Highland Broadband Review (October 2026): 1Gbps for £34.99 With Up to 12 Months Switching Credit

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Is Highland Broadband any good? As of 26 October 2026, it is one of the best-value full fibre options in rural Scotland if it reaches your home: Family 1000 gives 1Gbps download and upload for £34.99 a month on a 24-month contract, shown against £79.99, with Whole Home WiFi, cyber security and parental controls included, and plans start at £24.99 for 150Mbps. New customers can get up to 12 months of Switching Credit to offset leaving fees and can cancel with £0 fees in the first 6 months. The catches are coverage, which is limited to parts of Argyll, Fife, the Highlands, the Lothians, Moray and Stirlingshire, and a £4 a month rise each April from 2027. Highland Broadband had a 4.7 out of 5 rating from 1,450 reviews on Trustpilot when we checked. This SwitchSquid review covers every plan, the real 24-month cost, how the Switching Credit works and how it compares with BT. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.

Sources: Highland Broadband packages and pricing, Highland Broadband Switching Credit, Highland Broadband on Trustpilot and ISPreview, 13 August 2026, checked on 26 October 2026.

Who is Highland Broadband?

Highland Broadband Networks Ltd, formerly known as Lothian Broadband, is an Edinburgh-based company that builds its own full fibre network in rural Scotland. ISPreview reports that it has backing of about £110 million from investors including the Scottish National Investment Bank, and that its network reaches around 150 towns and villages across Argyll, Fife, the Highlands, the Lothians, Moray and Stirlingshire.

Because it owns the cables, Highland Broadband is an altnet: an alternative to Openreach, whose lines carry BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Plusnet. That is why every plan has matching upload and download speeds, something most Openreach-based deals do not offer at the entry level. The network uses XGS-PON technology, which is capable of multi-gigabit speeds.

Highland Broadband plans and prices (October 2026)

All prices below were checked on Highland Broadband’s packages page on 26 October 2026. They are offers for new customers on a 24-month contract. The 24-month total assumes you start in November 2026 and includes the £4 rises in April 2027 and April 2028.

Each plan includes unlimited data, free premium installation (Highland values it at £50), 24/7 network monitoring and a 28-day cooling-off period. Essential 150 and Everyday 500 come with a Wi-Fi 6 router, and you can add the Whole Home WiFi Guarantee for £5 a month. Highland says that guarantee means at least 30Mbps of Wi-Fi in every room.

What the numbers say: Family 1000 is the standout. It costs £5 a month more than Everyday 500 but doubles the speed and adds Whole Home WiFi, which would otherwise cost £5 a month, plus security and parental controls. Over two years, Family 1000 costs about £120 more than Everyday 500. Ultimate 5000 at £39.99 is remarkable on paper, but most homes have no devices that can use more than 1Gbps.

How does the Switching Credit work?

Highland Broadband says that when you sign up for one of its packages on a 24-month contract, it can apply up to 12 months of Switching Credit to your account. The amount depends on the early termination charge you have to pay your current provider, and it is capped at the credit available for the package you choose. In practice, that means the credit covers your leaving fee rather than giving you a year free on top.

Highland also offers £0 cancellation fees for your first 6 months. That is unusual: if the service does not suit you, you can leave in the first half-year without paying the rest of the contract. Check the full terms on Highland’s switching page before you rely on it, and keep your old provider’s final bill. Our broadband contract ending guide explains how leaving fees are worked out.

What do Highland Broadband customers say?

On 26 October 2026, Highland Broadband’s Trustpilot page showed a TrustScore of 4.7 out of 5 from 1,450 reviews. Most positive reviews mention local engineers, quick installations and stable speeds. One detailed customer review on ISPreview from March 2025 praised the speed and reliability but said the router supplied on a top-tier plan limited wired speeds, and that connections use shared IP addresses (CGNAT) by default, with a static IPv4 address available for £2.99 a month.

That last point matters to a small group of people: gamers who need to open ports, or anyone running a home server or remote camera system. If that is you, ask about a static IP when you order.

Does Highland Broadband put prices up?

Yes. Each plan says its price “increases £4 each April from 2027”. That is the same £4 a year that BT and Plusnet add, and it means Family 1000 goes from £34.99 to £38.99 in April 2027 and £42.99 in April 2028. It is still clearly stated in pounds, so you can work out the full cost before you sign, as we have done in the table above.

