Plusnet vs Zen Internet: which is better value?
Plusnet is £2.68 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£25.32 against £28). Zen Internet promises no price rise during the contract; Plusnet adds £4 a month every March. Plusnet wins 7 and Zen Internet wins 3 of the 19 checks below.
Plusnet vs Zen Internet, check by check
Prices, rises, fees, guarantees and complaints side by side. A tick marks the better value where the difference is clear.
| Check |  Plusnet |  Zen Internet |
|---|---|---|
| Live deals todayBroadband-only, national prices | 5 | 22 |
| Lowest average a monthOver the whole contract, set-up and price rises included | ✓£25.32Full Fibre 74 · 74 Mb | £28Full Fibre 100 CityFibre · 155 Mb |
| Lowest starting priceFirst month | ✓£20.9974 Mb | £28155 Mb |
| Cheapest Under 150 MbAverage a month, everyday band | ✓£25.32Full Fibre 74 · 74 Mb | £28Full Fibre 100 · 101 Mb |
| Cheapest 150–500 MbAverage a month, fast band | £28.32Full Fibre 300 · 300 Mb | ✓£28Full Fibre 100 · 164 Mb |
| Cheapest 500–900 MbAverage a month, very fast band | ✓£30.32Full Fibre 500 · 500 Mb | £33Full Fibre 500 · 550 Mb |
| Cheapest 900 Mb +Average a month, gigabit band | ✓£31.32Full Fibre 900 · 900 Mb | £34Full Fibre 900 · 950 Mb |
| Fastest dealAverage download speed | 900 Mb | ✓2,300 Mb |
| Average Deal ScoreAcross all live deals, 0–100 | ✓57 | 51 |
| Price risesDuring the minimum term | +£4 · March+£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract | ✓NoneNo price rise during the contract (Contract Price Promise) |
| Set-up feeLowest on live deals | £0£0–£9.99; Hub Two included | £0Usually £0 (sometimes £15 on Openreach); FRITZ!Box Wi-Fi 6 router and a static IP included |
| Leaving earlyExit fee rule | Based on the months left (BT Group method) | Early exit charges may apply; the formula is not published |
| Speed and Wi-Fi guarantee | Minimum speed; no Wi-Fi guarantee | Minimum speed: fixed within 30 days or you can leave free |
| Credit check | No credit check on broadband | Not published |
| Social tariffFor Universal Credit and some other benefits | ✓Via BT Home Essentials | None |
| Automatic compensationOfcom scheme: £10.34 a day for faults | Yes | Yes |
| Ofcom complaintsPer 100,000 customers, Q1 2026 (average 6) | 4 | Not in Ofcom’s table |
| Network | OpenreachUK-wide | Openreach, CityFibre and other full fibre networksUK-wide |
| Contract length | 24 months | 18 months (12 or 24 on request) |
| Checks won | 7 | 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.
Zen Internet costs £16 less over 24 months.
- Plusnet: +£4 a month every March adds £112.
Best Plusnet and Zen Internet deals today
Top three broadband-only deals from each provider by Deal Score, national prices on 28 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
Choose Plusnet if…
- you want the lower bill: its cheapest deal averages £25.32 a month over the contract
- you want the cheapest 900 Mb + deal
- you want the cheapest 500–900 Mb deal
- you want the cheapest Under 150 Mb deal
Choose Zen Internet if…
- you want a price that stays flat for the whole contract
- you want the fastest speeds, up to 2,300 Mb
- you want the cheapest 150–500 Mb deal
Plusnet and Zen Internet deals that reach you
Compare Plusnet or Zen Internet with others
Plusnet vs Zen Internet: common questions
Is Plusnet cheaper than Zen Internet?
Plusnet is £2.68 a month cheaper on its lowest average over the contract (£25.32 against £28). Zen Internet promises no price rise during the contract; Plusnet adds £4 a month every March. Plusnet wins 7 and Zen Internet wins 3 of the 19 checks below. Prices depend on your address, so check both with your postcode.
Which is faster, Plusnet or Zen Internet?
In our national feed, Plusnet’s fastest deal is 900 Mb and Zen Internet’s is 2,300 Mb. Networks: Plusnet, Openreach; Zen Internet, Openreach, CityFibre and other full fibre networks. The speed you get depends on which networks reach your home.
Do Plusnet and Zen Internet put prices up every year?
Plusnet: +£4 a month every 31 March, set in the contract. Zen Internet: no price rise during the contract (Contract Price Promise). 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 Plusnet to Zen Internet?
Contact Zen Internet only: One Touch Switch handles the move, and Plusnet must tell you about any exit fee. Leaving Plusnet early: based on the months left (BT Group method).
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 →