UK household bills · September 2026
Budget broadband deals compared — what matters and the latest options
Important: This guide provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Financial products, rates and eligibility rules can change, so check the provider’s current terms before applying. Some links are referral links — we may earn a commission.
Quick comparison
How cheap can home broadband be? On 12 September 2026, open-market budget headlines clustered around £23–£26 a month on many 24-month promotions. If you get qualifying benefits, social tariffs cost £10–£24 a month (Ofcom, 17 August 2026) and don’t have mid-contract price rises.
Check the price after any rise and at the end of the contract, not only the promo price. Availability is by postcode.
Open-market deals as of 12 September 2026 (official ISP pages); social tariffs from Ofcom, 17 August 2026. Availability is by postcode.
Want cheaper broadband without a big April rise? Compare the budget deals →
Table A — Open-market budget deals (official shops, 12 September 2026)
Anyone can buy these, subject to coverage. The cheap end is a cluster of similar prices, so we do not rank them.
Anyone can buy these, subject to coverage. Rows use official ISP pages where possible.
Comparison-site prices that clash are labelled unreconciled, not treated as fact. Deals that match on price are shown as a tie.
| Provider | Package | Promo £/mo | After / rises | Contract | Setup | Speed claim | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOW | Full Fibre 75 | £23 | Price may change; after 24 months last price +£5 (Sky legal) | 24 mo | £0 | 80 Mb/s estimated | About 79% of homes |
| NOW | FF 100 / 300 | £25 / £28 | Same pattern | 24 mo | £0 | 100 / 300 estimated | — |
| Virgin | M125 | £23.99 then £62 | Own shop silent on April £ steps; Uswitch shows +£4 April and an £18.99 exclusive | 24 mo | £0 (£30 if no QuickStart) | 132 Mbps average | Unreconciled vs Uswitch |
| Vodafone | Fixed broadband | From £24 → £27.50 Apr 2027 → £31 Apr 2028 | +£3.50 each 1 April | 24 mo | May apply | Everyday about 74 Mbps | Postcode for exact SKU |
| TalkTalk | Fibre 35 / 65 | From £26 → £30 → £34 | +£4 April | 24 mo | £0 vs help “up to £60” | Avg 35 / about 65 | Part-fibre needs a landline |
| TalkTalk | Full Fibre 150 | From £25 → £29 → £33 | +£4 April | 24 mo | “No set up” | FTTP | Broadband-only |
| Plusnet | Fibre / Full Fibre | From £22.99 | List after intro often about £34.99; +£4 on 31 March | 24 mo | £20 activation often waived; £6.99 P&P | Up to 66 / 900 | SKU postcode-gated |
| EE | 150 Core | £25.99 → £29.99 → £33.99 | +£4 on 31 March | 24 mo | £30 (month 1 £55.99) | 150; 125 guarantee | — |
| BT | Full Fibre 150 hero | £27.99 → £31.99 → £35.99 | +£4 on 31 March | 24 mo | No upfront on hero | 150-class | Cheaper Fibre 2 postcode-gated; Uswitch Fibre 2 £24.99 (comparison) |
| Sky | Superfast / Full Fibre | Postcode-gated | After 24 months +£5; rises may apply | 24 mo | £9.95 + £10 may apply | 35–75+ | Uswitch about £24 Superfast is not own-shop — unreconciled |
Cheap-end cluster : NOW Full Fibre 75 £23; Virgin M125 £23.99 (own shop); Vodafone from £24; TalkTalk Full Fibre 150 from £25; EE 150 £25.99; Plusnet from £22.99 without a postcode. Those deals sit in the same £23–£26 band. Ties stay ties.
Mid-contract rises on new contracts are £ steps (often £3.50–£4 each April / 31 March), not CPI/RPI-linked percentages (Ofcom rule from January 2025 on new contracts). Advertised “average” speed usually means at least half of customers get that at peak (8–10pm). This table is for general information and is not a recommendation to switch.
Cheap-end cluster : NOW Full Fibre 75 £23; Virgin M125 £23.99 (own shop); Vodafone from £24; TalkTalk Full Fibre 150 from £25; EE 150 £25.99; Plusnet from £22.99 without a postcode. Those deals sit in the same band. Ties stay ties.
Table B — Social tariffs (Ofcom, 17 August 2026)
Separate from Table A. Eligibility-gated. Ofcom: £10–£24 a month; no mid-contract rise; no exit fee; the claimant must be the named account holder.
Separate from Table A. Eligibility-gated (qualifying benefits). Ofcom: typically £10–£24 a month; no mid-contract rise; no exit fee; the claimant must be the named account holder.
