Sky Broadband Alternatives UK: Full Fibre From £23

Last updated: Sunday 25 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: when Sky or the providers below change their prices, and before the April 2027 price rises.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd

What is the cheapest alternative to Sky broadband? As of 25 October 2026, the cheapest full fibre deal we can send you to is Hey!Broadband’s Superfast 150 at £23 a month on a 24-month plan, with £100 bill credit when you switch using One Touch Switch, against about £24 a month for Sky Full Fibre 150. Sky put its broadband prices up by £3 a month in April 2026, while Hey!Broadband rises by a set £2 each April and Quickline promises no mid-contract rises at all. The catch is coverage: altnets like Hey!Broadband, Quickline and Highland Broadband only reach some postcodes, so the best Sky alternative depends on where you live. This SwitchSquid guide compares the full 24-month cost of each option, explains how to leave Sky with or without exit fees, and shows how to switch without losing your connection. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.

Sources: Hey!Broadband, Sky Broadband and Choose.co.uk’s Sky price listing, checked on 25 October 2026.

Why are people leaving Sky broadband?

Most people who search for Sky alternatives fall into one of three groups. Some have just been told about a price rise. Others have reached the end of their minimum term and are now paying more than a new customer would. And some are simply curious whether a full fibre network that has arrived in their street is faster or cheaper.

The price rise point is the big one. According to Choose.co.uk’s Sky listing, Sky’s broadband prices went up by £3 a month for existing customers in April 2026, and Sky’s new-customer listings say prices may change during the minimum term. Ofcom has required providers to set out mid-contract price rises in pounds and pence since 17 January 2025, so whichever provider you choose, read the rise in your contract summary before you sign.

Sky also sells TV, and many households take the two together. If you have Sky TV, think about the bundle as a whole: leaving Sky broadband does not have to mean leaving Sky TV, because Sky Stream works over any decent broadband connection. Our Sky broadband comparison shows Sky’s current packages, and the Sky provider page covers its network and support.

What are the best alternatives to Sky broadband?

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. Sky mainly sells over Openreach, the same network as BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Vodafone. Speeds at your address will be broadly the same on any of them, so the differences are price, router and extras.

2. Virgin Media’s own cable and fibre network. A separate network with high download speeds in the areas it reaches. Our Virgin Media alternatives guide covers it from the other side.

3. Full fibre altnets. Independent builders such as Hey!Broadband in London and the South, Quickline in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and Highland Broadband in Scotland. Their plans are usually symmetrical, so upload matches download, which Sky’s Openreach plans don’t offer.

For each of these groups, the cheapest and most flexible deals we can link to today are below.

Sky 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. Prices were checked on 25 October 2026 for new customers. Sky’s prices are from Choose.co.uk’s listing, because sky.com only shows prices after a postcode check.

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. Quickline is the same price for all 24 months. For Sky we have assumed another £3 rise in April 2027 and April 2028, to match April 2026; Sky has not published a figure, so treat those two rows as estimates. Leaving-fee credits are not subtracted, because they only cover fees you actually pay. Hey!Broadband was checked on its deals page and homepage, BT on its affiliate offer page, Quickline on quickline.co.uk and Highland Broadband on highlandbroadband.com, all on 25 October 2026.

What the numbers say: at 150Mbps, Hey!Broadband costs about £150 less than Sky over two years and gives you 150Mbps upload instead of 27Mbps. Quickline’s 200Mbps plan comes in at about £600 with no rises at all. If your home is outside altnet areas, BT’s Full Fibre 150 at £23.99 through our link is a penny under Sky’s headline price and comes with up to £300 towards the fees for leaving Sky early.

Is BT or another Openreach provider cheaper than Sky?

Sometimes, and it depends on the deal. Because Sky, BT, EE, Plusnet and TalkTalk share the Openreach network, your speed is set by the line, not the brand. BT’s 150Mbps plan through our link starts at £23.99 against Sky’s £24, but it rises by £4 each March, so over two years it works out slightly dearer than our Sky estimate. Its real advantage is the up to £300 bill credit towards leaving fees, which matters if you are still in a Sky contract. Our BT broadband alternatives guide looks at the same choice from the BT side.

Which Sky alternative is fastest?

For upload speed, the altnets win comfortably. Sky’s Full Fibre 500 lists 60Mbps upload, while Hey!Broadband, Quickline and Highland Broadband all sell plans where upload matches download, up to 900Mbps, 2,300Mbps and 5,000Mbps respectively. That matters if you work from home, back up photos to the cloud or stream games. Our upload speed guide explains why, and what broadband speed do I need helps you avoid paying for speed you won’t use.

Can I leave Sky before my contract ends?

