Sky vs BT Broadband Deals

January 21st, 2025
Sky vs BT Broadband Deals

Sky and BT are top broadband providers in the UK. They both have appealing broadband packages, TV bundles, and phone services. This guide aims to compare their broadband services in detail. It will look at speeds, prices, routers, customer service, and TV options. This information will help you choose the best option.

Overview of Sky and BT Broadband Providers

Sky and BT both use the Openreach broadband network. This network provides wide coverage all over the UK. Sky sets itself apart with the Sky Broadband Hub. It has Wi-Fi 6 technology, which offers faster speeds and better connection quality. BT is well-known for its strong coverage in rural areas. They offer premium plans that come with higher upload speeds.

Provider Key Features Notable Technology Network Type
Sky Broadband Affordable packages, TV bundles, Wi-Fi 6 router Sky Max Hub with Wi-Fi 6 Part Fibre, Full Fibre
BT Broadband Reliable speeds, extensive rural coverage BT Smart Hub 2 with Wi-Fi 5 Part Fibre, Full Fibre

James Ford Broadband Deals Reviewed by James Ford, TV and Broadband Expert

200 Full Fibre

  • New customers only
200Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
12 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£32.95per month

500 Full Fibre

  • New customers only
  • £50 Amazon Gift Card when you switch to Zzoomm using promo code SWITCH50
500Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
12 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£24.95per month

1Gig Full Fibre

  • New customers only
  • £100 Amazon Gift Card when you switch to Zzoomm using promo code SWITCH100
1000Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
12 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£29.95per month

Key Differences Between Sky and BT Broadband

Sky and BT differ in several important ways:

  • Router Technology: Sky provides a Wi-Fi 6 Sky Max Hub with its full fibre plans. BT, on the other hand, uses the Wi-Fi 5 Smart Hub 2.
  • Price and Value: Sky's plans are usually cheaper. They have lower setup costs and include phone lines.
  • Speeds: BT has a small advantage in upload speeds for their top packages. Download speeds are similar for both.
  • TV Services: Sky stands out with exclusive channels like Sky Atlantic and Sky Sports.

Pricing Comparison: Sky vs BT Broadband

Provider Package Download Speed Upload Speed Monthly Price Setup Fee Contract Length Notes
Sky Broadband Superfast 35 36 Mbps 9 Mbps £25.00 £5 refundable 24 months Includes phone line
Superfast 59 Mbps 16 Mbps £27.00 £5 refundable 24 months WiFi Max add-on for £4/month
Ultrafast 145 Mbps 30 Mbps £29.00 £5 refundable 24 months Includes Sky Max Hub
Ultrafast Plus 500 Mbps 60 Mbps £32.00 £5 refundable 24 months Minimum speeds of 25 Mbps
Gigafast 900 Mbps 90 Mbps £41.00 £5 refundable 24 months Great for large households
BT Broadband Fibre Essential 36 Mbps 8-9 Mbps £33.99 £41.99 upfront 12 months Includes activation + kit delivery
Fibre 1 50 Mbps 10 Mbps £39.99 £41.99 upfront 12 months Basic plan for light users
Fibre 2 74 Mbps 20 Mbps £41.99 £41.99 upfront 12 months Suitable for small families
Full Fibre 100 150 Mbps 30 Mbps £29.99 Free 24 months Free BT Reward Card
Full Fibre 500 500 Mbps 73 Mbps £34.99 Free 24 months Best for gamers and streamers
Full Fibre 900 900 Mbps 110 Mbps £54.99 £41.99 upfront 12 months Premium plan for power users

Key Takeaways:

  • Sky provides better value, especially for their basic and mid-level plans.
  • BT's plans cost more, but they sometimes offer special rewards like BT Reward Cards.

Broadband Speeds and Performance

Both providers give fast broadband speeds. However, their services are a bit different.

Provider Package Download Speed Upload Speed Best For
Sky Broadband Superfast 35 36 Mbps 9 Mbps Light browsing and email use
Superfast 59 Mbps 16 Mbps Families streaming in HD
Ultrafast 145 Mbps 30 Mbps Moderate gaming and streaming
Ultrafast Plus 500 Mbps 60 Mbps Heavy internet use, multiple users
Gigafast 900 Mbps 90 Mbps Large households, seamless usage
BT Broadband Fibre Essential 36 Mbps 8-9 Mbps Light browsing and email use
Fibre 1 50 Mbps 10 Mbps Small households, moderate usage
Full Fibre 500 500 Mbps 73 Mbps Gamers, heavy downloaders
Full Fibre 900 900 Mbps 110 Mbps Advanced users, multiple devices

Router Technology: Sky Max Hub vs BT Smart Hub 2

Feature Sky Max Hub BT Smart Hub 2
Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 5
Mesh Support Yes (WiFi Max add-on) Yes (Complete Wi-Fi add-on)
Security WPA3 WPA2
Ethernet Ports 4 x 1Gb 4 x 1Gb

The Sky Max Hub is a better choice. It uses Wi-Fi 6 technology. This means it provides faster speeds. It also offers improved performance. With this hub, you can handle more devices at once.

TV and Broadband Bundles

Sky provides great TV services. They have special channels like Sky Atlantic and Sky Sports.

