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Head-to-head

Plusnet vs Sky Broadband: Which Is Better in 2026?

Plusnet and Sky both run on the Openreach network, so the top broadband speed available at your address is usually the same.

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The quick answer

Plusnet and Sky both run on the Openreach network, so the top broadband speed available at your address is usually the same. Plusnet is the lower price on most full fibre tiers, has no setup fee and holds the best Ofcom complaints record of any major UK provider at four per 100,000 in early 2026. Sky costs a little more but adds an included phone line, a Wi-Fi 6 router option and discounted Sky TV. Check both at your postcode before deciding.

Updated 6 September 2026·Reviewed by BroadbandPicker editorial team

Quick Verdict

There is no single winner. Plusnet is the better value pick for a broadband-only home: it is cheaper on the entry and mid full fibre tiers, charges no setup fee and has the lowest Ofcom complaint rate of any major provider. Sky is the better fit if you want a landline included, the option of a Wi-Fi 6 router with a speed guarantee, or Sky TV on the same bill. Because both use Openreach, run a postcode check to confirm the exact speeds and prices at your address before you choose.

Plusnet vs Sky: customer-review evidence

These signals are shown separately because they measure different things. Ofcom complaints record serious escalations, surveys measure experiences across a sample, and public reviews reflect self-selecting recent sentiment. We never combine them into an invented trust score.

Plusnet

Sky

Missing a metric does not mean a provider performed badly. Some providers are below Ofcom’s reporting threshold or were not named in a comparable survey. Read our evidence dashboard and review methodology.

Plusnet

Best value
Best for: A broadband-only home that wants the lower price and the best complaints record
From
£21.99/mo
Max speed
900 Mbps (FTTP)
Coverage
~96% (Openreach)
Trustpilot
2.0/5
  • Ofcom's Q1 2026 report ranked Plusnet the best of any major UK broadband provider for complaints
  • A low Trustpilot score sits alongside genuinely strong regulatory complaints evidence, a gap worth understanding
  • Reward cards worth up to £140 available on faster tiers, alongside no activation fee across the range
Get Deal →Read Plusnet review

Sky

Best for: Homes that want an included phone line, a Wi-Fi 6 router option or Sky TV on one bill
From
£23.00/mo
Max speed
900 Mbps (FTTP)
Coverage
~95% (Openreach), plus CityFibre in some areas
Trustpilot
2.7/5
  • One of the best Ofcom complaints records of any major provider, 5 per 100,000 customers in Q4 2025
  • A flat £3 a month price rise from April 2026, its first year using pounds and pence instead of a percentage
  • Sky Broadband Shield parental controls and strong TV bundle options included
Get Deal →Read Sky review

At-a-Glance Comparison

MetricPlusnetSky
From price£21.99/mo£23.00/mo
Max speed900 Mbps (FTTP)900 Mbps (FTTP)
Setup fee£0£0 currently advertised
Typical contract24 months24 months
Coverage~96% (Openreach)~95% (Openreach), plus CityFibre in some areas
Trustpilot2.0/52.7/5

Pros and Cons

Plusnet

  • Best Ofcom complaints record of any major UK ISP, at 4 per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026
  • No activation fee on any current package
  • UK-based customer service team, a specific point of positive review feedback
  • Runs on the Openreach network, so line quality and availability match most other national providers
  • Trustpilot score is low despite the strong Ofcom complaints record, largely reflecting self-selected complaint-driven reviews
  • Only 24-month contracts are offered, with no shorter or rolling option
  • A scheduled flat price rise applies every March
  • Top speed tier tops out at 900 Mbps, without the higher multi-gigabit options some rivals now offer

Sky

  • Best-in-class Ofcom complaints record alongside Plusnet, well below the industry average
  • No setup costs on current advertised packages
  • Strong, mature TV bundle range for households that also want Sky TV or Sky Sports
  • Good parental controls via Sky Broadband Shield, included as standard
  • Low Trustpilot score, around 2.7 out of 5, despite the strong Ofcom record
  • Only 24-month contracts are offered, with no shorter or rolling option
  • Contract terms for years after the first only say prices "may rise," without a fixed future figure disclosed at sign-up
  • Average upload speeds on the Superfast and Ultrafast copper-based tiers

Plusnet vs Sky broadband price, tier by tier

Full fibre prices verified on 6 September 2026 from each provider and cross-checked against Uswitch. A widely quoted claim that Sky is cheaper across most speeds does not hold for the entry and mid tiers, where Plusnet is consistently a pound or two lower. Prices shown after a postcode check can differ from these national figures.

