Is BT broadband a good choice?
Our overall rating: 8 out of 10
Attracted by its trusted name, fast speeds and great TV and broadband bundles, BT broadband is now home to around 9 million customers. After attracting you with all the good stuff, it does tend to be on the more expensive side.
The positives
- Nationwide coverage
- Free access to five million Wi-Fi hotspots
- Great TV and phone bundle options
The negatives
- Can be more expensive
- Yearly price hikes
- Full fibre not available to everyone
In our full review we take a look at the pros and cons of each area in more detail: speed, full fibre review, cost, setup and customer service.
How fast is BT broadband?
There are a wide range of speeds available across its product range. But remember, where you live will also play a factor. We’ll list everything below, but you’ll also need to check your postcode to see what is currently available with BT.
Check what is available to you with our postcode checker.
Speed is often the biggest consideration when choosing a broadband package. If you have multiple people using the internet at one time, then a higher speed and bandwidth will be essential. Equally, if it’s a small household using the internet for everyday usage, paying for business-grade bandwidth will be a waste.
You should decide what speed is right for you, based on your broadband habits at home. Here’s a handy guide to help show what bandwidth usage your different applications need.
BT broadband packages
When you put your postcode in, the packages that come up will depend on your postcode. If you are still in an area that isn’t yet connected to BT’s full fibre network, you’ll only see the slower first three options shown below. These are all FTTC broadband, also known as part fibre or fibre to the cabinet, they still need copper telephone lines for some of their delivery which makes the maximum speed 74Mbps.
Fibre Essential
With average download speeds of 36Mbps, this is fine for browsing and streaming in small households. With this package it will take about 9 minutes and 19 seconds to download a movie and can cope with 1-4 devices being used at the same time.
Fibre 2
This deal offers average download speeds of 74Mbps – it’s the best option for anyone unable to connect to full fibre. Good for streaming and downloading on multiple devices in a family home. With this package it will take about 5 minutes and 10 seconds to download a movie. And is able to handle 5-8 devices simultaneously.
BT full fibre broadband options
The following packages will be shown to anyone that can access full fibre from their postcode
BT Full Fibre 2
With a 74Mbps average download speed, this plan is fine for most family homes and can easily cope with 5-8 devices being used at one time. It will take 5 minutes 10 seconds to download a movie.
BT Full Fibre 150
This 150Mbps average download speed plan is the sweet spot for households of 3-5 people and can easily cope with 5-8 devices being used at one time. It will take about 1 minute, 43 seconds to download an HD movie.
Full Fibre 300
An impressive plan that powers an average download speed of 300Mbps. This choice manages the demands of even the heaviest data users, whether you’re streaming constantly or running a business from home. It can manage 9-12 devices and get your movie downloaded in 1 minute 8 seconds.
Full Fibre 500
BT’s second fastest plan has an average download speed of 500Mbps. These serious speeds make it possible to download a movie in 24 seconds and can easily handle 9-12 devices simultaneously.
Full Fibre 900
BT’s fastest service. This full fibre package offers users an impressive average download speed of 900Mbps which will easily cover all high-use working and gaming internet usage in busy households. It can download your movie in 15 seconds and cope with 12+ devices all being used together.
BT full fibre review
What exactly is full fibre?
Full fibre offers the fastest available broadband – it’s possible to see speeds exceeding 1,000Mbps (1Gps).
Around 85% of homes in the UK can now access this ultrafast broadband via fibre-optic technology also known as ‘Fibre To The Premises’ (FTTP).
Full fibre removes the need to rely on copper phone lines and instead connects fibre cables straight to your home. This means there’s no slowdown on the data between the street cabinet and your property and the speed and strength are much more powerful than any previous broadband technology as a result.
This technology will future-proof homes and businesses across the UK because, once it’s installed, properties won’t need to install new cables for their broadband for decades.
Don’t have access to full fibre yet? Hopefully you will soon. The government target is to have gigabit-capable broadband available to 99% of the country by 2030.
Find out whether your postcode has BT full fibre availability
Our BT broadband rating for speed: 9
Does BT broadband have a reliable connection?
BT uses the well-established Openreach network – a company that it also owns – to deliver all its packages. Openreach is the physical network (the wires under the street and the boxes on the street) and the biggest telecommunications network in the UK.
BT has the best broadband availability in the country. And Ofcom’s 2023 report shows a BT broadband rating review of 80% satisfaction with speed of service.
Confident of its reliability, BT’s packages come with a Stay Fast Guarantee and you can claim £20 if your speed falls below a set rate.
