Onestream review: cheap headline prices, but check the router fee

Verdict

Onestream is a budget-focused broadband provider that runs on the Openreach network, so its appeal comes down to price rather than extras. Headline monthly costs are among the lowest you will see, and the company raises prices by a fixed amount each year instead of an inflation-linked percentage, which makes future bills easier to predict. The trade-off is that a separate monthly router fee is bundled into the real cost without being obvious in the headline, and the full fibre package names do not match the speeds you actually get. For a cost-conscious household willing to read the contract closely, it is worth a look. If you want simplicity and a name that appears in Ofcom's regular service comparisons, look elsewhere.

Onestream is a Hampshire-based independent provider, part of Onecom, and launched in 2018. It uses the Openreach network and is available nationally, with both part-fibre (FTTC) and full fibre (FTTP) options.

Deals and prices

The cheapest full fibre entry point on the current feed is Full Fibre 150, giving a 115Mbps download for £20.95 a month on a 24-month contract with no setup fee. Supreme 80 (80Mbps) sits close behind at £21.45 a month, also over 24 months.

Step up and the pricing gets interesting. Both Full Fibre 500 (220Mbps) and Full Fibre 900 (550Mbps) cost £23.95 a month on a 24-month term. Since the price is identical, the slower 220Mbps plan makes little sense unless the faster tier is unavailable at your address.

The entry FTTC option, Onestream Fibre 55 at 40Mbps, is £19.94 a month over 24 months. It saves you a pound over Full Fibre 150 while delivering a third of the speed, so the full fibre plan is the better buy where you can get it.

The 12-month contracts cost more per month and add a £14.95 setup fee. Supreme 80 on a 12-month term is £25.94 a month, against £21.45 for the same speed over 24 months. Hyperstream 1000 (990Mbps) is £37.94 a month on 12 months. You are paying a clear premium for the shorter commitment.

One genuine strength is how Onestream raises prices. It has historically applied a fixed £2.75 per month increase each 1 April, rather than the CPI-linked percentage most larger providers use. At the time of writing that fixed rise is both more predictable and lower than the percentage increases used elsewhere. Note that a flat increase weighs more heavily on the cheapest plans in proportional terms, so the £20.95 tier feels the £2.75 rise more, as a share of the bill, than a dearer package would.

Speeds and network

Advertised download tiers run from roughly 35-40Mbps up to 1Gbps, with full fibre steps at 74/80Mbps, 100/115Mbps, 200/220Mbps, 500/550Mbps and 1Gbps. Advertised upload speeds range from 9Mbps on the entry tier to 101Mbps at the top. These are advertised figures, and the speed you see at home depends on your line and address.

The package names are a source of confusion. Full fibre tiers are rounded up or down from the actual speeds, so Full Fibre 150 delivers 115Mbps, Full Fibre 900 delivers 550Mbps, and Supreme 80 gives 80Mbps. The number on the box is not the speed you get, so check the stated download figure rather than the name.

Contract, router and fees

Contracts come on 12-month or 24-month terms, with the shorter options generally costing more. A monthly router rental fee applies, typically around £2.95 to £4.95 depending on package. This is included in the live-feed pricing quoted above, but it is not always reflected in headline pricing, which adds a cost some buyers will not expect. Two router models are available depending on the package, and you can use your own router to cut the cost.

Switching to Onestream from a non-Virgin provider is handled for you under the Gaining Provider Led process. If you are moving from Virgin Media, you have to arrange the switch yourself. A home phone service is also available.

Who should choose it and who should not

Onestream suits cost-conscious users who want a low monthly bill and a predictable annual increase, and who are comfortable reading the small print and factoring in the router fee. It positions itself as a low-cost, no-frills provider, and that is a fair description of what you get.

It is a weaker fit if you want the headline price to be the whole price, or if you prefer a provider whose service record appears in Ofcom's regular research. Onestream is not included in that research because of its small market share.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Low headline monthly prices, from £20.95 for 115Mbps full fibre
• Fixed £2.75 annual price rise is more predictable and, at the time of review, lower than CPI-linked percentage increases used by most larger providers
• Full fibre and part-fibre options on the Openreach network, available nationally
• Option to use your own router to reduce cost

Cons

• Mandatory monthly router fee is not clearly shown in headline pricing
• Full fibre package names are rounded from the actual speeds, which is confusing
• 12-month contracts cost more and carry a £14.95 setup fee
• Switching from Virgin Media has to be arranged by you