Cheap Broadband Plans

Depending on what you want to do with your broadband, a very cheap plan might actually be amazing value. For example, if you spend most of your online time at home just browsing social media, reading emails and news and listening to music, you can save a lot by going for low-priced plans. However, if you’re thinking about watching Netflix, or streaming live sports on your big-screen TV, you’ll want to seriously think about moving up to a plan with a faster speed – in your case, the extra cost will be well worth it.

With data limits that are often very restrictive, cheaper broadband plans aren’t for everyone. If your regular internet usage involves anything that uses a reasonable amount of data – video, audio, even Skype calling can put a large dent in your monthly allowance – then you’ll want to be looking at plans that give you more freedom in that department. But if you’re just wanting to be able to get online to browse web sites, check emails, pay bills and do day-to-day stuff, there’s no point paying for unlimited downloads or speed packs. Whatever your budget, you can be online 24/7 for not very much money at all – you just need to think about the stuff you would want to do online and pick a plan that matches your needs.

The one “gotcha” you need to keep an eye out for is something that’s thankfully seen less and less in even the cheapest plans these days – excess usage charges. If you use more data than your monthly allowance, some providers will let you keep on downloading and uploading stuff (and remember, everything you do online involves both of those things) while charging you a hugely increased price. To avoid the nasty surprise of a huge bill at the end of the month, make sure that the provider you pick doesn’t do this. Instead, look for ones that slow your connection down when you go over your limit (sometimes called “shaping”). You’ll still have internet access, just a bit slower – but you won’t pay any extra.