BT Broadband Alternatives UK (2026): Full Fibre From £23 a Month With £100 Switching Credit

Last updated: Saturday 24 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when BT or the providers below change their prices, and before the April 2027 price rises.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

As of 24 October 2026, the cheapest BT alternative we can send you to is Hey!Broadband’s Superfast 150 full fibre at £23 a month on a 24-month plan, with £100 bill credit when you switch using One Touch Switch. Over two years that comes to about £504 after the credit. Most other BT alternatives, such as EE, Plusnet, Sky and TalkTalk, use the same Openreach line as BT, so you get similar speeds for a different price, while Virgin Media and full fibre altnets run their own networks and can be faster. The catch is coverage: altnets like Hey!Broadband only reach some postcodes. This SwitchSquid guide splits BT alternatives by network, compares the full 24-month cost including price rises, and shows how to switch without a gap. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.

Sources: Hey!Broadband and BT broadband deals, checked on 24 October 2026.

What are the best alternatives to BT broadband?

The best alternative depends on which networks reach your home. Every UK address falls into one or more of three groups, and the group decides what you can actually buy.

1. Same Openreach line, different retailer. EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW sell broadband over the Openreach network, the same one BT uses. Speeds at your address will be broadly the same as BT’s; the differences are price, router, customer service and extras such as TV.

2. Virgin Media’s own network. Virgin Media runs a separate cable and fibre network that reaches a large share of UK homes. It offers gigabit speeds and some of the fastest download options in the country.

3. Full fibre altnets. Independent networks such as Hey!Broadband, Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Gigaclear, YouFibre, Quickline in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and Highland Broadband in Scotland build their own fibre. Many offer symmetrical speeds, where upload matches download, and often undercut BT, but each only covers certain areas.

One thing many people don’t realise: EE and Plusnet are both owned by BT Group. Moving to them still gets you a different price and package, but if you are leaving because of BT as a company, look at the other groups.

BT vs the alternatives: 24-month cost compared

Headline prices hide the yearly rises, so we have worked out what each deal costs over a full 24-month contract starting in November 2026. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has required providers to show mid-contract price rises in pounds and pence, which makes this sum possible. Prices were checked on the providers’ websites on 24 October 2026 for new customers.

How we worked out the totals: five months at the starting price (November 2026 to March 2027), twelve months at the 2027 price and seven months at the 2028 price, minus any bill credit. BT’s price and rises were checked on bt.com/broadband/deals on 24 October 2026. Hey!Broadband’s prices and £100 credit were checked on its homepage on 24 October 2026, when Gigafast 900 had dropped from £43 to £35 a month. Highland Broadband and Quickline details are from highlandbroadband.com and quickline.co.uk, checked on 24 October 2026.

What the numbers say: if 150Mbps is enough for your home, Hey!Broadband’s Superfast 150 costs about £416 less than BT Full Fibre 900 over two years: about £504 after the credit, against about £920. At 900Mbps Hey!Broadband is cheaper too, about £792 after the credit against about £920 for BT, and it gives you 900Mbps upload instead of 110Mbps. That matters if you back up photos, stream on Twitch or send large work files. Our what broadband speed do I need guide helps you choose a tier.

Is there anything cheaper than BT on the same line?

Usually, yes. Because EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW use the same Openreach full fibre or part-fibre lines, the speed you get at home is set by the line, not the brand. That means you can often pay less for the same speed by moving to a different retailer. Compare their prices on our Plusnet, EE, Sky and TalkTalk pages.

Check three things before you choose a same-line rival: the yearly price rise in pounds, whether the router is included, and whether the advertised price needs a TV or mobile bundle.

Which BT alternative is fastest?

For raw download speed, Virgin Media and the altnets lead. Virgin Media offers gigabit packages and above on its own network, and some altnets now sell 2Gbps or even 5Gbps plans; Highland Broadband lists a 5,000Mbps Ultimate package at £39.99 a month in Scotland. For upload speed, full fibre altnets usually win because many of them are symmetrical. Our upload speed guide explains why this matters more than most people think.

If Virgin Media reaches you, our Virgin Media comparison shows its current packages, and our Virgin Media alternatives guide covers the same question from the other side.

Can I leave BT before my contract ends?

You can, but BT will normally charge early termination fees for the months left on your contract. Check your end date in the My BT app or your account first. If you are within the last few weeks, it is usually cheaper to wait. Ofcom rules say BT must send you an end-of-contract notice between 10 and 40 days before your contract finishes, setting out what you will pay afterwards and its best deals.

