Plusnet vs. Sky Broadband - Which is Better

Choosing Between Plusnet and Sky

If you compare Plusnet and Sky Broadband, there are really only a few key differences that stand out that essential to your decision. These are:

1. Speed and Pricing

Plusnet offers a broad range of full fibre packages. Speeds range from 74 Mbps on ADSL to 900 Mbps Full Fibre. Their pricing is competitive, with the Full Fibre 74 package starting at £24.99/month, and the highest-tier Full Fibre 900 package at £41.99/month.

In comparison, Sky’s broadband speeds range from a relatively slow 36Mbps on their so-called Superfast 35 plan to a fast 900Mbps on the Gigafast plan. Sky’s pricing varies, with promotional offers often reducing the initial monthly cost, such as the Ultrafast plan (145 Mbps) currently priced at £29/month, down from £38 last month.

2. Contracts & Extras

Like its parent company, BT, Plusnet’s deals typically come with a 24-month contract and include reward cards for some packages. Plusnet focuses on straightforward, budget-friendly broadband services without phone line (broadband only) requirements for their Full Fibre packages.

Sky, on the other hand, offers its packages on 18-month contracts, providing more flexibility. Their plans often include extras like the Wall-to-Wall WiFi Guarantee.

3. Overall Offering

Plusnet, part of the BT Group, is known for its value-oriented services and customer-focused approach, making it a strong choice for budget-conscious users.

Sky, with its broader range of services including TV and mobile, appeals to customers looking for comprehensive packages from a single provider.

What’s Our Verdict?

If you want an affordable, fast and dependable deal – go with Plusnet. It’s part of the BT Group and operates on the same infrastructure. Plusnet differentiates on pricing with its simple, no-frills broadband services, while Sky offers a broader range of services and more flexible contract terms.

The choice between the two largely depends on your needs and preferences for speed, pricing, and additional services. For more detailed comparisons and current offerings, it’s recommended to visit Plusnet and Sky Broadband’s websites.

Overall Winner: Plusnet 🏆 – Dominating in affordability, Plusnet’s Full Fibre 74 package is £10 less than Sky’s Superfast 35, with double the speed. At the top end, Plusnet Full Fibre 900, at an £35.99/month, significantly undercuts Sky’s equivalent. With competitive speeds, no download limits, and great customer service, Plusnet offers unbeatable value.

A Quick Comparison of Plusnet vs BT

Feature	Plusnet Broadband	Sky Broadband
ADSL Availability	Yes (10Mbps)	Yes
Fibre Speed Range	36-900Mbps	59-145Mbps
Unlimited Data	Yes	Yes
Upload Speed Range	10-50Mbps	16-19Mbps
Price Range (Monthly)	£18.99-£35.99	£25-£55
TV Options	No	Various Sky TV Packages
Home Phone Requirement	Optional	Optional
Router Options	Hub Zero, One, Two	Sky Hub, Sky Q Hub
Broadband Extras	Plusnet Perks	Sky Wi-Fi Guarantee, Sky Broadband Boost
Performance Rating	Varies by region	Varies by region
Customer Service	Good Ratings	Good Ratings
Security & Parental Controls	Basic	Advanced with Sky Broadband Shield
Sources: ISP Websites, Independent Reviews, User Feedback

Plusnet vs Sky on Affordability

Winner: Plusnet 🏆 – Plusnet beats Sky in terms of affordability, offering comparable broadband speeds at more cost-effective monthly rates. This is especially noticeable in their lower tier packages – Plusnet Full Fibre 74 (double the speed of Sky’s Superfast 35 and £10 less per month) and Full Fibre 145 Mbps (£24.99 vs. £29.00 for the same speed)

At the entry-level, Plusnet’s Full Fibre 36 package provides an average speed of 36Mbps at a monthly cost of £18.99. In contrast, Sky’s equivalent, the Superfast Broadband package with an average speed of 59Mbps, is priced at £25 per month. The difference in pricing is even more significant with higher-speed packages. For example, Plusnet’s premium Full Fibre 900 package, delivering an impressive average speed of 900Mbps, is priced at £35.99 monthly. Meanwhile, Sky’s Ultrafast Plus package, which offers average speeds of 145Mbps, costs significantly more at around £45 per month. These comparisons highlight that while Sky Broadband provides reliable services, Plusnet often emerges as the more economical choice, particularly in the realm of high-speed broadband options.

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TV Options

Winner: Sky Broadband 🏆 In the face-off for TV options between Plusnet and Sky Broadband, Sky takes the crown. Unlike Plusnet, which currently lacks a TV service offering, Sky Broadband provides an extensive range of TV packages. These include Sky Entertainment with over 300 channels, Sky Cinema’s plethora of movie channels, comprehensive sports coverage through Sky Sports, children’s programming via Sky Kids, and the combined offering of Sky Box Sets & Netflix.

TV Options Comparison

This diversity in TV options caters to a wide range of preferences, making Sky Broadband the go-to choice for customers seeking an integrated broadband and TV bundle experience.

