Best student broadband deals 2024
Fast reliable WiFi at an affordable price is key for a happy student house. But how do you know if you're getting the best student broadband deal? We've done the legwork for you.
Credit: insta-photos (left), Manuel Esteban (right) – Shutterstock
There are a lot of cheap broadband offers available. However, with each one offering different features and terms, and some including hidden extra costs, it's not always easy to find 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.
Best broadband deals |
||||||
| Broadband | Avg. Speed | Contract | Effective Monthly Cost | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virgin Media M125 |
132 Mbps |
18
months |
£25 Inc. fees |
|||
NOW Full Fibre 75 |
75 Mbps |
24
months |
£22 Inc. fees | |||
Fibre 1 |
50 Mbps |
12
months |
£43.49 Inc. fees | |||
Sky Superfast |
61 Mbps |
24
months |
£26 Inc. fees | |||
Hyperoptic Ultrafast |
1 Gb |
12
months |
£43.58 Inc. fees | |||
Full Fibre 150 |
150 Mbps |
24
months |
£26 Inc. fees | |||
5G broadband |
150 Mbps |
24
months |
£21 Inc. fees | |||
TalkTalk Fibre 150 |
67 Mbps |
18
months |
£28.83 Inc. fees | |||
Fibre 80 |
67 Mbps |
24
months |
£20.21 Inc. fees | |||
Plusnet Full Fibre |
145 Mbps |
24
months |
£28.99 Inc. fees | |||
| Information correct at time of writing. Prices subject to change. Please check websites for details. | ||||||
Student broadband reviews
Virgin Media broadband
M125 Fibre broadband
If you’re looking for ultrafast fibre, this Virgin Media broadband package is very good value.
Package details
- Average download speed: 134 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Advertised cost: £25pm
- Effective cost: £25pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £450.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £450
- Activation fee: FREE
- Calculation: (£450) / 18 = £25pm.
Other packages
Virgin Media has some more bundle options available on their website, including some with TV too.
NOW broadband
Full Fibre 75
A best-buy for high-speed full fibre broadband. You get much faster speeds than standard broadband which is essential for shared living and streaming.
The contract length would suit students who are planning to stay in the same house for two years.
You’re guaranteed wall-to-wall WiFi. If you don’t get at least 3Mb/s in every room, you can get one month of broadband credited back to your account.
Package details
- Average download speed: 75 Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Advertised cost: £22pm*
- Effective cost: £22pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £528.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £528
- Delivery fee: £0
- Calculation: (£528) / 24 = £22pm.
*Prices may increase during contract. 24-month minimum term. (£43/month thereafter). Prices may vary.
BT broadband
Fibre 1
This broadband deal from BT is one of the best on the market for students. You can get fibre broadband on a student-friendly 12-month contract.
BT also offers faster speeds.
Package details
- Average download speed: 50 Mbps
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £39.99pm
- Effective cost: £43.49pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £521.87.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 12 months: £479.88
- Activation fee: £41.99
- Calculation: (£479.88 + £41.99) / 12 = £43.49pm.
Sky broadband
Sky Superfast
This is a no-frills package from Sky, offering good value but on a long 24-month contract.
Package details
- Average download speed: 61 Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Advertised cost: £26pm*
- Effective cost: £26pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £624.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £624
- Activation fee: FREE
- Calculation: (£624) / 24 = £26pm.
*Prices may change during this period.
Hyperoptic broadband
Ultrafast [LIMITED COVERAGE]
Hyperoptic’s coverage is limited to certain buildings within a couple of major UK cities. Still, with an insane 1Gb speed and low price, it’s 100% worth checking your postcode!
Package details
- Average download speed: 1 Gb
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £42pm
- Effective cost: £43.58pm
- Lifetime cost: £523.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 12 months: £504
- Activation fee: £19
- Calculation: (£504 + £19) / 12 = £43.58pm.
Vodafone broadband
Full Fibre 150
Vodafone are a popular option for student wifi as their price is competitive in the market.
Package details
- Average download speed: 150Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Advertised cost: £26pm
- Effective cost: £26pm
- Lifetime cost: £624.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £624
- Activation fee: FREE
- Calculation: (£624) / 24 = £26pm.
