Find the Right Broadband Provider: A Guide to Smaller ISPs

There's been a big increase in the number of smaller broadband providers building their own fibre network or using the Openreach broadband network to provide a rival service. 

Sometimes, these providers offer much better prices and may also offer a more reliable connection and better customer service than you're used to. To help weigh up your options, we've listed a range of alternative broadband providers (also called 'alt-nets') below. All of these are available on the Which? broadband Compare tool, which makes it easy to search, switch and save. 

Read our guide to the best and worst broadband providers to see how your current provider measures up.

What to consider when choosing a smaller broadband provider

As with choosing any broadband provider, there are a few things to weigh up when deciding whether to switch. The providers below aren't part of our regular broadband survey, but here's a helpful list of what to consider.

• Some providers hike prices considerably when contracts end, so be wary of cheap prices for new customers.
• What’s availability like in your area? Plan ahead so you know what your options are to switch if prices rise at the end of a contract.
• What's the customer service like? It may be worth calling the provider in advance to discuss your options and get a sense of how helpful they are. 
• Providers vary in the range of broadband speeds they offer, so look for one that best suits your needs. Read our guide to broadband speed for some tips.

A Guide to Smaller ISPs

All of the providers below are available on the Which? broadband Compare tool, where you can weigh them up against rivals. Below, we explain the regions where the provider is available, what speeds they offer, details of typical contracts and a selection of the deals available from each provider. 

4th Utility (pockets of the UK)

4th Utility offers ultrafast broadband in a range of major UK cities, but it doesn't have full coverage in all of them. It's also available in pockets across England, Wales and Scotland. Its deals look enticing, but be aware that the prices for new customers are significantly lower than those for existing customers, so you may want to shop around when your contract ends to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere. 

• Speeds: 50 to 900Mbps
• Contract length: Monthly, 12 months, 24 months
• Price: Competitive for 24-month contracts – for example, 250Mbps broadband with an effective monthly price of £23. Introductory offers are competitive, particularly for the fastest speeds, but prices for existing customers are similar to other providers.
• Mid-contract price rises: Currently, 4th Utility reserves the right to increase prices mid-contract.

Be Fibre (northern England, the Midlands)

Be Fibre is building its own fibre network, which has pockets of coverage across much of northern England and the Midlands. This means it doesn't offer slower speeds, like other smaller providers that use the Openreach Broadband network. 

• Speeds: 150 to 900Mbps
• Contract length: Monthly, 12 months, 24 months
• Price: Prices for monthly contracts are competitive – for example, £30 for 150Mbps broadband on a monthly contract. Introductory offers are very competitive, particularly for the fastest speeds. Prices for existing customers are similar to other providers.
• Mid-contract price rises: Currently, CPI + 3.9% annually

Cuckoo (England, Scotland)

Cuckoo uses the CityFibre network to provide ultrafast broadband. Similar to many other smaller providers, Cuckoo only offers three broadband packages – 150Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps. However, unlike many smaller providers, Cuckoo doesn’t offer monthly rolling contracts. There is a £5 price increase if you opt for a 12-month contract over a 24-month contract.

• Speeds: 150 to 900Mbps
• Contract length: 12 months, 24 months
• Price: Competitive – for example, 150Mbps for £28. Cuckoo charges an extra £5 per month for 12-month contracts.
• Mid-contract price rises: Reserves the right to increase contract price or implement an ad-hoc charge. Does not provide specific details on potential price increase amounts.

iTalk telecom (United Kingdom)

iTalk is a smaller broadband provider that uses the Openreach network, making it accessible to most households in the UK. However, it doesn’t offer the fastest speeds you get from providers with their own fibre networks, and its broadband speeds can be particularly slow in rural areas.

• Speeds: 10 to 220Mbps
• Contract length: 24 months
• Price: Very expensive for faster speeds. Can have good offers for slower speeds – for example, 80Mbps for £25.99 per month.
• Mid-contract price rises: None

Lit Fibre (Midlands, South of England)

Lit Fibre offers ultrafast broadband in parts of Birmingham, Essex, London, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Suffolk. It does this by building its own fibre network. Lit Fibre doesn't implement mid-contract price rises, but be aware that the price of 1,000Mbps broadband for existing customers is almost double the introductory rate. 

• Speeds: 100 to 1,000Mbps
• Contract length: 18 months, 24 months
• Price: Similar to other smaller providers – for example, 100 Mbps for £28 per month. Prices for existing customers rise significantly for the fastest speeds.
• Mid-contract price rises: None

Rebel (United Kingdom)

Unlike regional broadband providers that generally build their own fibre network, Rebel uses the Openreach broadband network. This means that it is available to the majority of households nationwide. However, it is less likely to be available in rural areas. 

• Speeds: 115 to 1,000Mbps
• Contract length: Monthly, 12 months
• Price: More expensive than other smaller providers – for example, 115 Mbps for £35 per month 
• Mid-contract price rises: None

V4 Consumer (United Kingdom)

V4 Consumer is available in pockets across the UK. Be aware that it only offers 24-month contracts and its prices are more expensive than other smaller providers we have analysed. 

• Speeds: 31 to 950Mbps
• Contract length: 24 months
• Price: More expensive than other smaller providers – for example, 100Mbps for £34.99
• Mid-contract price rises: Currently, on 1 April each year, your monthly price increases by CPI + 5.9%

Youfibre (pockets of the UK)

Youfibre offers fibre broadband to almost 100 towns across the UK using its own fibre network. It offers among the fastest speeds we've seen for residential broadband, with packages going up to 7,000Mbps, and has excellent prices for new customers, especially at the faster speeds. However, it's unclear how much the prices increase for existing customers after the initial contract ends. 

• Speeds: 150 to 7,000Mbps
• Contract length: 1 Month, 18 months
• Price: Excellent – for example, 150Mbps for £23.99 per month 
• Mid-contract price rises: None

Zzoomm (pockets of England)

Zzoomm offers fibre broadband in small pockets across England through its own network. Its packages go up to faster speeds than some other smaller providers, reaching 2,000 Mbps. The majority of packages offer a £10 monthly discount for new customers. 

• Speeds: 150 to 2,000Mbps
• Contract length: 12 months
• Price: Competitive – for example, 150Mbps for £29.95
• Mid-contract price rises: Currently, it implements annual price rises of CPI + 3.9%

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