Compare 25+ UK broadband providers side-by-side
From the big-six retail ISPs on Openreach to Virgin Media’s gigabit cable network and the new wave of altnets reaching rural villages, blocks of flats and London streets. Speeds, networks, perks and pricing for 25 UK broadband providers side by side.
25+
UK ISPs reviewed in one place
~80%
UK premises with FTTP or cable (Ofcom)
£30
Average UK broadband bill (Ofcom)
1 Gb
Max speed widely available in 2026
UK broadband is delivered over three main networks: Openreach (the wholesale network most retail ISPs resell), Virgin Media’s own cable network and a growing list of altnets like CityFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Gigaclear that are building their own full-fibre lines. The brand on your bill matters less than the network running into your street.
Below you can compare every major UK provider: which network they sit on, whether they sell FTTC, full-fibre, cable or 4G/5G, what bundles they offer and what makes each one different. Filter by network type, contract length and bundle availability to narrow the list.
The flagship providers
The four UK broadband providers every customer should know
The three biggest Openreach retailers plus Virgin Media’s cable network. Together they cover the vast majority of UK households.
BT
Openreach
The UK’s largest broadband retailer and parent of Openreach. Full Fibre up to 900 Mbps, BT Halo wi-fi guarantee and bundled BT Sport.
Read the full reviewSky
Openreach
TV and broadband bundles on Openreach lines. Sky Glass streams Sky TV over your broadband with no dish required. Strong family-bundle pricing.
Read the full reviewVirgin Media
Cable / own network
The only major UK ISP running its own cable network. Gigabit speeds (1.1 Gbps) widely available without waiting for FTTP rollout.
Read the full reviewTalkTalk
Openreach + CityFibre
Long-running value-focused ISP. Aggressive full-fibre pricing on Openreach and CityFibre, with no inflation-linked mid-contract price hikes on some plans.
Read the full reviewEvery UK provider
Compare all 25 UK broadband providers
Filter by network type, full-fibre availability, TV bundles, 4G/5G home broadband or business plans and find the right ISP in seconds.
BT
Openreach . Halo + BT Sport
The UK’s largest broadband retailer and parent of Openreach. Full Fibre up to 900 Mbps, BT Halo wi-fi guarantee and bundled BT Sport.
Sky
Openreach . Sky Glass bundle
TV and broadband bundles on Openreach lines. Sky Glass streams Sky TV over your broadband with no dish required. Strong family-bundle pricing.
Virgin Media
Cable / own network . Gigabit cable
The only major UK ISP running its own cable network. Gigabit speeds (1.1 Gbps) widely available without waiting for FTTP rollout.
TalkTalk
Openreach + CityFibre . Value full-fibre
Long-running value-focused ISP. Aggressive full-fibre pricing on Openreach and CityFibre, with no inflation-linked mid-contract price hikes on some plans.
Vodafone
Openreach + CityFibre . Pro II Wi-Fi
Full Fibre on Openreach and CityFibre with the Pro II router and multi-room mesh disc options. Mobile bundle discounts for Vodafone Pay Monthly customers.
Three
4G / 5G mobile . 5G home broadband
Wireless 5G and 4G home broadband with no landline and no installation. Plug-and-play hub, unlimited data and 30-day rolling contracts available.
EE
Openreach + EE mobile . BT-owned hybrid
BT-owned brand combining fibre on Openreach with 4G and 5G home broadband fallback. EE mobile customers get bundled discounts and shared data perks.
Plusnet
Openreach . Customer service awards
BT-owned subsidiary repeatedly winning Which? customer-service awards. Honest Yorkshire-style pricing on FTTC and full-fibre Openreach lines.
NOW Broadband
Openreach . NOW TV bundle
Sky’s budget brand combining Openreach broadband with NOW TV streaming passes. Short contracts, no installation and rolling monthly memberships.
Netgem TV
Streaming only . TV-only box
TV-only operator selling a 4K streaming box that aggregates Netflix, Prime, Freeview Play and live channels. Works with any ISP’s broadband.
Gigaclear
Own altnet (rural) . Rural full-fibre
Rural-focused altnet building its own FTTP network in villages and market towns Openreach has not yet reached. Symmetric speeds up to 900 Mbps.
