Compare: The best broadband in my area
- We are on a mission to make sure you get the best broadband in your area. Since 2016 Fibre Compare has been helping customers with our fibre broadband checker to: See. Switch. Save.
Find the best broadband available to your area
There are hundreds and hundreds of different broadband deals – but not will all be available to your home. To save disappointment don’t search all deals, just check with your postcode.
The big providers such as BT, Virgin Media, Plusnet, Sky and Vodafone can reach most households. But even then, your postcode plays a part in whether you can access the fastest full fibre broadband.
We work with plenty of smaller alternative networks too: Fibrus, Community Fibre, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, 4th Utility, Trooli, Brsk and many more. These independent providers concentrate on bringing high-speed fibre internet to areas that have been underserved by others. These could be your local full fibre heroes.
How it works
Comparing the best broadband deals for your area is easy with us. Simply:
Enter your postcode – Instantly check which broadband providers are available in your location.
Compare deals – View speeds and prices to find the best option. Use filters to show fastest, contract length or bundles.
Switch & save – Choose the deal you like best, click ‘Buy Now’ and we’ll take you to the provider’s website to sign-up.
Why choose us?
Personalised results – We’ll find the best deals tailored to your location.
Exclusive offers – Access special discounts, deals and promotions available only through our site.
Easy switching – Save time and hassle with our transparent comparison process.
What is the best broadband deal in my area?
The best offer for you and your household isn’t always the cheapest. Budget is an important factor, but don’t make the mistake of just picking the lowest price available. If you are using your broadband regularly every day the lowest price package might not cover your needs.
Think about speed
Speed – It’s the top most important factor for most. Too slow and you’ll struggle. Too fast and you’ll be paying for a service you don’t actually need.
The range of speeds available is huge, although these might not necessarily all be within reach of your postcode. There’s everything from the most basic 10Mbps to ultrafast fibre with lightening speeds of over 1000Mbps.
What broadband speed do I need?
You want all your household’s online needs met, but without paying extra for something you’re never even using. So, let’s find that sweet spot.
1-2 person households
Recommended speed: 40-100Mbps
Even if you live alone and use the internet mainly for just shopping and browsing social media, we'd still recommend you look for a fibre broadband deal if available to your postcode. Only choose standard (it will be speeds of around 10Mbps) broadband if there are no other options available.
Smaller households should be fine with partial fibre speeds (20-65Mbps), these will let you enjoy 5-10 devices, including streaming.
3-4 person households
Recommended speed: 60 - 300Mbps
The more people in your household, the more devices you're likely to use. If you're all streaming on separate devices and spending 2-4 hours per day online, this should be a good option for your household. Bear in mind, you'll need to increase this if someone is downloading or uploading a large amount of data by gaming or streaming 24/7.
4+ households, or gamers
Recommended speed: 70 - 1000Mbps
In family or shared accommodation with four or more people, you'll need to have a reliable connection and speed to avoid buffering or slow-loading. There will be peak times too – normally 4-8pm – where multiple devices will be used for streaming and other purposes.
What is the fastest speed in my area?
The first thing that you should look at is what speeds are available to your home.
The higher speeds aren't available everywhere – or with every provider – just yet.
The speed of broadband you can access depends on whether your postcode has access to full fibre broadband yet.
Check to see what the average download speeds are where you live with our broadband postcode tool.
Can my postcode get full fibre?
Full fibre broadband, also known as FTTP (Fibre to the Premises), delivers internet directly to your home using fibre optic cables. Any deal advertising speeds of 70Mbps to 1Gbps plus, will probably be full fibre broadband. Having the fastest, most reliable broadband means households no longer having to battle over bandwidth, and gives people the freedom to live and work more flexibly.
Full fibre is on its way to everyone
Project Gigabit is a government led initiative that is driving the target of total UK full fibre coverage by 2030. It is putting money into setting up alternative network providers (altnets) to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to parts of the UK that are harder to reach. This means that eventually even the remotest communities will have the same full fibre benefits that towns and cities have too.
Do I actually need full fibre?
Full fibre gives you ultrafast speeds of between 100Mbps - 1Gbps.
