Copyright 2025 - Switch My Broadband - All Rights Reserved.
Menu
Find and compare the best broadband only deals from the best UK providers.
As one of the main types of broadband packages available to customers in the country, broadband only deals are growing in popularity. This means that it’s important to understand what’s on offer in this deal and know how to compare them best. To help you find the best one, Switch My Broadband compares some of the best broadband only deals in 2025.
Switch My Broadband makes broadband easier to understand by clearly detailing what these types of deals are, how they work, and if they’re the cheapest option for you. We also complete a deep look into each major provider to see if their broadband only deals are worth it.
Compare various options and use our guide to better understand broadband only deals to find out if they’re the right choice for you.
When using Switch My Broadband to select a new provider once your current contract is up, you’ll find that there are many different types of broadband packages that you can choose from.
There are comprehensive packages such as broadband, landline & TV packages that include all three of these services in one bill and contract. These deals are usually more expensive but give you a full suite of telecommunications and entertainment products.
You can also get broadband and mobile packages that allow you to pay on a single contract for your broadband speeds and mobile data.
However, you can get more stripped-down and simple packages for your broadband called broadband only deals. As the name suggests, these packages only supply you with a broadband connection and are actually becoming pretty popular in the modern era.
As society’s entertainment and communication habits change, more people are no longer finding their landlines useful because they have mobile phones. Plus, because of streaming platforms like Dinsey+ and Netflix, many people have grown disinterested in digital TV. As a result, to try to save money, people are cutting back to broadband only deals as they no longer require any additional fluff.
There are technically two types of broadband only packages: one where you still have a landline providing your broadband and one where you haven’t got a phone line at all.
Most broadband providers, like BT and Plusnet, need a phone line to be connected to your home to provide broadband. This is because electrical currents are sent through the copper wire in these landline cables to give you your speed.
This means that even if you choose broadband only deals with these providers, you may still have to pay line rental while sacrificing your ability to make calls on it. So, you’ll still technically have a landline but won’t be able to use it.
Other broadband providers, especially those that are fibre broadband only, like Virgin Broadband and Vodafone Broadband, can give you true broadband only deals that do not require a phone line. The catch is that you have to get fibre broadband, which uses an entirely different cable network, and can be more expensive as a result.
The cost of a broadband only deal will depend on each provider, meaning that this bare minimum service may not always be the cheapest option for you.
Because you need line rental to get broadband when using the standard type of broadband, broadband only deals are less common and aren’t as widely available. You’ll likely have to commit to a fibre broadband deal to get broadband only packages that do not include line rental. These offer faster speeds at an increased price, meaning that it might actually be cheaper to get a package with a landline and pay for the line rental fee.
For example, with Plusnet, you aren’t able to get a true broadband only deal because all of their packages, even their faster fibre ones, require a phone line to connect the broadband to your home.
However, with Virgin Broadband, you can get broadband only packages; however, you have to commit to fibre optic broadband, which is more expensive. This means that although Virgin Broadband offers a more basic and stripped-down broadband only deal with no extra features such as a landline, it may actually be more financially sensible to choose the Plusnet broadband & landline deal because it’s cheaper and gives you more.
Of course, when selecting the best broadband package for you, there will be a lot of other factors you need to consider. Use Switch My Broadband to compare broadband deals that are available online from all the major providers.
All major providers will offer you some form of broadband only deal. However, only some of these providers can provide ‘true’ broadband only packages that do not require line rental.
Here’s a look at all the major broadband providers available widely across the UK, with a quick evaluation of each of their offerings.
BT broadband requires a landline to deliver its service, meaning that their broadband only deals will need you to have an active phone line installed.
Despite that, BT’s broadband only package is still their cheapest option, costing less than packages that include an active phone line.
You can get a variety of different speeds from BT, including some fibre options if your property can connect to it.
Learn more about BT Broadband here on Switch My Broadband so see what package is right for you.
Sky is the leading provider of digital TV, meaning that a lot of their broadband deals include TV as a bundled option. Despite that, you can get broadband from Sky that doesn’t include digital TV.
However, much like BT, you’ll still need line rental for the broadband to be provided. Unlike BT, though, you do have the option to include a Sky Talk plan that will give you access to that landline for an added £5 a month.