Some alternatives help with exit fees. Quickline offers a Switching Reward once you have been connected for 14 days, Highland Broadband offers up to 12 months of switching credit, and Hey!Broadband says it can put together a bespoke deal to help cover exit fees if you call its sales team. Our BT leaving fees guide shows how the charges are worked out.

How to switch from BT without losing your connection

1. Check your postcode on the new provider’s site to confirm which speeds reach your address.

2. Find your BT contract end date so you know whether exit fees apply.

3. Order with the new provider and choose One Touch Switch at checkout. Your new provider contacts BT, sets the switch date and handles the cancellation. You don’t need to call BT first.

4. Keep your BT router until the new service is live, then return it if BT asks.

5. Watch for your final BT bill and check it stops on the switch date.

One Touch Switch works whether you are moving between Openreach providers, to Virgin Media or to an altnet. Our One Touch Switch guide covers the details, and if your contract is close to finishing, read broadband contract ending first.

Who should stay with BT?

BT still makes sense for some households. Its Full Fibre 900 price of £33.99 is competitive for 900Mbps download, it has a wide Openreach footprint, and existing customers sometimes get good re-contract offers. If you are happy with your service, use your end-of-contract notice to ask for the new-customer price before you leave. Our BT deals for existing customers guide shows what to ask for.

Who it suits

• Good fit for Hey!Broadband: you live in its coverage area and want symmetrical full fibre for less than BT, with £100 off for switching.

• Good fit for Highland Broadband or Quickline: you live in rural Scotland, or in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, and want full fibre with help towards BT’s exit fees.

• Good fit for an Openreach rival: you want the same line as BT at a lower price, or a TV bundle.

• Consider Virgin Media: you want the highest download speeds and it reaches your street.

• Consider staying with BT: it offers you a re-contract price close to the deals above.

Prefer to ask a few questions first? Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI assistant, can help you check which broadband deals reach your postcode.

Important conditions

• Hey!Broadband’s £100 bill credit is for 24-month contracts taken with One Touch Switch at checkout.

• Hey!Broadband, Highland Broadband and Quickline only cover certain areas; check your postcode.

• Prices rise each April by the pound amounts shown; 24-month totals assume a November 2026 start.

• Leaving BT before your minimum term ends usually means early termination fees.

• Prices were checked on 24 October 2026 for new customers and can change.

FAQ

What is the cheapest alternative to BT broadband?

Among the deals we can link to, Hey!Broadband’s Superfast 150 is the cheapest at £23 a month on a 24-month plan, with £100 bill credit when you switch using One Touch Switch, checked on 24 October 2026. It is only available in parts of London and the South, so check your postcode first.

Do other providers use BT’s lines?

Yes. EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and NOW all sell broadband over Openreach, the network BT also uses. Your speed is set by the line at your address, so you can often get the same speed for less from a different retailer.

Are EE and Plusnet part of BT?

Yes. Both EE and Plusnet are owned by BT Group. They sell their own packages at their own prices, but if you want to leave BT Group altogether, look at Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, Virgin Media or a full fibre altnet.

Is Virgin Media better than BT?

It depends on your priorities. Virgin Media runs its own network and offers higher top download speeds, while BT Full Fibre has a wider full fibre footprint and stronger upload speeds on some tiers. Compare the full 24-month cost, including price rises, at your postcode.

How long does it take to switch from BT?

It depends on whether a new line needs installing. Moving to another provider on the same Openreach line is usually quick, while Virgin Media and altnets normally need an installation visit, so allow a week or two for the appointment. With One Touch Switch, your new provider sets the date and BT’s service stops when the new one starts, so you shouldn’t be left without a connection.

Will I have to pay BT a leaving fee?

Only if you leave before your minimum term ends. BT charges early termination fees for the remaining months. Once your minimum term is over you can leave without a fee, and some providers, such as Quickline and Highland Broadband, offer rewards or credit to help with exit costs.

Can I keep my phone number if I leave BT?

Usually, yes. If you take a landline or digital voice service with your new provider, ask to port your number when you order. One Touch Switch can move your number at the same time as your broadband.

Our verdict

If Hey!Broadband reaches your home, its Superfast 150 plan at £23 a month with £100 switching credit is the best-value BT alternative we can link to, at about £504 over two years after the credit against about £920 for BT Full Fibre 900. If you need more speed, its symmetrical 400Mbps and 900Mbps plans compete well on upload. In rural Scotland, Highland Broadband’s Essential 150 is £24.99 with up to 12 months switching credit, and in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Quickline fixes your price for the whole contract. Elsewhere, compare the Openreach retailers, Virgin Media and your local altnet on the full 24-month price.