Do you need these? Even if you are a small household with light internet usage it is still worth thinking about full fibre. Because of the latest competitive pricing, you might not be paying much more – or sometimes any more – for these significantly greater speeds.
Other factors to help choose the best broadband for my area
Your postcode has bought back a list of lightening-fast deals. But what else should you consider apart from speed?
Budget
Find a plan that fits your financial needs without compromising on speed and reliability. And don’t forget the extras on top of the monthly cost. Do you have to pay for a set-up fee? Routers? Engineer visits?
Also think about mid-contract price rises. Most providers make yearly inflation-linked price rises at the end of every March. These will be written into contracts and customers will have to consent to these forthcoming hikes when signing up.
Read our mid-contract broadband price rises – who, why and when feature to find out more.
Contract length
Can’t commit? A short contract length will be your priority. Short-term contracts normally come in the form of rolling one-month contract broadband, which means you can cancel any time, you just need to give 30 days' notice to leave at any point. Unlike 12, 18 or 24-months deals there’s never a cancellation fee and you can leave any time.
There are a few broadband options that offer more flexibility. You’ll find shorter broadband contracts with: Now Broadband, Rebel, Hyperoptic and Virgin Media.
Bundles
Many providers offer broadband that can be bundled with phone and TV in different combinations for added value.
Combining your broadband, TV and phone can be a smart convenient way of getting all your services for less money and less hassle. But remember, it doesn’t always make sense for everyone to choose a broadband bundle and in some cases you’ll simply end up signing up for additional services you won’t take full advantage of.
Whatever you’re looking for, find the best broadband offer in your area that works for you.
Best Wi-Fi in my area
Where you live will depend on what broadband is available to you. Browse deals by region and city below.
FAQs
What is the best broadband in my area?
The best broadband in your area depends on several factors, including speed, reliability, and price. Use our broadband comparison tool to find the top providers available in your location, along with their speeds, customer reviews and pricing.
Why should you check broadband in your area?
Broadband coverage and speed vary widely depending on location. Checking broadband in your area ensures you get the best possible connection, whether you need fast speeds for streaming, gaming, or working from home. It also helps you find the best deals and avoid overpaying for services.
Can I check the broadband speed where I live?
Yes! You can check your current broadband speed using an online speed test. Additionally, our comparison tool provides estimated speeds for different providers in your area based on their network coverage and performance data.
Why does broadband availability differ in different areas?
Broadband availability depends on the infrastructure in your location. Urban areas typically have access to high-speed full fibre, while rural areas may rely on slower, older connections. Factors like network expansion, government investment, and provider competition also play a role in availability.
Why is broadband slow in my area?
Slow broadband can be due to various reasons, including: older infrastructure, network congestion, or your distance from the nearest exchange. If you're experiencing slow speeds, consider upgrading to a faster plan, switching providers, or checking for local fibre rollout plans to see when full fibre should be reaching your home.
What's the cheapest broadband in my area?
The cheapest broadband in your area depends on the providers available and the type of connection they offer. Use our comparison tool to filter broadband deals by price and find the most affordable option that meets your needs.
Broadband with free gifts, rewards and cashback
Who wants a freebie? Course you do! With so many tempting gift cards, free goodies and vouchers being offered as part of broadband deals, it’s hard not to have your head turned. But are they always worth it? Which providers give the best value? Let’s take a look…
Which providers offer free gifts?
Plenty of our provider partners include attractive rewards as part of their broadband packages. Not all do though, some, especially the new, smaller providers, just concentrate on straightforward faster broadband for lower prices rather than giveaways.
Here are our current broadband brands that regularly include free gifts. Click through to each and find out what’s on offer.
Virgin Media broadband does offer rewards as incentives, but these differ from the cashback reward cards its competitors tend to use. Instead they either run a form of sale, offering lower monthly bills than the standard price. Or, they offer cashback in the form of a bill credit. The money then gets simply taken off your bill.
BT’s prices may sometimes be higher, but it is one of the most generous with free gifts. Its deals often come with some kind of incentive reward, normally a pre-paid credit card with a value around £50-£100.
