What broadband is in my area? Free broadband postcode checker

How to find the best broadband deals in your area

Finding the best broadband deals for your household is as simple as:

1. Enter your postcode in the free postcode checker above to see which broadband deals are available in your area. 

2. Compare the packages available by filtering them in terms of price, contract lengths, speeds, and any add-ons. 

3. Select the best deal for your household, click on “View deal” to be taken to the provider’s website, and follow the checkout instructions.

Why should I switch broadband?

Below are just some of the reasons why switching broadband may be a good idea for you: 

1. You’re coming to the end of your current contract. Once you come to the end of your contract with a broadband provider, they will frequently put the price of your broadband up considerably, and it will keep rising year-on-year. As such, it’s a good idea to switch to a different provider at that point, as you will benefit from new customer offers which tend to be cheaper than the prices for existing ones.

2. You’re experiencing dropouts. If you’re unsatisfied with the reliability of your broadband and your current provider is at fault, you may be able to switch providers within your contract period without paying early termination fees. 

3. You need faster broadband speeds. Experiencing lags and content not loading? Your broadband might not be fast enough for your internet usage; upgrading to faster speeds could help make your browsing smoother.

4. You think you’re paying too much for your broadband, whether that’s because you’ve been out of contract for a long time or because you’ve taken out a package which is too expensive for what you need. 

5. You want to add TV channels or a landline to your package. If your provider doesn’t have all the add-ons you want, you may want to find one that offers broadband and phone or broadband and TV deals.

What broadband is available in my area?

Depending on where you live, you’ll have access to one or more of the following broadband connection types.

ADSL is the oldest type of connection still available on the market; it runs off the old copper telephone network and provides speeds of around 11Mbps on average. We wouldn’t recommend this type of connection unless you have no other choice, as it is gradually being phased out in favour of fibre optic broadband.

Part-fibre broadband uses fibre optic cables up a cabinet in your street, and the same copper cables up to your home. This is why, as well as ADSL, you need a landline or at least a landline plug socket in your home to access it. Likewise, this connection is gradually being phased out. 

Full fibre or fibre optic broadband runs entirely off fibre optic cables, which makes it faster and more reliable than its predecessors. As of January 2025, about three quarters of UK homes could access full fibre broadband, and providers are continually working to increase this number.

To find out what type of broadband you have access to at your property, use the free postcode checker at the top of this page. 

Note: If none of these connection types are available where you live, you may be able to access mobile broadband, which uses 4G or 5G signal, or satellite broadband. 

What broadband speed do I need?

Broadband speed is expressed in Megabits per second (Mbps), which refers to how many units of data (Megabits) you can download or upload per second. The higher the Mbps, the faster your broadband connection is.

Not everyone needs top internet speeds for their daily usage; while gamers and busy households with multiple occupants who stream content may want to opt for gigabit broadband, smaller households and light internet users should be more than satisfied with speeds ranging from 70-150Mbps. 

Here’s a rough breakdown of the speeds we’d recommend for various household sizes and usages:

• Small households (one to two occupants) with light internet usage (browsing, checking emails, online shopping, placing calls): 30Mbps and above.

• Medium households (three to four occupants), or single occupants with heavier internet usage (streaming content in 4K, remote working): 75Mbps or above.

• Large households (five occupants or more): 150Mbps or above. 

• Gamers, heavy internet users: 500Mbps or above.

How can I check my broadband speed?

If you’re unsure what your current broadband speed is, you can use a broadband speed test. This will help you understand what you’re currently benefiting from, and whether you could upgrade or downgrade your broadband to better suit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions about broadband in my area