Best student broadband deals 2020
Fast WiFi is the number one ingredient for a happy student house. But how do you know if you're getting the best broadband deal? We've done the legwork for you!
There are endless broadband offers out there, so it can get pretty overwhelming trying to pick out the best provider for your student house.
As part of our student bills series, we review and compare the best value broadband deals currently available for students.
Unlike other broadband comparisons, we take into account the hidden set-up fees to give you an accurate idea of the true cost (known as 'effective monthly cost'). No nasty surprises here!
We'll start by sharing the important things to look out for when choosing the right package, before coming to the comparison table and detailed reviews.
3 considerations when choosing broadband
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What speed do you need?
Download speed is probably the biggest factor to consider, especially if you're sharing broadband with other housemates. If it's too slow, you're going to be suffering from buffering (and high blood pressure) for the length of the contract.
The cheapest packages are standard broadband, with 'potential' download speeds of 17 Mbps (often far less). This option is suitable for low-medium use by about 3 people.
If you have a need for speed, fibre is the word you're looking for. Expect speeds from 50 Mbps to 362 Mbps. Fibre-optic broadband is now available for 80% of the UK and has come down massively in price over the past few years. Overall it represents the best value for student houses, especially when the cost is split between housemates.
-
How long will you be in your house?
Students are typically best off with a 12 month contract to coincide with short-term tenancy agreements. If you are planning to stay put for longer, 18 month contracts can sometimes offer better value.
Every now and then a 9 month student broadband deal pops up (we'll include these below if so). These shorter contracts can suit students not staying at uni over the summer months (ie. September – July), but aren't always cheaper overall.
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Are you interested in subscription TV?
All-in-one bundles of TV and broadband often give the best overall value if you're likely to pay for a TV package anyway.
For this guide, we're focusing on broadband-only. See our TV and broadband bundle comparison for more.
Best broadband deals |
||||||
| Provider | Avg. Speed | Contract | Effective Monthly Cost | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virgin Media M50 |
54 Mbps FIBRE |
18
months |
£29.94 Inc. fees |
|||
John Lewis Broadband |
10 Mbps |
12
months |
£15.67 Inc. fees & reward | |||
Now Brilliant Broadband |
36 Mbps |
12
months |
£25.42 Inc. fees | |||
Plusnet Unlimited Broadband |
10 Mbps |
18
months |
£15.10 Inc. fees & reward | |||
BT broadband |
50 Mbps FIBRE |
24
months |
£28.41 Inc. fees | |||
TalkTalk Fast Broadband |
11 Mbps |
18
months |
£22.95 Inc. fees | |||
Sky Broadband Unlimited |
11 Mbps |
18
months |
£22.55 Inc. fees | |||
EE Unlimited Broadband |
10 Mbps |
18
months |
£23.06 Inc. fees | |||
Hyperoptic Fibre Broadband |
50 Mbps FIBRE |
12
month |
£22.37 Inc. fees | |||
| Information correct at time of writing. Prices subject to change. Please check websites for details. | ||||||
Student broadband reviews
Virgin Media broadband
M50 Fibre broadband
Not a bad offer if you’re after superfast broadband. You can also pay a little extra for faster speeds up to 363Mbps.
Package details
- Average download speed: 54 Mbps 😮
- Contract: 18 months
- Extra: Talk Weekends calls
- Advertised cost: £28pm
- Effective cost: £29.94pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £539
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £504
- Activation fee: £35
- Calculation: (£504 + £35) / 18 = £29.94pm
Other packages
Virgin Media have some more options for students here too.
John Lewis broadband
Unlimited Broadband
This is a top price when you factor in the £40 giftcard. Great value if you don’t need the speed of fibre.
Package details
- Average download speed: 10 Mbps
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £19pm
- Effective cost: £15.67pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £188
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 12 months: £228
- Activation fee: Free
- Reward: £40 e-gift card
- Calculation: (£228 – £40) / 12 = £15.67pm
Now broadband
Brilliant Broadband
This is a leading price for fibre broadband.
Package details
- Average download speed: 36 Mbps
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £25pm
- Effective cost: £25.42pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £300
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 12 months: £300
- Activation/delivery fee: £5
- Calculation: (£300 + £5) / 12 = £22.42pm
Plusnet broadband
Unlimited Broadband
Known for top drawer customer service, this offer is good value as it comes with a £70 voucher.