Sky’s prices may be on the higher side, but sometimes you can get lucky with your switch and get a cashback incentive reward (normally a pre-paid credit card with a value between £50-100) or a free gift when signing up. This will all depend on postcode and package.
If you’re already a Vodafone mobile customer and you take out a Vodafone broadband contract, or vice versa, you’ll become part of Vodafone Together and get access to some exclusive rewards. The incentives are actually pretty decent. You get up to £3 off your monthly broadband bill, a 30% discount on extra SIM cards, free virus protection for 12 months and exclusive VeryMe rewards. This is a loyalty programme that gives weekly treats, offers and discounts from lots of different big brands.
TalkTalk frequently offers sweeteners to entice new customers. These normally take the form of pre-paid reward cards between £50-100, gift vouchers or free gifts, that you can claim after signing up.
Sometimes Plusnet has offers that include an extra element such as cashback, a gift card or a Plusnet Reward Card. These are normally a pre-paid credit card between £50-100, or a third party gift voucher that you can claim for when signing up. These will be dependent on postcode and package.
Fibrus often throw-in an extra element such as cashback, a gift card or three-months free, as incentives. These are normally in the form of pre-paid credit cards between £50-100, or a third party gift voucher that you can claim for when signing up. All dependent on postcode and package.
What sort of free gifts can I get?
There are lots of different sweeteners you might be offered alongside your broadband, including:
Reward or prepaid cards: Loaded to a certain value you’ll be able to use these cards on the high street or at selected retailers.
Cashback: You’ll get the amount specified back into your bank account after your connection has been set up and confirmed. Some come in the form of bill credit, so simply money taken off your monthly bill.
Vouchers: Some providers offer e-vouchers from retailers such as John Lewis, M&S and Amazon.
Broadband discount: Virgin Media tends to offer rewards in the form of offering lower monthly bills than the ‘standard price’.
Gadgets: Laptops, TVs, console or speakers, these type of gifts are less common but they do happen. Keep your eyes peeled…
Money off other services: think, free Spotify, cheaper NOW TV subscriptions and phone plan data allowances.
How do I claim my free gift?
Once you’ve finalised your purchase and have your connection up and running you’ll be closer to receiving your freebie. It’s common to have to wait 30-90 days until after your broadband connection has gone live before you can claim these.
How you claim will depend on the provider. It’s usually via your customer account or an online form on your broadband’s website. Or, some are sent to automatically to you.
Read the terms and conditions carefully to make sure you understand the process and find out about any time limits that might apply.
Should you pick a free gift or a cheaper deal?
It’s not particularly wise to pick a broadband deal just because it has a free gift. Look at the overall picture and work out if the plan will give you the best speed and price in the long term. A package offering a £100 gift card may sound enticing, but if the total cost over the length of the contract is more than £100 higher than a similar contract, than you might as well pick the cheaper plan and then buy the gift card too.
Think of the reward as a nice-to-have extra, or let it help you decide if you’re stuck between two similar broadband deals.
What are the pros and cons of broadband deals with free gifts?
Who doesn’t want a free gift! But there are also some potential disadvantages behind these alluring offers.
Pros of broadband deals with free gifts
- Free stuff! Treat yourself without feeling guilty
- Cool gadgets: get your hands on some great tech
- Extra cash: some offers will put money back into your bank account
Cons of broadband deals with free gifts
- More long term expense: They can work out to be more expensive than similar deals
- A faff to fulfil: Some of these enticing sounding gifts actually involve lengthy claims
- Time restrictions: Many of these rewards have to be applied for in a certain timeframe and some you have to wait up to 90 days to claim for
It’s rare to find a deal that doesn’t include a free Wi-Fi router these days. Although some of these free models can be fairly basic and while they usually do a decent job, you’ll often get an improved performance by upgrading.
Sometimes networks will sweeten deals by throwing in a more powerful router than the standard one as part of their reward offering.
How do I find broadband packages with free gifts?
Easy! Simply pop your postcode in our postcode checker below and we’ll show you the best deals available to your household. Look out for the rewards which will be highlighted in our reward tabs.