How to get broadband with no upfront cost
Looking for broadband with no upfront costs or setup fees? Want to minimise the cost of broadband? We’re here to help!
Although the monthly fee will be the main thing to focus on when choosing a broadband deal, finding a package with a £0 setup fee is a great way to start off a new contract. Here, we’ll answer any questions you might have about broadband with no setup fees.
What kind of upfront fees could I have to pay?
There are several types of upfront fees you'll find when buying a broadband package. To help you compare deals and avoid any surprises, Broadband Genie bundles them into one. But if we break it down, upfront fees can include:
Broadband set-up or activation fees
You’ll find providers use both of these terms, but they essentially mean the same thing. Set-up or activation fees cover the costs of signing you up. That includes the activation of a broadband service and the provider’s administrative expenses.
Broadband installation costs
An installation charge can apply if you need an engineer to install a new phone, fibre, or cable line.
There’s often no cost for phone lines because many homes already have at least one, relevant active line. So, it's simply a case of switching to a new provider.
If you have home phone, and you’re already making calls or using broadband, you won't need to pay, so long as you’re not moving to a different network (going from BT to Virgin Media, for example).
If you don't already have a phone line, you’ll usually have to pay an additional fee to have this fitted. There can also be a charge to have an inactive line switched back on.
The cost varies widely depending on the provider, from as little as £20 to more than £100.
It's important to note this charge can still apply even if the broadband package has free setup.
It’s more likely an engineer will be needed if you choose a broadband provider that doesn’t use the BT Openreach phone line network. For example, smaller alternative network providers (altnets) use their own lines, which will need installing on set-up.
On the upside, you’ll find many of these providers have special offers with free setup where you can get a new connection for free, even if they have to install a new line and socket.
Router delivery
Some providers charge a small fee for delivering the Wi-Fi router (usually in the region of £5-£10).
TV box delivery
Like the router, there may also be a fee for the delivery of a TV box. Sometimes, there’s a small charge toward the cost of the box.
First month's payment
Providers may ask for the first month's payment when you sign up — so not an extra cost, but a further potential upfront payment.
Which broadband providers offer deals with no set-up fees?
The following providers frequently offer broadband with free setup:
- Plusnet
You won't pay setup fees with Plusnet broadband unless you require a new phone line, in which case there's a charge of around £50. - TalkTalk
TalkTalk deals are often available with free setup. - Vodafone
There’s no charge for either broadband or a new phone line with Vodafone fibre. - Fibrely
There are no set up fees on any Fibrely broadband deals. - Rebel Internet
Set-up fees are waived for 12-month broadband contracts with Rebel
Here are some other providers that regularly offer no set-up fees as part of a limited time deal:
- BT does cut its setup fees from time to time. More often, you'll find BT offering free gifts such as Amazon gift vouchers and reward cards.
- Sky Broadband often provides free set-up on its fast fibre packages.
- NOW usually has a small upfront cost, but this is sometimes waived as part of a promotion
- Virgin Media regular offers free setup for its broadband packages.
Here's the best way to set up internet with no upfront cost:
As with any type of broadband deal, those with no upfront costs have certain things to look for when buying:
- Unlimited broadband. We always recommend unlimited broadband. In fact, many of the deals we list will be truly unlimited with no restrictions at all.
- Average download speed. A cheap fibre deal with a superfast speed of around 35Mb is our recommended minimum for any home. Ultrafast / full fibre is a better option for busier homes or if you tend to have multiple devices online at any one time.
ADSL/standard broadband can be suitable for a single person who doesn’t use the internet much. But it’s increasingly outdated. Broadband delivered over traditional telephones lines is in the process of getting phased out. You may find special promos with no set-up fees on full fibre deals as providers encourage customers to upgrade.
For more help on this topic, you can read our ‘easy guide to broadband speeds’.
- Contract length. A longer contract is often a good option, as these deals usually have the lowest setup costs and monthly fees. Alternatively, a shorter contract means you can switch sooner — perhaps saving even more. Just watch out for very short-term deals! Anything less than a 12-month contract will probably have a high setup cost.
When it comes to value, there are a few things you should also consider when thinking about upfront costs.
- Line installation. Is there already an active line or network box at your property? It would probably be cheaper to go with a provider that will use this rather than installing new equipment.
- Monthly charge. Often, the key to a great value deal is simply the amount you're paying each month. Again, even if you're looking for broadband with free setup, you may want to accept a small upfront fee if the deal offers a low monthly price. This could save you money in the long run.
- Rewards. Free gifts such as vouchers, reward cards, or pre-paid Mastercards can be crucial when looking for the cheapest deal. It can often be worth sacrificing free installation for an amazing reward.
Can I get a broadband and landline phone deal with no activation fee?
