Plusnet broadband review - is Plusnet any good?
Plusnet is one of the UK’s largest and most popular broadband providers. Its focus on simple and budget-friendly packages has proved very popular with millions of Brits. This has been proved through numerous awards and high ratings it’s received over the years.
Read on for our verdict on what Plusnet does very well, as well as which parts of its service would likely be better served by other providers.
Plusnet broadband customer reviews 2025
A yearly broadband customer survey run by Uswitch asks customers to rate a number of different aspects of their provider’s service. Plusnet performed really well in many categories — with customer service, value for money, installation and reliability all highly rated.
In fact, Plusnet performed better than the vast majority of broadband providers in the survey, showing just how good the quality of their service is in the eyes of customers.
| Feature | Score | Avg 1-5 rating |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | Excellent | 4.19 |
| Customer service | Good | 3.89 |
| Value for money | Good | 3.96 |
| Internet speed | Very good | 4.08 |
| Reliability | Excellent | 4.19 |
| Home equipment | Excellent | 4.19 |
| Setup/Installation | Excellent | 4.29 |
| Communication | Good | 3.95 |
Note: these are weighted average scores from a 1-5 rating. To help determine which scores are considered positive or negative, we have defined all scores with the following:
- Excellent = 4.1+
- Very good = 4-4.1
- Good = 3.8-4
- Average = 3.6-3.8
- Below average = Less than 3.6
To view customer scores for all of the major UK providers, visit our Uswitch Broadband Customer Survey page.
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Plusnet broadband pros and cons
Pros
Among the cheapest broadband providers around
Broadband speeds are getting faster
Customer service is consistently highly rated
Widely available across the UK
Cons
No-frills packages may not be to everyone’s needs
Hardware is fairly basic
Communication between customer service and engineers could be better
Plusnet: Uswitch Award winner 2025
Plusnet won our coveted 'National Broadband Provider of the Year' in the 2025 Uswitch Telecoms Awards.
About Plusnet
Plusnet dates back to 1997 when it launched as a provider of dial-up internet. It proved to be so popular that its customer base had doubled by 2004, and it was acquired by BT in 2007.
With the development and rollout of fibre broadband, Plusnet was able to utilise BT’s Openreach network and launch its part-fibre service in 2012. This offered average speeds of up to 66Mbps, which at the time would have been a fast enough speed for almost every household in the country.
In 2022, Plusnet launched its first full fibre broadband deals, again using BT’s Openreach network to initially offer speeds between 100-500Mbps, and now up to 900Mbps. These speeds are becoming increasingly appealing to larger households with multiple internet users - especially if you're streaming in 4K, gaming online, or working from home.
Plusnet Fibre 66Mb broadband review
At the time of writing, I’m nearly nine months into my second renewal with Plusnet on its simply named 'Fibre' service - so I've decided to sign up with this provider three times.
While other products are on offer, including a small selection of faster full fibre packages, the 66Mbps average internet speed I receive from this package works well for me as someone living alone. Since there isn’t huge pressure on my connection from multiple devices using the internet at once, I don’t feel the need to pay for a faster speed than I need.
But what’s it like to use on a daily basis? From customer service and coverage to internet speeds and value for money, our review will help you decide if Plusnet is the right broadband provider for you and your household.
- £75 reward card
- National Broadband Provider of the Year
UK broadband coverage
Plusnet’s coverage of part-fibre connections like mine is, at 98%, practically nationwide. So customers should be able to get Plusnet unless they live in a rural area.
Its full fibre products are now also quite widely available, approaching three-quarters of UK properties. So while it's not available everywhere yet, you can check your address on our fibre broadband page to see if you can get its full fibre at your home.
Since Plusnet uses the nationwide Openreach network, its coverage is relatively similar to many other providers available in the UK. This means that the strength of its connection will most often rely on the quality of the Openreach line, rather than Plusnet’s broadband infrastructure itself.
However, there are many parts of your connection that Plusnet is still responsible for, so you should always report any outages you experience directly to its customer team, allowing the provider to identify the fault.
Plusnet internet speeds
Plusnet’s broadband speeds initially weren't the fastest on the market, as it took longer than some other large providers to roll out full fibre packages. However, it now offers speeds comparable to those of most brands, ranging from 900Mbps.
If you’re in a small household with relatively light internet use, Plusnet's slower deals under 100Mb will probably be sufficient. But if you’re in a large household where multiple people are likely to be using the internet for downloads and streaming at the same time, you may need to consider choosing a full fibre deal that's capable of ultrafast speeds.
I tested the speed of my connection at various points throughout my review and received an average of around 25Mbps. That doesn't sound like much, but it's classified as "fast", and is plenty for me when I’m only running a laptop, phone and a TV or games console.
Since I live alone, I almost never see a sluggish connection because only a couple of devices are being used at any one time. But larger families would definitely need faster speeds if multiple people used the internet as much as I do.
Plusnet full fibre deals on Uswitch
Plusnet now offers a range of broadband offers with differing download speeds:
- £145 reward card
- National Broadband Provider of the Year
- £145 reward card
- National Broadband Provider of the Year
- £145 reward card
- National Broadband Provider of the Year
Reliability
The connection of any internet provider will vary for different customers. Depending on the type of broadband connection you choose and the area you live in, you could enjoy a very consistent internet connection or be plagued by outages.
While providers work their hardest to ensure connection faults are fixed as soon as they’re noticed, some take longer to resolve issues than others. However, since Plusnet is part of the well-established Openreach network, its outages are pretty few and far between.
