It’s got low prices, good customer service, and plenty of charming Yorkshire folk - but is Plusnet worth getting?
It can be tough to choose a broadband provider - it's an industry steeped in loads of complicated jargon, after all - but we're here to make it easy for you. Here's what we think of what Plusnet has to offer, down to the nitty-gritty.
Plusnet broadband review
Cost
Plusnet is one of the lowest priced broadband providers in the UK.
Cost-wise, you'll find Plusnet alongside the likes of TalkTalk and EE, and usually lower than BT, Sky, and Virgin Media. Deals and special offers regularly pop up across the board though, so that may not always be the case. Check and compare deals for your postcode to see what's cheap for you right now.
Either way, here's what prices for Plusnet look like currently:
- 66Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £25.99 per month
- £23.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 500Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £31.99 per month
- £29.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 900Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £39.99 per month
- £37.07 Avg. monthly cost
- 145Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £25.99 per month
- £23.91 Avg. monthly cost
- 300Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £28.99 per month
- 74Mb average* speed
- No TV channels
- £0.00 Setup costs
- 24 month contract
- £26.99 per month
*Average speeds are based on the download speeds of at least 50% of customers at peak time(8pm to 10pm). Speed can be affected by a range of technical and environmental factors. The speed you receive where you live may be lower than that listed above. You can check the estimated speed to your property prior to purchasing.
Speed
Plusnet broadband is available in a few speeds (average download speeds listed): 10Mbps (ADSL broadband), 66Mbps (fibre optic broadband), 74Mbps, 145Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps or 900Mbps (all full fibre broadband, or FTTP).
That's pretty standard – much the same as what's available from Sky, BT, TalkTalk, Vodafone and Now Broadband – but not quite the fastest on the market.
Providers like Virgin Media and offer gigabit (1Gbps, or 1,000Mbps) broadband in select locations.
Router
With Plusnet, you get a Hub Two router.
It’s basically a re-skinned version of an old BT Home Hub model – Plusnet tends to get hand-me-downs from its sibling company. Despite being a few years old, it’s got decent specs, and it’s more than good enough to handle fibre speeds.
The Wi-Fi works well, with dual-band AC wireless so that compatible gadgets can get a faster connection.
Again, you’ll get better from bigger names like BT, Sky, and Virgin. But for the price, Plusnet’s hardware isn’t to be sniffed at.
Customer service
Plusnet is renowned for its customer service, not just for its high quality but also for its fully UK-based call centres.
Ofcom reports consistently rate customers’ satisfaction with the service as above average, backing up the provider’s claims.
Plusnet home phone review
All Plusnet broadband is broadband-only, but you have the option to add a landline too if you want. Basic line rental gives you pay-as-you-go calls, but you can also add:
- Evening and weekend UK and mobile calls
- Unlimited UK and mobile calls
- 300 anytime minutes to international numbers
There’s nothing too complex here, especially as nothing beyond simple line rental is included as standard. And there are better options if you need a robust home phone package.
But it’s all fairly on par with other similar broadband providers – both in terms of what you get and what you’ll pay for it.
Plusnet TV review
Plusnet has sadly done away with its Plusnet TV service, which used to give you extra TV channels via a YouView box. It does have one thing up its sleeve for you to watch, though…
Extras
- Security - All its broadband packages come with Plusnet SafeGuard, which blocks dodgy website and gives you some parental controls; and you can add Plusnet Protect for virus protection on up to eight devices too.
- Refer a friend - Get a small discount on your monthly bill for each pal you introduce to Plusnet.
Pros and cons of choosing Plusnet broadband
Pros
- One of the cheapest broadband providers
- Good speeds, including full fibre broadband up to 900Mbps
- Choose between standard ADSL or fibre broadband, with decent speeds to suit many households
- Free router works well, especially the Hub Two
- Highly rated customer service, backed up by Ofcom data
- Widely available throughout the UK
Cons
- Not the fastest speeds on the market
- Not many extras – it’s just quite simple broadband
- The free router isn’t as good as those from some providers
- No longer offers TV packages
Our verdict
If you're after low-price broadband, Plusnet is one of the best providers out there.
Download speeds are akin to some of the more costly providers, customer support is excellent, and, according to Ofcom, its service garners very few complaints. And the ability to get BT Sport ain't bad either.
It's definitely missing a lot of the stuff you can get with other providers - like free public Wi-Fi, or the extra TV service a number of providers can offer. What you do get, though, is pretty decent.