Plusnet & BT Broadband - Detailed Feature Comparison Side-by-Side

Feature	Plusnet Broadband	Sky Broadband
ADSL Availability	Yes. Average speed 10Mbps	No ADSL, focuses on fibre
Superfast Fibre Availability	Yes. Average speed 66Mbps	Superfast 35: 36Mbps, Superfast: 61Mbps
Ultrafast Fibre Availability	Yes. Average speeds 74Mbps, 145Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps, 900Mbps	Full Fibre 100: 100Mbps, Ultrafast: 145Mbps, Ultrafast Plus: 500Mbps, Gigafast: 900Mbps
Download Limit	No. Service is truly unlimited	No. Service is truly unlimited
Upload Speeds	Full Fibre 74: 20 Mbps Full Fibre 145: 30 Mbps Full Fibre 300: 50 Mbps Full Fibre 500: 75 Mbps Full Fibre 900: 115 Mbps	Superfast 35: 8-9 Mbps Superfast: 19-21 Mbps Full Fibre 100: 18-19 Mbps Ultrafast: 29-31 Mbps Ultrafast Plus: 58-60 Mbps Gigafast: 85-100 Mbps
Package Prices	Full Fibre 74: £24.99/month Full Fibre 145: £26.99/month Full Fibre 300: £29.99/month Full Fibre 500: £31.99/month Full Fibre 900: £41.99/month	Superfast 35: £34.50/month Superfast: £28/month Full Fibre 100: £38/month Ultrafast: £29/month Ultrafast Plus: £33/month Gigafast: £42/month
TV Options	N/A	Various Sky TV packages available with channels across entertainment, sports, cinema, etc.
Home Phone Requirement	No	Optional
Router Quality	Hub Zero for ADSL; Hub One for fibre; Hub Two for advanced features	Sky Broadband Hub for all fibre services
Broadband Extras	Plusnet Perks; basic features	Wall to Wall WiFi Guarantee; WiFi in every room or money back
Customer Service	Strong ratings; known for good customer service	Comprehensive customer support with various contact options
Security and Parental Controls	Basic options available	Advanced options with Sky Broadband Shield and other features

Speed Comparison - BT vs. Plusnet

Winner: Plusnet 🏆 In the head-to-head comparison between Plusnet and Sky Broadband, Plusnet takes the top spot, particularly for its Full Fibre 900 package. Offering an average download speed of 900 Mbps and a substantial upload speed, Plusnet presents an enticing package for users looking for high-speed and reliable internet service. Its balance of competitive pricing and high-speed options positions Plusnet as a preferable choice for users prioritizing both value and performance.

Download and Upload Speeds

Plusnet and Sky Broadband offer closely matched high-speed broadband options, but Plusnet edges out with its combination of high speeds and affordable pricing, especially in its top-tier Full Fibre 900 package.

Router/Hub Quality

Plusnet’s Hub Two router is designed to support these high-speed connections efficiently, providing a robust and reliable network performance.

Pricing and Value

Plusnet’s pricing strategy balances affordability with quality service. The value offered by their high-speed internet packages, especially the Full Fibre 900, is noteworthy, making Plusnet a compelling option for cost-conscious consumers seeking high-speed internet. For detailed information on Plusnet and Sky’s broadband packages, pricing, and features, please refer to their official websites. (Note: For the most current and comprehensive package details, including any additional offerings or changes in prices, please refer to the respective websites of Plusnet and Sky Broadband.)

Broadband Package	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Monthly Cost
Plusnet Full Fibre 74	74 Mbps	20 Mbps	£24.99
Plusnet Full Fibre 145	145 Mbps	30 Mbps	£26.99
Plusnet Full Fibre 300	300 Mbps	50 Mbps	£29.99
Plusnet Full Fibre 500	500 Mbps	75 Mbps	£31.99
Plusnet Full Fibre 900	900 Mbps	115 Mbps	£41.99
Sky Superfast 35	36 Mbps	9 Mbps	£34.50
Sky Superfast	61 Mbps	19 Mbps	£28
Sky Full Fibre 100	100 Mbps	20 Mbps	£38
Sky Ultrafast	145 Mbps	29 Mbps	£29
Sky Ultrafast Plus	500 Mbps	60 Mbps	£33
Sky Gigafast	900 Mbps	100 Mbps	£42

(Note: This table compares the available broadband packages from Plusnet and Sky Broadband, including their respective download speeds, upload speeds, and monthly costs. For the most accurate and current details, including any changes in pricing or features, it’s recommended to visit the official websites of Plusnet and Sky Broadband.)

FAQs

Plusnet is a good deal in terms of pricing compared with their primary competitors, BT and Virgin Media. While their customer service ratings are high, the broadband service delivered has lower speed test ratings (#10 compared with BT's #2 and Virgin's #1).

Plusnet is, by any measure, one of the best value broadband providers. Its standard broadband and fibre packages come in well under most rival suppliers' packages of comparable speed. Which means it's a really good bet if you're on a tight budget. Or if you just want to make sure you don't overpay for your broadband.15 Nov 2023

Full Fibre isn't available everywhere yet, but Plusnet is expanding its coverage. You can check availability in your area using Plusnet's broadband postcode checker on their website.

The Full Fibre package is broadband-only, so you won't need a phone line. If you currently have a landline, it will be disconnected as part of your Full Fibre installation.

The switch can take 3-10 working days. If you already have a Full Fibre connection, activation can be done remotely within 3 days. If a new connection is needed, an engineer visit might be required, which could take up to 10 days.

Plusnet provides the Hub 2 router with its Full Fibre 900 package. This router has been reported to handle full fibre download speeds effectively and offers a consistent and strong Wi-Fi signal.

Reviews indicate that the Plusnet Hub 2 router performs well with consistent ping and reliable Wi-Fi signal coverage across a typical home, including outdoor areas like gardens.

Over Wi-Fi, users typically experience download speeds between 500-700 Mbps and upload speeds of 100-115 Mbps. With an Ethernet connection, speeds can reach 900-950 Mbps for downloads and 100-115 Mbps for uploads.

Plusnet's customer service is generally well-regarded. They are known for being helpful and are UK-based. According to Ofcom data, the average response time for phone calls is around two minutes.

Plusnet Full Fibre 900 is considered to offer good value, especially given the high download speeds. Though not the cheapest, it's competitively priced for the level of service provided.