Our BT broadband rating for connectivity: 9
How much does BT broadband cost?
BT’s prices do tend to be higher than average. But there are budget options available too and you no longer need a phone line to get BT anymore.
How long are BT contracts?
BT’s broadband deals have a 24-month contract as standard. You can also choose a shorter 12-month contract, although this will push the monthly price up.
Does BT put up its broadband prices every year?
Yes, unfortunately BT increases its monthly prices every spring. Looking ahead to March 2026, the cost will increase by £4 a month for all contracts.
You should factor the above in when signing up as you’ll need to agree to this annual price rise as part of BT’s terms and conditions.
BT bundle options
BT is one of the best providers to choose if you want to bundle your broadband with other services. There are TV, landline and mobile phone add-on options that can help streamline your telecom bills into one monthly sum.
TV options
Unlike other providers, there’s no need for a satellite dish or extra cable, BT TV packages work through your broadband connection.
There are various entertainment, cinema and sports packages you can add on. Sports fans can enjoy Sky Sports and TNT Sports, which gives access to UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and Premier League matches.
There are plenty of entertainment deals where you can get access to some of the best including Sky Atlantic, Sky Showcase, NOW and Netflix.
BT’s deals also give free, unlimited access to the company’s five million wi-fi network spots across the UK.
BT rewards
BT’s prices may 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 prepaid credit card with a value around £50-£100.
Digital add-ons included
Any BT package you choose (over £100) will also come with these free online tools:
BT Virus Protect with McAfee
Top security protection for up to 15 of your devices – PCs, Macs and Android mobiles and tablets – against viruses, phishing and other online attacks.
BT Parental Controls
Keeping you in control of what your family can access online by setting filters for inappropriate content.
BT Cloud
Up to 1000GB of free, secure cloud storage for all your photos and files.
Our BT broadband rating for cost: 6
How easy is it to get BT set up?
If you’re a new customer, BT aim to get you up and running within two weeks.
BT will handle the switching process, so you won’t even have to contact your current broadband provider to tell them you’re leaving. BT will handle the whole transfer for you.
Will you need an engineer visit? Maybe, it depends on what connection your home currently has. For example, if you need a new full fibre installation, an engineer visit might be necessary. But BT will be able to tell you whether this is necessary during your ordering process and book this in for you.
If this isn’t needed, your service will likely be self-installed. You’ll receive a router in the post and this will need to be connected on the activation date.
What router do you get with BT broadband?
Anyone now signing up to a BT broadband package will get the capable Smart Hub 2 router. These give great coverage to multiple devices and you should get speedy and reliable connection throughout your home. The downside is that this router is not Wi-Fi 6 supportive.
The Smart Hub 2 spec
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) ready network: This router is part of the fifth generation (not Wi-Fi 6) in networking standards that supports higher data rates, allowing for quicker downloads, smoother streaming, and more responsive online gaming.
Free with any BT contract: Whether you are signing up for the most basic ADSL package or full fibre, this router will be provided and comes at no extra charges.
7 antennas: These multiple built-in aerials (more than any previous BT routers) are uniquely positioned to make sure you get the best all-round performance.
4 gigabit ports, 1 USB port: The gigabit ports are 10 times faster than Ethernet ports, perfect for plugging devices directly in and gaming. The USB port is there to help with charging phones or tablets.
Dual band: This router can transmit on two different frequency bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Both bands offer different benefits and having these options means a more versatile and efficient network than a single-band router.
Wi-Fi extender add-on: The Smart 2 hub comes available with the option to get Complete Wi-Fi for an extra £10 a month (or £100 standalone fee). These are extra discs that get you guaranteed speeds in every room, or £100 money-back.
Find out more with our BT Smart Hub 2 review >>
Our BT broadband rating for setup, installation & equipment: 9
Does BT broadband have good customer service?
According to Ofcom’s latest customer service report it scores fairly averagely. An overall satisfaction score of 83% (average broadband score is 82%) with a call waiting time of 2:45 (average waiting time 2:37).
How to contact BT broadband
BT customer service is open 8am to 9pm weekdays and 8am to 8pm on weekends and bank holidays. But technical support for any broadband access issues is 24/7. There is a web forum too where you can get useful advice from BT representatives.
Check BT: Broadband service status
Call BT customer service: 0800 800 150
Message: Live Chat
X: BT@bt_uk
Facebook: BT UK
Our BT broadband rating for customer service: 8
See all available BT Fibre Broadband deals
Our BT broadband rating for customer service: 8
We’ve added up everything from each category making our overall average BT broadband score: 41/50
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See all available BT fibre broadband deals