Three broadband
5G broadband
Three offer 5G broadband across limited locations. It means you can get set up within a couple of days and no installation is required.
They also have 1 month contract options avaiable.
Package details
- Average download speed: 150 Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Reward: 6 months half price
- Advertised cost: £24pm
- Effective cost: £21pm
- Lifetime cost: £504.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £576
- Reward: 6 months half price (worth £72)
- Activation fee: FREE
- Calculation: (£576 – £72) / 24 = £21pm.
TalkTalk broadband
Fibre 150
It’s only worth considering this offer if you’re happy with an 18-month contract – and even then it’s pricey.
Package details
- Average download speed: 150 Mbps
- Contract: 18 months
- Advertised cost: £28pm
- Effective cost: £28.83pm
- Lifetime cost: £519.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 18 months: £504
- Delivery fee: £15
- Calculation: (£504 + £15) / 18 = £28.83pm.
Onestream broadband
Fibre 80
Another great option for high-speed fibre broadband. This Onestream offer has great speeds at a low cost.
But be aware that you get a free 2-month trial of McAfee security and Onestream Assured, which you will need to cancel to avoid being charged after your trial ends.
You will also have to return your router at the end of the contract so it’s best to keep hold of the box and cables.
Package details
- Average download speed: 67 Mbps
- Contract: 12 months
- Advertised cost: £20pm
- Effective cost: £20.21pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £484.95.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £480
- Activation fee: £4.95
- Calculation: (£480 + £4.95) / 12 = £20.21pm.
Plusnet broadband
Full Fibre
Highly rated customer service whilst keeping broadband cheap and cheerful with speeds at the low end.
The major downside is that it’s on a 24 month contract.
Package details
- Average download speed: 145 Mbps
- Contract: 24 months
- Advertised cost: £28.99pm
- Effective cost: £28.99pm (see below)
- Lifetime cost: £695.76.
Effective cost breakdown
- Broadband for 24 months: £695.76
- Activation fee: Free
- Calculation: (£695.76 / 24) = £28.99pm.
3 considerations when choosing broadband
Here’s how to find the best student broadband deals:
-
What speed do you need?
Download speed is a major factor, especially if you’re sharing broadband with other housemates.
If it’s too slow, you’ll suffer from buffering for the length of the contract.
The cheapest packages are standard broadband, with ‘potential’ download speeds of 10–11 Mbps (often less). This option is suitable for low-medium use by about three people.
For speed, look for fibre broadband. Expect speeds from 50 Mbps to 1 Gbps.
Fibre-optic broadband is now available for over 90% 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.
If your broadband is too slow, try these tips to improve your WiFi speed.
-
How long will you be in your house?
Students are typically best off with a 12-month broadband contract to coincide with short-term tenancy agreements.
If you’re planning to stay in the same house for longer, 18-month or 24-month contracts can sometimes offer better value.
Every now and then, a 9-month student broadband deal pops up (we’ll include these above if so). These shorter broadband contracts can suit students not staying at uni over the summer months (i.e. September – July), but aren’t always cheaper overall.
-
Are you interested in subscription TV?
All-in-one bundles of TV and broadband often give the best overall value, but only 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.
7 ways to get cheaper broadband
Not all of these tricks will apply to your broadband provider or situation, but a couple might save you money:
- Choose packages with unlimited data (we only review these).
- Pay for broadband upfront.
- Opt-in to paperless billing.
- Be aware of price hikes – then it’s time to 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 broadband (see our ‘effective monthly cost’ calculations above for more info).
Student broadband FAQs
What is student broadband?
In the UK, some WiFi providers market broadband packages specifically for student households. They recognise students tend to have short-term tenancies and share WiFi and bills with more people.
Mainstream broadband contracts can be up to 24 months, but unless a student is confident they’ll be in the same accommodation for two years, a shorter contract could be better.
The best student broadband deals offer higher internet speeds, shorter contracts and exclusive student discounts.
What happens if I move house during a broadband contract?
If you’re moving house before the end of a broadband contract, contact the provider to discuss your options.