Not open to everyone. These are different products, so they are listed separately from open-market deals.
| Package | £/mo | Average speed | Footprint / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Essential | £12.50 | 15 Mbps | Cable footprint |
| Virgin Essential Plus | £20 | 54 Mbps | Cable |
| BT Home Essentials No Income | £16.50 | 36 Mbps | Universal Credit + zero income |
| BT Home Essentials Unlimited 36 / 67 | £22 / £25 | 36 / 67 Mbps | UK |
| Sky / NOW Basics | £20 | 36 Mbps | Sky often existing customers only; NOW more open |
| Vodafone Fibre 2 Essentials | £20 | 73 Mbps | UK |
| Hyperoptic Fair Fibre Fast | £12 | 50 Mbps | Network areas |
| Community Fibre Essential | £12.50 | 35 Mbps | London |
| EE / O2 / SMARTY / VOXI £10–£12 | £10–£12 | Mobile 5G | Not home fixed broadband — do not mix into Table A or fixed social rows |
EE and Plusnet do not have their own fixed social tariff — BT Home Essentials is the Ofcom route. TalkTalk has no fixed social tariff on this inventory.
Take-up is still low (Ofcom February 2026: about 532,000 households on a social tariff as of June 2025; about 70% of eligible households were unaware). Switching from the same provider onto a social tariff is usually free (Ofcom).
EE and Plusnet do not have their own fixed social tariff — BT Home Essentials is the Ofcom route. TalkTalk has no fixed social tariff on this inventory.
Take-up is still low. Ofcom (February 2026): about 532,000 households on a social tariff as of June 2025; about 70% of eligible households were unaware.
Who each option suits
- NOW may suit you if you want a low promo price and no setup fee where full fibre is available.
- Virgin Media may suit you if you can switch again before the £62 price applies.
- Vodafone may suit you if you want to know the April rises in advance.
- TalkTalk may suit you if you want full fibre with fixed April steps.
- Plusnet may suit you if you can absorb the £20 activation fee.
- A social tariff may suit you if you get qualifying benefits — it’s cheaper and has no mid-contract rises.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone mid-contract who would pay early exit fees
- Heavy users who need higher speeds than budget packages offer
- People who won’t check for April price rises
- Anyone in an area without full-fibre coverage for the deal shown
Full explanation
Wireless home box (not fibre)
Vodafone 5G Home: “up to” 50 / 150 Mbps; from £18 on 24 months, stepped; coverage-gated; self-install; 1 / 12 / 24 month options. Uswitch £15 clash — unreconciled.
This is wireless home broadband, not full fibre. It is not included in the full-fibre price comparison.
Mid-contract rises
Ofcom banned percentage / CPI / RPI-linked rises on new contracts from January 2025. New deals show £ steps instead — often £3.50–£4 each April or 31 March. Social tariffs: none.
Legacy percentage rises can still sit on older contracts. Sky / NOW often allow 30 or 31 days’ leave after a notified rise.
Speed claims
Advertised “average” usually means at least half of customers get that speed at peak (8–10pm). The other half are below at peak.
Ofcom Connected Nations Spring 2026: full fibre reaches about 82% of homes. No 2026 Ofcom ISP-by-ISP performance table was available at the time of writing (older URL 404).
Year-1 cost (illustrative method, not a pick)
Add promo months × price, stepped months × later price, plus setup. Examples of the method only:
- EE 150: (£25.99 × months to March 2027) + (£29.99 × remaining months in year 1) + £30 setup — Check current prices.
- Virgin M125 own shop: £23.99 × 24 (no April price step shown on the own-shop page) then £62 out of contract — different from Uswitch’s £18.99 path.
Switching
One Touch Switch (from September 2024): the new ISP handles leaving the old one. Social tariff: switching from the same provider is usually free (Ofcom). Exit-fee credits marketed as “up to £200–£300” need proof — they are not a price cut on the monthly fee.
The catch
- NOW: the price may change, and after 24 months the last price rises by £5.
- Virgin Media: the price jumps to £62 after the promo; April steps are unreconciled against comparison sites.
- Vodafone: +£3.50 every 1 April.
- TalkTalk: +£4 every April; part-fibre packages need a landline.
- Plusnet: £20 activation and +£4 on 31 March.
- Social tariffs: you need qualifying benefits.
Common traps
- Promo then jump (Virgin £23.99 → £62).
- Setup in month 1 (EE £30).
- Landline still bundled (Sky; TalkTalk part-fibre).
- Exit fees.
- Comparison exclusives that are not the official shop price (Virgin M125 Uswitch £18.99 vs own shop £23.99; Sky Superfast about £24 on Uswitch vs postcode-gated own shop).
- Low awareness of social tariffs.
- Out-of-contract premiums (Ofcom has pointed to about £7–£9 a month).
- Mixing a mobile 5G “social” tariff into a home fixed broadband table.