Speed tierPlusnetSkyCheaper option
Full Fibre, around 74 to 75 Mbps£21.99 a monthAbout £23 a monthPlusnet cheaper
Full Fibre, around 145 to 150 Mbps£22.99 a monthAbout £24 a monthPlusnet cheaper
Full Fibre, around 300 Mbps£24.99 a monthNo direct match; nearest tier jumps to about 500 or 900 MbpsPlusnet only
Full Fibre, around 500 Mbps£27.99 a monthAbout £27 a monthRoughly level
Full Fibre, around 900 Mbps£29.99 a monthAbout £28 a monthSky slightly cheaper

How we label the cheaper option: we compare the current advertised monthly price at each matching speed tier, before any reward card, and mark a tier "roughly level" when the gap is under a pound. Plusnet adds no setup fee; Sky usually advertises no setup fee but can apply a router delivery and activation charge outside a promotion.

Check Plusnet price at my postcodeCheck Sky price at my postcode

Plusnet and Sky pros and cons

Plusnet

Pros

  • Lower monthly price on the entry and mid full fibre tiers
  • No setup or activation fee on any current package
  • Best Ofcom complaints record of any major UK provider, at 4 per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026
  • UK-based customer service team, handled from Sheffield
  • Reward card worth roughly £50 to £140 on faster tiers, depending on the current promotion

Cons

  • Broadband only, with no landline and no TV option since 2021
  • Plusnet Hub Two router uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, with no bundled mesh
  • Scheduled flat price rise of £4 a month every March, in 2027 and 2028 for new customers
  • Top tier stops at around 900 Mbps, with no multi-gigabit option

Sky

Pros

  • Landline and pay-as-you-go calls included on every plan
  • Optional Wi-Fi 6 Max Hub with a whole-home speed guarantee for about £3 a month
  • Discounted Sky TV, Sky Stream and Netflix bundles on the same bill
  • Second best Ofcom complaints record among the majors, at 5 per 100,000 in Q1 2026
  • Also sold on the CityFibre network in some areas, with multi-gigabit tiers where available

Cons

  • Usually a pound or two more than Plusnet on the entry and mid full fibre tiers
  • A router delivery and activation charge can apply outside a no-setup-fee promotion, so check the checkout total
  • For customers already in contract, the terms only say prices "may rise" in later years rather than fixing a figure
  • Only 24-month contracts, with no shorter or rolling option

Plusnet vs Sky broadband: the common questions

Is Plusnet or Sky broadband cheaper?

Plusnet is the cheaper choice on most tiers. Verified on 6 September 2026, Plusnet Full Fibre started at £21.99 a month and its mid tiers ran £22.99 to £27.99, while the closest Sky full fibre plans were about £23 to £27. Sky is only slightly cheaper near 900 Mbps, at about £28 against Plusnet's £29.99, and Plusnet's reward card can offset that difference. Sky also has no direct match for Plusnet's 300 Mbps tier.

Which is faster, Plusnet or Sky?

Neither is faster at the same address. Both sell over the Openreach network, so the top speed and line quality at your property are set by the fibre available there, not by the brand. Both offer full fibre from around 74 Mbps up to about 900 Mbps. Plusnet tends to quote slightly higher average upload speeds on the faster tiers, while Sky quotes higher minimum download guarantees. Run a postcode check with each provider to see the exact speed estimate for your line.

Which has better customer service, Plusnet or Sky?

Both are strong, and Plusnet is marginally ahead on the independent measure. Ofcom's Q1 2026 complaints data recorded Plusnet at 4 complaints per 100,000 customers, the lowest of any major UK provider, with Sky second at 5, both below the industry average of 6. Plusnet's support is UK-based from Sheffield. Sky scored 63% for complaint-handling satisfaction in Ofcom's 2024 survey, above the 58% average.

Is Sky broadband more reliable than Plusnet?

Reliability at a given address depends on the Openreach line rather than the provider, since both use the same network. On the evidence that is measured the same way for every provider, Ofcom's complaints data, Plusnet and Sky are the two best performers among the majors. Sky publishes higher minimum speed guarantees on its full fibre tiers, which can matter if a slow line is a specific worry for you.

Which router is better, Plusnet or Sky?

Sky has the stronger hardware option. Plusnet includes the Hub Two, a Wi-Fi 5 router with no bundled mesh. Sky's standard hub is a step up, and its optional Wi-Fi 6 Max Hub adds a whole-home speed guarantee for about £3 a month. If reliable coverage across a larger home matters, Sky gives you a supported way to get it; with Plusnet you would buy your own mesh system separately.

Should I switch from Sky to Plusnet?

Switch to Plusnet if you want a lower bill and do not use a Sky landline or Sky TV. Both run on Openreach, so a move between them normally uses Ofcom's One Touch Switch process, where the new provider arranges the handover and there is no gap in service. Check any early exit charge on your current Sky contract first, and confirm the Plusnet price and speed at your postcode before you order.

Can I get Sky TV without choosing Sky broadband?

