Which is Best? Plusnet Broadband or TalkTalk Broadband

Often you will have narrowed your choice down to two broadband providers. In that case a comparison between the two on areas that matter most such as speed, price, customer service and reliability using the most up to date information possible if most useful.

Reading reviews from those who are completely unbiased and impartial ensures a much fairer way to come to a decision, so read on for our comparison between Plusnet and TalkTalk.

TalkTalk broadband download speeds

• 11Mb (Fast broadband ADSL)
• 38Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 35)
• 67Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 65)
• 145Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 150 Ultrafast)
• 160Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 150 Data Only)
• 290Mb (TalkTalk Fibre 250 Ultrafast)
• 506Mb (TalkTalk Future Fibre 500)

TalkTalk offer a large array of broadband options and are currently in the process of rolling out Ultra Fibre Optic in the city of York alongside CityFibre in the hope of making it a ‘Gigabit City’, that’s a staggering 1000Mbps delivered directly to homes and businesses!

Price comparison

Plusnet prices start at £18.99 a month (ADSL) and go up to £36.99 a month (Unlimited Fibre Extra) and all include line rental.

Talktalk prices start at £22 rising up to £44.95 per month for the broadband plan but it is important to note here that TalkTalk do confirm that prices will rise each April by the rate of inflation plus 3.7% from 2022.

Fees and charges

Plusnet

Standard broadband ADSL 12 or 18 month contract – £5 activation charge

Standard broadband with no contract – compatible line required otherwise £50 activation charge

Fibre broadband 12 or 18 month contract – £10 activation charge

*Activation charges are often waived on the Plusnet site as part of their ‘best deal’ options so definitely worth keeping an eye on

TalkTalk

Fast Broadband ADSL regardless of length of contract there is a £9.95 postage and packing charge for the delivery of the equipment required.

Fibre 150 and Fibre 500 Data Only packages – an equipment delivery charge of £4.50 applies.

Fibre  250 requires a £4.95 postage and packing charge

*No set up fees

Contract term comparison

Plusnet standard and Fibre broadband deals are offered on either a 12 month or 18 month basis.

TalkTalk broadband deals are offered on a 12, 18 or 24 month basis.

Plusnet broadband inclusive extras

Included in Plusnet’s broadband deals

• Line rental is included in all of their broadband deals
• No download limits so every package is absolutely unlimited
• At present should you decide to sign up to either of their 18 month fibre deals you will be rewarded with a £50 gift card which can be spent in most high street stores that display the Mastercard symbol (it can’t be used to withdraw cash from a cash machine)
• Online security and parental controls via Plusnet Safeguard come as standard
• Following sign up Plusnet will make the BT Sport available to their customers either via online or the BT Sport app (customers must be have good wifi/4G signal and a full TV licence)
• 2GB extra on mobile SIM plans if you are a broadband customer
• Refer a Friend scheme enabling you to save money on your bill with no limit to the number of friends you can refer

*Special offers/extras are always popping up on the Plusnet site so it is definitely worth it to keep checking.

TalkTalk broadband inclusive extras

TalkTalk broadband customers can expect the following –

• Line rental is included in all of their broadband deals

• No download limits so every package is totally unlimited

• Homeworker broadband option which includes an additional broadband line and wifi hub just for work purposes

• Free landline TalkTalk to TalkTalk calls up to 180 mins per call

• HomeSafe internet security and CallSafe phone security as standard

• 30 day Great connection Guarantee, if you’re not happy in the first 30 days you can walk away

• Option to add TalkTalk TV (Freeview channels) for £4 a month extra on a no strings rolling contract, NOW TV for an additional £3.98 a month, Netflix from £5.99 a month and/or Amazon Prime Video for £7.99 a month

• Fixed Price Plus (no mid contract price rises or rate of inflation rises ever) included on Ultrafast plans or as an additional extra on all other plans

Broadband routers

Plusnet broadband router

With a standard ADSL broadband package you will receive the Hub Zero router worth £40 and with fibre packages it will be the Hub One, worth £99.99.  For any of their broadband packages you will need a working phone line, if not one can be set up as part of your order for a £49.99 installation charge. The Plusnet routers are designed to fit through the letterbox and be easily installed by the customer. With Plusnet being owned by BT the Hub One router will make its connection over the Openreach telephone network and using Smart Channel selection choose the fastest wifi channel and frequency available. When not in use the Hub one will power down thus ensuring a monetary saving, always a bonus!

TalkTalk broadband router

Available with Fibre 35 and Fibre 65 the Wifi Hub Black is sleek in design, has a removable wifi card and doesn’t require engineer set up as long as there is a working BT phone line, simply connect the router to the phone socket using the cable included. For all other broadband packages a wifi hub will be supplied but will need to be installed by an Openreach engineer, dates and times for this will be agreed once the order is placed.

Is Plusnet or TalkTalk the most reliable broadband provider?

Plusnet

According to the latest Ofcom Customer Satisfaction Tracker 2021 24% of Plusnet customers had a reason to make a complaint with 47% being satisfied with how the complaint was handled. The most common reason for complaint being service issues such as slower than expected broadband speeds. Markedly, Plusnet were less likely than the market average to resolve a complaint upon first contact standing at 30% with the average standing at 37% although they garner fewer complaints now than years previous.

TalkTalk

Broadband speeds are in line with other providers using the Openreach network and they are challenging the government in terms of being able to provide extremely fast broadband speeds to more of the country. Ofcom data this year however shows a much lower satisfaction level with speed of service, standing at 71% when compared to the market average of 79%.

Who has the best customer service? Plusnet broadband or TalkTalk broadband?

Plusnet

Customer Services can be contacted 7 days a week and are UK based. Alternatively the website has a number of online guides and articles to help. The Ofcom Customer Service report 2021 details Plusnet customer satisfaction at 81% which is slightly higher than the average broadband satisfaction level which sits at 80%.  The Plusnet customer support team have been the recipient of the USwitch Best Provider for Customer Service award eight years in a row including this year. No small feat and demonstrates that their commitment to making customers happy is still going strong.

TalkTalk

The UK based customer support team are available 7 days a week however TalkTalk pride themselves on their online community forum whereby customers can ask a question 24/7, 365 days of the year and get answers from other members as well as receive status updates on their connection. Within the Ofcom Customer Service report 2021 TalkTalk customer satisfaction levels show a fall below the average 80% sitting at a disappointing 77%. TalkTalk were also less likely than the market average to resolve a complaint upon first contact. The pandemic will almost certainly have played a part in these results with the website itself making reference to reduced call capacity and steering customers to their online forums and service centres for help.