Provider TV Bundle Broadband Monthly Price Channels
Sky Broadband Sky Ultimate TV + Gigafast 900 Mbps £59.00 150+
Sky Sports + Ultrafast Plus 500 Mbps £49.00 11 Sports Channels
BT Broadband Entertainment + Fibre 2 74 Mbps £43.99 96 (includes NOW TV)
Big Sport + Full Fibre 500 500 Mbps £74.99 Over 100 sports channels

Customer Service and Satisfaction

Metric Sky Broadband BT Broadband
Complaints per 100,000 users 5 10
Customer Satisfaction 82% 83%
Average Call Waiting Time 2:14 minutes 2:45 minutes

BT vs Sky Customer Reviews: A Trustpilot Comparison

When you pick a broadband provider, customer reviews are important. They help you see how good the service is, if it’s reliable, and how happy people are. BT and Sky are two top broadband providers in the UK. Both have a TrustScore of 1.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot. This shows that many customers are not happy with them. This article will explain their reviews and what they say about customer satisfaction.

Comparison: BT vs Sky Reviews

Metric BT Sky
Total Reviews 18,128 14,799
TrustScore 1.3 out of 5 1.3 out of 5
5-star reviews 7% 8%
1-star reviews 88% 84%
Common Complaints Poor service, billing issues High costs, unreliable service

Comparison BT vs. Sky Reviews

Common Customer Complaints: BT Broadband

1. Poor Customer Service

Many BT broadband customers have problems with customer support. They face long waiting times and find the staff unhelpful. Many complaints remain unresolved. This affects home broadband users and those with BT TV bundles. Ofcom’s report shows that BT's ability to handle complaints is below the industry average.

2. Billing Issues

Customers often mention issues like being charged too much or finding hidden fees. These problems are especially seen among people who sign up for BT broadband packages or full fibre broadband plans. They feel they aren't getting the value for their money.

3. Unreliable Broadband Speeds

Some BT users face slow broadband speeds, even with the Openreach network. This is often seen in rural areas. BT's full fibre packages promise high average download speeds. However, many customers say their speeds are lower than expected. This issue can hurt their ability to watch live TV, like BT Sport or EE TV.

4. Delayed Repairs

Many people feel upset about the slow repairs for broadband or internet phone line issues. If you're relying on a nationwide network of hotspots or full fibre connections, these delays can mess up both work and fun activities.

Common Customer Complaints: Sky Broadband

1. Unreliable Broadband

Sky broadband customers often struggle with their fibre broadband. They experience regular outages and large speed drops during busy times. Even though Sky provides full fibre broadband plans using the Openreach network, users say that the speeds they get are usually much lower than the highest speeds shown in their full fibre packages.

2. High Costs

Sky offers broadband deals that many people feel are too expensive. This is especially true when they also consider Sky TV or Sky Stream services. Customers often think Sky's prices are higher than those of providers like Virgin Media. They feel this way, especially when they add in the extra monthly fee for services like Sky WiFi Max.

3. Poor TV Service

Customers often talk about problems with Sky’s TV services. This includes issues with Sky Q boxes, Sky Cinema, and TNT Sports. Many people mention that the streaming quality could be better. They also feel that TV packages do not offer enough flexibility. This is especially true when using Sky Glass or trying to get content without a satellite dish.

4. Customer Support Problems

Sky’s customer support gets a lot of complaints, just like BT. Customers with broadband and TV have long wait times. They feel their problems are not solved well and that there is not enough clarity. This makes them unhappy. Even though Sky tries to fix these issues, they still do worse than the sector average.

Verdict:

  • Sky has fewer complaints.
  • Sky has shorter wait times.
  • BT’s satisfaction rate is a bit higher.
  • BT has more complaints.

Sky vs BT: Home Phone Plans Comparison

Provider Call Plan Monthly Price Features
BT Broadband Pay As You Go Calls £5 Pay-per-call model, suitable for light users
700 Minutes £8 700 inclusive minutes to UK landlines and mobiles
Unlimited Minutes £18 Unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles
Friends & Family Intl. £2.63 Discounted rates to 236 international destinations
International Freedom £11.23 Includes calls to select international destinations
Sky Broadband Pay As You Talk Included Pay-per-call model, 22p/min for UK calls
Talk Evenings & Weekends £5.75 Unlimited evening and weekend calls to UK numbers
Talk Anytime Extra £16 Unlimited anytime UK calls
Talk International Extra £15.50 Unlimited calls to 50 international destinations

Key Takeaways: BT vs Sky Home Phone Services

  • Flexibility: BT has many choices for international callers. They offer plans like Friends & Family International and International Freedom. Sky’s Talk International Extra allows unlimited calls to 50 destinations.
  • Cost-Effective Options: Sky’s Talk Evenings & Weekends plan is less expensive than the similar plans from BT. However, BT is better for users who need customisation for light or international use.
  • Bundle Inclusion: Sky gives a basic phone line with every broadband plan. BT offers plans that include broadband only for those who do not need a landline.

Choosing the right plan depends on how you usually make calls. If you want international coverage, you might prefer BT’s Friends & Family International plan. If you need unlimited UK calls, Sky Talk Anytime Extra is a good option.

FAQs About Sky vs BT Broadband

What are the main differences between Sky and BT broadband?

  • Sky has lower prices and better TV bundles.
  • BT has higher upload speeds and covers rural areas well.

Which provider has better customer service?

Sky has less complaints and shorter waiting times. On the other hand, BT has a bit higher satisfaction scores.

Which router is better: Sky Max Hub or BT Smart Hub 2?

Sky Max Hub is great because it supports Wi-Fi 6. This feature makes it perfect for fast internet and connecting many devices at the same time.

Do both providers offer TV and broadband bundles?

Sky has more complete choices. It even includes special channels like Sky Atlantic.

Are setup fees included in the plans?

  • Sky gives back setup fees for all packages.
  • BT takes upfront fees for 12-month contracts.

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