No one likes paying for installation with their broadband package, why would they? While there are certain times it’s unavoidable, it’s certainly not a standard within the industry. This means there are plenty of options available to you that come with no installation fees.
Even so, we thought we’d put together a quick guide to make finding broadband with free installation that much easier.
An installation fee covers the cost of an ISP connecting your property to their network. While you will be paying a monthly cost for the broadband, many charge an extra amount for the time spent and equipment you need to get set up.
Generally, you only have to pay this if an engineer or technician has to come to your house, as this can be a fairly time-intensive process. If you need a new phone line, then this will also come into play, and will likely make your installation fee more expensive.
You might also have seen activation/setup fees, which are two interchangeable terms used to describe the admin cost of setting up your account, billing etc. While it is possible to be charged both, most will bundle the costs into one payment.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t have to pay more than £20-£50. Anything more would make broadband packages incredibly expensive and put customers off.
Exactly how much it costs will depend on whether or not you need full-fibre, what kind of connection exists in your home, and if you include TV services in your package as well as broadband.
As we said earlier, installing a phone line often incurs an additional cost, and will generally set you back around £50.
Here are a few tips on how to easily find broadband packages with no upfront costs:
The simplest option is to look for deals that do not have any kind of fees. Some providers might waive them as part of certain promotions to try and bring in new customers. As broadband deals change on a weekly basis, it’s work keeping your eyes peeled for any that do not have fees.
One easily forgotten tactic is getting onto the phone with someone and having a good old-fashioned haggle. If you show genuine interest in a particular package, but raise the installation fee as a sticking point, you may find a salesperson is able to get rid of it. Being willing to sign up for a longer contract, and to sign up then and there, will boost your chances of being able to pull this off.
Even better are deals that do not have any kind of upfront costs as standard, because no installation is required. This will generally be because they are either of a high value and the ISP is willing to drop the cost as a result, or the infrastructure already exists and you can do the installation yourself.
One of the reasons that engineers/technicians need to be called out is because you are switching networks. Pretty much every supplier, apart from Virgin Media and localized ISPs, use BT’s Openreach network.
That means that if you are with BT or an Openreach provider, you will be unlikely to need to pay installation if you move to another one.
The only time this might not be the case is if you were previously on an ADSL or FTTC connection and are switching to a full-fibre (FTTP) scenario. In this case, the installation will be required, but, as the bundles are more expensive, you may not have to pay an upfront fee.
Each supplier has a different policy regarding installation fees, and often what they’re offering will change day to day. However, we’ve listed each of the major suppliers below with their general approach to the subject.
Here are some of the best broadband packages with no upfront costs, available as of April 2022:
| Provider | What’s included | Contract length | Price | Any extras |
| TalkTalk | 67Mbps | 18 Months | £23.50 | £75 Voucher |
| Plusnet | 66Mbps | 18 Months | £24.99 | £65 Reward Card |
| Community Fibre | 150Mbps | 24 Months | £30 | £95 Amazon Voucher |
| Vodafone Superfast 1 | 35Mbps | 24 Months | £22 | N/a |
| Virgin Media | 213Mbps | 18 Months | £28 | N/a |
| BT | 67Mbps | 24 Months | £31.99 | N/a |
| Sky | 59Mbps | 18 Months | £26 | N/a |
| EE | 36Mbps | 24 Months | £24.50 | £50 Gift Card |