Vodafone vs Sky Broadband: Which Provider Is Better?

January 29th, 2025
Vodafone vs Sky Broadband: Which Provider Is Better?

Vodafone and Sky are two of the best broadband providers in the UK. They provide great full fibre plans and high-quality services. Vodafone is a good choice for people who want to save money. It has flexible options like the Vodafone Pro II and special discounts for those who use its mobile network. Sky is known for its great customer service. They also offer Sky TV bundles, making it a strong choice for people looking for premium broadband and entertainment.

At a Glance: Vodafone vs Sky

Feature Vodafone Broadband Sky Broadband
Monthly Cost From £24.50, offers competitive deals. From £25, includes TV bundles.
Setup Cost Free for all plans. £5, refundable on the first bill.
Contract Length Fixed 24 months. Fixed 24 months.
Annual Price Increase £3 per month in April. Inflation-based increases.
Download Speeds 35Mb to 2.2Gb (in CityFibre areas). 61Mb to 900Mb.
Upload Speeds 10Mb to 2.2Gb (CityFibre areas). 16Mb to 90Mb.
Router Technology WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E (Pro II). Sky Max Hub (WiFi 6), Sky Broadband Hub (WiFi 5).
WiFi Guarantee £8/month for 10Mbps minimum. £4/month for 25Mbps minimum.
Home Phone Line Included in all plans. Included in all plans.
TV Services Apple TV+ with Pro II plans. Extensive Sky TV bundles.

Pricing Comparison: Which Is More Affordable?

Vodafone and Sky both have good broadband plans. However, Vodafone has cheaper entry-level packages.

Vodafone and Sky Broadband Deals

Full Fibre 150

  • New customers only
  • Price locked until April 2025
  • Up to £3/month saving for existing mobile contract customers
150Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£24.00per month

Full Fibre 74

  • New customers only
  • Price locked until April 2025
  • Up to £3/month saving for existing mobile contract customers
74Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£24.00per month

Full Fibre 500

  • New customers only
  • Price locked until April 2025
  • Up to £3/month saving for existing mobile contract customers
500Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£29.00per month

Full Fibre 500

  • New customers only
500Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£32.00per month

Full Fibre 75

  • New customers only
75Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£25.00per month

Full Fibre 150

  • New customers only
150Mb average* speed
Unlimited Downloads
£0.00 Setup costs
24 Month contract
Pay as you goCalls
£27.00per month

Key Takeaway: Vodafone has lower prices for most plans. They also provide discounts for customers using the Vodafone mobile network.

Broadband Speeds

Both Vodafone and CityFibre use Openreach’s network for their FTTP broadband plans. Vodafone has a partnership with CityFibre. This allows them to offer ultra-fast broadband speeds in certain areas.

Speed Comparison

Provider Plan Download Speed Upload Speed Best For
Vodafone Fibre 2 65Mb 18Mb Browsing and light streaming.
Full Fibre 150 150Mb 27Mb Medium households.
Full Fibre 910 910Mb 105Mb Power users and gamers.
Pro II Full Fibre 1.6 1.6Gb 1.6Gb Advanced users in CityFibre areas.
Sky Superfast Broadband 61Mb 16Mb Light household usage.
Full Fibre 150 150Mb 27Mb Streaming and gaming.
Full Fibre Gigafast 900Mb 90Mb Heavy data usage and 4K streaming.

Router Technology: Sky Max Hub vs Vodafone Pro II

Both providers offer high-quality routers with their broadband packages.

Feature Vodafone Power Hub Vodafone Ultra Hub (Pro II) Sky Max Hub
WiFi Protocol WiFi 6 WiFi 6E WiFi 6
Mesh Support Yes Yes Yes
Gigabit Ethernet Ports 4 x 1Gb 1 x 2.5Gb, 2 x 1Gb 4 x 1Gb
Security WPA3 WPA3 WPA3

Key Insights

  • Vodafone Pro II comes with a WiFi 6E router and boosters for high performance.
  • Sky Max Hub is very efficient, and you can get WiFi boosters for extra cost.

TV Services

Sky is ahead with its wide range of TV bundles. On the other hand, Vodafone has fewer choices with its Pro II plans.

Sky TV Features

  • Channels: This includes Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, Netflix, and Sky Atlantic.
  • Sky Glass and Sky Stream: These are new ways to stream without needing a satellite dish.
  • Bundle Discounts: You can save a lot by mixing Sky broadband and TV together.

Vodafone TV Features

  • Apple TV 4K: Comes with Pro II plans.
  • Apple TV+ Subscription: Free for three months. You get access to major apps.

What Are the Broadband and Mobile Bundle Options Offered by Sky and Vodafone?

Sky and Vodafone both offer packages that combine broadband and mobile services. This is great for customers who want easy connection and save money.

Vodafone Bundle Options

  • Vodafone Together: This gives discounts to customers who combine Vodafone Pro Broadband with a pay-monthly mobile plan. You can save up to £2 each month on broadband.
  • Super WiFi and Mobile Network: With Vodafone Pro Broadband, you also get Super WiFi and a 4G mobile network backup. This ensures you stay connected during internet outages.
  • Apple Services Integration: Some bundles come with an Apple TV 4K device and an Apple TV+ subscription.

Sky Bundle Options

  • Sky Broadband and Sky Mobile: Sky gives loyalty discounts for people who bundle Sky Broadband with Sky Mobile plans.
  • Sky TV Integration: Broadband customers who bundle with Sky TV can save more money, like getting lower prices on premium channels such as Sky Sports.
  • WiFi Max Add-On: The optional WiFi Max add-on provides smooth internet connection all around the home.

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How Easy Is the Setup Process for Sky and Vodafone Broadband?

Both providers have easy setup processes that are designed for broadband customers.

Vodafone Setup Process

  • Equipment: Vodafone gives you its Pro Broadband router. It has a QR code to help you set it up easily with the My Vodafone app.
  • Installation: In many places, a professional will install full fibre connections to keep things running smoothly.
  • Activation: A lot of customers get their part fibre connections activated on the same day.

Sky Setup Process

  • Equipment: Sky’s Max Hub uses Wi-Fi 6 technology. This means you can enjoy fast connection speeds.
  • Self-Installation: You can install the service yourself if you have part fibre. A professional will need to help for FTTP (full fibre to the premises).
  • WiFi Guarantee: Sky’s WiFi Max service comes with mesh boosters. These improve coverage and make sure you have steady speeds all around your home.

What Are the Minimum Guaranteed Speeds Offered by Sky and Vodafone?

Both providers promise minimum guaranteed speeds. This will make sure broadband customers get reliable service.

Vodafone Minimum Speeds

  • Broadband Speed Test: Vodafone provides broadband plans that promise average download speeds.
  • Pro Broadband Plans: For full fibre connections, minimum speeds are usually 75 Mbps for 150 Mbps plans and 455 Mbps for 910 Mbps plans.
  • Speed Test App: Customers can check their speeds with the Vodafone broadband speed test feature in the app.

Sky Minimum Speeds

  • Reliable Speed Guarantee: Sky promises a speed of at least 100 Mbps for Full Fibre 150 and 400 Mbps for Full Fibre 500 plans.
  • Compensation: Sky will give refunds to broadband customers if their speeds drop below the guaranteed minimum for three days in a row.

What Home Phone Options Are Available from Sky and Vodafone?

Both providers offer home phone services with their broadband plans. However, the features are different.

Vodafone Home Phone Options

  • Inclusive Features: You can make pay-as-you-go calls, and there are options to upgrade for calls to UK landlines and mobiles at any time.
  • Voicemail Plus: This plan has advanced voicemail features to make it easier to use.

Sky Home Phone Options

  • Custom Plans: You can choose pay-as-you-go calls. There are options for any time, evenings, weekends, or international calls.
  • Sky Talk: This gives you plans that come with Sky Broadband. It connects easily with your home communication needs.

How Reliable Are Sky and Vodafone Networks, and What Is Their Coverage Like?

Network reliability and coverage are very important for broadband customers. This is especially true for those living in rural or remote areas.

Vodafone Reliability and Coverage

  • CityFibre and Openreach: Vodafone uses both networks. This means they offer great FTTP coverage. You can enjoy the same speed for downloads and uploads.
  • Super WiFi: This keeps your home connected with steady coverage. You can add boosters for extra support.
  • Mobile Network Backup: With Vodafone Pro Broadband, you get 4G backup. This adds more reliability to your internet service.

