Broadband with no upfront costs: Best deals for November 2025

Dan Howdle • November 25th, 2025

Woman checking deals on laptop

Broadband providers are pretty sneaky these days. Some will even advertise no upfront costs then sneak your first month's payment as you sign up, or sneak in a charge for sending you your router, then hide it in your first bill. These, though – these are the real deals. Great deals where truly nothing is paid upfront.

Virgin Media logo

1. Virgin Media M125 Fibre Broadband

Reduced price • £18.99 per month • No upfront cost

Virgin Media's M125 fibre broadband only is the best all-round broadband deal if you can get it. Consistent average download speeds of 132Mbps is plenty for most households.

BT logo

2. BT Full Fibre 150

£150 reward card • £27.99 per month • No upfront cost

Get ultrafast speeds right to your door. BT's Full Fibre 150 offers a powerful, reliable connection for streaming, gaming, and working, with a Stay Fast Guarantee.

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Sky logo

3. Sky Full Fibre 500

£90 gift card • £28 per month • No upfront cost

While this is currently Sky's second fastest broadband package, we think it's their number one for value. That's considering it's relatively great value price at £28 per month. Despite the fact that with 500Mbps it 'only' provides a little over half the speeds offered by the range-topping Gigafast package, in the real world that's going to be more than adequate no matter how big your household.

Vodafone logo

4. Vodafone Full Fibre 910 Broadband

£75 bill credit • £25 per month • No upfront cost

Vodafone's Full Fibre 910 also has a 900Mbps variation, so depending on where you live, you may be able to get either or both. Vodafone offers a fantastic router with its faster deals like this one. This deal comes on a 24-month contract and witth zero upfront costs.

EE logo

5. EE Made for Gamers

£175 Reward Card • £60.99 per month • No upfront cost

As the package name suggests, this blisteringly fast EE package has a specific audience in mind. And it's not just about speed either – EE has built in smar features that, depending on the game you're playing, will look for and prioritise servers with the lowest ping, giveng you a competitive advantage.

We may earn a commission when you purchase via links on our site. The price you pay will always be equal to or often cheaper than the price you would pay by going direct to the provider. Please refer to individual provider's terms and conditions before signing up. All prices are inclusive of VAT except business prices.
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Sneaky upfront costs – what to look out for

Broadband deals can look cheap at first glance, but the upfront costs are where many providers quietly claw money back. These fees don’t always stand out on the main offer, yet they can add a surprising amount to the price of getting started, especially where providers do a really good job of hiding them.

Some providers charge for setup or activation, others add router delivery fees, and a few have their own quirks – Plusnet, for example, requires your first month’s payment upfront (which is why you won't find any Plusnet deals on this page). One-month rolling contracts almost always include an upfront cost too, simply because you’re free to leave at any time. Here’s what to watch out for:

  • Setup and activation fees – These can range from £10–£35 depending on the provider, and they’re not always obvious on the main product page
  • Router delivery charges – Some broadband packages come with delivery or postage fees for your router, even when the setup is advertised as ‘free’
  • Installation – Full Fibre lines may need a new installation, and not every provider covers the cost
  • First month paid upfront – Providers like Plusnet take your first month’s payment at checkout, which effectively adds an upfront cost even if setup is free
  • Rolling contract fees – One-month broadband deals nearly always include an upfront charge, as providers need to cover the risk of you leaving immediately
  • Admin fees in disguise – Some activation and handling costs are bundled under vague labels, so it’s worth checking the order breakdown carefully
  • Exit fees from your old provider – Not exactly an upfront cost of the new deal, but still easy to overlook if you’re switching mid-contract

When upfront costs might be unavoidable

There are times when upfront costs are simply part of the deal, no matter which provider you choose. Full Fibre installations, for example, sometimes require an engineer to run completely new cabling into your home. If your home has never had a fibre line befor, or if the old connection has been removed, the provider may charge for the work involved.

Upfront costs are also common with one-month rolling contracts. Because you’re free to leave at any time, providers typically add setup, activation or delivery charges to ensure they’re not out of pocket if you only stay for a short period. And in cases such as Plusnet, paying the first month upfront is simply how the billing system works.

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