Internet access doesn't have to cost you a penny!
If you’re on the hunt for a decent broadband deal, there are plenty of great deals on offer at the moment. And best of all, some of them offer a number of months where you don’t have to pay a single penny for the broadband access!
O2 Broadband
O2 offers two different packages, both of which offer the first three months absolutely free. According to O2, The All Rounder is best suited for people that download music and watch TV online, while The Works is best for movies and online gaming.
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
12 months |
20mb |
Unlimited* |
£23.53 connection fee |
Free for first three months, £12.50 a month for O2 customers, £17.50 for others |
£136.03 for O2 customers, £181.03 for others |
|
12 months |
20mb |
Unlimited* |
£23.53 connection fee |
Free for first three months, £21 a month for O2 customers, £26 a month for others |
£212.53 for O2 customers, £257.53 for others |
*Fair usage policy applies
Tesco Broadband
Tesco’s expansion into everyday life continues with its broadband proposition, with its Tesco Broadband Only package offering a whopping four months of completely free internet use, when you use the code 4MFCC-G. For avid Clubcard point collectors like me, there’s the added bonus of earning one point for every £1 you spend, as well as a bonus 1000 points just for taking out the deal.
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
12 months |
8mb |
Unlimited |
£40 set up fee |
Free for first four months, £18 per month thereafter |
£184 |
|
18 months |
8mb |
Unlimited |
n/a |
Free for first four months, £18 per month thereafter |
£144 |
BT
BT offers just the one package - BT Broadband and Anytime Call - boasting free internet use, in this case for the first three months. However, there is an added complication to consider – it’s not a standalone broadband package, but covers your landline too.
Here’s how the package works out:
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
Phone package |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
18 months |
20mb |
10GB |
Free anytime calls |
n/a |
Free for first three months, £16 thereafter |
£144 (not including line rental) |
In addition, if you go with this deal, you’ll benefit from a £25 Amazon gift voucher. But be warned, the deal is being withdrawn on 29th September so if it tickles your fancy, you’d better get a move on...
AOL Broadband
AOL offers one Broadband Only package, and it provides users with the first month absolutely free. After that, you’ll pay £5.31 for two months, and then £15.31 thereafter.
Here’s what you need to know about the deal:
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
18 months |
8mb |
10GB |
n/a |
Free first month, £5.31 in months two and three, £15.31 thereafter |
£148.41 |
As you can see, if you want completely free internet usage, your options are few and far between.
However, there are a few deals offering months of half price broadband which are also worth considering:
Sky
Sky offers half price broadband for a whopping six months for new customers on its Sky Broadband Unlimited package. Sadly, like the BT offer, the package is complicated a little by the fact that landline calls are included so you’ll need to take your existing landline deal into account when working out whether this represents an improvement.
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
Phone package |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
12 months |
20mb |
Unlimited |
Free evening and weekend calls |
n/a |
£5 for first six months, £10 thereafter |
£90 (excluding line rental) |
Plusnet
Plusnet has carved out a little niche for itself as one of the best value for money broadband providers in the UK. It has also been praised for its customer service in the past.
And two of its broadband and phone line packages are currently offering absolutely killer deals, with a whopping 12 months of half price broadband! Plusnet’s packages don’t actually come with an annual contract either, which makes the deals even better.
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
Phone package |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
n/a |
20mb |
10GB |
Free evening and weekend calls |
£4.99 |
£3.24 for first 12 months |
£43.87 (excludes line rental) |
|
n/a |
20mb |
10GB |
Free calls anytime |
£4.99 |
£6.74 for first 12 months |
£85.87 (excludes line rental) |
TalkTalk
TalkTalk currently offers two different broadband deals at half price for the first 12 months. However, the deals are being pulled on the 27th of September so you’ll need to move quickly to take advantage.
Again, the deals encompass both broadband and a landline phone offer:
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
Phone package |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
12 months |
24mb |
40GB |
Free evening and weekend calls |
n/a |
£3.25 for first 12 months |
£39 (excludes line rental) |
|
12 months |
24mb |
Unlimited |
Free calls anytime |
n/a |
£7.25 for first 12 months |
£87 (excludes line rental) |
Virgin Media
Virgin is currently offering six months of half price broadband, and a free installation, so long as you take a Virgin phone line. What’s more, taking them out online from broadbandchoices.co.uk will see you benefit from £30 off your bill in the first year.
Here are the relevant packages, taking that discount into account.
Package |
Contract length |
Speed |
Usage allowance |
Phone package |
One-off costs |
Monthly cost |
Total first-year cost |
18 months |
10mb |
Unlimited |
Free weekend calls |
n/a |
£6.75 for six months, £13.50 a month thereafter |
£91.50 (excludes line rental) |
|
18 months |
30mb |
Unlimited |
Free weekend calls |
n/a |
£9.25 for six months, £18.50 a month thereafter |
£136.50 (excludes line rental) |
|
18 months |
50mb |
Unlimited |
Free weekend calls |
n/a |
£12.50 for first six months, £25 a month thereafter |
£195 (excludes line rental) |
|
18 months |
100mb |
Unlimited |
Free weekend calls |
n/a |
£17.50 for first six months, £35 a month thereafter |
£285 (excludes line rental) |
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