Every pound counts when managing household budgets. Broadband represents a monthly expense you can’t easily eliminate, but you can definitely reduce it. Paying £40-50 for internet feels normal until you discover packages delivering similar performance for £20-25.
Finding genuinely cheap broadband without landline charges requires looking past marketing hype focusing on gigabit speeds most people never use. This guide reveals the lowest-cost options delivering reliable internet without phone lines you don’t need.
What “Cheapest” Actually Means
Headline prices mislead without understanding what’s included. A £19 package sounds cheaper than £23 until you discover router rental adds £5 monthly, installation costs £60, and speeds barely support one person streaming.
True cheapest broadband balances three factors:
Total monthly cost including all fees – Router rental, line charges, and price rises affect real expenses
Adequate speed for your usage – 30Mbps works for light users; families need 100Mbps+
Setup costs and contract terms – Free installation and 12-month contracts prevent expensive surprises
This analysis focuses on genuine value rather than just lowest headline numbers.
Cheapest Overall: Community Fibre Essential 75
Community Fibre’s Essential 75 costs £20 monthly for 75Mbps symmetrical speeds on rolling 30-day contracts.
Why it wins budget category:
– Absolute lowest price for decent speeds
– No router rental fees hidden in pricing
– Free installation in served buildings
– No contract commitment required
– Matching upload speeds rare at this price
Real-world performance exceeds quoted speeds regularly. London customers report 80-85Mbps during independent testing.
Coverage limitations restrict this deal to London only. 26 boroughs have access currently, but most UK residents fall outside their service area.
The rolling contract means no penalty for leaving. Test it risk-free for a month and cancel if unsatisfied.
National Budget Winner: Plusnet Unlimited Full Fibre
Plusnet’s Unlimited Full Fibre costs £23.99 monthly for 36Mbps speeds on 12-month contracts.
Why it leads nationally:
– Lowest price from major nationwide provider
– Free activation during regular promotions
– No separate line rental charges
– UK-based customer service wins awards
– BT-owned reliability at budget pricing
Speeds of 36Mbps handle browsing, email, and streaming for 2-3 people comfortably. Not blazing fast, but adequate for typical usage.
Openreach full fibre availability reaches 40% of UK premises. Check postcodes carefully as FTTP coverage varies dramatically by location.
The 12-month contract provides decent flexibility. Settled households get budget pricing without excessive long-term commitment.
Runner-Up: G.Network Standard 100
G.Network’s Standard 100 costs £19 monthly for 100Mbps speeds on rolling monthly contracts.
Why budget seekers choose it:
– Lowest headline price for 100Mbps
– Three times faster than Plusnet’s option
– No contract commitment
– All-inclusive pricing without hidden fees
London-only availability limits relevance nationally. Coverage concentrates in specific apartment buildings and estates.
Installation requires engineer visits taking 2-3 hours. Free setup in buildings G.Network already serves.
The combination of low price and decent speeds makes this unbeatable where available. Check address eligibility before celebrating the value.
Cheapest 5G Option: Three 5G Home Broadband
Three’s 5G Home Broadband costs £21 monthly with no contract and unlimited data.
Why mobile broadband users pick it:
– Sub-£25 pricing beats most fixed-line options
– Zero installation required
– Cancel anytime without penalties
– Setup in minutes versus weeks
– 30-day money-back guarantee
Average speeds hit 100-150Mbps where 5G coverage exists. This performance handles most household streaming and browsing needs.
Coverage determines viability completely. Check Three’s 5G map meticulously before ordering. Weak signals mean unusable service.
Building materials affect performance. Thick walls in older constructions often block 5G signals preventing adequate coverage.
Budget Full Fibre Alternative: NOW Broadband Super
NOW Broadband Super costs £26 monthly for 36Mbps speeds on rolling contracts.
Why flexibility seekers consider it:
– No long-term commitment required
– Cancel with 30 days notice
– Uses reliable Sky/Openreach infrastructure
– Regular promotional discounts available
Router rental adds £5 monthly or £60 upfront. Calculate true costs at £30 monthly including equipment.
Installation takes 14 days on average. NOW uses Openreach infrastructure requiring line activation.
Promotional pricing lasts 12 months typically. That £25 rate often increases to £32-35 in year two regardless of contract type.
Cheapest Cable Option: Virgin Media M125
Virgin Media’s M125 Fibre Broadband costs £28 monthly for 132Mbps speeds on 24-month contracts.
Why cable customers choose it:
– Fastest speeds at budget price point
– Cable infrastructure eliminates line rental
– Free installation saves setup costs
– Hub 5 router includes WiFi 6
– 99.91% network reliability
Real-world speeds exceed 132Mbps regularly. Customers see 140-150Mbps during independent testing.
The 24-month contract represents the main limitation. Renters planning moves within two years face potential early termination fees.
Coverage reaches 60% of UK homes. Urban areas have excellent access but rural properties often fall outside the network.
Budget Business Broadband: TalkTalk Business Fibre 65
TalkTalk Business Fibre 65 costs £26.95 monthly for 67Mbps speeds with business-grade support.
Why small businesses prefer it:
– Cheaper than residential packages at competitors
– Priority customer service for businesses
– Static IP available for £5 monthly extra
– 12-month contracts provide flexibility
Business packages include technical support during business hours. Support quality exceeds consumer-grade service typically.
Setup costs just £5 during promotions. Low upfront charges help new businesses with limited capital.
The business-grade service level agreement promises faster fixes when issues occur compared to residential customers.
Cheapest with Phone Calls: Sky Full Fibre + Calls
Sky Full Fibre with anytime UK calls costs £28 monthly for 59Mbps speeds.