Hyperoptic
Own altnet (urban) . Gigabit flats
Urban altnet specialising in blocks of flats and new-build apartments. Symmetric gigabit speeds, fast install where their network reaches the building.
Community Fibre
Own altnet (London) . London full-fibre
London-only altnet running its own FTTP network. Aggressive pricing on 150 Mbps to 3 Gbps symmetric plans, with social tariffs for low-income households.
Cuckoo Broadband
Openreach . Simple full-fibre
One plan, one price, no contract. Cuckoo sells Openreach Full Fibre with simple monthly pricing and no introductory discounts that jump later.
Direct Save Telecom
Openreach . Budget Openreach
Value-focused Openreach reseller offering low-cost FTTC and FTTP plans, often aimed at older customers and households on Universal Credit social tariffs.
iTalk
Openreach . Older budget ISP
Long-running budget Openreach reseller. Basic FTTC and call packages aimed at customers who want a simple, no-frills landline-plus-broadband bundle.
John Lewis Broadband
Plusnet-backed . Service-led
White-label Openreach service powered by Plusnet. John Lewis-branded customer care and clear pricing without flashy bundle gimmicks.
KCOM
Own altnet (Hull) . Hull regional
Hull-only operator running its own FTTP network across the city. Symmetric gigabit speeds on KCOM Lightstream; the only mainstream ISP in much of HU postcodes.
Onestream Broadband
Openreach . Openreach reseller
Independent Openreach reseller selling FTTC and FTTP plans with bundled landline and inclusive evening or anytime UK calls.
Origin Broadband
Openreach . No-frills Openreach
Doncaster-based Openreach reseller. No-frills FTTC and full-fibre plans with optional landline calls and a UK call centre for support.
Pop Telecom
Openreach . Specialist seniors
Specialist Openreach reseller marketing simple landline-plus-broadband bundles to older customers. UK-based phone support and printed bills available.
Post Office Broadband
Shell-backed Openreach . Post Office brand
Post Office-branded Openreach broadband, now operated under Shell Energy Broadband. Simple FTTC and full-fibre plans available in Post Office branches and online.
Shell Broadband
Openreach (closed 2024) . Historical
Shell Energy Broadband’s residential service was sold to TalkTalk in 2024. Existing customers were migrated to TalkTalk Openreach plans; no new sign-ups.
SSE Broadband
OVO-owned (closed) . Historical
SSE Telecoms’ residential broadband was retired after OVO acquired SSE Energy Services. Customers were migrated to other Openreach ISPs.
bOnline
Openreach (business) . Small business
Business-only ISP for sole traders and SMEs. Openreach FTTC and FTTP plans bundled with VoIP, cloud phone systems and dedicated business support.
Providers at a glance
What each provider actually offers
Some run on Openreach. Others own their own network. A quick visual key to every plan type each ISP supports.
BT
Sky
Virgin Media
TalkTalk
Vodafone
Three
EE
Plusnet
NOW Broadband
Netgem TV
Gigaclear
Hyperoptic
Community Fibre
Cuckoo Broadband
Direct Save Telecom
iTalk
John Lewis Broadband
KCOM
Onestream Broadband
Origin Broadband
Pop Telecom
Post Office Broadband
Shell Broadband
SSE Broadband
bOnline
Last updated: August 2026. Plan types, network availability and full-fibre rollout change. Always confirm directly with the provider.
6 questions to ask
How to choose the right UK broadband provider
Network availability, speed, contract length, bundles and total cost. Six checks that decide whether a plan is right for you.
Check what runs into your street
Use Ofcom’s free Broadband Checker and the Openreach availability tool to see whether your address has FTTC only, full-fibre FTTP, Virgin Media cable or any altnet. Availability beats brand every time.
Fibre, full-fibre or cable?
FTTC (part-fibre) tops out around 80 Mbps. Full-fibre (FTTP) goes to 900 Mbps or more on Openreach and 3 Gbps on some altnets. Virgin Media cable widely offers 1.1 Gbps without waiting for FTTP rollout.