Yes. Sky Stream and NOW deliver Sky channels over any broadband connection, so you can keep Plusnet for internet and stream Sky content separately. What you cannot do is bundle them onto one bill or get the combined broadband and TV discount, which is only available when you take Sky broadband as well.

When Plusnet wins and when Sky wins

Plusnet wins when

  • You want the lowest monthly price and do not need a landline or TV
  • The strongest independently measured complaints record matters to you
  • You prefer UK-based support and a price rise schedule fixed at sign-up
  • You are happy to add your own mesh Wi-Fi if a larger home needs it

Sky wins when

  • You still use a home phone line, which Sky includes on every plan
  • You want Sky TV, Sky Stream or Netflix discounted on one bill
  • You want a Wi-Fi 6 router and a whole-home speed guarantee as a supported add-on
  • Higher minimum speed guarantees on the full fibre tiers reassure you
See Plusnet dealsSee Sky deals

Which provider fits your main priority?

Choose the one factor that matters most to your household. The result uses the verified national prices and Ofcom evidence on this page, so it is a starting point rather than an address-level availability check.

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Related Plusnet and Sky comparisons and guides

Key Differences

Price per speed tier

Verified on 6 September 2026, Plusnet Full Fibre started at £21.99 a month and its mid tiers ran £22.99 to £27.99, against roughly £23 to £27 for the closest Sky plans. Sky is only slightly cheaper near 900 Mbps, at about £28 against Plusnet's £29.99, where Plusnet's reward card can close the gap. A common claim that Sky is cheaper across most speeds does not hold for the entry and mid tiers.

Setup fee and upfront cost

Plusnet charges no setup or activation fee on any current package. Sky usually advertises no setup fee too, but a router delivery and activation charge can apply outside a promotional period, so check the Sky checkout total rather than assuming it will be waived.

Price rises during the contract

Plusnet applies a flat £4 a month rise every March, including March 2027 and March 2028 for new customers, and discloses it at the point of sale. Sky applied a flat £3 a month rise from April 2026, but for customers already in contract its terms only say prices "may rise" in later years without fixing a figure. Both follow Ofcom's January 2025 ban on inflation-linked percentage rises.

Phone line, TV and extras

Sky includes a landline and pay-as-you-go calls on every plan and can add discounted Sky TV, Sky Stream or Netflix to the same bill. Plusnet is broadband only, with no landline for new customers and no TV option since 2021. You can still watch Sky content on Plusnet broadband through Sky Stream or NOW, but without the bundle discount.

Router and home Wi-Fi

Plusnet supplies the Hub Two, a Wi-Fi 5 router with no bundled mesh. Sky's standard hub is a step up, and its optional Wi-Fi 6 Max Hub adds a whole-home speed guarantee for about £3 a month, so covering a larger home is a supported add-on rather than a separate purchase.

Customer service and complaints

Ofcom's Q1 2026 complaints data recorded Plusnet at 4 complaints per 100,000 customers, the lowest of any major UK provider, with Sky second at 5, both below the industry average of 6. Plusnet's support is UK-based from Sheffield. Sky scored 63% for complaint-handling satisfaction in Ofcom's 2024 survey, above the 58% average.

How We Think About This Matchup

Plusnet and Sky both sell broadband over the Openreach network, so the line quality and the top speed available at a given address are largely the same whichever you pick. The real differences are the monthly price, the extras each includes, and how each one handles price rises during the contract.

Plusnet has narrowed to a value-focused, broadband-only brand: no landline, no TV, the lowest headline prices among the major providers, and the best Ofcom complaints record. Sky is a broader home-services brand that bundles a phone line as standard and can add discounted Sky TV, a Wi-Fi 6 router and a whole-home speed guarantee.

This comparison uses prices verified on 6 September 2026, a tier-by-tier price table, the two price-rise schedules side by side, and Ofcom Q1 2026 complaints data, so the choice comes down to evidence rather than brand familiarity.

Final Verdict

Choose Plusnet if you want the lower monthly price on the entry and mid full fibre tiers, no setup fee, the strongest independently measured complaints record, and a price rise schedule fixed at sign-up. It suits a broadband-only home that does not need a landline or TV.

Choose Sky if you still use a home phone, want Sky TV or Netflix discounted on one bill, or want a Wi-Fi 6 router and a whole-home speed guarantee as a supported add-on. Sky is usually a pound or two more per month on matching tiers.

Because both run on Openreach, confirm the exact speeds and the current price at your postcode with each provider before ordering, since address-level offers can differ from these national figures.

Check Plusnet at my postcodeCheck Sky at my postcode

Frequently Asked Questions

Editorial and Source Notes

We review provider comparisons against the same published methodology used across our provider reviews, then add source links where they help verify pricing context, methodology, and trade-offs.