EE vs NOW Broadband: which is better value?
NOW Broadband is £6.37 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £29.57), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. EE wins 3 and NOW Broadband wins 4 of the 19 checks below.
EE 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 |  EE |  NOW Broadband |
|---|---|---|
| Live deals todayBroadband-only, national prices | 8 | 7 |
| Lowest average a monthOver the whole contract, set-up and price rises included | £29.57Fibre 67 · 67 Mb | £23.21NOW Superfast · 67 Mb · rises not included |
| Lowest starting priceFirst month | £23.9967 Mb | ✓£2367 Mb |
| Cheapest Under 150 MbAverage a month, everyday band | £29.57Fibre 67 · 67 Mb | £23.21NOW Full Fibre 75 · 75 Mb · rises not included |
| Cheapest 150–500 MbAverage a month, fast band | £29.57Full Fibre 150 · 150 Mb | £27.21NOW Full Fibre 300 · 300 Mb · rises not included |
| Cheapest 500–900 MbAverage a month, very fast band | £30.74Full Fibre 500 · 500 Mb | — |
| Cheapest 900 Mb +Average a month, gigabit band | £31.32Full Fibre 900 · 900 Mb | — |
| Fastest dealAverage download speed | ✓1,600 Mb | 300 Mb |
| Average Deal ScoreAcross all live deals, 0–100 | 41 | ✓60 |
| Price risesDuring the minimum term | ✓+£4 · March+£4 a month from 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–£30 activation (most £30, Full Fibre 900 £0) plus up to £12 delivery | £5£5 refundable or £0; Sky Hub free |
| Leaving earlyExit fee rule | The charges left, minus costs EE saves and 1%, plus VAT | The monthly rate for each month left (about £25.31 on Super Fibre) |
| Speed and Wi-Fi guarantee | WiFi guarantee: £100 credit if any room gets under 100 Mb (Premium and Ultimate) | Minimum speed; WiFi Max £6 a month |
| Credit check | Soft check for broadband only | ✓None or soft (sources differ) |
| Social tariffFor Universal Credit and some other benefits | Via BT Home Essentials | ✓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) | 6 | Not in Ofcom’s table |
| Network | OpenreachUK-wide | Openreach98% of homes |
| Contract length | 24 months | 24 months |
| Checks won | 3 | 4 |
✓ 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 £65 less over 24 months.
- EE: +£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 EE 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 EE if…
- you want to know your rises in advance (+£4 every March)
- you want the fastest speeds, up to 1,600 Mb
- you want to avoid a set-up fee
Choose NOW Broadband if…
- you get Universal Credit: Broadband Basics £20 (existing members)
- 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)
EE and NOW Broadband deals that reach you
Compare EE or NOW Broadband with others
EE vs NOW Broadband: common questions
Is EE cheaper than NOW Broadband?
NOW Broadband is £6.37 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £29.57), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. EE wins 3 and NOW Broadband wins 4 of the 19 checks below. Prices depend on your address, so check both with your postcode.
Which is faster, EE or NOW Broadband?
In our national feed, EE’s fastest deal is 1,600 Mb and NOW Broadband’s is 300 Mb. Networks: EE, Openreach; NOW Broadband, Openreach. The speed you get depends on which networks reach your home.
Do EE and NOW Broadband put prices up every year?
EE: +£4 a month from 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: EE had 6 per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026.
How do I switch from EE to NOW Broadband?
Contact NOW Broadband only: One Touch Switch handles the move, and EE must tell you about any exit fee. Leaving EE early: the charges left, minus costs EE saves and 1%, plus VAT.
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 →