Sky broadband review

Sky is one of the biggest home broadband providers in the UK, and offers a wide range of packages – but it hasn't always been rated highly by UK customers in the Which? satisfaction survey. Our latest customer rating reveals how Sky broadband customers rated their Sky broadband service.

Each year we survey thousands of UK broadband customers to check how their rate each big provider's speed, reliability, customer service and value for money. Read on for our review, or use the free broadband comparison service from Which? to find the best Sky broadband deal for you.

Sky broadband review

Below you’ll find a range of information about Sky broadband. Which? Members can also read our full review, including:

• A full breakdown of how its customers rated it for key factors including reliability, speed, value for money and customer service.
• Quotes from real Sky broadband customers on their experiences
• A round up of all of Sky's broadband deals.
• Access to our Sky broadband satisfaction survey results.

We'll tell you exactly what you need to know about all the UK's biggest broadband providers, and help you avoid signing up for a deal you'll come to regret.

If you're already a member, log in now, or join Which? today.

Discover which providers impressed their customers most in our latest survey, which reveals the best and worst broadband providers. 

Sky broadband review

Pros 

Decent customer service, incentives for combining services

Cons 

Poor broadband speeds and reliability, low rating for value

Which? verdict 

Far from the best - there are better options

Sky broadband satisfaction survey results

Sky was one of the lower-ranked providers in our survey - its customer score of 56% put it in joint eighth place out of 12 providers, alongside its affordably-priced subsidiary, Now Broadband.

The main reason for Sky's low customer score is likely to be a dip in satisfaction with the provider's speed and reliability. Both earned just two stars, and nearly one in five Sky customers told us they'd experienced either very slow speeds or frequent connection drop outs in the past year.

Value for money was also considered poor - possibly unsurprising, given that Sky customers were more likely to be paying high amounts than customers of other providers. Around a quarter also said the price of their deal had increased in the past year.

Sky didn't do any better when it comes to customer service or technical support - both received a disappointing two stars. The one positive is it isn't too tricky to get in touch with when you do need help, more than half of Sky customers gave this a positive rating. Sky is also usually one of the least-complained about broadband providers according to the regulator, Ofcom 

Use the broadband comparison service from Which? to find the best Sky broadband deal for you.

What Sky customers told us

• 'The connection drops out, pages are slow to load, it doesn't stay connected at peak times - and you get the same old excuses if you complain.'
• 'I have a good relationship with Sky but I do find it very expensive.'
• 'The price keeps going up and up, my husband and I can't use our computers at the same time and the speeds are very slow.'
• 'It gives us what we need but there has been a price rise which has made it expensive.'

Sky broadband deals

Sky is best known for its combined TV, broadband and phone deals but it also offers several options for those who don't want to subscribe to its pay TV service. These broadband deals also include a landline phone service, though changes to landline phone services in the UK mean it now offers some phone services via its broadband service.

All contracts now last 18 months. Sky's packages aren't restricted by a fair-usage policy or any traffic management. Plus, you'll be able to stay online when you're out and about thanks to free and unlimited public wi-fi access at hotspots via the Sky WiFi app.

If you want a package that includes a pay-TV service, read our Sky TV and broadband provider review.

Our guide to the best broadband deals includes top picks from our experts on the best value broadband.

How much is Sky broadband?

Sky offers a wide range of packages, with various combinations of TV and premium channels alongside its broadband service.

You can view the entire range of Sky broadband packages, or check the latest prices for broadband-only deals below.

Sky broadband speeds

Sky now offers just four packages. The standard broadband 'Essential' package has an average speed of 11Mbps, and its widely available fibre package 'Superfast' has an average speed of 59Mbps. 

Speedier broadband is also available in limited areas - the 'Ultrafast' deal has an average speed of 145Mbps, while 'Ultrafast Plus' has an average speed of 500Mbps.

To compare prices and see more details on each package, read our Sky broadband package reviews.

Does Sky put up broadband prices every year?

No. Sky has avoided putting clauses covering mid-contract price rises in broadband contracts. However, it does regularly change its prices (usually in February of each year). However, if you're affected you'll receive a notification letting you know that you can switch away without penalty if you choose not to accept the price rise. 

What is Sky Broadband Boost?

Sky Broadband Boost is an add-on to a Sky subscription that brings extra benefits. For £5 per month, you get:

• A 'wi-fi guarantee' of minimum speeds.
• No-cost engineer visits.
• Daily speed checks and notifications of issues.
• An extra 2GB of mobile data if you have broadband issues.

It's worth carefully weighing up whether you'll make the most of these perks for the monthly cost. For more information, read our guide to Sky Broadband Boost.

What is Sky Broadband Shield?

Sky Broadband Shield is provided to Sky customers at no extra cost, and includes tools to make it safer to browse online. These include:

• Protection against websites that may contain malware or phishing attacks.
• Explicit content filters to safeguard the whole family.
• Support across multiple devices.

While Broadband Shield may provide some helpful benefits, it's not a replacement for dedicated antivirus software. 

What is the latest Sky router?

All new Sky Broadband customers receive the newer Sky Q Hub router. Sky claims this is its fastest ever router, delivering its 'most reliable Sky broadband experience via dual-band wireless technology'.

When our experts took a look, they found the Sky Q Hub did the basics well but was lacking in some areas. Find out more in our review of the Sky Q Hub.

Need to get in touch with Sky?

Bookmark our Sky Broadband customer contact page, which contains helpful links to service status updates, customer service phone numbers and social media accounts.