Informational checklist only. These rows do not score ISPs or break ties.
| Trap | What it means |
|---|---|
| Promo then jump | Example: Virgin M125 own shop £23.99 then £62 out of contract. Always check the after-promo / out-of-contract price, not only the headline promo. |
| Mid-contract £ steps | New contracts often rise by about £3.50–£4 each April or 31 March (e.g. Vodafone, TalkTalk, EE, BT, Plusnet). Social tariffs: none. Legacy % rises can still sit on older contracts. Sky / NOW often allow 30 or 31 days’ leave after a notified rise. |
| Setup fees in month 1 | EE 150: £30 setup (month 1 £55.99). Virgin: £30 if no QuickStart. TalkTalk setup £0 vs help “up to £60” — unreconciled wording. Plusnet: £20 activation often waived; £6.99 P&P. Include setup in year-1 cost. |
| Comparison exclusive ≠ own shop | Uswitch Virgin M125 £18.99 vs own shop £23.99; Sky Superfast about £24 on Uswitch vs postcode-gated own shop. Label exclusives unreconciled; prefer official pages. |
| Landline still bundled | Sky; TalkTalk part-fibre (Fibre 35 / 65) needs a landline. Full Fibre 150 is broadband-only on TalkTalk’s row above. |
| Exit fees / credits | Exit fees can apply. Credits marketed as “up to £200–£300” need proof — they are not a cut to the monthly fee. One Touch Switch (from September 2024): the new ISP handles leaving the old one. |
| Out-of-contract premium | Ofcom has pointed to about £7–£9 a month extra for many out-of-contract customers. |
| Mixing product types | Do not put Vodafone 5G Home or mobile 5G “social” tariffs into a fixed-fibre cheapest path. Social tariffs stay in Table B. |
Deals, speeds and eligibility depend on your address and circumstances. Re-quote before you buy — prices move weekly.
Check the provider and Ofcom for the latest information. This is general information, not personal advice.
Cashback on broadband sign-ups, if mentioned elsewhere, is a separate product: cashback sites. Household budgeting tools: UK budgeting apps. Paying the bill from a current account: banking.
Important things to know
- Two tables: open market and social tariffs. These are different products, so they are listed separately.
- Cheap open-market end is a £23–£26 promo cluster. Ties stay ties.
- Prefer official ISP pages. Flag Uswitch exclusives that clash as unreconciled.
- New contracts: £ steps, not CPI+%. Social tariffs: no mid-contract rise.
- Postcode decides availability and the exact SKU.
- No overall winner.
What we looked at (12 September 2026)
As of 12 September 2026 this page lists published UK home broadband prices in two tables: open-market budget deals and Ofcom social tariffs. Open-market rows use official ISP pages where possible; comparison-site prices that clash are labelled unreconciled, not treated as fact. We looked at: promo monthly price, speed claim type (average / estimated / “up to”), contract length, setup fees, disclosed mid-contract £ rises, and year-1 cost where calculable.
Availability is by postcode. Social tariffs need qualifying benefits and are not open to everyone. Deals that match on price are shown as a tie.
This is not a recommendation to switch.
There is no overall winner badge. Do not mix social tariffs into an open-market “cheapest” path.
Cheap broadband deals UK: FAQs
What are cheap broadband deals UK as of September 2026?
This page lists published UK home broadband prices as of 12 September 2026 in two tables: open-market budget deals and Ofcom social tariffs. Open-market promo headlines often sit around £23–£26 a month. This is general information, not personal advice. It is not a recommendation to switch ISP.
What is the open-market budget price cluster right now?
On 12 September 2026 the cheap end of many 24-month promotions clusters around £23–£26 a month (for example NOW Full Fibre 75 £23, Virgin M125 £23.99 own shop, Vodafone from £24). That is a cluster, not a crown. Ties stay ties.
What are broadband social tariffs?
Social tariffs are eligibility-gated deals on Ofcom’s inventory (17 August 2026): about £10–£24 a month, no mid-contract price rise, no exit fee, and the claimant must be the named account holder. They are not open to everyone.
Why are social tariffs in a separate table?
Social tariffs need qualifying benefits. Mixing them into an open-market “cheapest” path would mislead people who cannot claim them. This page keeps Table A (open market) and Table B (social) separate. There is no overall winner badge.
How do mid-contract £ rises work on new contracts?
Ofcom banned percentage / CPI / RPI-linked rises on new contracts from January 2025. New deals show £ steps instead — often £3.50–£4 each April or 31 March. Social tariffs have no mid-contract rise. Legacy percentage rises can still sit on older contracts.
Should I trust comparison-site exclusives?
Prefer official ISP shops. Where a comparison site clashes with the own-shop price, this page labels it unreconciled — for example Virgin M125 Uswitch £18.99 versus own shop £23.99. Unreconciled figures are not treated as fact.
What is year-1 cost on this page?
It is a method only: promo months × price, plus stepped months × later price, plus setup. Examples illustrate the method. They are not a pick or a ranking. Check current prices with the live shop card for your postcode.
Does postcode matter?
Yes. Availability and the exact SKU are postcode-gated. National headline prices may not be available at your address. Check the provider’s own shop for your postcode before you compare.
Is Vodafone 5G Home in the fibre cheapest path?
No. Vodafone 5G Home is a wireless home box, not full fibre. It is not included in the full-fibre price comparison. Coverage is gated and comparison-site prices can clash with the own shop.
Does this page recommend a switch?
No. This is general information, not personal advice. It is not a recommendation to buy or switch. There are no apply or sign-up links.
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