How to get a static IP address on UK broadband: providers, costs and setup

If you want to host a server, reach your home network reliably from outside, or run services that others connect to from the internet, a static IP address is often the missing piece. The short version: most UK home broadband hands you a changing address by default, some providers now put you behind shared addressing that blocks incoming connections entirely, and getting a true static IP usually means asking your provider and sometimes paying a monthly fee. Here is how it works and what to do about it.

What is a static IP address?

Every connection to the internet uses an IP address, the number that identifies your line so traffic knows where to go. A static IP is one that stays the same every time you connect. It does not change when you reboot your router or when your provider refreshes your connection. Big websites, email services and FTP services all sit on static addresses so they can always be found at the same place.

Static IP vs dynamic IP: the key differences

A dynamic IP address can change. It may be different each time you connect, and it can change if you reset your router or switch it off and on again. Most home broadband works this way, and for everyday use it is fine.

You only need a dynamic address for browsing the web, sending and receiving email through a service like Gmail or Outlook, downloading and uploading files, and using chat or instant messaging. A static IP is also unnecessary for running a server that only needs to be reached from inside your own network.

With a dynamic setup, a single public IP is allocated automatically. Inside your home, the router's built-in DHCP server then hands each device its own local address as it connects. That is separate from the public address the outside world sees.

A static IP matters when something outside your network needs to find you at a fixed, predictable location.

Why you might need a static IP address

The common reasons to want a static IP:

• Hosting a website, email server, FTP server or DNS server that must be reachable from the internet
• Running a Plex or other media server you access from outside the home
• Peer-to-peer and hosting-based gaming, or running a game server
• Setting up a VPN back into your home network so you can reach it while away
• Remotely accessing your computer, files and programs
• CCTV or other remote monitoring you view from elsewhere
• Some licensed software that ties its licence to a fixed IP
• Incoming video or audio services, or an on-site phone system (IPPBX)

One caveat worth knowing: some audio and video applications, including some phone systems, connect through an external server that forwards incoming traffic to you. In that case you may not need a static IP at all. If you are unsure, check with the provider of the service you are trying to run.

The CGNAT problem you need to check first

Before you pay for anything, understand this, because it trips people up. Many newer and independent providers now run residential broadband behind Carrier-Grade Network Address Translation (CGNAT). This lets several customers share a single public IPv4 address. toob, for example, uses CGNAT as standard.

The reason is simple: the world is running out of IPv4 addresses. There is a limited pool, so providers share them out while the internet slowly moves to the much larger IPv6 system. CGNAT is the interim fix.

The catch is that behind CGNAT you do not have your own usable public address, so incoming connections from the internet cannot reach you. That breaks hosting, remote access and port forwarding. Getting a static IP from a provider like this means being pulled out of the shared CGNAT setup and given your own fixed address instead. So on these networks, buying a static IP does more than keep the same number: it gives you a public address that works for incoming traffic at all.

Older, established providers often still have a stock of IPv4 addresses from years ago, which is why some hand out static or fixed public addresses more freely.

Can you get a static IP on home broadband?

Yes, on some home broadband you can. It depends entirely on the provider.

• Zen includes a free static IP with every connection on its home broadband, aimed squarely at remote workers and home offices.
• toob offers a static IP as a paid add-on on its full-fibre home packages, available on all speeds except its entry-level toob essentials tier.

On business broadband, a static IP is far more commonly included or offered as standard. With toob business broadband, a static IP comes included and you simply request one when you order. Virgin Media Business provides static addresses on its business connectivity, where a dynamic public IP is allocated by default and static addressing is offered as an option.

If your provider runs residential CGNAT and will not move you to a public static IP, a business package or a different provider may be the only route to a true static address.

UK broadband providers that offer static IPs

Provider	Home broadband	Cost	Notes
Zen	Static IP included	Free with every connection	Marketed for remote working and remote desktop access
toob	Add-on	£8 a month	Not available on toob essentials; CGNAT used as standard otherwise
toob business	Included	Request on order	Static IP comes with business broadband
Virgin Media Business	Business connectivity	Offered as an option	Dynamic public IP allocated by default

Other providers, including Freeola, are often mentioned for static IP services, but confirm the current terms directly with any provider before you sign up, since pricing and CGNAT policy change.

