Everyone from large households and businesses to avid gamers, tech enthusiasts, and streaming junkies crave one thing: seamless, high-speed internet without the frustration of buffering or slow load times.
However, broadband speed can vary significantly depending on your location and the service providers available in your area. Our postcode checker tool is designed to help you navigate these variations and find the fastest broadband deals tailored to your specific needs.
In this article, we uncover the fastest broadband plans in the UK and how to pick the best plan for you.
List of fastest broadband deals
What is the fastest broadband in the UK?
In the UK, the hunt for the fastest available internet typically ends at fibre broadband – a technology that delivers lightning-fast internet speeds through fibre-optic cables. Fibre broadband runs laps around traditional copper wire connections, providing unparalleled performance for everything from streaming and gaming to running a business.
The fastest broadband option currently available in the UK is full-fibre, also known as fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP). This technology offers speeds of up to 1 Gbps (gigabit per second) and beyond, making it the ideal choice for those seeking the ultimate in internet speed and reliability. Leading providers like BT, Virgin Media, and Hyperoptic are at the forefront of delivering exceptional fibre broadband deals and speeds to households and businesses across the country.
Which broadband provider is the fastest?
When it comes to the highly competitive UK broadband market, three providers stand out for offering the fastest speeds. Community Fibre leads with its Hyperfast plan, delivering a staggering 3000Mbps in London. Virgin Media follows with its Gig2 plan, offering speeds up to 2000Mbps. EE's Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps plan provides an impressive 1600Mbps, securing its place among the top contenders.
These providers set the benchmark for high-speed internet, catering to those who demand the very best in connectivity. But we’ll run down some other high-profile players as well:
| Provider | Plan | Average download |
| Community Fibre | Hyperfast | 3000Mbps (London) |
| Hyperoptic | Hyperfast | 1130Mbps |
| Virgin Media | Gig1 | 1130Mbps |
| Virgin Media | Gig2 | 2000Mbps |
| EE | Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps | 1600Mbps |
| TalkTalk | Full Fibre 900 | 944Mbps |
| Vodafone | Full Fibre 900 | 910Mbps |
| BT | Full Fibre 900 | 900Mbps |
What broadband speed do I need?
The best broadband speed for you depends on your needs.
For regular use, between 30-100Mbps is fine. This is enough for families planning on streaming multiple videos or games at the same time. It’s also good for downloading heavy files and reliable video conferences for remote workers.
For moderate use, we recommend 100-1000Mbps. This is ideal for large UK households and many businesses. With these speeds, you can stream in 4K and enjoy lightning-fast uploads.
The heaviest internet users need speeds of 1000Mbps and up. The fastest UK broadband is at this level and is only truly needed by tech enthusiasts, big businesses, and power users.
How much do the fastest broadband packages cost?
The cost of the fastest broadband packages in the UK varies by provider and speed. Community Fibre’s Hyperfast plan, offering 3000Mbps, is priced at £56 per month. Virgin Media’s Gig2 plan, delivering speeds up to 2000Mbps, costs around £80 per month, while EE’s Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps plan is available in the £70 per month range.
Other providers like BT, Vodafone, and Hyperoptic offer high-speed packages ranging from £30 to £60 per month, with speeds between 900Mbps and 1130Mbps. While these plans may not reach the top speeds of the leading packages, they still provide excellent performance for heavy internet users at a more moderate price.
To find the best fibre broadband deals and pricing tailored to your specific needs and location, use our postcode checker tool to compare options and secure the most advantageous plan.
What’s the fastest standard broadband?
The fastest standard broadband service, known as ADSL broadband, typically offers average speeds of around 10Mbps. Providers such as TalkTalk, Plusnet, and EE offer ADSL plans, which are widely available and suitable for basic internet activities like browsing and emailing.
However, with superfast fibre broadband now available across nearly the entire UK, offering speeds between 30 and 67Mbps on the cheap, opting for ADSL is often not the best choice. Fibre broadband provides a significantly faster and more reliable connection, making it ideal for streaming, gaming, and other data-intensive activities.
Moreover, the price difference between ADSL and fibre is minimal, meaning you can enjoy a much better internet experience for only a slightly higher cost.
What’s the difference between standard broadband and fibre?
Standard broadband, or ADSL, uses copper telephone lines to deliver internet, typically offering speeds around 10Mbps. It's sufficient for basic tasks like browsing and emailing but struggles with more demanding activities such as streaming and gaming.
In contrast, fibre broadband uses fibre-optic cables, providing significantly higher speeds and more reliable connections. Fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) offers speeds between 30 and 67Mbps, while fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) can deliver up to 1Gbps or more. This makes fibre ideal for households with multiple devices, high-definition streaming, online gaming, and remote work.
The key differences lie in speed, reliability, and performance. Fibre broadband is faster, more stable, and better suited to the modern demands of internet use.
What is the fastest broadband in my area?
To find the fastest broadband in your area, simply use our postcode checker tool. It's quick and easy: just enter your postcode into the bar, select your current provider, and click "Compare Deals."
This will instantly show you the fastest broadband options available, tailored to your location.
FAQ
What is the fastest broadband in the UK?
Hyperfast by Community Fibre is the fastest broadband plan in the UK. On average, it boasts an impressive 3000Mbps download speed. Unfortunately, this offer is only available in London. Luckily, Community Fibre has plenty of other high-speed offerings available in other UK cities.
Do I need the fastest broadband?
Whether or not you need the fastest broadband depends on your internet usage. If you regularly stream HD content, play online games, or work from home with multiple devices, faster broadband speeds can significantly enhance your experience. However, for basic browsing and emailing, slower speeds may do the trick.
Can I get fibre broadband in my area?
Fibre broadband availability varies by location. Use our postcode checker to see if fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) or fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) is available in your area. FTTC can offer speeds between 30-67Mbps, while FTTP can reach up to 1Gbps or more, providing faster and more reliable internet compared to standard broadband.
What's superfast broadband?
Superfast broadband refers to internet connections with speeds significantly higher than traditional ADSL broadband. Typically, superfast broadband includes fibre-optic technologies like FTTC and FTTP, offering speeds ranging from 30Mbps to 1Gbps or more. These speeds are ideal for demanding tasks such as HD streaming, online gaming, and large file downloads, providing a smoother and more responsive internet experience.
What is the fastest broadband possible?
The fastest broadband possible is 50Gbps. However, we’re only considering publicly available broadband in 2024. This 50Gbps broadband is offered by Ziply Fiber and is only available to some US residents. However, it’s highly unlikely you need more than 2Gbps, which is something the best UK broadband deals offer.
What is the average UK broadband speed?
Most UK residents have an average broadband speed of between 70 and 80Mbps. It’s important to remember that each year, the average speed rises as access to full fibre increases. If you live in a UK city with full fibre, the average speed is likely a lot higher.