Shell Energy broadband - the Broadband Genie review

Shell Energy broadband speed

Shell Energy average download speeds vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

Average speeds are the download rates achieved by at least 50% of users.

Shell Energy upload speeds vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

No big surprises with the advertised speeds for Shell Energy broadband; like most providers it uses the Openreach (BT line) network so performance is similar to competing ISPs. The choice of 11Mb, 35Mb or 63Mb download speeds will suit many households, but if you need a faster connection you’ll have to move to a different network, like Virgin Media.

Shell Energy broadband value for money

Shell Energy broadband cheapest package vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

Shell Energy broadband fastest package vs BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media

Correct as of 05/19. Prices displayed above are the initial contract cost for new customers; price may increase after renewal. Cheapest price is the lowest monthly cost regardless of speed, fastest price is the fastest service available on Broadband Genie for the lowest cost. Does not include TV bundles or special offers.

Shell Energy’s prices are competitive. It’s one of the cheaper providers for both ADSL and fibre optic internet, and is even better value when you compare the cost after the initial contract term. 

Most ISPs offer a cheaper price for the first 12, 18 or 24 months but then increase it upon renewal. Shell doesn’t do this, so your monthly bill won’t suddenly jump after 18 months. Though mid-contract price increases are still possible of course (as they are with any provider which doesn’t have a price guarantee). 

Shell Energy broadband features and extras

Shell broadband deals aren’t bundled with lots of extras. Besides the free Wi-Fi router, you can use the Shell Go+ app to get 3% off petrol at Shell stations, plus other “personalised offers”. 

Shell Energy router

All deals include a free Wi-Fi router, which is the same model (Technicolor TG588V V2) supplied by First Utility. Unfortunately this is quite outdated by current standards as it only offers 802.11n Wi-Fi and doesn’t support the faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi. It also lacks multiple antennas for stronger signal. It does have a USB connection for file and printer sharing, and there are four wired network ports, but they don’t support gigabit transfer speeds. 

It provides the basics, which may be all you need, but if you care about getting the fastest network speeds and the strongest range and coverage you will have to purchase your own router.

Shell Energy home phone

No inclusive calls are provided with Shell Energy deals, which is a good thing if you don’t often use the landline. If you do make calls on a regular basis then you can choose to add one of the following call packages:

• Evening & Weekend Plus: £4. Inclusive evening and weekend calls to UK landlines and UK mobiles. 
• Anytime Plus: £8 Anytime calling to UK landlines and UK mobiles. 
• International Call Package: £5. 600 minutes to 40 international destinations, 75% discount to mobiles in those same destinations. 50% discount on calls to all other destinations. Only available with one of the above packages. 

Shell Energy broadband review conclusion

Our Shell Energy broadband rating: 3.5 / 5

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to budget broadband nowadays, but Shell Energy stands out by offering packages which aren’t just cheap for the first 12, 18 or 24 months. That’s a huge plus if you’re not interested in regularly switching providers, because other ISPs get a lot more expensive once you’re out of the initial contract period. 

But it is a budget provider and that is reflected in its packages. While cheap, Shell doesn’t provide the kind of extras you can find with other ISPs. Cheaper petrol is a nice bonus, but it’s only a small discount and you have to fill up at Shell. And the bundled Wi-Fi router is lacklustre next to the hardware supplied by other providers. How much all this matters though is up to you to decide.

You should also be aware of the vague fair usage policy tucked away in the terms and conditions. While Shell says all its broadband packages are unlimited, it also states that it may “change your service” if you “place excessive bandwidth demands on the broadband service for continued periods”. There’s no explanation of what it considers excessive, and while it’s only likely to be an issue for a minority there are plenty of other packages which offer fully unlimited and unrestricted connectivity.

More Broadband Genie ISP reviews

On Broadband Genie, you'll find reviews of almost every provider, not just Shell Energy. You can find them by following the links below: