Plusnet vs TalkTalk Broadband: Which Should You Pick?

Written by Andrea Troy
Reviewed by Pratik Aghera
7 min read
Updated: 8 Sep 2026
Broadband providers
Plusnet vs TalkTalk Broadband: Which Should You Pick?

Plusnet vs TalkTalk broadband comes down to price and contract flexibility more than raw speed, because both run over the same Openreach full-fibre network in most postcodes. Plusnet’s lower and mid-tier full-fibre examples tend to be cheaper on the monthly price, while TalkTalk sells only on longer 24-month contracts with no setup fee.

Both are wholesale-based providers, so the connection reaching your home is usually the same Openreach line regardless of which you choose. The differences that actually affect you are the monthly cost, the built-in annual price rises, the contract length and how each handles customer support.

Free Price Compare checks live full-fibre deals across the UK market so you can see Plusnet, TalkTalk and other providers side by side for your postcode. The figures below are from each provider’s own tariff pages, checked in August 2026, and prices move often.

Quick Answer: Plusnet vs TalkTalk Broadband

  • Plusnet Full Fibre 74 was listed at £20.99/month and Full Fibre 900 at £26.99/month as of 14 August 2026, on Plusnet’s own deal pages.
  • TalkTalk Full Fibre 150 was £25/month and Full Fibre 900 £36/month as of 17 August 2026, all on 24-month contracts with no setup fee (TalkTalk).
  • Both build annual price rises into contracts: Plusnet raises monthly plan prices by £4 each 31 March; TalkTalk lists increases from April 2027 and April 2028.
  • Full fibre now reaches 82% of UK homes and gigabit-capable broadband 89% of premises (Ofcom, Connected Nations Spring 2026, data as of January 2026).
  • You can leave either provider penalty-free within 14 days of signing, and switching between Openreach providers uses One Touch Switch with no new wiring needed.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

Content in this article

Which is cheaper, Plusnet or TalkTalk?

Plusnet is cheaper than TalkTalk on its entry and mid-tier full-fibre products, based on each provider’s live August 2026 pricing. Plusnet listed Full Fibre 74 at £20.99/month and Full Fibre 145 at £22.99/month as of 14 August 2026, while TalkTalk showed Full Fibre 65 at £26/month and Full Fibre 150 at £25/month as of 17 August 2026. At the top end the gap widens: Plusnet’s Full Fibre 900 was £26.99/month versus TalkTalk’s Full Fibre 900 at £36/month. That said, TalkTalk charges no setup fee, and headline price alone does not settle value once contract length and annual rises are factored in.

Package (indicative) Plusnet (14/08/2026) TalkTalk (17/08/2026)
Entry full fibre (65-74Mbps) Full Fibre 74: £20.99/mo Full Fibre 65: £26/mo
Mid-tier (145-150Mbps) Full Fibre 145: £22.99/mo Full Fibre 150: £25/mo
Fast (300-500Mbps) Full Fibre 300: £23.99/mo; 500: £25.99/mo Full Fibre 500: £30/mo
Gigabit (900Mbps) Full Fibre 900: £26.99/mo Full Fibre 900: £36/mo

Figures are indicative and may change.

For context on wider market pricing, independent full-fibre providers offered 900Mbit to 1Gbit deals from around £26/month against about £39/month for the cheapest comparable deal from a larger provider, according to Ofcom’s Pricing Trends for Communications Services in the UK report (pricing data October 2024). If you want to see how Plusnet stacks up against another network operator, our Plusnet vs Virgin Media broadband comparison covers cable versus full fibre.

Compare live full fibre deals for your postcode

Plusnet and TalkTalk Broadband Deals

Full Fibre 300

  • New customers only
300Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£9.99 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£23.99per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741

Full Fibre 500

  • New customers only
515Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£30.00per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741

Fibre

  • New customers only
66Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£9.99 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£22.99per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741

Full Fibre 900

  • New customers only
900Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£36.00per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741

Full Fibre 145

  • New customers only
145Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£9.99 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£22.99per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741

Full Fibre 150

  • New customers only
150Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£25.00per month
Buy Now
or call 0800 977 5741
View All Broadband Deals

How do the annual price rises compare?

Plusnet raises the monthly plan price by £4 each 31 March for new contracts and for customers re-contracting or upgrading, with out-of-bundle charges rising 5%, per Plusnet’s homepage last updated 14 August 2026. TalkTalk instead builds in listed increases from April 2027 and April 2028 on its current 24-month deals. Both use fixed-amount or scheduled rises rather than percentage-of-CPI hikes, which is the direction Ofcom pushed providers toward so customers can see the pound-and-pence increase before they sign. Because the rises are known upfront, the real cost of a two-year contract is higher than the joining price, so compare the average monthly cost across the full term rather than month one alone.