Package details
- Average download speed: 10 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Reward: £70 reward
- Advertised cost: £18.99pm
- Effective cost: £15.10pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £271.82
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £341.82
- Activation fee: Free
- Reward: £70 reward
- Calculation: (£341.82 – £70) / 18 = £15.10pm
BT broadband
Standard broadband
This is a decent price but the 24 month contract isn’t ideal for most student houses.
Package details
- Average download speed: 50 Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Advertised cost: £27.99pm
- Effective cost: £28.41pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £681.74
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £671.76
- Activation: £9.99
- Calculation: (£671.76 + £9.99) / 24 = £28.41pm
TalkTalk broadband
Fast Broadband
Only worth considering if you’re happy with an 18 month contract, and even then it’s pricey.
Package details
- Average download speed: 11 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Advertised cost: £22.95pm
- Effective cost: £22.95pm
- Lifetime cost: £413.10
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £413.10
- Activation fee: Free
- Calculation: (£413.10) / 18 = £22.95pm
Sky broadband
Essential
The 18 month contract makes this a no go for most students with a 12 month let.
Package details
- Average download speed: 11 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Advertised cost: £22pm
- Effective cost: £22.55pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £405.95
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £396
- Activation fee: £9.95
- Calculation: (£396 + £9.95) / 18 = £22.55pm
EE broadband
Unlimited Broadband
EE mobile customers get an extra 5GB of free data, but otherwise better deals around with shorter contract lengths.
Package details
- Average download speed: 10 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Advertised cost: £22.50pm
- Effective cost: £23.06pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £415
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £405
- Activation: £10
- Calculation: (£405 + £10) / 18 = £23.06pm
Hyperoptic broadband
Fibre Connection [LIMITED COVERAGE]
For a few pounds more it’s worth going with Virgin’s offer. Hyperoptic’s coverage is limited to certain buildings within a couple of major UK cities. Still 100% worth checking your postcode!
Package details
- Average download speed: 50 Mbps
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £19.95pm
- Activation fee: £29
- Effective cost: £22.37pm
- Lifetime cost: £268.40
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 12 months: £239.40
- Activation: £29
- Calculation: (£239.40 + £29) / 12 = £22.37pm
7 ways to get cheaper broadband
Not all of these tricks will apply to your provider or situation, but a couple might save you a few quid!
- Choose packages with unlimited data (we only review these)
- Pay for broadband upfront
- Opt-in to paperless billing
- Be aware of price hikes (switch or…)
- Haggle when the contract ends!
- It could be cheaper to pay a cancellation fee than see out a contract
- Seek out hidden charges when comparing (‘effective monthly cost’).
FAQs
Can I get broadband without a phone line?
For standard broadband (ADSL) an active phone line is needed as that’s how the data is transmitted. Fibre optic broadband runs along a separate cable, which means you can usually do away with the phone line. Check with the provider to find out for sure.
Until recently, broadband companies would charge extra for phone line rental alongside advertised broadband prices. They must now include line rental in the total price, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a phone line.
If you do need a phone line, it may need to be activated or reconnected by BT before you can install broadband.
Do I need to buy a router?
A working router is needed to share the broadband connection and transmit WiFi.
Most broadband providers supply you with their own standard router (sometimes at a cost), but it can sometimes be worth investing in a better one (browse on Amazon).
How long does it take to install broadband?
For phone line broadband connections it can take up to 14 days, whereas for fibre it can be activated sooner.
How long it will actually take depends on whether you need an engineer to come out or if anything needs activating.
How can I check my broadband speed?
Run a quick line test on SpeedTest.net to reveal your live download and upload speeds. If they’re way below the advertised speeds, complain to your provider.
How do I cancel broadband?
You have the right to cancel your broadband – without penalty – within the first 14 days of placing your order.
Beyond that, check with your provider for their early cancellation policy. It will almost certainly involve a penalty fee, but in some cases it can be worth paying to switch to a cheaper or better service.
At the end of your contract you usually need to give a month’s notice to the provider (but again check your specific terms).
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