Here's a quick summary of the key features when considering TalkTalk broadband.
Price from | £28 per month |
---|---|
Top download speed | 944Mbps |
Top upload speed | 91Mbps |
Contract length | 18 months |
Speed guarantee | No |
Ofcom compensation scheme | Yes (Openreach network only) |
The UK has one of the most competitive broadband markets in Europe, giving customers a wide variety of providers to choose from. TalkTalk is one of the better-known providers in the UK, along with big names like BT, Sky and Virgin Media. Here are some advantages to choosing TalkTalk:
Low prices – The main reason to consider TalkTalk is that it’s usually relatively cheap compared to many of its competitors, especially compared to BT. If you’re looking for the cheapest broadband prices or have a limited budget, TalkTalk is a great place to begin your search.
Fast, unlimited fibre and Full Fibre broadband – TalkTalk offers regular superfast Fibre averaging up to 67Mbps, and Full Fibre for those living somewhere they're lucky enough to get it of up to 944Mbps.
Bundle your services – TalkTalk gives you the option of building your broadband and TV package your way. Having the choice to add on certain features, called Boosts, means you’re not shelling out for channels you won’t watch. They also offer all the Sky Sports and Sky Cinema channels via NOW TV, so film nuts and sports fanatics can get their fill as well. TalkTalk has also recently upgraded its TV set-top box to a slim, sleek 4K-capable streaming deck called the TalkTalk TV Hub. Incredibly, you can get this for as little as £5 per month.
Easy to set up – Joining TalkTalk is easy, and once you’ve signed up, they aim to get everything up and running quickly. Your actual activation date will depend on whether your existing line can be used or if your service requires a new line installation. Once your line is ready, you just need to connect your router. Simply plug it in, switch it on and away you go.
Equipment – If TalkTalk can use your existing phone line, your activation date will be approximately 15 days after you placed your order. You'll receive your router in the post shortly before your services are due to be activated. For new line installations, your activation date will depend on the date you have chosen for your engineer visit. TalkTalk have their own powerful Wi-Fi Hub Black router for most broadband plans and the new Amazon eero 6 router as standard with their Future Fibre plan.
Customer service and support – TalkTalk’s online Service Centre allows users to run quick tests to check your current internet connection, find out if any incidents are affecting services in your local area, and to receive SMS text updates on service impacting incidents.
TalkTalk had been criticised for its customer service in recent years, with customers reporting badly informed call centre advisors and problems left unresolved for long periods. Recently, however, there has been considerable improvement. Ofcom's latest customer service report puts TalkTalk mid-table when it comes to number of complaints about its broadband service (less than half as many complaints as Virgin Media), and TalkTalk takes the number one spot for fewest complaints concerning its TV service.
TalkTalk prides itself on its community – an online forum that is free to join where customers can ask questions about anything and get answers from other members, as well as having the opportunity to join live Q&A sessions, receive service status updates and report scams. The community offers access to hundreds of help articles and the forum is accessible at any time all throughout the year. If you’re unable to find an answer, you can post your question to one of their thousands of active members day or night.
You can also get support with the My TalkTalk App, using their live chat or by phone.
Security – TalkTalk offers HomeSafe and KidSafe security and both are included with all of their broadband packages. HomeSafe is a family-friendly web filter for your home Wi-Fi, blocking inappropriate content (KidSafe), as well as sites that could harbour malware (Virus Alerts), for any device that’s connecting to it. It’s free, there’s nothing to download, and you just activate it in My Account. These services mean your youngsters can explore the connected world safely, giving you peace of mind.
All TalkTalk Wi-Fi Hubs automatically use WPA2 security settings, which is the safest, most secure wireless protection.
SuperSafe protects a specific device wherever it’s online, fighting viruses that try to infect your devices and securing your banking and shopping. It’s software you download onto any mobile, tablet or computer.
Availability – TalkTalk is available everywhere. However, TalkTalk’s Full Fibre packages, with up to 944Mbps are not available everywhere in the UK yet (about one in three households can get it).
We've matched TalkTalk's Fibre 35 broadband packages to similar deals from other broadband providers to show how TalkTalk compares.
