What are the best alternatives to TalkTalk?
Thanks to some very cheap deals and the option to get a budget “triple-play” TV, phone, and broadband package, TalkTalk is a popular choice.
But what if you're looking for an alternative? Maybe you're a TalkTalk customer, but you're not receiving the service you expect. Or maybe you don't have a great choice of TalkTalk deals available in your area.
In this guide, you can discover some of the best alternatives...
Alternatives to TalkTalk Broadband
TalkTalk is on the Openreach network, which is the same network used by almost all internet service providers (ISPs). That means that you don’t have to look too hard to find alternatives which can deliver the same kind of broadband speeds .
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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.
Here are a few of the best deals which can match TalkTalk on speed and price:
NOW Broadband
NOW Brilliant Broadband is the same speed as TalkTalk Fast Broadband. However, monthly price starts from £20 per month, which is a little cheaper. However, you'll have to pay a bigger set-up fee with NOW Broadband, but you also have the flexibility of opting for a rolling one-month contract.
Plusnet
Plusnet Fibre Broadband is faster than TalkTalk's entry-level Fibre 35 package, as well as a little cheaper. However, you'll have to commit to a longer 2-year contract, compared to TalkTalk's 18-month standard.
Smaller alternative network providers
Don't think you always have to go with the big names. There are plenty of smaller, alternative network providers (we call these 'altnets') that offer interesting deals. They normally offer fast, full fibre packages, come with perks such as satisfaction guarantees and pledges not to raise prices mid-contract (which unfortunately, TalkTalk doesn't have).
Find out more in our guide to altnets.
Alternatives to TalkTalk TV
EE TV with BT (the new name for BT TV)
EE TV is very similar to TalkTalk. Both services come with a similar TV box and provide around the same number of channels. And like TalkTalk, EE's premium channel packs are flexible, with the ability to swap them every 30 days, free of charge.
NOW TV
You can stream Sky TV channels through NOW TV. It uses passes you can buy without signing up to a long contract. It’s a flexible way to get access to the most popular channels, but will be more expensive than other services if you sign up for all the passes at once.
Sky TV
Sky is a leading premium TV provider. Although not as cheap as TalkTalk, it can offer a huge number of channels and includes the excellent Sky Q TV box. 'Sky Glass' and 'Sky Stream' packages give you the option to bundle up TV without the need for a Sky dish.
Virgin Media TV
Virgin is a direct competitor to Sky, with a similar number of channels and extra features. Again, it's more expensive than TalkTalk, although Virgin is able to offer incredible broadband speeds. For many of us, Virgin will be able to offer the fastest broadband deals in the area.
Expert summary: top three alternatives to TalkTalk
Vodafone
Vodafone Broadband provides great value fibre optic deals that start from around £23. You can also regularly snap up a reward such as a gift card when you sign up to Vodafone.
NOW Broadband
NOW TV is a good alternative to TalkTalk if you’re mainly interested in the most popular Sky channels and don’t want to bother with long contracts, or the need for additional equipment. All you'll need for NOW TV is an internet connection and a compatible device to view the streaming service.
BT Broadband
BT is the most directly comparable alternative to TalkTalk. It provides the same kind of broadband speeds, and its TV package is near identical to TalkTalk. However, you'll have to pay more for BT. Sports fans should also be aware that, unlike TalkTalk, BT can't give you access to the full range of Sky Sports channels.
Now try entering your address into our deals checker to see which of these are available in your area: