The Best BT Deals for Broadband, TV & Mobile

BT broadband explained

BT is owned by the BT Group Plc which is a large multinational telecommunication company with roots back to 1846. By the 1990s UK households had access to dial-up internet, and in 2000 broadband was being rolled out.

The UK now has big 4 operators (BT, Sky, Virgin and Talk Talk ) who share almost 80% of the broadband market. BT is the largest provider of broadband in the UK, as of Jan 2020, their market share is 26%, narrowly ahead of Sky’s.

BT’s fibre broadband speeds entry package starts at an average speed of 36Mbps, with the top package carrying an average speed of 300Mpbs

BT has invested heavily in sports broadcasting and now offers live Premiership Football and exclusive live European Football, Premiership Rugby and WWE via their BT Sports channel.

The Key Benefits of BT broadband

  • Minimum speed guarantee with BT’s Stay Fast Guarantee or receive compensation of £20
  • Free Smart Hub with strong signal strength for fast reliable internet speeds
  • 18 month contract with free weekend calls as standard
  • BT Virus Protect - BT’s free virus software
  • Additional add-on to guarantee reliable strong connectivity in all rooms of the house or refund of up to £20
BT broadband explained

What are BT’s broadband packages?

BT has 5 broadband-only deals with different speeds which include line rental. All BT broadband deals include as standard, unlimited usage, BT Virus Protect and Parental Controls and line rental worth £19.99 per month

BT uses the Openreach fibre optic network to get high-speed broadband to customers which covers 95% of the UK. For customers not yet covered by Openreach’s fibre network but have an ADSL line supplied by Openreach, BT is still able to provide broadband. The top speed is likely to be around 16Mbps, with the Your Stay Fast Guarantee add-on, you’ll get a minimum bespoke speed guarantee or your money back. BT's super-fast full Fibre broadband packages are ideal for large households that enjoy high-quality streaming and gaming on multiple devices at once, or those with multiple people working from home at the same time. It’s important to remember that your actual speed depends on a few factors including your location, phone line, home wiring, Wi-Fi connection type, number of users and the time of day.

BT Fibre Essential

  • Download speed ranges from 35 Mbps to 36 Mbps
  • 32Mbps stay fast guarantee
  • Upload speed ranges from 8 Mbps to 9 Mbps
  • Unlimited data usage
  • BT Smart Hub
  • Parental control
  • BT cloud storage
  • BT speed promise or £20 paid back to you
  • Ideal for a couple of devices to browse and stream

BT Fibre 1 (BT superfast Fibre 1)

  • Download speed ranges from 46 Mbps to 50 Mbps
  • 39 stay fast guarantee
  • Upload speed ranges from 8 Mbps to 9 Mbps
  • Unlimited data usage
  • BT Smart Hub
  • Parental control
  • BT cloud storage of 200GB
  • BT speed promise or £20 paid back to you
  • Ideal for few devices being used for browsing, streaming and downloading

BT Fibre 2 (BT superfast Fibre 2)

  • Download speed ranges from 46 Mbps to 72 Mbps
  • 39 stay fast guarantee
  • Upload speed ranges from 13 Mbps to 18 Mbps
  • Unlimited data usage
  • BT Smart Hub
  • Parental control
  • BT cloud storage of 1000GB
  • BT speed promise or £20 paid back to you
  • Ideal for HD downloads and gaming on multiple devices at once

BT Standard broadband

  • Broadband average speed of 10 Mbps
  • Router – BT Hub 4
  • Virus protection included for 2 devices
  • BT cloud storage of up to 200GB

BT Fibre 100

  • Average download speed of up to 145 Mbps
  • Average upload speed of up to 28 Mbps
  • BT Smart Hub X
  • 1 TB BT cloud storage
  • Unlimited data included
What are BT’s broadband packages

BT Fibre 250

  • Average download speed of up to 300 Mbps
  • Average upload speed of up to 47 Mbps
  • BT Smart Hub X
  • 1 TB BT cloud storage
  • Unlimited data included

What other services you can get from BT home broadband offering?

Sky Sports packages / channels  Yes (Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2)
BT Sports / BT Sports app Yes
TV channels Yes (Uses YouView TV box)
Fibre optic broadband service Yes
ADSL broadband service Yes
Mobile phone deals and packages Yes
Call package options Yes
International calls Yes - on selected countries and add -on

What are BTs Broadband and TV deals?

BT’s broadband with a TV package from Free Price Comparestart with 105 channels including the premium channel BT Sports worth £18 per month plus a BT Gift Card on selected packages. BT’s top TV channel package through Free Price Compare includes 171 channels which include 4K channels, Sky Sports, BT Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports, NOW Entertainment and a BT Gift/Reward Card*.

What are BT’s Broadband and phone deals?

BT’s standard lines are Pay As You Go, though it is possible to have 500 minutes Anytime option added on for an additional monthly fee which will give you 500 minutes of calls to mobiles and landlines in the UK. For customers wanting more minutes, BT offers Unlimited Minutes add-on feature, which as the name suggests will give you unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines in the UK. If you're still a regular user of your landline, BT continues to offer home phone and calls packages with its home internet deals. Calls packages come quite cheap these days, so it won't add much onto your monthly bill to opt for a landline option with BT — especially since its most widely-available connections still rely on a copper phone line to get to your property.

What hardware does BT offer to new customers?

BT has two routers which they offer, BT Smart Hub and Smart Hub 2. The Smart Hub is the standard router that will give you reliable fast internet. The Smart Hub 2 router which has extra features that includes automatic optimal connections for devices connected to the hub. Smart Scan will monitor for network performance issues and will automatically reboot if necessary. The Smart Hub 2 if not part of a broadband bundle but is available at an extra cost.

With BT's 'Complete Wi-Fi' service, you can guarantee a strong signal in every room of your home.

What software do I get with BT Broadband?

BT offers free antivirus software on all range of broadband packages, saving BT broadband customers around £80 when you compared against leading premium anti-virus software. The software will perform scans for viruses, malware, trojans, tracking cookies, spyware, adware, and suspicious programs. It has a built-in firewall, which will prevent hackers from snooping and stealing important information. On top of that, it also has a feature called, Site Advisor, which informs you if a website has malicious content. With our 3,000-strong team of specialists working 24/7 to protect against cyber attacks, you can trust BT to keep your online activities safe and secure.

What software do I get with BT Broadband

What Parental Controls are there?

BT’s antivirus comes with Parental Control allows the assigned administrator to monitor usage, block specific websites or particular genres of websites. It also allows you to manage the screen time of children.

Does BT offer a minimum speed guarantee?

BT’s Stay Fast Guarantee which can come free with certain packages or is available at an additional monthly cost. BT’s Stay Fast will guarantee a minimum speed or £20 back if the speed issue is not resolved within 30 days.

BT’s Stay Fast Guarantee customers will have their connection continually monitored for broadband speed issues, with priority telephone support from call centres based in the UK and Ireland. Engineer visits are prioritised which ensures Stay Fast Guarantee customers will be seen much faster than other customers.

How do you connect the BT Smart Hub to the internet?

BT’s Smart Hub router is easy to install without the need for an engineer. Plug one end of the ADSL cable to the router and the other end to the telephone socket, and finally plug the power cable to the device and power socket and turn on then you’re ready to go.

How do you set up a BT TV set-top box?

Setting up your BT TV set-top box is fairly straightforward. At the back of your set-top box, there will be a socket for a TV aerial. Connect the TV aerial cable into the socket labelled “Antenna” or “Aerial”, then plug the other end into the wall socket for the external aerial. This will ensure you receive all the free to air channels. To get the premium channels like BT Sport, connect the Ethernet cable from the broadband hub router to the set-top box. Finally, plug in the power cable to the set-top box, and then to a power socket, and you’re ready to go.

How do I get BT Broadband and TV?

Free Price Compare, lets you compare hundreds of deals to find the right one for you. For the latest and best BT broadband deals or the best deals on the market log on to https://freepricecompare.com/broadband/ or if you prefer to speak to someone, our freephone number is 0800 977 5741.

Does BT provide emails?

BT gives all its customers free email accounts with the suffix @btinternet.com. The email is available through a browser or the My BT app. Email service comes with 10 additional email accounts that family and friends can use. BT’s email service includes antivirus and antispam features.

What is BT Cloud storage

What is BT Cloud storage?

Cloud storage is the ability to store files, photos or videos on BT’s servers rather than on an SD Card or USB memory sticks which can be become corrupt, damaged or get lost.

Depending on the package deal you choose, you will get 10Gb - 1Tb of free storage. Extra storage is charged at £3 per 50Gb, or £9 per 500Gb.

To access your cloud storage file, all you need is the internet.

What is BT’s customer service and support like?

BT is the UKs biggest broadband provider, and it wants to keep it that way, so it is keen to keep its customers happy, by providing great customer service.

With BT, customer support is 24/7 and available on 0800 800 150. The website is innovative in that BT has posted videos of the most common issues experienced by customers and the solutions.

The Virtual assistant is available instantly to answer routine questions. However, if you’d rather chat to an adviser, the online chat function can be activated at any time.

BT broadband download and upload speed analysis including peak time hours

Download Speed Upload Speed
Plan Speed Maximum 24 hours 8pm-10pm Minimum Maximum 24 hours 8pm-10pm Minimum
ADSL2+ 10.0-12.5 Mbps 9.7-12.1 Mbps 9.7-12.1 Mbps 8.6-10.8 Mbps 0.8-0.9 Mbps 0.8-0.9 Mbps 0.8-0.9 Mbps 0.7-0.8 Mbps
36 Mbps FTTC 27.6-30.2 Mbps 26.6-29.2 Mbps 26.5-29.0 Mbps 23.7-26.6 Mbps 5.6-6.5 Mbps 5.5-6.4 Mbps 5.5-6.4 Mbps 5.3-6.2 Mbps
50 Mbps FTTC 46.6-48.2 Mbps 45.6-47.2 Mbps 45.2-46.9 Mbps 41.8-44.0 Mbps 8.5-9 Mbps 8.4-8.9 Mbps 8.4-8.9 Mbps 8.1-8.6 Mbps
67 Mbps FTTC 63.3-65.5 Mbps 62.4-64.6 Mbps 62.1-64.3 Mbps 58.3-60.7 Mbps 17.1-17.6 Mbps 17-17.5 Mbps 17-17.5 Mbps 16.6-17.1 Mbps
67 Mbps FTTP 73.4-74.8 Mbps 73.1-74.4 Mbps 72.9-74.2 Mbps 71.6-73.2 Mbps 20.6-21.1 Mbps 20.6-21 Mbps 20.6-21 Mbps 20.5-20.9 Mbps
145 Mbps FTTP 148.6-150.3 Mbps 145.5-148.1 Mbps 145-148.0 Mbps 137.9-142.5 Mbps 31-31.3 Mbps 30.9-31.2 Mbps 30.9-31.2 Mbps 30.8-31.1 Mbps
300 Mbps FTTP 306.7-309.9 Mbps 300.5-304.1 Mbps 298.0-303.2 Mbps 278.7-286.3 Mbps 48.2-49.6 Mbps 48.1-49.6 Mbps 48.1-49.5 Mbps 47.8-49.3 Mbps

What Are the Differences Between BT Broadband Hubs?

BT has released several broadband hubs over the years, each with varying features and capabilities. Here's a comparison table of the key specifications for each BT Broadband Hub model:

Router Model BT Smart Hub 2 BT Home Hub 5 BT Home Hub 4 BT Home Hub 3 BT Smart Hub
Release Year 2018 2015 2013 2011 2010
WiFi Standard WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WiFi 5 (802.11ac) WiFi 4 (802.11n) WiFi 4 (802.11n) WiFi 4 (802.11n)
Frequency Bands Dual-Band Dual-Band Dual-Band Single-Band (2.4GHz) Dual-Band
Antennas 7 5 2 2 7
Ethernet Ports 4 Gigabit 4 Gigabit 4 4 4 Gigabit
Security WPA2 - - - -
Intelligent Mesh Yes No No No No
4G Backup Yes (BT Assure) No No No No
USB Ports Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Typical Use All BT Broadband Plans Legacy Plans Legacy Plans Legacy Plans Legacy Plans

(*This is a promotional product and is subject to change at any time)

Which BT Broadband Hub Is Best for High-Speed Internet?

