Broadband and Phone Deals

What is a broadband and phone package?

A broadband and phone deal combines an internet connection with a home telephone line, all in one package. 

Traditionally, these were often sold together as ADSL and part-fibre broadband relied on the same copper cables as landlines, so it made sense to bundle them. Nowadays, even broadband providers who only offer full fibre or fibre optic deals usually offer their customers the option to take out a digital landline alongside their broadband.

Do I need a phone line to take out broadband?

Nowadays, unless the only option available in your postcode is ADSL, you don't need a landline to access an internet connection.

Because full fibre broadband relies on a new cable network that's independent from traditional copper landlines, these are gradually being phased out in what is called the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) switch off. In the UK, BT Openreach intends for this to take place by the end of January 2027. 

But if you still use a landline on a regular basis, fear not! Most providers still give you the option to take out a landline with your broadband, and even to keep your old number. The only change is the telephone line is now operated by Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which basically just means your calls will be placed through your internet connection rather than traditional copper cables.

Why opt for a broadband and phone deal?

Below are just a few reasons why it may benefit you to combine your phone line and your broadband package:

• Pay for both services in one bill. As you'll take out both your broadband and phone line as one package, they'll come as one bill, so that's one less thing to worry about.
• One provider to contact in case of an issue. With one provider for both services, that's one point of contact in the event that something goes wrong with your phone and/or broadband.
• You may get a better price. Generally, providers encourage their customers to bundle services by offering them a better price if they combine a phone line and broadband, for example. 
• Unlock potential benefits and perks. In the same vein, some providers may encourage you to bundle services by offering you more incentives or perks (this is not a guarantee, however). 

What to consider when choosing a broadband and phone package

With dozens of providers on the market offering the option to bundle broadband and a phone line, it can be hard to decide which company is right for your household. Below are some things to consider to make sure you are choosing the best package for your needs.

Monthly price

Perhaps the most important factor to think about when taking out a new service is the monthly cost. For your broadband and phone package, the bulk of the price is most likely going to come from your internet connection. 

For broadband, it's all about striking a balance between cost and speed. If you're a frequent internet user, for example, you won't want to underpay and be left with a slow and unreliable connection. But if you only check your emails and occasionally stream something, we'd recommend saving your money instead of spending it on the fastest package you can access. 

Broadband speed

There's no point paying for broadband if it can't keep up with what you want it to do. Equally, there's no point paying through the nose for a connection that's much faster than what you need. 

As a rough guide, smaller households and light internet users should be satisfied with download speeds around 50Mbps, while larger households and families should aim for connections around 100Mbps if they can. If you work from home, speeds between 150Mbps and 300Mbps should ensure a smooth connection for all your meetings. Heavy streamers and gamers may want to upgrade to speeds closer to Ultrafast or Gigabit broadband, which offer speeds of 300Mbps and 900Mbps or above respectively.

Available call plans

While many broadband providers offer line rental for free or at a relatively low cost, it's important to consider the price of their call plans. Most bundle deals tend to include Pay-As-You-Go or daytime UK calls as standard with a line rental, meaning you'll have to pay extra if you want anytime UK calls or international calls. 

Price of calls

The price of calls, whether that's Pay-As-You-Go, evening and weekend calls or international calls, can vary considerably from one provider to the next. Make sure to check how much each provider charges for the call you are likely to make before you commit to a deal.

Customer reviews

Last but very much not least, as with every important decision, check the customer reviews for broadband and phone providers you are considering. While it's not the be-all-and-end-all when it comes to choosing a package, it can be enlightening to hear what customers praise or complain about when it comes to a company. Is customer service hard to reach? Does it have a long wait-time for installation? Can the connection be unreliable? These are all good to find out.

How to find the best broadband and phone deal for your household

Once you’ve considered the factors above, here’s a simple, three-step way to make sure you are getting the best broadband and phone deal:

1. Use our free postcode checker. Simply enter your postcode in the checker above to see all the deals you can access.

2. Compare the deals available in your area. Using the factors above, compare all the packages available to your household in terms of price, features, length, etc.

3. Choose a deal. Click “View deal”, follow the checkout instructions and voilà! You have yourself a new broadband and phone deal.

Note that if you were already signed up to a broadband and/or phone provider, you'll have to let them know you are leaving. If you cancel your broadband contract before the end of your contract, you may have to pay early termination fees.

Frequently Asked Questions about broadband and phone deals