Fortunately, I haven’t suffered from any slow internet problems since I’ve been with Plusnet, and I can count on one hand the number of broadband connection issues and outages I’ve had.
It means I can trust Plusnet’s connection with everything I do online, especially on days when I work from home. Streaming is seamless, online gaming runs relatively flawlessly and downloads take just as long as I expect for the speed of my package.
I have no concerns about the reliability of Plusnet’s internet connection. I can trust it to work whenever I need it.
Plusnet customer service
I’ve had to contact Plusnet’s broadband customer service team on two separate occasions and both times they were as helpful as they could be, with any issues occurring with interactions with Openreach engineers.
My flat is a new build and had no connection to any broadband network when I joined Plusnet. This meant that an engineer had to access the flat as well as the cabinet on the street to connect it up. I wasn’t living in the flat at the time and unfortunately, engineer appointments are only available in two blocks, 8am to 1pm and 1pm to 6pm. And there’s no telling at what point they’ll actually arrive within that time.
Additionally, there was a mix-up as to when the engineer would arrive, which led to them arriving at a time when I wasn't in my flat. While the appointment was rearranged fairly smoothly, this led to a delay of about a month between signing up to Plusnet and actually being able to access the broadband. Unfortunately, at no point was I offered any compensation for the delayed start of my connection.
The issue seemed to be communication problems between Plusnet’s customer service system and the engineering appointment system. While it was eventually resolved, it did delay me moving into the flat because I couldn’t work from home without a broadband connection.
I had just renewed my contract with Plusnet and immediately had some short outages and connection problems, which I had not experienced at all over the previous 18 months. I booked an engineer appointment with Plusnet customer services, who arrived on time and diagnosed the problem (extra voltage on my line). The service has been completely fine since then.
Ultimately, Plusnet’s customer service has been efficient and as helpful as it can be. Judging by its great customer survey score, the majority of its customers are very happy with the support they get from the provider.
At the very least, it could work to improve its communication with the Openreach network that it relies on, so the provider can better monitor issues that its customers are facing.
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Plusnet equipment and installation
In terms of equipment, Plusnet provides a simple-to-install broadband router to customers - the Plusnet Hub Two.
The Hub Two has four Gigabit cable ports, in addition to two wireless antennas for 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connections. It also has a larger signal range, which makes it a better choice for larger households.
These routers aren’t as advanced as other routers, like the new Wi-Fi 6 router from Virgin Media, which has a much wider signal and can handle dozens of devices at the same time.
But at the speeds Plusnet offers, they’ll ensure a stable wireless connection. I haven’t had any router issues while I’ve had mine. The issues I’ve experienced have been more with the general connection rather than with the hardware itself. I live in a small flat so the signal comfortably reaches every room.
When it comes to installation and set-up, customers may need to pay an activation fee, which is sometimes waived as an introductory offer (it was for me). And there’s also an installation fee if you don’t have a phone line already up and running.
Activation generally takes about five days. But as mentioned above, it can sometimes take up to a month if you live in a new-build or hard-to-reach property.
Value for money
Plusnet’s monthly price is definitely worth the service I receive from it. Since I’m not looking for a jam-packed service with lots of additional features, Plusnet is very well-priced for my needs.
It keeps its monthly prices lower than many other providers by focusing on offering a seamless experience rather than lots of bells and whistles. Since all I really wanted was a strong internet connection and occasional access to TNT Sports, the relatively low monthly price was very convenient.
While I could enjoy many more features from larger providers, such as Virgin Media or Sky, the price difference isn’t really worth the additional cost those providers charge. So I find more value in Plusnet’s simplified offering.
Plusnet mid-contract price rise
Plusnet increased my broadband prices by 6.4% from 31 March 2025. That's a monthly increase of about £1.50 on my current contract.
This amount was in line with the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation announced in January 2025 (2.5%), plus an extra 3.9%. Plusnet states this policy in its T&Cs, and I was technically notified beforehand in a one-pager of costs when I signed up.
Although the inflation rate lower now, previous price increases were significantly higher because the inflation rate had reached as high as 10%. I'm disappointed that I wasn't informed of the actual price increase in actual pounds and pence, but thankfully, this has changed since I renewed my contract.
Plusnet customers who took out a new contract after 1 April 2024 are instead put on a flat rate for its mid-contract price rises. So next time I renew, I know what my next price will be.
However, rather than about £1.50, my new annual price increase is much higher at £3 per month. While it's helpful to know what it's going to be, it feels like a kick in the teeth to know it's going to be higher than it likely would have been if tied to inflation.
Our verdict: Should you choose Plusnet?
You should certainly consider Plusnet if you mainly care about getting a strong, reliable, simple broadband connection for a good price.
But if you’re a heavy internet user or you live in a big house with lots of devices on the go, you might be better suited to a provider that offers a wider range of services.
While the provider isn’t well-known for its internet speed, its packages will still offer plenty of speed for many households. And, at a time when everything costs more than it used to, the value offered here could be too good to turn down.
Plusnet is a great option for people who:
- Want to keep their monthly costs down
- Would like a hassle-free, simple service with good customer support
- Live in a small household with casual internet users
- Enjoy streaming movies and shows but not paying for top-end TV packages
The straightforward, no-frills packages may not appeal to those who have grown accustomed to expecting extras with their broadband. However, for those who want a consistent, fast, and good-value internet connection with excellent customer service, Plusnet is a fantastic option.
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