You can, but Sky will normally charge early termination fees for the months left on your minimum term. Check your end date in the My Sky app first. Ofcom rules say Sky must send 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.

There is one exception worth knowing. According to Choose.co.uk, Sky has typically let broadband-only customers cancel without a penalty after a price rise is announced, within a window set out in the notice, though this does not usually apply if you also have Sky TV. If you get a rise notice, read it carefully before you renew.

Several alternatives also help with exit fees. Quickline refunds eligible termination fees through its Switching Reward once you have been connected for 14 days and sent proof, Highland Broadband offers up to 12 months of Switching Credit on 24-month plans, and BT offers up to £300 as bill credit. Hey!Broadband says it can put together a bespoke deal to help with exit fees if you call its sales team. If you are close to the end of your term, read broadband contract ending first.

How to switch from Sky without losing your connection

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

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

3. Order with the new provider and choose One Touch Switch at checkout. The new provider contacts Sky, agrees the switch date and handles the cancellation, so you don’t need to call Sky first.

4. Keep Sky TV if you want it. Tell Sky you are keeping TV and only moving broadband, and check whether your TV price changes once it is no longer bundled.

5. Return your Sky router if asked. Sky’s hubs remain Sky’s property, so keep the box until the new service is live, then follow Sky’s returns instructions.

Our One Touch Switch guide covers the process in more detail.

Who should stay with Sky?

Sky still makes sense for some households. If you take Sky TV and broadband together, the bundle discount can outweigh a cheaper standalone broadband deal. Existing customers can also get good offers at renewal. Before you leave, use your end-of-contract notice to ask for the new-customer price, and compare it with the 24-month totals above. Our Sky deals for existing customers guide shows what to ask for.

Fit summary

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

• Good fit for Quickline: you are in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire and want a price that stays the same for the whole contract.

• Good fit for BT: altnets don’t reach you and you are still in a Sky contract, so the up to £300 leaving-fee credit matters.

• Consider Highland Broadband: you are in rural Scotland and want gigabit speeds with help covering your Sky exit fees.

• Consider staying with Sky: you take Sky TV and broadband together and Sky offers you a renewal 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.

• BT’s £23.99 price and up to £300 leaving-fee credit are on BT’s affiliate offer page for new customers; credit is applied to your BT bill.

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

• Sky’s future rises are estimates based on its April 2026 rise; Sky has not published its April 2027 figure.

• Prices were checked on 25 October 2026 for new customers and can change.

FAQ

What is the cheapest alternative to Sky 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 25 October 2026. It only covers parts of London and the South. Outside those areas, Quickline’s £24.99 plan with no mid-contract rises and BT’s £23.99 plan through our link are the next options to check.

How much did Sky broadband go up in April 2026?

Sky raised broadband prices by £3 a month for existing customers in April 2026, according to Choose.co.uk’s Sky listing. Sky’s new-customer listings say prices may change during the minimum term. Check your contract summary for the exact rise that applies to you.

Can I keep Sky TV if I change broadband provider?

Yes. Sky TV via Sky Stream works over any reliable broadband connection, so you can move your broadband and keep TV. Your TV price may change if you lose a bundle discount, so ask Sky before you switch.

Will I have to pay Sky an exit fee?

Only if you leave before your minimum term ends, in which case Sky charges early termination fees for the remaining months. Some providers help with this: BT offers up to £300 bill credit, Quickline refunds eligible fees through its Switching Reward and Highland Broadband offers up to 12 months of Switching Credit.

Do I need to tell Sky I am leaving?

No, not for broadband. With One Touch Switch, your new provider contacts Sky and arranges the switch date. If you are keeping Sky TV, contact Sky to confirm that only broadband is moving.

Is Quickline cheaper than Sky over two years?

For many homes, yes. Quickline’s Full Fibre 200 costs £24.99 a month with no mid-contract rises, about £600 over 24 months, while Sky Full Fibre 150 comes to about £654 if Sky repeats a £3 rise each April. Quickline only covers parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, so check your postcode first.

How long does it take to switch from Sky?

Moving to another provider on the same Openreach line is usually the quickest option, because the line is already there. Altnets and Virgin Media normally need an installation visit, so allow time for the appointment. With One Touch Switch, Sky’s service runs until the new one starts, so you shouldn’t be left offline.

Final decision card

If Hey!Broadband reaches your home, its Superfast 150 plan at £23 a month with £100 switching credit is the best-value Sky alternative we can link to, at about £150 less than Sky over two years with more than five times the upload speed. In Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Quickline gives you a fixed price for the whole contract. Everywhere else, compare BT’s £23.99 offer with up to £300 towards leaving fees against Sky’s renewal price before you decide.