The best cheap broadband only deals in March 2023

• Plusnet: frequently the UK's cheapest
• Virgin: lowest prices on super-fast fibre
• Now Broadband: cheap plans for broadband and TV
• Vodafone: affordable offers on fibre internet
• TalkTalk: excellent prices across ADSL, fibre and TV

There are several levels of speed available when it comes to broadband. As you may expect, the cheapest options tend to fall on the slower end. If you're wanting to stick to a tight budget, you'll be looking at an ADSL connection. However, if you have slightly more to spend or require quicker downloads, fibre will be better for your needs. 

ADSL speeds - average 10-11Mbps: 

An ADSL connection is what you'll receive with most cheap broadband plans. With this connection, you'll usually receive speeds averaging 10-11Mbps.

An ADSL connection will be perfectly fine if you're just using the internet for light SD streaming, emails, searching the web and other similar tasks. However, if you're looking to do more than that, live in a big household or have a lot of gadgets connected at the same time, this kind of connection is going to struggle. 

Fibre speeds - average 34-37Mbps: 

Fibre is the next step up in terms of speed. These connections tend to average around 34-37Mbps. This jump is significant and deals don't tend to cost too much more. As a result, a fibre connection is the option we advise most people to go for.

Not only will a fibre connection allow you to stream in HD with a lot less buffering, but it will be great for working from home. It's also perfect for houses with lots of smart gadgets or if there are 3 or more people using the internet at once. 

Faster than fibre: 

You can get packages that are faster than fibre, but they do cost significantly more. Faster fibre and ultrafast internet are upgraded versions of the above, but they can typically cost well in excess of £40 a month. It's rare that you'll encounter cheap broadband deals that offer you speeds above 50Mbps. Anything less than £35 per month should be seen as a good deal.

If you're after the absolute cheapest prices around, you're going to have to stick with ADSL, which is this is the slower form of broadband.

While this will work for some, it's going to prove too slow for most people's needs. If you use the internet to stream in HD or you have multiple people trying to get online at once, then the upgrade to fibre internet will be a necessary move.

Luckily, fibre is now readily available in almost the whole country. It has also come down in price significantly over time, with some plans only costing slightly more than ADSL. For this reason, we recommend considering fibre packages. Although you may find that your costs are lower with ADSL, the speeds could inconvenience you.

Broadband contracts tend to last for 12 months, 18 months or 24 months. Some providers also offer 30-day rolling contracts. However, these tend to be far more expensive. 

24-month contracts have quickly become the most common option with BT, Vodafone and TalkTalk. However, other providers such as Plusnet, Onestream and a few other brands offer multiple 12-month plans.

Most cheap broadband deals usually last for 18 months or 24 months. This is because many broadband providers are willing to offer incentives so you're willing to lock in for longer. That said, some cheap broadband plans do only last for 12 months, so keep an eye out. 

While phone lines and TV plans can up the price of your broadband contract significantly, some cheap bundle options are usually available. 

If you're interested in a phone line, then you'll be pleased to know that most internet plans include one in some form. However, if you'd like anytime calls, you will often need to pay an extra monthly fee or opt for a more expensive package.

If it's a broadband and TV bundle you're after, both Virgin and Now Broadband offer some excellent options. But of course, these deals do still cost significantly more than a broadband only deal. Use our broadband and TV deals guide to find out more.