Yes! A broadband and phone deal won’t usually cost any more in set-up fees than the equivalent package without calls. Even if you’re signing up to a deal with anytime calls or free weekend calls.
Use our price comparison filters to quickly locate deals with calls included.
Can I get a broadband and TV deal with no installation fee?
Broadband and TV packages are more likely to have set up fees than other deals because the providers usually charge for the TV box. But that doesn't mean you can't get them.
Some options for broadband and TV with free setup include:
- EE TV (the new name for BT TV)
BT typically charges upfront for its EE TV box, but will occasionally have special offers where it removes the set-up fee for broadband and TV bundles. - TalkTalk TV
Some TalkTalk TV and broadband bundles don't have a set-up fee. But these tend to include a basic TalkTalk TV box, which won't be able to record. If you want the ability to record live TV, you’ll need to ask for a more advanced TalkTalk TV box. These often require an upfront cost, as well as an additional monthly fee. - Virgin Media TV
Like BT, Virgin Media usually charges for TV bundles but will waive the setup fee as a special offer.
Pros and cons of free set-up broadband
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What happened to free broadband deals?
We sometimes get people coming to this page looking for free broadband deals. Unfortunately, they don't exist.
In the past, you might have seen offers such as 'free broadband for the first six months’. But the catch with these was that you still had to pay for phone line rental. So, these services weren't completely free of charge.
Due to Ofcom regulations, providers are no longer allowed to split the cost of phone and broadband. That's put an end to these sorts of special offers.
That doesn't mean you can't still get a similar deal. Many cheap broadband packages cost a comparable amount to the old "free" broadband deals when you take line rental into account.
Frequently asked questions about broadband with free setup
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Will I get a router with free installation broadband deals?
Almost all broadband deals come with a free router, and that includes deals with free setup.
If there’s a cost for the equipment, we will include it in the setup costs section on our comparison table and mention it in the offer details.
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Can I get broadband with free installation if I have bad credit?
Broadband contracts for new customers with no set-up fee and no credit check are available from Plusnet.
It’s still worth trying the biggest providers, too, as broadband credit checks are generally much less strict than going for a loan or credit card.
Another option would be a mobile home broadband deal with Three, EE, or Vodafone. These packages don't generally require a credit check.
Read our guide to broadband without a credit check for further help.
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Can you get fibre broadband with no upfront fees?
Yes! Most of the providers we mentioned above offer fibre optic broadband without set-up fees. However, these tend to be on longer 18 month contracts or 24 month contracts.
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Can I get a broadband, phone and TV bundle with no upfront costs?
Yes, you can often get a broadband, phone and TV bundle with no upfront costs but typically as part of a new customer discount or special offer.
Some providers are content to provide broadband with no setup, but bundles can be more complex and require more setup. That increases costs for the provider, which they often pass on to customers.
You may find special offers, sales or seasonal discounts that include free setup, but it’s not typical.
There is always room for negotiation, though. Even if you’re buying online, you can often engage the provider direct through web chat and request they discount those upfront costs in return for you becoming a customer.
As new customers can be hard to come by right now, there is a lot of space to negotiate!
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Will I have to pay installation fees if I don't have a phone line?
If you don’t have a UK landline and the service requires it to operate, there will usually be an additional fee for line installation. But, there are sometimes special offers where they remove the fee.
If you want broadband without a phone line, then Virgin Media and BT provide this service to many homes around the UK. To see if this is available to you, you can pop your address or postcode into our deals checker.
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Will free setup cost more in the long run?
Broadband with no upfront cost is not always cheaper in the long run. It can be cheaper, but it’s important to check the monthly cost and the overall cost of the deal so you can compare.
Some providers will not charge an upfront fee but will instead include it in the monthly cost.
Others will offer free broadband setup as part of a special offer or deal, or offer a free gift or voucher worth more than the setup fee.
However, the cost of those ‘free’ gifts or incentives can often be rolled into the monthly fee. It’s well worth comparing carefully to make sure you’re getting the good deal you think you are!
While all that may sound complicated and seemingly impossible to decipher, we have made it as easy as possible.
Broadband Genie offers a cost comparison that shows you the effective monthly cost of a contract to help you decide which deal is best.
Enter your postcode into the checker, search for deals in your area and check the price.
Make sure to check both the monthly price and the total cost over the term to get a true comparison.
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Is no upfront cost broadband cheaper?
This is not always the case, there are many other factors you want to consider with broadband when you are looking at getting the cheapest broadband. See below for more.
Expert Summary
When looking for a new broadband deal, set-up costs are something that you have to bear in mind. Fortunately, there are lots of providers out there that offer free setup.
Upfront costs may still apply if you need a new line or other engineering work.
If you’re trying to save money and are worried about credit checks, we can also help you find a deal.
Overall, getting broadband doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money upfront. In fact, most deals won’t. It’s just about finding the cheapest deal that works for you.