Cuckoo Broadband review 2022

Cuckoo Broadband - the Broadband Genie review

Ready to buy? You can find Cuckoo's broadband deal below:

Cuckoo Broadband speed

Cuckoo average speeds vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

For its entry-level 67Mb package Cuckoo uses the Openreach FTTC (Fibre To The Cabinet) network, which means it delivers broadband using a regular BT telephone line. As such, its maximum download speed is similar to the majority of other mainstream home broadband services.

Cuckoo can also provide ultrafast FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) broadband if you're lucky enough to have this service in your area. 

But while its download rates are all very good, upload speeds are somewhat disappointing. The average 8Mb upload of its 67Mb service is especially poor - that's less than half the speed offered by competing providers. 

Even opting for the fastest 900Mb service only gets you an average 115Mb upload. That isn't slow by any means (and it's far better than the equivalent package from Virgin Media) but there are other FTTP providers offering symmetrical broadband, where the download and upload rates are the same.

Value for money

Cuckoo cheapest package vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

Cuckoo fastest package vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

Last checked January 2022. The prices displayed above are the initial contract cost for new customers; charges may increase after renewal. The cheapest price is the lowest monthly cost regardless of speed. The fastest price is the fastest service available on Broadband Genie for the lowest monthly cost, excluding TV bundles.

With a subpar upload speed, Cuckoo Fast isn't the best value fibre package in this tier. Other providers are able to offer 67Mb fibre (or near enough) while also delivering much quicker upload rates.

However, its rolling-monthly contract is very flexible, letting you cancel at any time without penalty. And going by the many positive reviews, it appears to offer exceptional customer service, which goes a long way toward making up for any savings you might get with cheaper providers.

Its ultrafast deals are a better value proposition, at least in comparison to some of the big names. The quick 'Eggceptional' package is nearly as fast as Virgin Media Gig1 on downloads and twice as fast for uploading, while also being a few quid cheaper.

If keeping costs as low as possible is your goal then you will find many cheaper deals, but as ever, you’ll need to negotiate or switch at the end of the contract to avoid the price increases that many ISPs implement after the initial term; whereas Cuckoo pledges to always keep you on its best deal (though that doesn’t rule out the possibility of price rises).

There is also a £60 setup fee to consider, which is expensive compared to packages with long-term contracts, but that is in line with other no-contract deals, all of which require upfront fees.

Cuckoo Broadband features and extras

Cuckoo doesn’t offer anything in the way of extras. You get the usual free broadband router, and a phone line is included in the price, but otherwise, there aren’t loads of bonuses included with its services. 

If you would get a lot of use out of, say, the free Wi-Fi hotspot access included with BT Broadband, then this might be a point against, but Cuckoo doesn’t omit any vital features if you’re only concerned about getting a decent broadband connection.

Cuckoo home phone

A phone line is required to use Cuckoo, and line rental is included in the price. But Cuckoo is focused on the broadband part of the equation and does not have any inclusive call bundles. Voice calls are charged at standard per-minute rates. So if you don’t use the landline for calls, you’re not paying for an unnecessary extra. 

But anyone who does regularly make landline calls and currently has an inclusive call package will find that Cuckoo would end up being much more expensive. In that situation, you’ll either need to see what else is available with our broadband and phone deals or switch to a mobile phone contract with lots of bundled minutes.

Cuckoo review conclusion

Our Cuckoo Broadband rating: 4 / 5

Cuckoo’s no-nonsense approach to broadband is appealing. There are no surprises; the prices are clear and you can exit whenever you like without being hit with a penalty fee.

Its customer service record is especially impressive. Although it’s only been around for a short time, user reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Judging customer service is always tricky, but so far Cuckoo appears to be doing a far better job at this than most other providers. Although as a small company, there is a question about how long it can maintain this high standard if it becomes very popular.

On the flip side, the poor upload speed and relatively high cost of its 67Mb package is not the best value unless you really need a no-contract service.