Why callers appreciate it:
– Includes unlimited UK landline and mobile calls
– Broadband plus calls cheaper than separate services
– Uses Openreach full fibre infrastructure
– No separate line rental charges
Call packages typically add £5-8 monthly. Sky bundles this free, creating genuine value for regular phone users.
Installation follows Openreach timelines of 10-14 days. Remote activation works for pre-wired properties.
The 18-month contract runs longer than some competitors. Factor this commitment into decisions if circumstances might change.
Regional Budget Options
Several local providers undercut national companies in specific areas:
Hyperoptic Fast 50 – £26 monthly in served London/Manchester apartment buildings
Zzoomm Full Fibre 150 – £22 monthly in select Midlands and Southern towns
Community Fibre Essential 75 – £20 monthly across 26 London boroughs
Cuckoo Full Fibre 40 – £19.95 monthly where Openreach FTTP exists
Check local availability carefully. These providers serve limited geographic areas despite excellent pricing.
What You Sacrifice Choosing Budget Options
Cheap broadband delivers value but includes compromises:
Slower speeds limit simultaneous users. Multiple people streaming different content may experience buffering on 30-40Mbps connections.
Longer installation times affect some providers. Budget options sometimes have fewer engineers causing extended wait times.
Basic customer support frustrates some users. Cheaper packages sometimes receive lower priority when technical issues arise.
Limited contract flexibility at some providers. Locking in for 18-24 months gets lower prices but reduces options if circumstances change.
For light to moderate users, these compromises rarely matter. Heavy users with demanding requirements might justify paying £5-10 more monthly for better service.
Speed Requirements at Budget Prices
Match speeds to actual usage:
Single person (light usage):
– 30-40Mbps handles browsing, email, Netflix
– Best deals: Plusnet Full Fibre (£23.99), Cuckoo Full Fibre 40 (£19.95)
Couple (moderate usage):
– 50-75Mbps supports two simultaneous streams
– Best deals: Community Fibre Essential 75 (£20), Hyperoptic Fast 50 (£26)
Small family (3-4 people):
– 100-150Mbps accommodates multiple devices
– Best deals: G.Network Standard 100 (£19), Virgin Media M125 (£28)
Hidden Costs That Inflate Budgets
Several charges push real costs above advertised prices:
Mid-contract price rises occur every April. Inflation plus 3-4% increases affect all major providers regardless of package type.
Router rental adds £5 monthly at NOW Broadband. Factor this into comparisons showing true monthly expenses.
Installation fees range from free to £70. Always confirm if setup costs extra before committing.
Early termination fees cost £10-15 per remaining month. Leaving contracts early triggers penalties erasing any budget savings.
Out-of-contract rates jump 30-50%. That £25 package becomes £37-40 automatically when minimum terms end unless you renegotiate.
When to Choose Budget Broadband
Specific situations justify prioritizing lowest costs:
Tight household budgets need minimum expenses. Every £5 monthly saved compounds to £60 annually.
Light internet users don’t need expensive speeds. Browsing and occasional streaming works fine on budget packages.
Temporary housing situations require short-term solutions. Spending minimally makes sense when moving soon.
Testing new addresses benefits from cheap trials. Start with budget options and upgrade later if needed.
Students sharing costs split bills making even £25 packages affordable at £6-8 each.
When to Spend More
Sometimes paying extra delivers better value:
Heavy users need adequate bandwidth. Saving £5 monthly while experiencing constant buffering wastes money differently.
Work-from-home professionals require reliability. Video conferences demand consistent performance worth paying slightly more.
Large families with numerous devices need capacity. Five people streaming simultaneously overwhelm 40Mbps connections.
Long-term residents benefit from mid-range packages. Settled households use broadband daily making reliability and speed worth premiums.
Coverage Reality Check
Budget deals mean nothing if unavailable at your address:
Community Fibre: 26 London boroughs only
G.Network: Specific London buildings only
Hyperoptic: Apartment buildings in major cities
Plusnet: Openreach full fibre areas (40% of UK)
Three 5G: 62% outdoor coverage (indoor varies)
Virgin Media: 60% of UK homes (strong urban presence)
Check multiple providers at your specific postcode. General availability doesn’t guarantee service at your exact address.
Comparing Total First-Year Costs
Real annual expenses reveal true budget winners:
Community Fibre Essential 75: £240 annually (no setup)
Plusnet Full Fibre: £287.88 annually (free activation)
G.Network Standard 100: £228 annually (no setup)
Three 5G Home: £252 annually (no setup)
NOW Broadband Super: £360 annually (£300 broadband + £60 router)
Virgin Media M125: £336 annually (free installation)
First-year totals include typical setup costs. Community Fibre and G.Network lead but limited coverage restricts eligibility.
Making Your Smart Budget Choice
Start with honest usage assessment. Don’t pay for speeds you’ll never use, but don’t cripple performance either.
Check what’s actually available at your address. Many budget deals serve limited areas despite advertising suggesting wide availability.
Calculate total costs including fees. Router rental and installation charges inflate headline prices significantly.
Read contracts for price rise clauses. April increases affect even budget packages, planning for this prevents surprise bills.
Test during guarantee periods. Most providers allow 14-30 days to cancel for refunds if performance disappoints.
The cheapest broadband without landline depends on your location and needs. London residents should check Community Fibre or G.Network first. National coverage seekers should choose Plusnet Full Fibre. People valuing flexibility should consider Three 5G Home Broadband. Match the recommendation to your specific circumstances rather than assuming one budget option suits everyone.
