BT vs NOW Broadband: which is better value?
NOW Broadband is £5.12 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £28.32), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. BT wins 4 and NOW Broadband wins 3 of the 19 checks below.
BT vs NOW Broadband, check by check
Prices, rises, fees, guarantees and complaints side by side. A tick marks the better value where the difference is clear.
| Check |  BT |  NOW Broadband |
|---|---|---|
| Live deals todayBroadband-only, national prices | 7 | 7 |
| Lowest average a monthOver the whole contract, set-up and price rises included | £28.32Full Fibre 150 · 150 Mb | £23.21NOW Superfast · 67 Mb · rises not included |
| Lowest starting priceFirst month | £23.99150 Mb | ✓£2367 Mb |
| Cheapest Under 150 MbAverage a month, everyday band | £29.32Fibre 2 · 74 Mb | £23.21NOW Full Fibre 75 · 75 Mb · rises not included |
| Cheapest 150–500 MbAverage a month, fast band | £28.32Full Fibre 150 · 150 Mb | £27.21NOW Full Fibre 300 · 300 Mb · rises not included |
| Cheapest 500–900 MbAverage a month, very fast band | £32.32Full Fibre 500 · 500 Mb | — |
| Cheapest 900 Mb +Average a month, gigabit band | £37.32Full Fibre 900 · 900 Mb | — |
| Fastest dealAverage download speed | ✓900 Mb | 300 Mb |
| Average Deal ScoreAcross all live deals, 0–100 | 39 | ✓60 |
| Price risesDuring the minimum term | ✓+£4 · March+£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract | Not fixedRises are not fixed in the contract (+£3 a month in July 2025 and 2026); you can leave within 31 days |
| Set-up feeLowest on live deals | ✓£0£0 on current deals | £5£5 refundable or £0; Sky Hub free |
| Leaving earlyExit fee rule | The monthly charges left, minus costs BT saves and a 1% discount; 30 days’ notice | The monthly rate for each month left (about £25.31 on Super Fibre) |
| Speed and Wi-Fi guarantee | Stay Fast Guarantee (minimum speed) and Complete Wi-Fi: £100 back if any room has no signal | Minimum speed; WiFi Max £6 a month |
| Credit check | Soft check for broadband only; hard check with TV | ✓None or soft (sources differ) |
| Social tariffFor Universal Credit and some other benefits | ✓Home Essentials from £16.50 (36 Mb) | Broadband Basics £20 (existing members) |
| Automatic compensationOfcom scheme: £10.34 a day for faults | Yes | Yes |
| Ofcom complaintsPer 100,000 customers, Q1 2026 (average 6) | 7 | Not in Ofcom’s table |
| Network | OpenreachUK-wide | Openreach98% of homes |
| Contract length | 24 months | 24 months |
| Checks won | 4 | 3 |
✓ marks the better value where the difference is clear. Averages include set-up and price rises written into the contract; rolling deals are averaged over 12 months. Where a provider does not fix its rises in advance (Sky, NOW, Gigaclear), we do not award it the cheaper average. Live prices 28 October 2026, 11:08; facts checked 24 October 2026.
What you pay over 24 months
The cheapest comparable deal from each, month by month, with the rises written into each contract.
Cheapest deal from each in the 150–500 Mb band, paid for 24 months from November 2026.
NOW Broadband costs £35 less over 24 months.
- BT: +£4 a month every March adds £112.
- NOW Broadband does not fix rises in its contracts, so its bar shows today’s price only. Rises are not fixed in the contract (+£3 a month in July 2025 and 2026); you can leave within 31 days.
Best BT and NOW Broadband deals today
Top three broadband-only deals from each provider by Deal Score, national prices on 28 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
Choose BT if…
- you want to know your rises in advance (+£4 every March)
- you want the fastest speeds, up to 900 Mb
- you get Universal Credit: Home Essentials from £16.50 (36 Mb)
- you want to avoid a set-up fee
Choose NOW Broadband if…
- you want the lowest starting price, £23 a month
- you would rather avoid a hard credit check
- you want the better-rated deals overall (average Deal Score 60)
- you live in its area (98% of homes)
BT and NOW Broadband deals that reach you
Compare BT or NOW Broadband with others
BT vs NOW Broadband: common questions
Is BT cheaper than NOW Broadband?
NOW Broadband is £5.12 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £28.32), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. BT wins 4 and NOW Broadband wins 3 of the 19 checks below. Prices depend on your address, so check both with your postcode.
Which is faster, BT or NOW Broadband?
In our national feed, BT’s fastest deal is 900 Mb and NOW Broadband’s is 300 Mb. Networks: BT, Openreach; NOW Broadband, Openreach. The speed you get depends on which networks reach your home.
Do BT and NOW Broadband put prices up every year?
BT: +£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract. NOW Broadband: rises are not fixed in the contract (+£3 a month in July 2025 and 2026); you can leave within 31 days. Since 17 January 2025, rises in new contracts must be shown in pounds and pence.
Which has fewer complaints?
Ofcom only publishes complaint figures for the seven biggest providers: BT had 7 per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026.
How do I switch from BT to NOW Broadband?
Contact NOW Broadband only: One Touch Switch handles the move, and BT must tell you about any exit fee. Leaving BT early: the monthly charges left, minus costs BT saves and a 1% discount; 30 days’ notice.
Live prices from our deals feed, updated every six hours; provider facts checked 24 October 2026; complaints from Ofcom, Q1 2026. Some providers pay us a commission when you switch through us; it never affects Deal Score or which provider wins a check. How we make money →