Plusnet Broadband Review – Speeds, Reliability, Value

Plusnet is the UK’s no-frills fibre brand from BT Group. It focuses on straightforward broadband over the Openreach network, with full fibre speeds up to 900Mb and a simple set of plans. There’s no TV, no mobile bundle, and no landline add-on. The pitch is value, reliability, and UK-based support.

Is Plusnet broadband any good?

Plusnet is a strong choice if you want rock-solid broadband without extras. Prices are usually transparent, contracts are clear, and the Hub Two router is reliable for most homes. Customer service stands out: Ofcom’s latest quarterly data shows Plusnet generated the fewest broadband complaints of any major provider in Q1 2025.

However, there’s no home phone option, no TV platform, and the bundled router is Wi-Fi 5 rather than Wi-Fi 6. Mid-contract price rises are now a fixed pounds-and-pence increase each March, so budgeting is easier, but rises still apply.

Who is Plusnet best for?

Plusnet suits households that want to:

• Move to full fibre (FTTP) on Openreach with minimal fuss.
• Prioritise reliability and service over add-ons. Ofcom reports Plusnet with notably low repeat total loss of service faults.
• Keep costs predictable. Annual rises are fixed amounts from March each year for new and recontracting customers.

If you must have a bundled landline or TV, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

What does Plusnet broadband offer?

Plusnet offers broadband over the nationwide Openreach network. Full Fibre plans are available wherever Openreach FTTP has been built; a single “Fibre” FTTC plan is available in part-fibre areas.

Plans and speeds

All contracts are 24 months with unlimited usage. Full Fibre tiers are:

• Full Fibre 74 – average 74Mb
• Full Fibre 145 – average 145Mb
• Full Fibre 300 – average 300Mb
• Full Fibre 500 – average 500Mb
• Full Fibre 900 – average 900Mb

Plusnet upload speeds are asymmetrical and vary by tier, typical of Openreach FTTP. If upload speed is important to you, you can opt for altnet providers like Hyperoptic and Community Fibre.

No home phone

Plusnet packages are broadband-only. In line with the national switchover away from the analogue PSTN towards digital voice by 2027, Plusnet has simplified to broadband without a phone line.

Pricing and contracts

• Contract length: 24 months on all FTTP plans.
• Annual price rise: For contracts taken or recontracted 11 Jul 2024–4 Aug 2025, bills rise by £3 per month from 31 Mar 2026. For contracts on or after 5 Aug 2025, the rise is £4 per month from 31 Mar 2026. Older contracts may still follow CPI + 3.9%.
• Early termination charges: Calculated pro-rata on remaining months with wholesale savings deducted (worked example on Plusnet’s site).
• Cooling-off: You can cancel within 14 days of order; you’ll pay for any used services/activation where applicable.
• Router return: Equipment is loaned. If you signed up after 1 Feb 2024 and don’t return the router when you leave, Plusnet charges £50.

Installation

• Lead times: Remote activation in ~3 working days where an ONT already exists. New FTTP installs usually complete in 3–10 working days.
• Hardware: Openreach fits an ONT indoors; your router connects via Ethernet.
• Switching: If you’re moving from a non-Openreach network (e.g. Virgin Media), you’ll need to cancel with your old provider once Plusnet confirms your go-live date.

Plusnet Hub Two Router

All plans include the Plusnet Hub Two, a re-branded BT Smart Hub 2 running Plusnet firmware. It comes pre-configured for Plusnet, so it works straight out of the box without any hassle.

Wireless standard
The Hub Two uses dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) with 2.4GHz for range and 5GHz for higher throughput. Band steering helps devices move to the best band automatically, which keeps latency lower during busy periods and improves stability for streaming and video calls.

Ports and throughput
There are 3× Gigabit LAN ports for wired devices and 1× dedicated Gigabit WAN port for the Openreach ONT. The gigabit backhaul means the router does not bottleneck Plusnet’s Full Fibre 900 downstream under normal conditions.

Set-up on FTTP
On full fibre, installation is straightforward: connect the red-labelled WAN to the ONT, power up, and wait for the service light to stabilise. Most homes will be online within minutes. WPS is available for fast pairing of supported devices; manual SSID/password entry works as usual.