It’s not guaranteed, but you can sometimes transfer the broadband to your new address. This depends on a few factors, such as whether the same broadband is available in your new home. You might find there’s a charge for transferring it, such as if a new line needs to be set up.
Contact your broadband provider to confirm whether it’s an option for you, and if so, how much it will cost.
Another option could be to cancel the contract early. However, cancellation fees can be pricey – especially if there’s still quite a while left of the contract term. Again, it’s best to contact your broadband provider for more information about this.
Should students get a 24-month contract?
Student rental tenancies usually last for around nine or 12 months, so 24-month broadband contracts aren’t ideal.
However, we’re increasingly seeing broadband providers focusing on 24-month contracts, so it’s getting harder to find good-value contracts that last a year or less.
Although not perfect, 24-month contracts can still work for students, but you’ll need to weigh up the pros and cons before deciding.
Here’s an overview of the pros of two-year broadband contracts:
- They’re usually among the best-value deals
- You can maintain low monthly costs for a long time
- There are usually options to cancel or transfer the contract if you move during the two years.
But here are the cons:
- Some 24-month contracts include in the small print that prices may rise during the contract
- You might not be living with the same housemates next year which could make it more complicated to transfer the broadband to a new address
- If you move within the 24 months, it’s not guaranteed you can take the broadband with you, and you might face a penalty for cancelling the contract early.
Can I get a 1 month broadband contract?
A 30-day rolling broadband contract offers the most flexibility of all. Students will save the cost of broadband when they are not living at university over the summer holidays.
Hyperoptic and Three offer monthly rolling contracts, but they’re otherwise rare.
However, one-month contracts are often more expensive per month. So over the year, you may actually be better off with a 12-month contract.
If you live alone, you might be better off using data on a cheap SIM only deal.
Can I get a 9 month broadband contract?
In the past, broadband providers like BT Broadband and Virgin Media have offered nine-month contracts. However, these are rare now.
There is no guarantee there will be a nine-month broadband deal every year. But, just in case any are available this year, look out for them in the table above from July – October.
If you do see a nine-month offer, make sure it’s not actually cheaper to go for a longer 12-month contract over the period.
Can I get broadband without a phone line?
For standard broadband (ADSL), an active phone line is needed as that’s how internet data is transmitted.
Fibre optic broadband runs along a separate cable. This means you can usually do away with the phone line. Check with the provider for confirmation.
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.
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 broadband 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). It can be worth investing in a better router for a stronger WiFi signal (browse on Amazon).
How long does it take to install broadband?
For phone line broadband connections, it can take up to 14 days. Fibre broadband connections 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 broadband provider.
What happens at the end of my broadband contract?
Broadband providers must now tell you when your contract is about to expire, and inform you of your options. This is a legal obligation.
Previously, this date could pass without you knowing.
As you might’ve guessed, doing nothing is almost never the cheapest option. You’re much better off switching broadband providers or haggling for a better deal.
How can 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 student broadband contract, you usually need to give a month’s notice to the provider (but again check your specific terms).
How do I switch broadband providers?
Switching broadband providers tends to be a straightforward process.
Once you’ve found a good deal (see our comparison above), contact your current provider to let them know you’re thinking about switching. There’s a chance they’ll offer you a lower price to convince you to stay. But, if you’re still set on switching, they’ll be able to explain the process.
If your current provider and the one you’re switching to are both part of the Openreach network (which includes BT, Sky, EE, Vodafone, TalkTalk and more), you shouldn’t need to contact the current one.
However, if either provider isn’t part of Openreach, you’ll likely need to contact the current one to cancel.
Keep in mind that, if you have a notice period to cancel your current contract, this could impact how quickly you can switch. Check the T&Cs of your contract and contact your current provider if you have any questions.
Should I bundle broadband with other bills?
When comparing broadband deals, see if you can save money by bundling it with other bills such as a phone contract, Sky Sports or Netflix.
We have a guide that compares the best TV and broadband bundles.
Before committing to a broadband bundle, work out the costs of paying each bill separately. You might find it’s cheaper to get each product separately, so try not to get swayed by exciting add-ons (especially if you don’t need them all!).
Head over to our main student bills guide for everything you need to get sorted.