How much does a static IP cost in the UK?

There is no single price. The two models you will see are included-for-free and paid add-on.

Zen bundles a static IP into its home broadband at no extra charge. toob charges £8 a month on top of your existing contract. To put that in context, toob's home900 package, with 900 Mbps download and upload for £29 a month on a 24-month contract, becomes £37 a month once you add the static IP.

Why do some providers charge when others do not? It comes back to IPv4 scarcity. As an independent provider, toob says it had to buy its own block of static addresses at a much higher rate than established providers that already hold large stocks. Charging for the add-on keeps the base price lower for the majority of customers who do not need one. Expect this pattern across newer altnets: cheaper headline price, static IP as a paid extra.

How to request and set up a static IP with your provider

The process is usually straightforward:

1. Check whether you actually need one. Run through the reasons above. If you only browse, email and stream, you do not.
2. Find out if your line is behind CGNAT. If it is, confirm the provider can give you a genuine public static IP rather than just a fixed shared one.
3. Choose when to add it. New customers can usually add a static IP to the basket when ordering online. Existing customers typically add it to the current contract by phone.
4. Request it. With toob, a quick phone call adds the service, and it is often live within a couple of hours. With toob business broadband, you ask for one when placing the order. With Zen home broadband it comes as standard, so there is nothing extra to arrange.
5. Note the contract terms. toob's static IP is a monthly rolling product with no fixed term, so you can add or remove it as needed.

One practical warning: a static IP is tied to your line, not to you. If you move house, the address will change, so tell your provider in advance if you want to keep the service going at a new address.

Static IP and working from home

For home workers, the main appeal is reliable remote access. A fixed address makes it simpler to connect to a remote desktop, reach files on your home machine, or run a VPN back into your network without the address shifting under you. This is exactly why Zen positions its free static IP as a home-working feature.

A static IP is not strictly required to work from home. Video calls, cloud apps and file transfers all run fine on a normal dynamic connection. The difference shows when colleagues, clients or you need to connect in to a machine or service at your address on demand.

Security considerations with a static IP

A fixed, public address is easier for legitimate users to find, and also easier for attackers to target and probe over time, since it does not move. If you open your connection to the internet to host or allow remote access, treat it with care. Only expose the services you genuinely need, keep router and device firmware up to date, use strong authentication, and consider a VPN rather than opening services directly to the world.

Alternatives if you cannot get a static IP

If your provider will not give you a public static IP, or the cost does not stack up, there are workarounds:

• Dynamic DNS (DDNS): a service that maps a fixed hostname to your changing IP, updating automatically. This gives you a stable name to connect to while the underlying address moves. It only works if you have a genuine public dynamic IP, not if you are behind CGNAT.
• A VPN with a static exit IP: some VPN services provide a fixed address you connect out through, which can stand in for a static IP in certain setups.

Neither is a perfect substitute for a true static IP, but both can solve the remote-access problem for a lot of people.

Frequently asked questions

Is a static IP free in the UK? It depends on the provider. Zen includes one free with every home connection. toob charges £8 a month as an add-on. Business broadband often includes one.

Can I get a static IP on home broadband? Yes, from providers that offer it, such as Zen (free) and toob (paid). Many providers reserve usable public static IPs for business packages, especially if they run residential CGNAT.

Will my static IP stay the same if I move house? No. The address is tied to the line, so it changes when you move. Tell your provider if you want to keep the service at the new address.

Why does my new provider charge for a static IP when my old one did not? IPv4 addresses are scarce. Established providers often hold old stocks, while newer independent providers had to buy addresses at a higher cost, so they charge for the extra.

Who regulates UK broadband? Ofcom is the regulator for UK communications, covering fixed-line telecoms, mobile and the wider sector.