Management and basics
The web interface lets you change the Wi-Fi network name and key, set DHCP reservations for key devices, and configure port forwarding for services and consoles. UPnP is available and can be toggled if you prefer explicit rules.

Coverage and placement
The integrated radios and internal antenna design make it suitable for typical 1–3 bed UK homes. Place it centrally and off the floor, away from fridges, mirrors and thick masonry to reduce attenuation. Where possible, wire bandwidth-heavy devices (TVs, consoles, desktops) to the LAN ports to cut bufferbloat and free up airtime for wireless clients.

Mesh and upgrades
For larger properties or complex layouts, add a third-party mesh system. You can keep the Hub Two for routing and use the mesh in access-point mode, or connect a standalone Wi-Fi 6/6E router to the ONT and handle PPPoE directly if you want newer wireless standards.

Limitations to note
The Hub Two is Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6/6E, and it lacks advanced features you may find on higher-end retail routers (for example, granular QoS or multi-gig ports). For most households it is a solid, proven unit that is easy to run; power users and larger homes should consider a mesh or a Wi-Fi 6/6E upgrade to push peak wireless throughput and extend coverage.

Customer service and complaints

Plusnet is consistently among the best for low complaint volumes. Ofcom’s latest release shows Plusnet with the fewest broadband complaints per 100,000 customers in Q1 2025.

Plusnet also participates in Ofcom’s Automatic Compensation scheme (for delayed repairs, missed appointments, and late activation). Compensation rates are set and updated annually by Ofcom.

Social tariffs

Plusnet doesn’t run a social tariff itself. Eligible Plusnet customers can move to BT Home Essentials without exit fees, subject to BT’s eligibility checks. This is BT Group policy and is documented on BT’s Home Essentials page.

How Plusnet compares

Plusnet is broadband-only. There’s no TV platform, no landline add-on, and no paid whole-home Wi-Fi guarantee. If you want bundles under one bill—broadband with digital voice, premium TV, multi-room boxes, and optional Wi-Fi guarantees—providers like Sky, BT and EE are better choices. They typically ship newer Wi-Fi 6 routers on mid-to-top tiers and offer add-ons such as mesh boosters, cloud security, and inclusive mobile perks. These providers are ideal if you want one provider to handle everything and make sure Wi-Fi works well throughout your home.

What you keep by choosing Plusnet
You still get Openreach FTTP, straightforward contracts, and UK-based support. Setup is simple—ONT to WAN—and the Hub Two is stable for most 1–3 bed homes. If the router that comes with it doesn’t meet your needs, you can easily plug in your own mesh or newer Wi-Fi 6 router. For many households, Plusnet’s no-frills approach is a benefit, not a drawback.

Against other value FTTP providers
Compared to other cheap Openreach providers, Plusnet has competitive starting prices and a clear range of plans: 74, 145, 300, 500, and 900Mb. The router is still decent, even though it uses Wi-Fi 5, and their support is quick to respond, with fewer complaints than many other budget options. Brands like TalkTalk, Vodafone, or NOW might offer lower prices or include Wi-Fi 6 routers, but Plusnet often wins when it comes to reliability and service after setup.

When Plusnet wins
Choose Plusnet if you want reliable full fibre, simple bills, and no hidden surprises. It’s a good option for homes that don’t need a phone line or TV, and are happy to add their own Wi-Fi equipment if needed.

When a rival is better
Pick a all-in-one provider if you want everything — TV, phone, and Wi-Fi that works in every room. If the main thing you care about is having the latest Wi-Fi 6 kit, and you’re fine with less hands-on support, one of the cheaper providers might be better.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Straightforward broadband options with speeds clearly listed.
• Fewest Ofcom broadband complaints in Q1 2025; low repeat total loss faults.
• Predictable annual price rise model in pounds and pence.
• Offers automatic compensation if things go wrong.

Cons

• No home phone add-on; no TV bundles.
• Router is Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6.
• Fixed annual rises still apply mid-contract.

Final word

Plusnet keeps things simple — reliable broadband at fair prices, low complaint levels, and easy contracts. If you just want broadband that works without all the extras, it’s a solid choice