The best broadband deals in October 2017

Broadband deals

Finding the best broadband internet deals can be a bit of a minefield - there are so many options. Do you need superfast fibre broadband? Is cheaper ADSL enough? Should you go for a cheap sub-£20 per month broadband only deal, or add TV to your package?

We're here to help you make that decision. Pop in your postcode above and we'll give you a list of the lowest priced home broadband deals available in your area. With the latest offers from BT Infinity, Sky, Virgin Media and TalkTalk all included, our widget will filter down the best broadband deals.

Below, you'll find TechRadar's handpicked favourite deals for fibre (if you can get it), broadband and TV packages and broadband only plans. We'll find a bargain for you, even away from the madness of Black Friday. Keep scrolling down and you'll find our advice on what else you should consider when buying broadband - from the speed you'll need, to whether getting fibre broadband is a must for your household.

See also: BT Broadband and Infinity deals | Virgin Media broadband deals | Sky broadband deals | Fibre broadband deals | Broadband and TV deals | Broadband only deals

Best fibre broadband deals (subject to availability at your postcode)

BT Unlimited Infinity 1 | 12 months | Up to 52Mb | Line rental inc. | BT Sport | + £120 BT Reward Card| £34.99 upfront | £31.99pm
The best BT broadband deal right now is this one, which offers a great price for super fast fibre while also sweetening the deal with a £120 BT reward card which can be spent at almost any store that accepts Mastercard. This price is for super fast 52Mb fibre broadband, but the perks are also available on standard broadband for a fiver less a month. Total cost of 12 months £418.87

View this deal at BT broadband

Virgin Media Player Bundle | 12 months | Up to 100Mb | Weekend calls | 70+ channels | £20 upfront | £33pm
Virgin Media is still the only broadband company that can offer pulverising 100Mb broadband speeds. And its current best value package throws TV into the mix as well, with a 500GB TiVo box and 70+ regular and HD channels. This is a brilliant price for rapid home internet speeds, but your price will go up to £48 a month after the first year. Total cost of 12 months £416

View this deal at Virgin Media

The best broadband and TV deals in September 2017

NOW TV Brilliant Broadband with Entertainment Pass | 12 months | Up to 17Mb | Line rental inc. | Sky Atlantic and 250+ box sets | £44 set up | £24.99pm
NOW doesn't offer your bog standard TV plan with your broadband - you won't find the usual list Freeview channels here. Instead, you get its Smart Box which gives access to apps for all the main channels and also 250+ popular TV series. And the most exciting thing is that you also get Sky Atlantic, and you know what that means...GAME. OF. THRONES. Total cost of 12 months £343.88

View this deal at NOW TV broadband

Virgin Media Mix Bundle | 12 months | Up to 100Mb | Weekend calls | 150+ channels | £20 upfront | £45pm
For an extra £12 a month to Virgin's cheapest deal above, you can double the channels and start to get some really juicy television. Sky 1 and Sky Living will appear on Virgin's upgraded V6 box, as well as the likes of MTV, TCM and Cartoon Network - so something everyone. Total cost of 12 months £560

View this deal at Virgin Media

Best broadband only deal in September 2017

Sky Broadband Unlimited | 12 months | Up to 17Mb | Line rental inc. | No TV | £19.95 upfront | £15pm
WOW! Sky has dropped its cash card promotion in favour of simply reducing the monthly bills on its standard ADSL internet - and we're delighted. No other provider comes anywhere near touching £15 per month. It's a genuinely astonishing tariff, which gives you a year of broadband for less than £200. Total cost of 12 months £199.95

View this deal at Sky broadband

Vodafone Unlimited Fibre 38 | 18 months | Up to 38Mb | Line rental inc. | FREE activation | £25 £20 per month
No, Vodafone is not just a mobile phone network. Yes, it is one of the cheapest providers of superfast fibre broadband on the market. No, you don't have to pay anything upfront. Yes, there is 20% off at the moment, making this one of the cheapest ever monthly prices we've seen for superfast fibre broadband. No, we're not going to answer any more of your questions! Total cost of 18 months £360

View this deal at Vodafone broadband

What broadband speed do I need?

Superfast fibre broadband may sound appetising, but it may not be necessary for your home - especially if you want to cut costs. It could be worth considering slower, cheaper ADSL instead.

Broadband speeds are represented in megabits per second, or Mb. Crudely speaking, the more Mbs, the faster the broadband speed. But remember that the advertised speed is the maximum and doesn't necessarily represent the actual speed you'll end up getting. That varies depending where you live.

0-25Mb This entry-level broadband speed is transmitted via an ADSL connection to your nearest BT exchange. The equivalent to around 2.1MB per second, It should be fast enough for small households where only one or two people are using the internet at once. Be aware that if you stream TV, you may experience the odd interruption.

25-50Mb Where Virgin led the way, the rest followed. Now every big provider offers rapid fibre broadband. This is the sweet spot between fast speeds and good value and just the ticket for a family household where four or five members are all streaming, downloading and surfing at once.

50+Mb If you stream 4K TV or have loads of people trying to use your broadband connection at once, then it may be worth shelling out for the extra speed. It may cost you more, but you're pretty much guaranteed lag-free use - plus, the providers often sweeten the deal with added extras and rewards.

Is fibre broadband available in my area?

There's one very easy way to find out...scroll to the top of this page and input your postcode. We'll tell you straight away whether you can get fast fibre broadband.

Roughly speaking, 90% of UK homes now have the option of connecting to fibre broadband. But if you have your heart on Virgin Media fibre plans, it's more like around 60%.

What contract length should I go for?

Most broadband providers lock you in for at least 12 months, with one year plans being by far the most common.  That said, perhaps taking their cue from mobile phone contracts, we are now seeing some providers experimenting with longer plans, with 18 month contracts rearing their heads.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, some providers now offer short term rolling contracts. Virgin Media, for example, have 30 day plans for commitment-phobes. The downside is you'll be expected to play a larger setup fee.

When your contract comes to an end, be prepared for your monthly tariff to be hiked - especially if you were lucky enough to get a great introductory offer at the outset.

Will I have to pay anything upfront for broadband?

Usually. Sometimes known as 'setup', 'upfront' or 'activation' fees, most of the major broadband providers ask for at least some payment when you kick off your contract. The amount usually depends on what level of package you go for, but it will likely be somewhere between £10 and £60. Only TalkTalk bucks the trend - they've scrapped their activation fee completely, while other brands run frequent promotions where they temporarily scrap their upfront cost.

There may be other added extras, too, however. If you take a broadband and TV package, you might be charged for the TV set-top box. And some, including BT and EE, charge delivery for the router.

Do I have to pay more to have a phone line?

If you still use a home landline to make and receive calls, you're in luck - many broadband plans don't  just feature a landline, but they actually include it in your monthly price.

You will have to start paying more though when you have a personalised call plan. You'll see your standard monthly bill begin to escalate when you start adding unlimited evening, daytime or international calls to the mix.

SOURCE - TECH RADAR posted by Campus94