Under the Ofcom rules on mid-contract price rises, any increase must be set out in pounds and pence at the point of sale rather than tied to an uncertain inflation figure. A £4-a-year rise on a £20.99 plan is a larger percentage jump than the same £4 on a £36 plan, so factor the increase into your comparison, not just the opening price.

Is TalkTalk Full Fibre any good, and is Fibre 65 full fibre?

TalkTalk Full Fibre is a genuine fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) service on the packages branded “Full Fibre”, including Full Fibre 65, which runs over an Openreach FTTP line rather than the older copper-based fibre-to-the-cabinet. TalkTalk cut its 150Mbps full-fibre price to £26/month with no upfront cost and a minimum guaranteed speed of 120Mbps in February 2026, and its August 2026 page shows the range from Full Fibre 65 up to Full Fibre 900. Naming can confuse buyers: older “Fibre 35” or “Fibre 65” part-fibre products used the copper cabinet connection, whereas the current TalkTalk “Full Fibre” branding indicates a full FTTP line where available at your address.

Full fibre is available to 82% of UK homes, or 24.9 million premises, according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations update (Spring 2026, data as of January 2026). Always run a postcode check before committing, because full-fibre availability still varies street by street.

Is TalkTalk Full Fibre any good, and is Fibre 65 full fibre

See what full fibre you can actually get

Enter your postcode to compare Plusnet, TalkTalk and other full-fibre deals side by side.

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How fast is each provider, and how fast is TalkTalk fibre optic broadband?

TalkTalk fibre optic broadband ranges from Full Fibre 65 (around 65Mbps) up to Full Fibre 900 (around 900Mbps download) on its August 2026 deals, with a minimum guaranteed speed of 120Mbps quoted on its 150Mbps tier. Plusnet’s full-fibre tiers span Full Fibre 74, 145, 300, 500 and 900, giving a broadly matching speed ladder. Because both providers deliver over the same Openreach FTTP network in most areas, the real-world speed on an equivalent tier is largely determined by the line and your in-home Wi-Fi rather than the brand on the bill. For a typical household streaming, gaming and working from home, a 145-150Mbps tier is plenty; the 500 and 900 tiers mainly benefit large households with many simultaneous heavy users.

Gigabit-capable broadband now reaches 89% of UK residential premises, per Ofcom’s Connected Nations update (Spring 2026, data as of January 2026). Under the Ofcom Broadband Speeds Code of Practice, providers must give you a realistic minimum guaranteed speed and let you exit penalty-free if the connection consistently falls below it.

Which has better customer service?

Customer service quality between Plusnet and TalkTalk cannot be ranked definitively from current verifiable data, so treat any blanket “one is better” claim with caution. Both are large, wholesale-based providers, and experiences vary by household, region and the specific issue. Ofcom publishes complaints data by provider in its communications market reporting, and that report is the neutral place to check the latest position rather than anecdotal reviews. Plusnet promotes UK-based support and straightforward packages, while TalkTalk supplies its own router and can add extras; neither of those is a guarantee of your individual experience.

Ofcom’s 2026 interactive communications market data was published on 30 June 2026 [AUTO-CORRECTED: was 29 June 2026 per https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/service-quality/communications-market-report-2026-interactive-data — VERIFY] and is the current official source for complaints and service-quality comparisons, according to Ofcom. If reliable UK-based support matters to you, check the most recent Ofcom complaints figures for each brand before signing.

Compare broadband providers on price and features

Can you use your own router with Plusnet or TalkTalk?

Plusnet lets you use your own router and will supply its own, though it will not provide support for a third-party device you fit yourself. TalkTalk supplies its own router with its deals as standard. If you already own a capable router or want a specific feature set, Plusnet’s flexibility is a practical point in its favour, but self-supplying means you troubleshoot the hardware side yourself. For most households, the provider-supplied router is the simplest option and is configured for the connection out of the box.

Whichever you pick, the router only handles Wi-Fi inside your home; the line speed reaching the property is set by the Openreach connection and your chosen tier. A weak Wi-Fi signal in a large or thick-walled home is a router placement or mesh issue, not a fault with the broadband line itself.

How does switching from one provider to another work?

Switching between Plusnet, TalkTalk or any other Openreach provider uses One Touch Switch, so you arrange the new deal and the providers coordinate the changeover without you contacting your old supplier to cancel. No new wires are laid for a like-for-like Openreach switch, because the existing line is simply reassigned to the new provider. Over 2 million customers used One Touch Switch to change broadband and/or landline provider between its September 2024 launch and the end of 2025, according to Ofcom. Your new provider gives a switch date, and any short overlap or gap is managed as part of the process.

