BT vs Sky 2025: Which provider should I choose?
Dan Howdle • April 3rd, 2025
Whether you’re looking for a modest broadband and TV package, Full Fibre broadband only, or the full monty with Sky Sports and Sky Cinema, both BT and Sky can accommodate your needs. So how do you choose? We’ve taken a look at everything the two providers offer, from TV channels to technology, to help you decide which one is right for you.
BT TV vs Sky TV
Who's got the most channels?
Sky TV
Only a few years ago, Sky would have easily been the winner when it comes to channel choice, but since BT/EE has introduced NOW Memberships as part of EE TV, the difference is less clear cut.
Sky Stream Ultimate is the current name for Sky’s fully-featured TV package and includes all the regular terrestrial channels, such as BBC, ITV and Channel 4, along with all the Sky Entertainment channels, including Sky Atlantic, Sky Max, Sky Showcase, Sky Crime, Sky Nature and Sky Documentaries. It also comes with over 40 other channels including the National Geographic, Discovery and Eurosport channels. You can read our full channel guide here.
Just recently, Sky introduced Sky Stream Essential, an even more cost-effective, budget version of Sky Stream where you lose out on most of the Sky-branded channels (Sky Documentaries, Sky Arts, Sky Max and so on), but keep Sky Atlantic, Discovery and the Freeview channel element. It costs quite bit less and is a great way to test the water before committing to the Full Monty.
Sky Stream Ultimate also offers a wide range of music, news, shopping and international channels at no extra cost. Altogether there are over 150 channels which may sound somewhat of a downgrade if you've previously had Sky Q (satellite TV, no longer offered), because that had about 70-80 more. However, the only channels you're losing are the standard definition ones (everything is now in HD), and the +1 timeshift versions. So no big deal.
All Sky Stream customers also receive a free basic subscription to Netflix (which you can choose to upgrade) and unlimited access to over 500 Sky Box Sets, both of which were previously only offered as a chargeable add-on.
On top of this fairly impressive starter pack, Sky Stream allows you to to bolt on various extra channel packs – namely, Sky Sports, Sky Cinema, TNT Sports and Sky Kids – for an extra monthly fee. Caution is advised before just bolting on everything though – some of these bolt-ons are expensive, especially sport.
Sky Sports has 12 channels, covering football, cricket, golf and Formula 1 racing, as well as a dedicated channel for the Premier League. Sky Sports Action and Arena channels bring you international Rugby Union, Rugby League, boxing, darts, NFL, tennis and more; and the Main Event channel is dedicated to the biggest live events from across the company's other sports channels.
Sky Cinema comes with eleven channels and offers something for every taste, from sci-fi and horror to family favourites and big budget Hollywood blockbusters.
To enhance your viewing, you can also choose to pay for Sky Ultra HD & Dolby Atmos, which gives you access to Ultra HD content and Dolby Atmos sound where available, and you can also pay extra to not be subjected to the adverts. Well worth it in our opinion.
EE TV on BT
BT TV no longer exists. Instead, BT sells EE TV alongside its broadband packages and it is, with a few notable exceptions, pretty much the same service BT TV was before this rather confounding change was made.
EE's Entertainment package gives you the standard range of Freeview channels, plus an extra 16 channels included in the NOW Entertainment Membership (included as part of the package at no extra cost). The most popular Sky channels are all there, including Sky Atlantic, Sky Showcase and Sky Max and so on, as well as MTV, Comedy Central, Gold, Alibi and many others.
If you want Sky Cinema, you can add it to your package or take out a package in which it's included. EE TV caters very well for sports lovers provided you're willing to pay through the nose for it. BT TV used to offer BT Sport, but BT Sport doesn't exist anymore either – it's now TNT Sports and not owned by BT. So you can add Sky Sports and TNT Sports at significant additional cost, but without BT Sport, it's not as attractive to sports lovers as it once was.
Our verdict: Sky
With BT now offering the best of Sky channels in the form of NOW Memberships on EE TV (yes, we know this is confusing), but no longer offering BT Sport for free (because it no longer exists), it's an easy win for Sky here. For a comparable package with a comparable broadband speeds, Sky currently works out cheaper than BT, and still offers a wider range of channels than EE TV.
BT Broadband vs Sky Broadband
Who's got the top speed?
BT offers three Standard Fibre broadband speeds, starting with its Fibre Essential, which comes with an average speed of 36Mbps. Its Fibre 1 offers an average speed of 50Mbps, and Fibre 2 offers an average of 67Mbps. In addition, BT now offers ultrafast speeds to those in areas that have been upgraded to Full Fibre by Openreach. Where available, you can choose from four speeds: 150Mbps, 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 900Mbps. For households that are still unable to get any sort of fibre, BT will supply its basic broadband service, which averages 11Mbps, but note that you won't be able to get this if you can get anything faster where you live.
In comparison, Sky advertises just one Standard Fibre speed, averaging 61Mbps, which it refers to simply as Broadband Superfast. Sky also offers full fibre connections in areas where Openreach has rolled out the upgraded network, with a choice of 75Mbps, 145Mbps, 500Mbps or 900Mbps. Sky will not supply ADSL anymore, even if it's all you can get.
