available but you’ll tend to find the longer deals get you the cheapest prices, but be sure to consider your circumstances before you go for a bargain buy: can you be sure you’ll still want this service in two years’ time?
Speed: This is the average speed achieved by 50% of customers. It’s a good time to point out you should use the postcode checkbox before you compare broadband deals, as not all telephone exchanges are created equal and some deals may not be available in your area. If you're planning on using your broadband for gaming or lots of high definition video streaming, this is a key factor.
Data limit: This is the limit on how much data you can download each month before incurring some kind of penalty (normally additional charges for extra data). Many deals now claim to be unlimited, but be sure to read the small print (and traffic shaping guidelines) as some are more ‘unlimited’ than others!
Effective cost: We work out what you’ll actually be paying per month for your broadband throughout the length of your initial deal, taking all the extras and offers into consideration.
Extras: Click offer details to view all the extra information we think you’ll need to know before looking further into a deal. It can be special offer information, such as free months or free gifts such as shopping vouchers, broadband with no upfront cost, as well as info on call packages, hardware and other goodies. Most broadband packages at least include a free Wi-Fi router.