NOW Broadband vs Plusnet: which is better value?
NOW Broadband is £2.12 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £25.32), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. NOW Broadband wins 2 and Plusnet wins 4 of the 19 checks below.
NOW Broadband vs Plusnet, check by check
Prices, rises, fees, guarantees and complaints side by side. A tick marks the better value where the difference is clear.
| Check |  NOW Broadband |  Plusnet |
|---|---|---|
| Live deals todayBroadband-only, national prices | 7 | 5 |
| Lowest average a monthOver the whole contract, set-up and price rises included | £23.21NOW Superfast · 67 Mb · rises not included | £25.32Full Fibre 74 · 74 Mb |
| Lowest starting priceFirst month | £2367 Mb | ✓£20.9974 Mb |
| Cheapest Under 150 MbAverage a month, everyday band | £23.21NOW Full Fibre 75 · 75 Mb · rises not included | £25.32Full Fibre 74 · 74 Mb |
| Cheapest 150–500 MbAverage a month, fast band | £27.21NOW Full Fibre 300 · 300 Mb · rises not included | £28.32Full Fibre 300 · 300 Mb |
| Cheapest 500–900 MbAverage a month, very fast band | — | £30.32Full Fibre 500 · 500 Mb |
| Cheapest 900 Mb +Average a month, gigabit band | — | £31.32Full Fibre 900 · 900 Mb |
| Fastest dealAverage download speed | 300 Mb | ✓900 Mb |
| Average Deal ScoreAcross all live deals, 0–100 | ✓60 | 57 |
| Price risesDuring the minimum term | Not fixedRises are not fixed in the contract (+£3 a month in July 2025 and 2026); you can leave within 31 days | ✓+£4 · March+£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract |
| Set-up feeLowest on live deals | £5£5 refundable or £0; Sky Hub free | ✓£0£0–£9.99; Hub Two included |
| Leaving earlyExit fee rule | The monthly rate for each month left (about £25.31 on Super Fibre) | Based on the months left (BT Group method) |
| Speed and Wi-Fi guarantee | Minimum speed; WiFi Max £6 a month | Minimum speed; no Wi-Fi guarantee |
| Credit check | None or soft (sources differ) | No credit check on broadband |
| Social tariffFor Universal Credit and some other benefits | ✓Broadband Basics £20 (existing members) | Via BT Home Essentials |
| Automatic compensationOfcom scheme: £10.34 a day for faults | Yes | Yes |
| Ofcom complaintsPer 100,000 customers, Q1 2026 (average 6) | Not in Ofcom’s table | 4 |
| Network | Openreach98% of homes | OpenreachUK-wide |
| Contract length | 24 months | 24 months |
| Checks won | 2 | 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 £35 less over 24 months.
- 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.
- Plusnet: +£4 a month every March adds £112.
Best NOW Broadband and Plusnet deals today
Top three broadband-only deals from each provider by Deal Score, national prices on 28 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
Choose NOW Broadband if…
- you get Universal Credit: Broadband Basics £20 (existing members)
- you want the better-rated deals overall (average Deal Score 60)
- you live in its area (98% of homes)
Choose Plusnet if…
- you want to know your rises in advance (+£4 every March)
- you want the fastest speeds, up to 900 Mb
- you want the lowest starting price, £20.99 a month
- you want to avoid a set-up fee
NOW Broadband and Plusnet deals that reach you
Compare NOW Broadband or Plusnet with others
NOW Broadband vs Plusnet: common questions
Is NOW Broadband cheaper than Plusnet?
NOW Broadband is £2.12 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£23.21 against £25.32), before rises NOW Broadband has not fixed in advance. NOW Broadband wins 2 and Plusnet wins 4 of the 19 checks below. Prices depend on your address, so check both with your postcode.
Which is faster, NOW Broadband or Plusnet?
In our national feed, NOW Broadband’s fastest deal is 300 Mb and Plusnet’s is 900 Mb. Networks: NOW Broadband, Openreach; Plusnet, Openreach. The speed you get depends on which networks reach your home.
Do NOW Broadband and Plusnet put prices up every year?
NOW Broadband: rises are not fixed in the contract (+£3 a month in July 2025 and 2026); you can leave within 31 days. Plusnet: +£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract. 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: Plusnet had 4 per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026.
How do I switch from NOW Broadband to Plusnet?
Contact Plusnet only: One Touch Switch handles the move, and NOW Broadband must tell you about any exit fee. Leaving NOW Broadband early: the monthly rate for each month left (about £25.31 on Super Fibre).
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 →