Our verdict: BT
BT wins purely due to the fact that it offers a greater choice of speeds.
BT calls vs Sky Talk
Who offers the best inclusive phone packages?
BT now offers packages either with a landline or without. Choosing a no-landline option means you will not be able to make calls. With a landline, BT offers two calling packages: pay-as-you-go, or a monthly call package for an additional fee.
BT’s call packages include ‘700 Minutes’ (700 minutes to UK landlines and mobiles for an extra £7 per month) and ‘Unlimited Minutes’ (unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles for £15 per month). You can also add international calling and features like Caller Display and Call Waiting for an additional charge. BT Call Protect is free with any BT landline package, allowing you to block unwanted calls.
BT’s Full Fibre broadband customers who want a landline can access BT Digital Voice, which offers the same call packages (700 or Unlimited minutes) as traditional landline services. BT Digital Voice customers will use a digital handset rather than a traditional phone line, though the functionality remains the same.
If you buy Sky Broadband of any type, you’ll get Sky’s Pay As You Talk plan as standard, allowing you to pay for calls as you go. Sky offers two call package add-ons: Evenings and Weekends Extra (unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles on evenings and weekends for £5 per month) and Anytime Extra (unlimited calls at any time for £12 per month). International call packages are also available. Additionally, Sky provides Caller Display and Sky 1571 (voicemail) at no extra cost.
Our verdict: Sky
Although BT and Sky offer similar call package options, Sky edges ahead due to its lower-priced Anytime Extra package, which costs less than BT's Unlimited Minutes package, and the fact you get a landline as standard across the board. For customers who make frequent calls at any time of day, Sky offers a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing functionality.
Who's got the best router?
BT claims its Smart Hub 2 provides some of the best home-wide coverage available. It has seven antennas and dual Wi-Fi bands to minimise the risk of a poor or dropped connection. It automatically goes into power save mode when not in use, and constantly monitors your internet connection: if it spots a problem, it will quietly restart and make a fresh connection.
The Sky Broadband Hub is Sky's fastest ever router, and the company says it's the most reliable too. Like the BT router, it has dual-band technology, and the company's Smart Signal Technology optimises your wi-fi to get the best connection possible. It has four Ethernet ports, eight antennas, and, like the BT Smart Hub 2, drops into low power mode automatically when not in use. Sky also offers an upgraded router – the Sky Max Hub, but you'll have to subscribe to the Sky Wi-Fi Max add-on to get it.
Our verdict: Draw
There's very little to choose between these two routers, with both of them among the best of what is available across the broadband market in terms of free routers. Both have the capability to support ultrafast speeds and numerous devices at once. If you factor Sky's Max Hub, which comes with the Wi-Fi Max add-on, then it's no contest, but since that doesn't come as standard, we're calling it a draw.
BT vs Sky
Who’s got the best set-top box?
BT’s TV service, now offered as EE TV, includes two main device options: the EE TV Box Pro and the Apple TV 4K. The EE TV Box Pro offers 4K HDR support, Dolby Atmos sound, and features like pause, rewind, and record. With up to 600 hours of storage, you can keep plenty of shows, and it connects seamlessly over broadband without requiring an aerial. The Apple TV 4K, meanwhile, brings access to the same apps but with Apple’s signature interface and exclusive Apple services. Both options come with popular apps like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and ITV Hub.
Sky now offers its TV service solely through the Sky Stream Puck. The Sky Stream device is quick to set up, doesn’t need a satellite dish, and provides a sleek way to watch Sky’s full range of content through any broadband connection. The Stream Puck gives you access to live Sky channels, on-demand content, and streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+. You can also bundle Sky’s various entertainment packages and add extras like Sky Cinema and Sky Sports. Although there’s no recording feature, you can pause and rewind live TV. For flexibility, Sky Stream offers a rolling monthly contract option, allowing you to cancel anytime with 31 days’ notice.
Our verdict: Sky
Sky’s Sky Stream Puck is a clear winner if you want flexibility and ease of use. With no dish required, the ability to add or drop services monthly, and a full array of content options, Sky Stream provides a more modern and versatile setup. EE TV still offers solid features, especially if you prefer the Apple TV ecosystem, but lacks the seamless integration that comes with Sky Stream.
Customer service
One key issue when choosing between Sky and BT will be the standards of customer service and satisfaction. According to Ofcom's report, BT had 10 complaints about its broadband services per 100,000 customers, while Sky, meanwhile, had only 5.
Ofcom used to go into a lot more detail, measuring customer satisfaction call wait times and more, but has recently recently retreated into reporting only complaint numbers. Funding cuts maybe? Who knows.
Our verdict: Sky wins
The winner has to be Sky. This is largely down to its superior choice of TV services, since both providers offer the full range of broadband speeds. However, in many areas, there's little to choose between one service and the other. BT does now include a NOW Entertainment Membership via EE TV, meaning you can now get Sky Atlantic on BT/EE effectively, but if you want a superior choice of channels it has to be Sky.
Both providers offer an excellent array of broadband and TV services and are fairly well matched on customer service too, so your ultimate decision is likely to come down to cost. And Sky is almost always cheaper.
