Can I get EE?

EE broadband uses the Openreach network so is available countrywide. You should be able to get it in all but the most remote areas.

Coverage extends to over 95% of UK homes, with the same service and price being available whether you're in a major city or a rural village (although speeds will, naturally, vary). Use our postcode checker to see if EE is available where you live.

EE are best known as a mobile network. You don't need to be an EE mobile customer to sign up to their broadband services, although you will get some added benefits on your phone plan if you are, such as a 5GB boost to your EE mobile data allowance. In addition, you can get good EE mobile broadband deals in our mobile broadband section.

EE was bought by BT in 2016. There are plans to merge the networks of the two companies over the next few years, starting in 2020.

What packages are available?

EE offer three core home broadband packages, with different speeds to suit your needs and budget.

• Standard broadband - unlimited broadband with an average speed of 10Mb. It comes with the older Bright Box 1 router
• Fibre broadband - the entry level fibre package offers unlimited usage and an average speed of 36Mb. It includes the cutting edge Smart Hub router, with fast 802.11ac performance
• Fibre Plus broadband - the high-end fibre deal has unlimited downloads and an average speed of 67Mb. It also comes with the latest Smart Hub router

All three deals come on 18 month contracts, although a more expensive 12 month contract option is available for 10Mb average speed standard broadband. Line rental is included in the price - there's no option to buy without line rental - and there's no setup fee. If you're an EE mobile customer with a SIM-only or pay monthly deal you'll also get 5GB of free mobile data added to your plan each month.

You can add a call plan from around £5 per month for weekend calls. There is also the option to sign up for EE TV products. EE TV offers 70+ Freeview channels (some in HD), catch up TV, On Demand services, and the ability to watch on your smartphone or tablet.

Speeds are given as averages because they can vary depending on a range of factors such as how busy the service is (peak times such as evenings are busier than late at night) and how far you are from either your local telephone exchange (for standard) or your street cabinet (for fibre), with longer distance decreasing your broadband speed. The average speed is in fact the median, achievable by at least 50% of EE users on the same product during peak time hours of 8pm to 10pm. You can use our postcode checker to find out your likely distance from your nearest exchange, and estimate how fast your package could be (we're currently unable to give fibre speed estimates for most postcode areas, but EE will give you an accurate estimate before you sign up).

On top of these three offers, EE have two extra plans that run on the new G.fast service for ultrafast broadband. These are Fibre Max 1, with an average speed of 145Mb, and Fibre Max 2, averaging 300Mb. Both come with a bonus 20GB per month data added to your mobile plan. However, the G.fast rollout is a long-term project and coverage in early 2019 is limited to just over a million homes. The plan is to cover 5.7 million homes by the end of 2020.

Which package should I choose?

All of EE’s home broadband packages are truly unlimited, so you don't need to worry about choosing a download cap. Instead, you should focus on the difference in broadband speed - and whether it is worth paying for a faster connection.

If you're close enough to the telephone exchange to enjoy them, EE’s standard broadband speeds averaging 10Mb would be more than enough for most online activities such as using social media or e-mail, or even heavier uses like gaming, video calling or streaming TV and films, and so may be sufficient for many Internet users, especially those who live alone.

You may benefit from faster internet speeds is you do a lot of online gaming, watch a lot of streaming TV and films or regularly download a lot of large files, especially in larger households where more than one person might be doing these things at any one time. The faster speeds available with fibre also help prevent slowdown when a lot of people are using one connection - especially if these people are heavy Internet users. This can be the case for student flats or homes of large families.

Ultimately is a trade-off between cost and speed - and there is no point paying for more than you need.

The other factor to consider is whether you use your landline enough to benefit from inclusive anytime and mobile calls, or whether the standard evening landline calling option will be sufficient.

Points to consider before you choose

• How far do you live from a BT telephone exchange, and will this be a problem for your standard broadband speeds?
• How many people will be using your broadband connection at any one time, especially for heavy downloading, streaming video or online games?
• Is the extra expense of fibre broadband really worth it for you?
• Will you save money on calls by opting for the anytime and mobile calls option?

Compare all EE home broadband deals

What do I get when I sign-up?

