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By Julia Kukiewicz Staff Writer
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
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THERE is no doubt that the single most important factor we all look for in a broadband package is the price. After all, who doesn't want free broadband?
UK broadband providers have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to get into your wallet so follow our quick guide to cheap broadband and find out where to get the cheapest broadband package and how to avoid extra costs on the way.
What is cheap broadband?
Cheap broadband is the lowest-cost way to access the Internet.
If you need a no-frills way to get online, a budget broadband package offering the cheapest prices is for you.
But remember: the package price you see may not be an indication of the best cheap broadband. Factors like introductory prices and whether line rental needs to be paid or not can make a huge difference to what you land up paying at the end of the month.
What’s good about cheap broadband?
The best thing about cheap broadband is that it doesn’t cost you much - so long as you select your cheap broadband package carefully!
The problem is that many people pay too much money for broadband features they will never get the benefit of, or pay high costs for standard broadband services because they don’t want the hassle of switching.
A cheap broadband package gives you the most basic service, but in some instances you get a whole lot more than you'd expect.
What to look for when you compare cheap broadband
There are three basic things to look for when you shop for cheap broadband.
Do you have to take a home phone package?
The first thing you need to think about when comparing cheap broadband packages is whether or not you are willing to change your home phone supplier - either for line rental or simply for who you pay for your calls.
Many broadband providers only offer the best prices on their broadband packages to customers who also take out their phone call plan or complete phone package (i.e. with line rental as well).
Don’t get a home phone deal without reading the small print just to save money on your broadband though. It’ll only takes one huge phone bill to turn your cheap broadband into not-so cheap broadband.
What's more, if you currently use a call override provider (such as 18185.com) on your BT line, you may well not be able to use it on your new provider's line, which could land up eating into any savings you may have made from your cheap broadband deal.
So if you’re not willing to switch your home phone to get a cheaper monthly subscription price don’t worry. You can still get great, cheap broadband on its own.
Do you have to shell out for extras?
Secondly, look for extras that could cost you. For example, some broadband companies impose download limits on their packages and charge you if you go over them. If you download a lot the best way to keep your broadband cheap is to choose a package with unlimited downloads.
Other extras which could make your cheap broadband more expensive include having to pay for necessary hardware such as wireless boxes, installation fees and expensive help lines.
Could you save money by taking a bundle?
Finally, look out for special offers and bundles that could save you money. For example, Virgin Media is offering broadband, TV and phone for £20 a month.
Who offers cheap broadband?
There are currently 5 broadband providers offering a combined total of 8 broadband packages for less than £10 a month.
While TalkTalk offers the cheapest package price (£4.99), it is actually Tiscali with its £14.99 package which works out to be the best cheap broadband package as it includes your line rental cost.
The annual cost for this Tiscali broadband package is £179.88, while the annual cost after all intro prices have been taken out and line rental included is £185.88 a year.
With the TalkTalk package which narrowly comes in at second spot in the cheap broadband race, you have to sign up to a TalkTalk home phone package but line rental is just £10.50 a month, less than BT – so you’ve already saved yourself 50p a month - and the broadband itself starts at a tiny £4.99 a month.
 You can compare all Tiscali's broadband packages here
If you want to keep your home phone with BT then try O2 Broadband, Orange or Plusnet.
O2 mobile customers can get broadband for just £7.50 (Read O2 Standard review). After any introductory rate and including line rental you'll have to pay to BT, this will cost you £231 per year.
Orange offers broadband for just £6 a month for six months then £12 a month (Read Orange Starter review). Taking out the introductory rate and including line rental with BT, this will cost £285 a year.
Plusnet’s cheap broadband package is £9.99 a month (Read Plusnet review), or £260.88 a year when you include line rental.
If you don't have a home phone line or live in a cabled area and are willing to make the move to cable try Virgin Media’s M package. It’s just £9 a month for a year and then £17 after that (Read Virgin Media review). The annual cost for this from the second year onwards is £204.
Can I get cheap broadband?
Most of the cheapest broadband providers offer an ADSL connection, which means it comes through your BT telephone line – so if you have a telephone line, you’ll probably be able to get a low cost broadband package.
For a Virgin Media package you will need to live in a cabled area.
Always check your telephone number and postcode to see exactly which packages you’ll be able to receive when you compare cheap broadband packages on ChooseISP.co.uk. You can do this on our dedicated and highly accurate cheap broadband comparison page.
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