Broadband Only Deals in October, 2026

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 2026.

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 Disney+ 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. The traditional copper phone network (the PSTN) is being retired, with the switch-off due to complete by 31 January 2027: landline calls now run over the broadband connection as a digital voice service, and full-fibre and cable connections do not use a phone line at all.

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. Since September 2024, Ofcom requires providers to describe the technology behind a deal in plain terms: full-fibre (fibre all the way to your home, also called FTTP), part-fibre (fibre to a street cabinet, then copper to your home, also called FTTC), cable (Virgin Media's network) or copper (ADSL).

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.

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 convenient, 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 digital landline needs power and a working broadband connection, so unlike the old copper line it will not work in a power cut unless you have a battery back-up; Ofcom requires providers to offer a solution to customers who depend on their landline.

Ofcom now requires providers to describe the technology behind each deal in plain terms:

• Full-fibre (FTTP) – fibre all the way into your home. No phone line is involved.
• Part-fibre (FTTC) – fibre to a street cabinet, then the existing copper line to your home. Speeds depend on how far you are from the cabinet.
• Cable – Virgin Media's own network, which does not use Openreach lines.
• Copper (ADSL) – broadband over the phone line only. It is being withdrawn as the copper network is retired, with the switch-off due to complete by 31 January 2027.
• 4G/5G home broadband and satellite – alternatives where fixed lines are slow or unavailable.

Use the comparison on this page to see which connection types are available at your postcode.

The UK's traditional copper phone network is being retired, with the switch-off due to complete by 31 January 2027. New landline services are delivered as a digital voice service over your broadband connection, usually through a socket on the router, and full-fibre and cable connections do not use a phone line at all.

A digital landline needs power and a working broadband connection, so it will not work in a power cut without a battery back-up. If you rely on a landline, a telecare alarm or a monitored burglar alarm, tell your provider so they can offer a suitable solution.

Since 12 September 2024, every switch between UK broadband providers uses Ofcom's One Touch Switch process. You give your details to the new provider only. They contact your current provider, which must then send you important information about the switch, including any early termination charge, and once you confirm, they arrange the switch for the date you choose.

Your old provider is told by the new one, so you do not need to phone anyone to cancel. The process applies whichever networks the two providers use, and providers must keep any loss of service to a minimum.

Read more in our guide to switching broadband providers.

Many broadband contracts include a price rise part-way through. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom's rules require providers to show you, in pounds and pence and before you sign up, exactly how much your monthly price will rise and when. Inflation-linked rises (a percentage tied to CPI or RPI) are no longer allowed in new contracts.

When you compare deals, look at the full contract cost: the monthly price, any set-up fee, and the stated rise. The comparison on this page shows the terms for each deal.

Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for households that receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits. They are offered by many of the large providers, usually on a short or rolling contract without an early-exit fee, and switching to one should not involve a fee if you are already with that provider.

Eligibility, prices and speeds differ by provider, so check the provider's own social tariff page. Ofcom keeps a list of the tariffs available.

Alongside Openreach and Virgin Media, a number of alternative networks ("altnets") have built their own full-fibre networks in parts of the UK, and some larger providers also sell deals over those networks. Availability is street by street: enter your postcode in the comparison above to see every provider that can serve your address, and check our broadband deals by area pages for your town.

Where fixed-line speeds are poor, a 4G or 5G home broadband router uses the mobile network instead and can be set up without an engineer or a phone line. Performance depends on mobile signal strength at your address, and some plans carry data or fair-use limits, so check the provider's coverage checker before choosing one. These deals appear in the comparison alongside fixed-line packages when they are available at your postcode.