Broadband package | Download speed | Upload speed | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|---|
TalkTalk Fibre 35 | 38Mbps | 9Mbps | £28 per month |
NOW | 0Mbps | 0Mbps | £0 per month |
Shell Energy Broadband | 0Mbps | 0Mbps | £0 per month |
Vodafone Fibre 1 Broadband | 38Mbps | 10Mbps | £26 per month |
Plusnet | 0Mbps | 0Mbps | £0 per month |
Sky Superfast 35 | 36Mbps | 9Mbps | £27 per month |
Virgin Media M125 Fibre Broadband | 132Mbps | 20Mbps | £26 per month |
BT Fibre 1 | 50Mbps | 9.5Mbps | £34.99 per month |
TalkTalk offers a range of broadband packages from fast fibre to budget standard broadband. Here's our comparison of the different packages:
Package | Download speed (average) |
Upload speed (average) |
Contract length | Monthly cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fast Broadband | 11Mbps | 1Mbps | 18 months | £29.95 per month |
Fibre 35 | 38Mbps | 9Mbps | 18 months | £28 per month |
Fibre 65 | 67Mbps | 17Mbps | 18 months | £28 per month |
Full Fibre 150 | 152Mbps | 30Mbps | 18 months | £29 per month |
Full Fibre 500 | 525Mbps | 72Mbps | 18 months | £39 per month |
Full Fibre 900 | 944Mbps | 110Mbps | 18 months | £49 per month |
If you’re looking to save even more money, bundling your services is a good way to go about it. There are potentially four separate services you can expect to see in a bundle, depending on what you choose.
TalkTalk offers fast broadband speeds and some good TV options. You can save money by grouping TV and broadband services together. All TalkTalk broadband packages, including bundles, come with a pay-as-you-go landline, but you can upgrade this to a free calling package of your choice at extra cost. All plans include Callsafe, TalkTalk’s free call screening service. It lets you pick up the phone with complete peace of mind every time. No scammers, no sales pitches, and no time wasted.
TalkTalk TV offers thousands of hours of the latest and best TV, yours to explore at the touch of a button. Browse more than 80 of the nation's favourite Freeview channels, with the option to add streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime and NOW TV, depending on what you like to watch.
TalkTalk used to offer their own TV Boosts so customers could customise their channels, but now they offer an alternative service with NOW TV where you can stream the latest Sky TV, movies and sport with no contract when you register for membership.
All TalkTalk broadband packages require a landline. If you don't have a suitable phone line, they'll arrange for an engineer to install one for you when you place your order. The details about your plan and activation date can be found in your welcome pack. You have the option to not use the landline, but there is no way around the installation of it.
Switching is easy and hassle-free with TalkTalk. Simply choose the deal that is best for you, TalkTalk will tell your current provider you're switching and take care of getting you connected.
TalkTalk broadband installation takes around two weeks from the time you sign up. It's recommended to wait until your service activation date before setting up your router, as you'll obviously have no service provision before then.
TalkTalk broadband contracts tend to be 18 months. If you're in the middle of the contract period you'll have to pay a cancellation fee for ending it early.
TalkTalk's best deals and offers are almost always reserved for new customers. If you're an existing customer and you want to stay with TalkTalk it might be worth haggling.
Compare more deals
We've picked the best broadband deals from TalkTalk for May 2024 to help you get the best deal on your broadband.
Call us today to chat about your package and requirements. Monday to Sunday 8am-8pm.
Yes, all of TalkTalk’s broadband packages include phone line rental. Even if you don’t need the line, ine is included with all packages on a pay as you go basis.
TalkTalk offers low prices, quick broadband speeds, phone and TV packages, with some good add-on options for different services. If you're on a budget or you just want to get the most for your money, TalkTalk is a great option.
TalkTalk no longer provides 12 month contracts on their broadband services. The minimum contract length for TalkTalk broadband is now 18 months.
TalkTalk offers fibre and Full Fibre broadband using the Openreach network, used by BT and other providers. That means advertised speeds are broadly in line with other providers.
TalkTalk broadband packages start from £28 per month. TalkTalk frequently offers price discounts and vouchers on its broadband packages. For the latest prices, see our comparison table.