Match speed to actual usage
A solo user with one laptop is fine on 35 to 67 Mbps. Two adults streaming and working from home need 100 Mbps+. Families with 4K TVs and gamers should target 200 to 900 Mbps full-fibre or gigabit cable.
Contract length and price hikes
Most UK ISPs lock you in for 18 or 24 months and raise prices mid-contract by CPI plus 3.9%. Cuckoo and a few altnets offer no-contract plans or fixed-price guarantees that protect you from hikes.
Do you need a TV bundle?
Sky, BT, Virgin Media and NOW combine broadband with TV channels and streaming apps. If you already use Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ standalone, a broadband-only plan is usually cheaper.
Do you actually need a landline?
Most full-fibre plans no longer include a working landline. If you still use a home phone, check whether the ISP offers a Digital Voice service or whether you should pick a separate VoIP provider.
What it costs in 2026
The cheapest UK broadband plans this year
Openreach resellers and London altnets consistently win on entry-level full-fibre pricing. Speeds are identical to the bigger brands, but monthly bills are typically a third lower than BT, Sky or Virgin Media headline prices.
£19
Community Fibre (London altnet) - 150 Mbps full-fibre, 24 months
£23
TalkTalk Fibre 65 (Openreach) - average 67 Mbps, 18 months
£28
Vodafone Full Fibre 100 (Openreach) - 100 Mbps, 24 months
Indicative entry-level prices from provider websites, 2026. Always verify the current offer before subscribing.
Keep exploring
More on UK TV & broadband
Picked your provider? Now find the right how-to guide, the wider broadband hub or mobile bundle options to round out your setup.
How-to
TV & broadband guides
47+ guides on switching ISP, fibre vs cable, speed tests, streaming services, leased lines and broadband for business.
ExploreHome
TV & broadband hub
The main UK broadband landing page. Latest deals, switching advice and a primer on the UK ISP market.
ExploreOverlap
Mobile networks
Many UK broadband providers (BT, Sky, Virgin, Vodafone, EE) also sell mobile. Check the mobile hub for bundle discounts and shared-data perks.
ExploreUK broadband FAQ
The Selectra expert answers your questions
Virgin Media currently has the fastest mass-market broadband with its 1.1 Gbps Gig1 cable service, available to roughly half of UK homes. On the full-fibre Openreach network, BT, Sky, Vodafone and TalkTalk all offer up to 900 Mbps. Altnets like Community Fibre and Hyperoptic push speeds to 3 Gbps symmetric in their footprint areas. Always check what is actually live at your postcode before signing up.
Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) runs fibre to a street cabinet then copper to your home, capping at around 80 Mbps. Full-fibre (FTTP) runs fibre all the way to the property, supporting 100 to 900 Mbps and beyond. Cable is Virgin Media’s coaxial network, delivering up to 1.1 Gbps. Cable and full-fibre are both far more reliable than FTTC because there is no copper bottleneck.
Yes, but you may pay an early-termination fee. Most UK ISPs charge the remaining monthly cost of your contract if you cancel early. Exceptions include moving home outside coverage, a major service failure or a price hike that breaches Ofcom’s mid-contract rules. If you switch between Openreach providers, the new ISP can use the One Touch Switch process to handle the changeover within one working day.
Openreach is BT Group’s wholesale network arm that builds and maintains the UK’s biggest fixed-line broadband infrastructure (both FTTC and FTTP). Most retail ISPs including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, EE, Plusnet, NOW, Cuckoo, Onestream and Post Office Broadband resell Openreach lines. Virgin Media runs its own cable network, while altnets like CityFibre, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre and Gigaclear build separate full-fibre networks in their target areas.
Not anymore on most plans. Full-fibre and cable broadband do not need a copper landline, and most new full-fibre plans no longer bundle a working voice line. Older FTTC plans still ride on a phone line, but the line rental is included in the package price. Virgin Media’s cable broadband has never needed a phone line. Mobile 4G/5G home broadband from Three and EE also works without any fixed line at all.
Save on your next bill
Find a cheaper UK broadband provider in minutes
One Touch Switch lets you change Openreach ISPs in a single working day with no gap in service. Compare 25 UK broadband providers side by side and check which networks reach your street.