Time your switch for when your current contract ends to avoid early-exit fees, and note you have a 14-day cooling-off right after signing any new deal. If you are moving to full fibre from an older copper line for the first time, an engineer visit and a new FTTP installation may be needed, which is a different process from a straight like-for-like switch.

Start a broadband switch comparison

Which is better overall for your household?

Plusnet is the better pick for most households wanting the lowest monthly full-fibre price and shorter overall cost, while TalkTalk suits those who prefer a no-setup-fee 24-month deal with a supplied router and the option of extras. On the August 2026 pricing, Plusnet was cheaper across the entry, mid and gigabit tiers, but TalkTalk’s fixed 24-month terms give predictable budgeting. Neither is a poor choice, and because both run on the same Openreach network in most postcodes, the connection itself is usually comparable. The right answer depends on your budget, how long you want to be tied in and whether you value a supplied router or the freedom to use your own.

Average broadband prices fell by 6% in real terms in the year to September 2025, with the fastest falls on higher-speed tiers, based on Ofcom’s Pricing and Consumer Engagement analysis. That downward trend on faster tiers is one reason it pays to compare at renewal rather than roll onto an out-of-contract price. For alternatives, our Plusnet vs BT broadband comparison and TalkTalk vs Sky broadband comparison weigh up the same trade-offs against other big providers, and the TalkTalk vs Vodafone comparison is worth a look if Vodafone is available at your address.

Which is better overall for your household

FAQs about plusnet vs talktalk broadband

Is TalkTalk Fibre 65 full fibre?

TalkTalk’s current Full Fibre 65 package is a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) service where full fibre is available at your address. Older part-fibre products with similar numbering used the copper cabinet connection, so check the deal is branded Full Fibre and run a postcode check to confirm FTTP is live on your street.

How fast is TalkTalk fibre optic broadband?

TalkTalk fibre optic broadband ranges from around 65Mbps on Full Fibre 65 up to around 900Mbps on Full Fibre 900, based on its August 2026 range. Its 150Mbps tier quotes a minimum guaranteed speed of 120Mbps. Real-world speed depends on your line and in-home Wi-Fi as well as the tier you buy.

Can I use my own router with Plusnet?

Yes, Plusnet lets you use your own router and can supply its own, but it will not provide support for a third-party device you install yourself. If you self-supply, you handle any hardware troubleshooting. TalkTalk supplies its own router as standard with its deals.

Do Plusnet and TalkTalk raise prices during the contract?

Yes. Plusnet raises the monthly plan price by £4 each 31 March, with out-of-bundle charges rising 5%. TalkTalk lists scheduled increases from April 2027 and April 2028 on its current 24-month deals. Both must show the increase in pounds and pence at the point of sale under Ofcom rules.

Which has better customer service, Plusnet or TalkTalk?

Customer service cannot be ranked definitively from current verifiable data, as experiences vary by household and region. Ofcom publishes complaints data by provider in its communications market reporting, which is the neutral place to check the latest position. Look up the most recent Ofcom complaints figures for each brand before deciding.

Are Plusnet and TalkTalk on the same network?

In most postcodes both deliver over the Openreach full-fibre network, so the physical connection reaching your home is usually the same regardless of which you choose. The differences that affect you are price, contract length, built-in annual rises and customer support, not the underlying line in typical Openreach areas.

How do I switch from Plusnet to TalkTalk or vice versa?

Switching between two Openreach providers uses One Touch Switch: you arrange the new deal and the providers coordinate the changeover, so you do not contact your old supplier to cancel. No new wires are laid for a like-for-like switch, as the existing line is reassigned to the new provider on the agreed date.

Will I need new wiring if I switch to full fibre?

For a like-for-like switch between two Openreach providers on the same line, no new wiring is laid. If you are moving from an older copper connection to full fibre (FTTP) for the first time, an engineer visit and a new fibre installation may be needed, which is a separate process from a straight provider switch.

Can I cancel a broadband deal after signing?

Yes, you have a 14-day cooling-off period after signing a new broadband contract, during which you can cancel penalty-free. Outside that window, leaving before the end of a fixed term usually triggers early-exit charges, so time any switch for when your current contract ends to avoid them.

Which contract length does each provider offer?

TalkTalk’s current full-fibre deals are on 24-month contracts with no setup fee. Plusnet’s full-fibre examples come with built-in annual rises and their own contract terms, so check the specific term shown at checkout. Longer contracts often carry a lower monthly price but tie you in for two years.

Is a 150Mbps tier fast enough for my household?

A 145 to 150Mbps full-fibre tier is enough for most households streaming, gaming and working from home simultaneously. The 500 and 900Mbps tiers mainly benefit large households with many heavy simultaneous users. If your Wi-Fi feels slow, the cause is often router placement rather than the broadband tier itself.

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Information correct as of 17 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

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