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When looking for the best broadband deal you want to find the best price. Upfront costs, while a one-off, can make great deals less alluring for budget-conscious buyers.
Our expert team has listed everything you need to know about no upfront cost internet packages, from the providers that offer them to potential costs you may encounter.
You can find every type of broadband package without setup fees, including standard, fibre, full fibre and cable broadband.
Upfront costs will vary by provider; Virgin Media and Plusnet don’t have any setup fees, while BT and Three have setup fees for selected deals.
Generally, you are more likely to encounter no upfront cost internet deals when upgrading your connection. For example, switching from a standard package to full fibre broadband may require installation changes, which may incur setup fees.
Some providers will offer broadband with no upfront costs during promotional periods. Smaller providers often offer no upfront cost internet as an incentive to new customers.
Here are some of the potential upfront costs you may encounter when looking for a broadband package.
Generally speaking, larger broadband providers are more likely to charge upfront fees than smaller providers, although this is not always the case.
Some providers, such as BT and EE, offer no upfront cost broadband on selected deals. These packages are usually easier to install (depending on existing infrastructure), but can also be promoted during sales periods.
Our comparison journey is the best way to find no upfront cost broadband; simply enter your postcode and compare the upfront costs of your most desired deals to find the most affordable option.
We have looked at some of the biggest broadband providers to see if they offer no upfront cost internet. Below, you can see the upfront costs of each provider and any additional information to keep in mind when choosing a deal.
| Broadband provider | Do they have upfront costs?* | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperoptic | Yes | Upfront costs range from £19 to £39 |
| Community Fibre | Yes | A base charge of £14.95, but free during sales periods |
| EE | Yes | Selected deals have an upfront cost of £31.99 |
| Plusnet | No | No upfront costs on any deal |
| Vodafone | No | No upfront costs on any deal |
| BT | Yes | 24-month contracts have no upfront costs, 12-month deals charge up to £41.99 |
| Sky | Yes | £5 set up fee; new customers are refunded for this charge |
| Three | Yes | Three’s home broadband deals have no upfront costs, but some mobile broadband packages do |
| NOW | No | Free activation and delivery |
| TalkTalk | No | No upfront costs on any deal |
| Virgin Media | No | No upfront costs on any deal |
Before you commit to a broadband no upfront cost package, you must be aware of both the upsides and the pitfalls.
No, you don’t need a landline to get no upfront cost broadband deals – or any type of broadband service, for that matter. Some companies provide their broadband customers with landlines. But that practice is becoming less common because UK landlines are being turned off by the end of 2025, and digital phone lines will be used instead.
There is no way to legally obtain broadband services for free. But some low-income UK families are eligible for broadband social tariffs at reduced prices. The broadband that is provided usually doesn’t run at superfast or ultrafast speeds.
Yes, some of the best cheap broadband deals come with no setup fees. It’s worth noting that cheap broadband deals usually don’t include extras such as TV channel bundles or landline call packages.
The ease with which you can switch broadband providers and deals varies from company to company and partly depends on whether you have reached the end of your current contract.
Generally, it’s easier to switch between Openreach providers such as BT, TalkTalk, Sky and Plusnet.