Sky is one of the more expensive providers on the market and tries to push its fibre packages a lot. For an average speed of 36Mbps, you’ll pay around £30.50 for their standalone broadband.
Despite being expensive, if you’re interested in exploring their good value TV options, you can compare Sky Broadband here to see if there’s anything right for you.
To get broadband only deals from TalkTalk, you will need to get fibre broadband from them, offering speeds of around 36Mbps. For speeds less than that, you will have to include line rental and a landline.
Thankfully, TalkTalk fibre broadband isn’t too expensive, starting at £24 a month on an 18-month contract. With these fairly affordable prices, TalkTalk is a good option if you want broadband only contracts without having to get a landline installed in your home.
Compare TalkTalk broadband to find out more.
EE broadband is powered by BT, as they’re owned by the same company, meaning that EE’s broadband only deals require a phone line to be installed in your household.
In fact, a landline is so crucial for EE broadband that you must state if you have one or not when comparing their packages on their website.
Despite being powered by BT, EE’s broadband only packages are a bit more expensive, with their starting fibre broadband that gives you speeds of 36Mbps costing £31 a month.
EE only becomes a good value for money once you start bundling other services, such as mobile data. In fact, EE has one of the best mobile networks in the country, so if you’re interested in that kind of deal, you should compare EE broadband here.
Now is most well known for its on-demand TV service, and as a result of that, it likes to push broadband packages that include its digital TV options.
Despite this, you can get broadband only deals from Now, although they will include line-rental, which is the same as the previous providers.
Now can be a pretty cheap option as their fibre broadband starts at £22 a month, and you can also get their Brilliant Broadband, which offers speeds of around 10MBps, at just £18 a month.
Now Broadband contracts do require a £5 upfront payment, but you can typically get shorter contracts with Now, making them a good option for those that like to switch providers regularly to save money.
You can compare Now Broadband here to learn more.
Plusnet makes things simple by being a broadband only provider. This means you cannot get any other service bundled into their packages. This can make Plusnet a pretty cheap option for most people, especially as they can offer some pretty decent speeds at low prices.
Plusnet’s broadband only options do include line rental as they require this phone line to connect your broadband to your home. With that said, they’re still pretty cheap, which standard broadband starting at £18 a month with them.
Plusnet does have a reputation of being a bit slow and unreliable, but they have a great customer service team and are the provider of choice for low-demand internet users.
You can learn more and compare Plusnet Broadband options here.
Though the majority of broadband providers in the UK use Openreach, a network created and owned by BT; Virgin operates its own separate cable network. This means that to get Virgin broadband; you do not need a landline connected to your home, meaning that Virgin broadband can offer you true broadband only deals.
However, Virgin broadband is fibre only, meaning that you can’t get speeds under 36Mbps, so you’ll have to pay a bit more for Virgin Broadband.
Virgin’s slowest speed costs around £24 a month, which isn’t bad, but if you want to get some of their quicker options, you can easily end up paying over £40 a month.
You can learn more about Virgin Broadband and compare Virgin broadband deals here.
Like Virgin, Vodafone is a fibre-only network. However, despite this, they still need your home to be connected via a landline. This is because they provide FTTC fibre broadband. This is where instead of fibre being transported directly to your home, it’s sent to an on-street cabinet and then transferred via phone lines to your property.
What’s interesting about Vodafone is that they’re actually a pretty affordable option even though the minimum speed you can get is around 35Mbps.
To find the best Vodafone deal for you, you can compare Vodafone broadband here.
Although some broadband only deals can be more expensive than deals that include a landline, on the whole, broadband only deals are cheaper than other packages.
This means that broadband only deals are more affordable and better for those on a tight budget or for those that want to save money. As you’re only paying for broadband, these deals are perfect for individuals who don’t require digital TV because they stream online and are also good for those who use mobile instead of a landline to make calls.
They’re also pretty straightforward regarding how your bill is structured, as there are no extra services or clauses to complicate each monthly bill. For example, if you have a broadband only deal that has unlimited usage – which most do – then you’re going to have a consistent bill each month which can make budgeting easier.
However, if you have a bundled package that includes line rental and mobile data, your bills may vary each month depending on your usage. For example, you could make an international call and be charged extra for it or go over your mobile data cap and rack up extra fees. This can make the contract harder to track and budget for, demonstrating how broadband only deals are simpler.
