Is 100 Mbps enough speed for me?
100 Mbps is enough bandwidth for smaller households of 1-2 people who are not heavy internet users. If you are a family with younger children who are not online very often, this type of internet plan can also work.
The main issue is that if you need to perform very large file downloads or uploads on a consistent basis, having just a 100 Mbps plan can make this process a bit inefficient. You may want faster speeds if performing these sorts of large downloads or uploads on a consistent basis.
For doing things like uploading files to iCloud or Google Drive, the main problem with these types of broadband deals is the upload speed is often significantly lower than 100 Mbps – generally around 15-20 Mbps or so. As a result, large uploads can take a long time, but most of us download a lot more data than we upload to the internet, so this isn’t a problem in most cases.
To get a more accurate idea of how much broadband speed you need, use our internet speed needs calculator.
How much does a 100 Mbps broadband plan typically cost?
100 Mbps broadband deals typically cost about £23 to £36 per month initially, though this can rise during the contract when mid-contract price rises are in place. These price rises will be laid out ahead of time by the provider when you buy.
Is it worth paying more for 200 or 300 Mbps?
It can often be worth getting a 200 or 300 Mbps broadband deal compared to a 100 Mbps one, because they don’t typically cost that much more.
This is especially true if you often make large file downloads as we discussed above, or need a faster upload speed.
Use the filters at the top of this page to find deals with a faster download speed, and compare their pricing to what you’d pay for a 100 Mbps plan.
Which broadband providers offer 100 Mbps plans?
Many broadband providers no longer offer 100 Mbps broadband plans, because fibre broadband technology has advanced to the point where fast speeds are cheap and widely available.
You might find that most broadband providers have a 150 or 200 Mbps average download speed advertised on their slowest tariff.
However, Vodafone, NOW Broadband, and a few other providers still offer this type of download speed.
BT and other major Openreach broadband providers offer plans with download speeds below 100 Mbps, but only in areas that can’t get full fibre broadband.
What to look for in a 100 Mbps broadband deal
When comparing broadband deals in this speed range, consider:
- Upload speed – because it can sometimes be a bit low on 100 Mbps plans. Deals with matching download and upload speeds are a great choice, but can be rare to find in some areas.
- Mid-contract price rises – some 100 Mbps deals may seem cheap to begin with, but will get considerably more expensive over the life of the contract.
- Whether 5G internet makes more sense than fibre – often, you can get much faster download speeds using wireless internet technology compared to fixed-line broadband at this sort of price range. You might be able to get 200-300 Mbps with 5G for a lower price than 100 Mbps on fibre.
- WiFi routers – some plans have better WiFi tech than others, though this is less important on a slower broadband plan.