If you want a provider that never raises prices mid-contract, Quickline does that in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, but it does not cover Scotland. Our Quickline review explains its fixed-price approach.

How Highland Broadband compares with BT

• BT Full Fibre 150: £23.99 a month on BT’s online offer when we checked on 26 October 2026, rising to £27.99 in March 2027 and £31.99 in March 2028, with up to £300 towards leaving fees applied as bill credit and £0 activation. That is about £688 over 24 months, close to Highland’s Essential 150, but BT’s upload is much slower than download.

• Coverage: BT is available almost everywhere Openreach reaches, including many Scottish villages where Highland has not built yet.

• Speed for the money: Highland’s 1Gbps symmetrical plan at £34.99 is hard for an Openreach-based deal to match.

Our BT broadband alternatives guide and best broadband deals this month page compare more providers.

What to check before you sign

1. Address coverage. Highland lists whole areas, but availability is property by property. Use the postcode checker.

2. Your current contract end date and the leaving fee, so you know how much Switching Credit to expect.

3. Moving plans. If you might move outside Highland’s area within two years, check what happens to your contract.

4. Landline needs. Highland sells a separate calls package if you need a home phone number.

5. The right speed. Our what broadband speed do I need guide helps you avoid paying for more than you use.

Switching is handled through One Touch Switch, so Highland arranges the move from your old provider. Our One Touch Switch guide explains each step, and our moving house broadband guide helps if you are moving into a Highland area.

Fit summary

• Good fit for Highland Broadband: you live in a Highland area in rural Scotland and want fast, symmetrical full fibre at a clear price.

• Best plan for most families: Family 1000 at £34.99 a month, with Whole Home WiFi and security included.

• Good fit if you are still in contract: up to 12 months of Switching Credit can offset your old provider’s leaving fee.

• Consider BT: Highland does not reach your property, or you want the widest coverage in Scotland.

Want help choosing a speed? Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI assistant, can suggest a plan based on how many people and devices you have at home.

Important conditions

• Offers and Switching Credit are for new customers on 24-month contracts only; prices were checked on 26 October 2026 and can change.

• Monthly prices rise by £4 each April from 2027.

• Switching Credit depends on your old provider’s early termination charge and is capped by package.

• Availability is property by property in parts of Argyll, Fife, the Highlands, the Lothians, Moray and Stirlingshire.

• The 28-day cooling-off period and £0 cancellation fees in the first 6 months are subject to Highland’s terms.

FAQ

Is Highland Broadband reliable?

Highland Broadband runs its own full fibre network to your home, with 24/7 monitoring. On 26 October 2026 its Trustpilot score was 4.7 out of 5 from 1,450 reviews. Read recent low-scoring reviews for your area too.

How much is Highland Broadband a month?

On 26 October 2026, plans cost £24.99 for 150Mbps, £29.99 for 500Mbps, £34.99 for 1Gbps and £39.99 for 5Gbps, all on 24-month contracts. Each price rises by £4 every April from 2027.

Where is Highland Broadband available?

Highland covers parts of Argyll, Fife, the Highlands, the Lothians, Moray and Stirlingshire, in around 150 towns and villages according to ISPreview. Check your exact address on Highland’s website.

Will Highland Broadband pay my exit fees?

Highland can apply up to 12 months of Switching Credit to your account when you take a 24-month contract. The amount depends on your old provider’s early termination charge and is capped by package.

Is the router included?

Yes. A Wi-Fi 6 router is included on the 150Mbps, 500Mbps and 1Gbps plans, and a Wi-Fi 7 router on Ultimate 5000. Whole Home WiFi is included on the 1Gbps and 5Gbps plans and costs £5 a month on the others.

Can I cancel Highland Broadband early?

Highland offers £0 cancellation fees for the first 6 months and a 28-day cooling-off period. After that, leaving early usually means early termination charges, so check the terms before you sign.

Final decision card

If Highland Broadband reaches your home, Family 1000 at £34.99 a month, about £944 over 24 months including the April rises, is one of the best-value 1Gbps deals in Scotland, with matching upload and Whole Home WiFi included. Smaller homes can start at £24.99 for 150Mbps. Check your address, line up your old provider’s leaving fee for the Switching Credit, and remember the £4 rise each April.