It's always good to know upfront what you'll get when signing up with an ISP so you know what you can enjoy for free, or to budget for any extras you may want.

• Smart Hub or Bright Box 1 wireless router - EE broadband customers receive a free wireless router to manage their internet at home. Fibre customers receive the latest Smart Hub with the fast wireless ‘AC’ technology that enables it to provide strong coverage around your home using hyperfast speeds and the best frequencies to avoid interference from any other devices. It supports multiple devices, is quick and easy to set up, and it's backwards comparible with 'N', 'G' and 'B' rated wireless devices and wired connections. Standard Broadband customers get the older Bright Box 1 router. This supports the slower 'N' technology, although will still be fast enough to deliver your broadband service at top speed.
• Nortion Security Premium - EE customers get one year’s free use of Norton Security Premium, worth £79.99, providing anti-virus tools, firewalls, and parental controls, to help you monitor your connection and keep it safe.
• Biggest 4G mobile broadband network - EE were the first provider to offer 4G superfast mobile broadband in the UK and are now following suit with the rollout of their 5G network. 4G can rival home broadband speeds in some areas, while 5G is putting ultrafast broadband through its paces. Those combining their home broadband package with mobile deals can therefore benefit from high-speed broadband on the go as well as at home.
• Free support by phone and online - EE offer free online support around the clock with their comprehensive guides and Ask the Community option. If you need telephone support, this is also available for free between 8am and 9pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on weekends.

What are the benefits of EE?

The benefits offered by an ISP may be what seals the deal in your decision to buy a package from them.

• Wide range of mobile options - As the UK's largest mobile network, EE bring a great deal of mobile phone expertise to the table. You can get your home broadband packaged with landline deals, mobile deals and even phones themselves, all together in one convenient package. Only TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone of the big ISPs offer similar levels of mobile options with your home broadband.
• Truly unlimited broadband in all areas - EE’s unlimited broadband is truly unlimited for customers, meaning you can download or upload as much as you want each month without being artificially slowed down.
• Advanced technology wireless router for fibre - Fibre customers receive the cutting edge Smart Hub wireless router which supports 802.11ac connections for faster speeds over longer distances.
• £50 Early Cancellation Credit - If you're still within your contract for another supplier and want to switch to EE early, just claim on the EE site after you've switched and provide evidence of paying additional fees to cancel before the end of your previous contract, and they're provide you with £50 bill credit to cover some of that cost.
• TV options - When you sign up you can also choose to take the EE TV service. The basic services consists of the freely avaiable Freeview channels with a set-top box that allows you to record shows and access on-demand and catch-up services. These come through a combination of your TV aerial and your broadband service. You can augment this with subscriptions to premium channels including Sky Sports.
• Vastly improved complaint levels - Having been one of the most complained about broadband providers just a couple of years ago, Ofcom data for late-2019 shows that EE now receive the fewest number of complaints among all the big providers.

What are the drawbacks of EE?

Let's face it, not everything can be perfect, and even the best deals may have a downside.

• No standalone broadband - EE do not offer any standalone broadband contracts, meaning that you have to get your home broadband with phone service and line rental. This is only really an issue for those who do not plan to use a landline or do not wish to change phone provider - especially given EE’s free inclusive weekend and evening calls.
• 18 month contracts - EE’s contracts have a minimum of 18 months for fibre, which can be a problem for those who have short tenancies or do not want the commitment of a year-long contract. The lack of shorter deals is not necessarily a problem however, as the long contracts can be a plus to those who live in one place and do not wish to renew on a regular basis. 12 month contracts for standard broadband are often significantly more expensive than their 18 month equivalent.
• Older wireless tech on standard broadband - For a standard broadband product averaging 10Mb, you'll be provided with the older Bright Box 1 router, supporting 802.11n wireless technology. This tends to have poorer range that the 802.11ac tech used in the EE Smart Hub routers and tend to achieve slower connections further from the router.
• Annual CPI increases apply - Prices for broadband, line, call plans and call charges will all increase in June 2021 by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation published by the Office for National Statistics in April of that year plus 3.9%, and then will raise again on the same CPI plus 3.9% basis each March from 2022 onwards. Other prices, content and terms may also change during your contract.