Sky Reliability and Coverage

  • Openreach Network: Sky uses Openreach for their full fibre broadband plans, which gives a wide coverage.
  • WiFi Max: It provides constant service with mesh boosters. These boosters improve Wi-Fi coverage and keep average speeds steady.

Customer Service Comparison: Sky vs Vodafone

Sky is known for great customer service. They often do well in Ofcom reports for handling complaints and customer satisfaction. Vodafone provides good customer service in some cases, but there is space for improvement based on Ofcom results. However, Vodafone has good ratings on Trustpilot.

Ofcom and Trustpilot Ratings

Metric Sky Vodafone
Complaints per 100,000 (Ofcom) 5 12
Overall Satisfaction (Ofcom) 82% 83%
Satisfaction with Complaints Handling (Ofcom) 55% 49%
Average Call Wait Time (Ofcom) 2m 14s 3m 19s
TrustScore (Trustpilot) 1.3/5 (Bad) 4.5/5 (Excellent)
Total Trustpilot Reviews 14,881 75,137
5-Star Reviews (Trustpilot) 8% 63%
1-Star Reviews (Trustpilot) 84% 34%

Key Insights

Sky Customer Service

  • Strengths: Sky has the fewest complaints per 100,000 customers, which is 5, based on Ofcom data.
  • 55% of customers are happy with how their complaints are handled.
  • The average call wait time is quick, at just 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
  • Weaknesses: Sky has a low Trustpilot rating of 1.3 out of 5. Most, about 84%, of reviews are 1-star.
  • Many customers complain about billing problems and slow solutions.

Sky Vs Vodafone: Ofcom and Trustpilot Ratings

Vodafone Customer Service

  • Strengths: – Great Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 from more than 75,000 reviews, with 63% giving 5 stars.
    • High overall satisfaction at 83% according to Ofcom metrics.
  • Weaknesses: – More complaints at 12 per 100,000 customers when compared to Sky.
    • Longer average call wait times of 3 minutes and 19 seconds.

Verdict: Which Provider is Best?

  • Choose Vodafone if:
    • You want the lowest prices for broadband deals.
    • You need very fast speeds in CityFibre areas.
    • You are already a Vodafone mobile customer.
  • Choose Sky if:
    • You want top TV bundles.
    • You care about great customer service.
    • You like strong speed guarantees.

Both providers give good broadband plans. The right choice depends on what you need. Think about price, speed, or extra features like TV and support.

FAQs About Vodafone vs Sky Broadband

Which provider offers the cheapest broadband deals?

Vodafone usually has lower broadband plans. This is especially true for their mobile customers who get extra discounts.

Which provider has better full fibre broadband plans?

Both providers have good full fibre broadband plans. However, Vodafone’s CityFibre network provides faster speeds in some areas.

What router does Vodafone provide?

Vodafone offers the Power Hub (WiFi 6) with standard plans. For Pro II plans, they provide the Ultra Hub (WiFi 6E).

What is Sky’s WiFi guarantee?

Sky offers a WiFi guarantee. This means you will get speeds of at least 25Mbps in every room. You can have this for an extra £4 each month.

Can I bundle TV services with Vodafone or Sky broadband?

Sky has a lot of TV bundles. On the other hand, Vodafone gives you Apple TV 4K and a three-month Apple TV+ subscription if you choose their Pro II plans.

Which provider is better for gamers?

Vodafone has faster upload speeds and better routers. This makes it a smarter choice for gamers. This is especially true in CityFibre areas.

Do both providers include a home phone line?

Yes, the broadband plans from both Vodafone and Sky include a home phone line.

Which provider has better customer service?

Sky always does better than Vodafone in Ofcom’s customer satisfaction reports. Also, it receives fewer complaints.

What are Vodafone Pro II plans?

Vodafone Pro II plans come with a WiFi 6E router and boosters. You also get an Apple TV 4K and 4G backup. This all provides a top-notch broadband experience.

Which broadband provider is better overall?

Vodafone is a great choice for people on a budget and advanced users in CityFibre areas. Sky is the best option for those looking for premium TV bundles and excellent customer service.

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