Plus, there’s an added benefit that the majority of providers offering broadband only deals don’t cut you off from using your landline entirely. If you still need a landline to deliver your broadband to you, which will be the case for most, many providers will give you the option to use that landline on a pay-as-you-go basis. This means that broadband only deals can be pretty flexible and that you do have the option to use a landline where it is the most convent, such as when calling abroad or in an emergency.
Broadband only deals aren’t without their drawbacks, and they need to be considered when comparing packages on Switch My Broadband to determine if they’re right for you.
The main issue with broadband only deals is that you are getting a limited service. This means that you’re only getting broadband, so if you’re someone who’s looking for added extras to provide more value to your package, then you may want to instead consider a bundle.
Furthermore, to get true broadband only deals that don’t require a phone line, you will most likely need to get fibre broadband. Fibre gives you more speeds; however, it can be more expensive as a result. Plus, fibre broadband isn’t as widely available as the standard option that uses a landline, meaning that you may be in a location that can’t get it and thus needs to get a broadband only deal with line-rental.
Another negative about broadband only deals is that you don’t have a reliable phone option when you need it without a landline. Although most people are more than happy to use their mobile for calls, you could be left with no way to communicate if there’s a network problem. Plus, if there’s a prolonged power outage in your home which leaves you unable to charge your mobile device, you once again could be left without a means of communication. A landline will still operate in a power cut, making it a good thing to have in an emergency.
With broadband only deals, you can get many different speeds, ranging from slower ones best suited to a single-person household, and speeds that can handle pretty much anything a large family can throw at it.
The specific speeds that you can get will depend on the provider that you choose as well as your location. For example, you may not be able to obtain the top fibre speeds if you live in a rural area.
If you're getting a broadband only package that includes line rental because it needs a landline to supply you with broadband, then you can get speeds as low as 10MBps and as high as around 64Mbps.
If you're getting full fibre broadband only packages from the likes of Virgin Broadband, you may get some pretty fast speeds that can exceed 500Mbps.
Of course, do remember that broadband only packages are only cheaper when compared to their bundled counterparts. A broadband only package offering 64Mbps of speed will likely be more expensive than a broadband only package offering 11Mbps.
You should be able to get a broadband only package when getting fibre broadband for your home.
Unlike standard broadband, which requires an active phone line to transport your broadband data to you, fibre optic broadband uses different types of cables that have glass filaments within them instead of copper wires.
In fact, you're probably more likely to be able to get 'true' broadband only deals that don't require line rental when using fibre as a result of not needing a landline to receive your speeds.
Your existing landline connection will likely be disconnected when you get a broadband only deal. This means that if you currently have a phone number, you'll lose it.
You will no longer be able to make or receive calls on this landline, even emergency calls, and you won't even get a dial tone. This is the case even if your broadband only deal requires line rental to provide your speeds.
Any pre-existing alarms or services that were connected to your home phone service will also be disrupted and stopped.
If you decide at a later date to get a broadband package that includes a landline, you likely won't be able to get your old number back and will be allocated a new one.
If you're getting a broadband only package that requires line rental and if you already have a phone line, then to get set up, your provider will activate that line and send you a router to connect yourself. Connecting this router is as simple as plugging the correct wires into various ports.
If you haven't got a landline, an engineer will have to come to your property to install one. This may prolong your set-up experience, as you'll have to schedule a date for the engineer to come round. The phone line installation shouldn't take more than a few hours at most.
The process will be similar for those getting fibre broadband only deals. If you already have a fibre connection to your home, you'll just have to plug in a router. If not, an engineer will have to come round and install one that goes directly to your house.
Broadband and Wi-Fi are two terms that are often mistakenly used interchangeably, although they actually mean two different things.
Broadband is the method by which an internet connection is delivered to your home. Broadband is typically provided through electrical (standard) or optic (fibre) currents within cables that run underground throughout the country.
Once at your home, broadband needs a way to be transmitted to your devices. One method of doing this is through Wi-Fi. Being emitted from your broadband router, Wi-Fi uses radio frequencies and other signals to transfer data to all the devices that are connected to a network.
Wi-Fi isn't the only method of transporting broadband to your devices. You can also use a wired connection through an ethernet cable that can give your appliances a more reliable signal.
In short, broadband transports your data, and Wi-Fi allows your devices to connect to it.