Full fibre
Fibre reaches the premises where the network is available.
CONNECTED HOME
Compare broadband by speed, reliability and total contract cost
The best broadband deal is the service available at your exact address with enough capacity, understandable contract terms and dependable in-home coverage.
Decision routes
Start with the outcome, not the advert
Part-fibre and copper
Expected speed depends more heavily on line length and network.
Mobile broadband
Coverage, indoor signal and data policy determine suitability.
The CoolCompare check
Four things to compare before committing
Compare UK broadband around address availability, realistic speed, contract length, setup cost and mid-contract price terms.
Address availabilityTechnology and providers vary street by street.
Speed neededMatch simultaneous streaming, work, gaming and uploads.
Contract totalInclude setup, equipment and scheduled price changes.
Wi-Fi coverageThe line speed and the experience around the home are different issues.
Live tariff desk
Which broadband deal makes sense?
These are editorial starting points from a small, source-checked set—not paid rankings. Availability and the speed estimate at your exact address come first.
DATA CHECK04 · 08 · 2026Provider pages
150Mbps at £24 initially. Enough capacity for many ordinary multi-device homes without paying for headline gigabit speed.
From £24 / monthA sensible middle ground for larger households, 4K streams and regular big downloads—if full fibre reaches the address.
500Mbps averageChoose it when the faster line has a clear use. Gaming latency alone is not a reason to buy the biggest Mbps number.
900Mbps averageCurrent advertised deals
Products, prices and contract traps—together
New-customer, broadband-only offers observed on official provider pages. All offers are address-dependent and can change.
| Provider & plan | Average download | Starting price | Price path | 24-month view | Official check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TalkTalkFull Fibre 150Full fibre | 150Mbpsadvertised average | £24/month · 24 months No stated setup fee | £28 Apr ’27£32 from Apr ’28 | £656illustrative scheduled total* | Check address ↗Checked 4 August 2026 |
| Virgin MediaM250 Fibre BroadbandVirgin Media cable/fibre network | 264Mbpsadvertised average | £25.99/month · 24 months No stated setup fee | Check basket£74/mo after term | £623.76headline subtotal; rises excluded | Check address ↗Checked 4 August 2026 |
| TalkTalkFull Fibre 500Full fibre | 500Mbpsadvertised average | £30/month · 24 months No stated setup fee | £34 Apr ’27£38 from Apr ’28 | £800illustrative scheduled total* | Check address ↗Checked 4 August 2026 |
| Virgin MediaM350 Fibre BroadbandVirgin Media cable/fibre network | 362Mbpsadvertised average | £28.99/month · 24 months No stated setup fee | Check basket£80/mo after term | £695.76headline subtotal; rises excluded | Check address ↗Checked 4 August 2026 |
| TalkTalkFull Fibre 900Full fibre | 900Mbpsadvertised average | £36/month · 24 months No stated setup fee | £40 Apr ’27£44 from Apr ’28 | £944illustrative scheduled total* | Check address ↗Checked 4 August 2026 |
01
Match the lineEnter the full address and record the provider’s personalised minimum, normally available and maximum speed figures.
02
Match the householdFor many homes, a dependable 100–300Mbps line is more useful than paying for unused gigabit capacity.
03
Match the whole termCompare scheduled rises, setup, rewards, extras and the out-of-contract price—not only month one.
Pros, cons and regulator complaint signals
Provider-level indicators are not a prediction of your individual experience. They add service and switching evidence to the price table.
- Pros: clear scheduled rises and competitive full-fibre entry pricing.
- Cons: Ofcom listed TalkTalk among the most complained-about fixed-broadband providers in Q4 2025.
- Ofcom’s service study recorded below-sector complaint-handling satisfaction.
- Pros: Ofcom listed Virgin Media among the least complained-about fixed-broadband providers in Q4 2025.
- Cons: post-contract prices shown on current offers are much higher than opening prices.
- In July 2026 Ofcom fined Virgin Media £28m after finding unreasonable difficulty in cancellation calls.
*Illustrative TalkTalk total assumes a new 24-month contract starts 4 August 2026: eight months at the opening price, 12 months at the April 2027 price and four months at the April 2028 price. Billing dates can change the exact total. Virgin Media figures show the opening-price subtotal because its page says prices and terms may change during the contract. Rewards and optional extras are excluded. This is not personal financial advice.
Side-by-side
Compare the main routes
A quick orientation before you request prices or commit to a contract.
| Decision | Full fibre | Part fibre | Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connection | Fibre to premises | Fibre plus copper section | 4G or 5G radio |
| Speed stability | Generally strongest | Distance can affect speed | Signal and congestion vary |
| Installation | May require new fibre route | Often existing phone route | Router and signal placement |
| Check | Address availability and router | Guaranteed or expected speed | Indoor coverage and data policy |
Before you buy
Your quote and contract checklist
Save this list and use the same questions with every provider. Comparable inputs produce a more useful comparison.
- 01
Check the exact addressDo not assume a neighbour or postcode has the same network options.
- 02
Record expected speedsCompare download, upload and any minimum-speed commitment.
- 03
Price the full contractInclude setup, equipment, scheduled rises and the post-contract rate.
- 04
Plan home Wi-FiRouter location, walls, mesh hardware and wired connections affect experience.
Start here
Essential broadband guides
Three practical reads that frame the decision without sales pressure.
SPEED01
What broadband speed do I need?
Match simultaneous users, streaming, work and uploads.
Read the key answers ↓NETWORK02
Full fibre explained
Understand FTTP without relying on brand terminology.
Read the key answers ↓CONTRACT03
Broadband contract checklist
Compare setup, increases, equipment and exit terms.
Read the key answers ↓Plain-English answers
Frequently asked questions
General UK guidance. Product, property, tariff and policy details still need individual verification.
How much broadband speed is enough?+
It depends on simultaneous activity, not only household size. Video calls, 4K streaming, gaming downloads and cloud backup create different demands.
Why is Wi-Fi slower than the advertised line?+
Distance, walls, interference, router placement and device capability can reduce wireless performance even when the line is healthy.
Is full fibre available everywhere?+
No. Availability is address-specific and continues to change as networks expand.
Should I compare only monthly price?+
No. Include setup costs, equipment, scheduled price increases, contract length and the price after the minimum term.
Connected decisions