How does Plusnet's unlimited broadband deal compare?

Since appearing on TV screens back in 2010 – with amusing adverts touting 'good honest service from down t'road' – Yorkshire-based provider Plusnet has become a household name in broadband throughout Britain.

Our only real gripe was Plusnet's restrictive monthly usage limits, imposed on all of its broadband customers. But that's all about to change with the arrival – finally! – of Plusnet's first unlimited broadband packages.

Let's see what's on offer and how it stacks up against the competition.

Plusnet Unlimited

Sign up for Plusnet's new Unlimited broadband service and for £9.99 a month you'll get download speeds of up to 16Mb with no monthly limits on your usage. For even better value, at the moment you can get 12 months half price – just £4.99 a month.

However, you'll need to be paying Plusnet line rental, which currently costs £13.99 a month. This includes free phone calls on weekday evenings and at the weekend (for calls of up to an hour – you can redial to avoid charges). Plusnet's Unlimited broadband service is also available as a standalone package.

Plusnet Unlimited customers are not subject to a 'fair usage' clause – where you could be charged extra or even disconnected for downloading too heavily – traffic prioritisation is used to help ensure the traffic that is time sensitive such as gaming is protected.

The only other major UK provider offering 'truly unlimited' broadband is Sky, as it uses neither traffic management nor a fair usage policy to restrict its customers' downloads.

Plusnet Fibre Unlimited

If you live in a superfast area – one upgraded with fibre optic technology – you have the option of taking Plusnet Fibre Unlimited broadband. For £19.99 a month you'll get unlimited downloads and much quicker speeds (up to 76Mb) and at the moment it's half price for the first six months (£9.99 a month).

As with Plusnet's standard package, you also need to pay line rental at £13.99 a month. Again, the home phone package includes free calls to other UK landlines on evenings and at weekends (for calls of up to an hour – you can redial to avoid charges). Plusnet's Fibre Unlimited broadband service is also available as a standalone package.

The only unlimited fibre service that's faster – and as widely available – is the Virgin Media 100Mb package, priced from £27 a month, or £34.50 with a TiVo box for TV as well. As with Plusnet, you'd also need to pay line rental, priced at £14.99 a month.

Comparison

Plusnet is one of several providers offering similar unlimited broadband packages. The tables below should help you weigh up the options. Use an Ofcom-accredited price comparison service like broadbandchoices.co.uk to find the best deal available in your area.

Unlimited broadband packages

Unlimited fibre optic packages

Anthony Hill is broadband expert at comparison website BroadbandChoices.

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