Broadband: Dial-up internet
Dial-up internet use in the UK is dwindling as broadband becomes increasingly popular. But if you can't get a decent broadband service, or don't want to commit to a contract, dial-up may be your only option.
How to choose a dial-up internet service
Most internet service providers (ISPs) focus on broadband in their advertising and marketing, so it can be tricky to find an ISP that still offers dial-up. Both BT and Virgin Media still offer dial-up, though you may need to call them for full details.
PAYG dial-up vs subscription dial-up internet
One benefit of dial-up internet is that most dial-up ISPs offer a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) dial-up option where you pay per minute for the amount of time you spend online. If you don't use the internet very much, this type of dial-up would suit you.
Charges are no more than a few pence per minute. Because there's no minimum fee, you don't pay a penny if you don't use the dial-up internet service. So PAYG dial-up internet can also be a useful back up for broadband users who want to be sure of being able to get online if their broadband service goes down.
If you want to spend lots of time online, for a fixed monthly fee, you can get a dial-up internet package offering capped or unlimited internet access, or unlimited internet access at certain times of the day.
Dial-up internet usage caps
Many subscription dial-up internet services place limits on their services to prevent people from staying online all of the time. These are often around 150 to 200 hours per month, though dial-up internet providers also apply daily limits.
Some dial-up ISPs charge less for services that are capped at a relatively low usage allowance, such as 60 hours per month. Many dial-up ISPs also time out after, say, 20 minutes of inactivity, or two hours of constant use. This means you have to dial up again for a new internet connection when this happens.
Dial-up internet speed
Waiting for web pages to download over a dial-up internet connection can be a constant frustration for internet surfers. There are several links in the chain that will affect the speed of your dial-up internet connection, but much of it is down to your ISP.
Even with the best dial-up ISP, you’ll face waits to download big files. To reduce these, consider upgrading to a home broadband internet connection.