The BT Smart Hub 2, released in 2018, is the most advanced router offered by BT, supporting the WiFi 5 (802.11ac) standard. With 7 antennas, intelligent mesh technology, and 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the BT Smart Hub 2 provides excellent wireless coverage and high-speed connectivity, making it the best choice for BT's high-speed broadband plans.

How Do the Older BT Broadband Hubs Compare to the Latest Model?

The BT Home Hub 5 (2015) and BT Smart Hub (2010) are older models that also support WiFi 5, but they lack the advanced features of the BT Smart Hub 2, such as intelligent mesh technology and 4G backup.

The BT Home Hub 4 (2013) and BT Home Hub 3 (2011) are legacy routers supporting the older WiFi 4 (802.11n) standard. The BT Home Hub 3 only operates on a single 2.4GHz band, while the other models offer dual-band connectivity.

What Sets the BT Smart Hub 2 Apart from Previous Generations?

The BT Smart Hub 2 stands out for its intelligent mesh technology, which helps to improve wireless coverage and performance throughout your home. It also offers enhanced security features, including WPA2 encryption, and the unique BT Assure 4G backup feature, ensuring you stay connected even if your broadband connection fails.

Additionally, the BT Smart Hub 2 is the only model specifically designed for use with all current BT Broadband plans, while the older models are considered legacy devices.

What Are the Differences Between BT TV Boxes?

BT offers various TV boxes to suit different viewing preferences and needs. Here's a comparison table highlighting the key features and specifications of the BT TV boxes:

Feature EE TV Box Pro BT TV Box Pro BT YouView+ Box
Release Year 2023 2021 -
Type Set-top box Set-top box Set-top box
Storage 1TB 1TB Up to 600 hours
Tuners 4 4 -
4K Support Yes Yes No
HDR Support Yes Yes No
Voice Control No No No
Apps Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, etc. Netflix, Prime Video, NOW, etc. Limited apps
Recording Yes Yes Yes
Connectivity HDMI, Ethernet, Wireless HDMI, Ethernet, Wireless HDMI, Ethernet
Remote Standard Standard Standard
Wireless Yes Yes No

Which BT TV Box Is Best for 4K and HDR Content?

If you're looking for the best viewing experience with 4K and HDR support, the EE TV Box Pro and BT TV Box Pro are the top choices. These boxes support 4K resolution and HDR formats, ensuring stunning picture quality with compatible content and displays. The older BT YouView+ Box does not offer 4K or HDR support.

How Do the Storage and Recording Capabilities Differ Among BT TV Boxes?

The EE TV Box Pro and BT TV Box Pro come with a generous 1TB of built-in storage, allowing you to record and store a large amount of content directly on the device. The BT YouView+ Box offers up to 600 hours of storage for recording, which is still substantial but less than the newer models.

What Are the Differences in Connectivity and Wireless Features?

All the BT TV boxes offer HDMI and Ethernet connectivity, ensuring easy connection to your TV and home network. The EE TV Box Pro and BT TV Box Pro also support wireless connectivity, allowing for a wire-free setup and more flexibility in placement. The older BT YouView+ Box does not have wireless capabilities.

Which BT TV Box Is Best for Streaming Apps?

The EE TV Box Pro and BT TV Box Pro offer access to a wide range of popular streaming apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, and NOW. This allows you to enjoy a variety of on-demand content alongside your BT TV subscription. The BT YouView+ Box has limited app availability compared to the newer models.

  • Name: BT
  • Legal Name: BT PLC (Public Limited Company)
  • Operated in Regions: UK & Ireland, Asia, Middle East & Africa, Europe, Americas
  • Plans offer: Broadband, TV, Landline, Mobile, and Sport
  • IPv6 Support: Yes
  • Ofcom Code of Practice: Yes
  • Relocation Support: Yes
  • BT Customer Service Number: 0800 917 0510
  • BT Complaint Number: 0800 800 150
  • Overall Satisfaction according to Ofcom: 80%
  • Customer reviews: 16404 Trustpilot

Looking for something else?

Broadband Guides

4000+ reviews