Best and worst broadband providers 2026

Bad broadband is more than just a mild inconvenience. We know how important it is to have a reliable connection, good customer service and value for money – that's why we survey thousands of broadband customers across the UK to find out exactly what they think of their provider.

The best broadband companies offer great service at a great price. They provide a fast connection you can rely on, and are on hand to help when something goes wrong. But our broadband survey reveals that many providers still don't deliver on these essentials.

Our experts regularly round up the best broadband deals to ensure you get the best plan for your budget. 

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Best broadband: all the major suppliers rated

More than 5,000 customers took part in our latest survey, and several providers stood out for their speedy connections, impressive customer service and good-value packages – and their names might surprise you.

You can use our research to discover:

• the full results of our latest survey, with ratings for all the major providers including BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media
• a full breakdown of how each provider is rated for value for money, broadband speed, connection reliability, customer service, technical support and more
• individual overviews of each provider, exploring everything from the broadband deals on offer to their add-ons and whether they're worth paying for
• quotes from real customers on their experiences with their provider.

We’ll tell you exactly what you need to know about all the UK’s biggest broadband providers, and help you to avoid signing up for a deal you'll come to regret.

Log in or join Which? now to get instant access to the scores and recommendations below. Or compare broadband deals for free with Which?.

Broadband satisfaction survey results

The best broadband providers

Two companies this year were named Which? Recommended Providers - Zen Internet and Plusnet.

Zen Internet topped the rankings for the second year running. A whopping 98% of its customers told us they are satisfied with the provider, with one customer commenting that 'everything they do is quality without exception'. It has also maintained its commitment to fixed prices throughout customers’ minimum contract terms.

Plusnet also performed well, impressing in areas such as connection speed and reliability. While it's owned by the same company as BT and EE, Plusnet has been positioned as a simpler, more affordable provider than its stablemates and received high ratings for customer service, technical support and how easy it is to contact, with one customer saying 'compared to other providers I have subscribed to, Plusnet is much more reliable.'

Broadband providers that offer great value

Three providers didn't quite make the grade as Which? Recommended Providers, but we've recognised them as Great Value options that offer strong service and excellent prices.

Hyperoptic offers objectively affordable deals, plus its satisfied customers were some of the least likely to say they'd experienced very low speeds in the past year. A Hyperoptic customer told us it 'offers a great broadband service at a reasonable price point'.

Also well-rated, Community Fibre offers well-priced broadband deals to those based in London and a handful of areas in Surrey and Sussex. One Community Fibre customer told us 'I'm extremely happy with the price I pay, and I personally believe it is currently the best value for money provider.' 

Vodafone received decent ratings across the board - these, combined with its objectively competitive prices, make it a provider worth considering. One customer told us that Vodafone offers good connections 'and the price is fairly cheap, compared to its competitors'.

The UK's biggest providers

On the whole, the UK's biggest providers – the 'Big Four' – didn't fare nearly as well. TalkTalk and Virgin Media received the joint lowest scores among the Big Four, and shared penultimate spot in our overall rankings. Both earned mediocre ratings for connection reliability and customer service. One TalkTalk customer complained of 'zero customer service', while a Virgin Media customer felt they were 'constantly battling' to get a good deal.

BT was the top rated of the Big Four, but it still only managed joint-seventh place in our rankings. It received middling ratings for its customer service, connection reliability and speed, but its customers weren’t impressed in the value stakes. A BT customer told us 'everything about it just feels money hungry and like they don't actually care about their customers.'

Connection speed and reliability were the biggest gripes for Sky customers. One in three reported frequent connection dropouts and a quarter told us they often experienced problems with video calling - an essential for hybrid working. A Sky subscriber complained that it doesn't reward loyalty saying 'you constantly have to chase them up over and over.'

To make matters worse, three of the Big Four providers are also more expensive than average. BT, Sky and Virgin Media cost around £36 per month on average, compared with an overall average of £34 per month. Several smaller providers have average costs below £30 per month.

What makes a Which? Recommended Provider?

Which? Recommended Providers are the cream of the crop, and we only give the accolade to internet service providers (ISPs) that get a customer score of 70% or more.

That's not all. We know that price is important, so we only give the award to those broadband companies that we feel charge a reasonable price for their services. If they charge too much, they're not eligible to be Which? Recommended Providers, whatever score they get in our customer survey. They must also be signed up to two new schemes from Ofcom: its codes of practice and its automatic compensation scheme. 

The two are designed to ensure a fairer broadband market – the codes require providers to give customers clear indications of the speed they can expect and a minimum guaranteed speed. Automatic compensation ensures that those who experience poor service get money back when things go wrong, without having to chase it. Both exist, in part, thanks to campaigning by Which?, but they are also voluntary. We'll only endorse providers that have committed to both schemes.

What makes a Great Value broadband provider?

To earn our endorsement as a Great Value provider, broadband companies must offer broadband deals at a decent speed for a price that's cheaper than the market average.

We conduct a rigorous pricing analysis to look at the partial and full fibre deals on offer at the speeds required by most broadband customers. And we don't only focus on the headline price – we also look into upfront and setup costs, and factor in both introductory offers and price rises to check whether deals that might look attractive actually end up costing over the odds.

Eligible Great Value providers must also have a strong customer score – although we will consider those that aren't quite good enough to be Which? Recommended Providers.

Are you getting the broadband speed you're paying for? Our broadband speed test can help you find out.

Which? broadband survey results

We survey thousands of broadband, home phone and TV customers each year, so we can help you to choose the best service. In January 2026, we surveyed 5,235 broadband customers and asked them about their experiences. We report on all providers that have at least 50 respondents. Find out how we assess broadband providers to provide you with our expert verdict on the best and worst UK providers.

If you want a broadband package that also includes a pay-TV service, read our reviews of the best TV and broadband packages.