What is the best broadband-only deal?

With streaming services becoming ever more popular and landlines almost a thing of the past, broadband-only packages are becoming more and more common. So how do they stack up?

In this article we compare the entry-level broadband deals from the main providers to see who comes out on top.  

It's important to note that with some providers it can actually be just as cheap, or even cheaper, to add a home phone package to your broadband even if you don't want it (go figure!). Indeed some only offer broadband with a landline too. So it's always a good idea to consider dual-play bundles.

Digiweb - Superfast Broadband Home

What do you get?

Up to 100Mbps unlimited broadband, meaning you can browse and surf to your heart’s content. However this is fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) or part-fibre broadband and not pure, fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband so the actual speed you get could be lower and will be confirmed by Digiweb before you fully sign up. See here for an explanation on the difference between FTTC and FTTH broadband.

Digiweb is also offering its SIRO-powered pure fibre broadband for €24.54 a month for the first four months to new customers, but for a limited time only. With SIRO you can get speeds of up to 1,000Mbps and download a 4GB film in just 30 seconds. You have to be eligible for SIRO in your area before signing up to this deal, however. It also comes with a home phone connection which offers off-peak calls to Irish landlines. Check out the full details right here.

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is €24.54 per month for the first four months and €42.24 per month thereafter, even after your contract is finished.

There’s also a €49 set-up fee for new customers.

What's special about this plan?

Digiweb broadband comes with free parental control features which help you to create a safer internet experience for your entire family. You can schedule when your children are allowed online, give them permission to visit only certain websites of your choosing, and decide which internet-enabled devices have Wi-Fi access and when.

Also, as a small, Irish-based company, many people recommend Digiweb for its good, personal customer service.  

This deal is available for sign up now.

Eir - Broadband & Home Phone

What do you get?

Up to 100Mbps unlimited broadband, meaning there’s no cap on how much you can download. Again, this is fibre-to-the-cabinet or part-fibre broadband so the actual speed you get could be lower than 100Mpbs. Customers will also receive a home phone with unlimited off-peak calls to Irish landlines.

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is currently €29.99 per month for the first 12 months and €59.99 per month thereafter.

The deal also comes with a one-off activation fee of €49.99 for new customers.

What's special about this plan?

With this plan you get the Eir Sport pack for free, which would usually cost about €30 a month. Eir is also currently offering all customers a year's free subscription to Amazon Prime Video, which would otherwise cost €5.99 extra a month.

This Eir deal is available for sign up now.

Pure Telecom - Purely Broadband

What do you get?

Up to 100Mbps unlimited part-fibre broadband. Though the speed you get could be lower depending on how far your home is from the fibre connection to your local cabinet. 

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is currently €35 per month for the entire length of the contract and there’s no set-up or activation fee. It is then €40 per month thereafter.

What's special about this plan?

As a small, Irish-based company, many people recommend Pure Telecom for its good customer service, something lacking of late among many telco providers. 

This deal is available for sign up right now. 

Sky - Sky Broadband Superfast & Talk Freetime

What do you get?

Up to 100Mbps unlimited part-fibre broadband - so no limit on what you can download but speed not guaranteed as it's not a pure fibre connection. However according to Sky the average speed customers can expect to get is 75Mbps.

Customers will also receive a home phone with off-peak calls to Irish landlines for no extra charge.

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is €35 per month for the first 12 months and €55 a month thereafter.  

There's also a one-off set-up/activation fee of €50 for all new customers.

What's special about this plan?

When you join Sky broadband you'll also get the Sky Hub, Sky’s wireless router, packed with clever features.

Sky’s technical support team is also based in Dublin, which will be a comfort to those who dread the thoughts of being put through to a foreign call centre.

Customers can also access the Sky Broadband Buddy app which allows parents and guardians to monitor their little one's activity online.  

This Sky deal is available for sign up now.

Virgin Media - 250Mb Broadband  

What do you get?

Up to 250Mbps unlimited broadband. According to Virgin, 250Mbps is achieved by at least 50% of customers on a wired connection at peak times.

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is €30 per month for the first six months and then €60 a month after that. There is currently no activation fee.

What's special about this plan?

At 250Mb the speed is far quicker than most of the other players and there’s a genuine chance that your connection will reach the promised speed advertised.

What's more, all broadband customers now get the Virgin Media TV Anywhere Sports App for free with their plan, which gives customers free access to Virgin Media Sport on their phone.  

This package is available for sign up now.

Vodafone - Simply Broadband

What do you get?

Up to 100Mb unlimited broadband with a fibre-to-the-cabinet connection. 

What does it cost?

It’s a 12-month contract and the price is currently just €30 per month for the first 12 months. Should you stay after your contract is up, the price will increase to €50 per month thereafter.

Unlike most other providers listed, there’s no set-up or activation fee with this deal.

What's special about this plan?

At a first-year cost of just €360, this is one of the cheapest offers on the market right now for broadband only. You can sign up to this deal right now on bonkers.ie.

Comparison of main broadband-only packages in Ireland 

Who wins?

It’s a tough call but at a first-year cost of just €360 for the year, Vodafone is hard to beat if price is your main concern. However, if speed is your thing, it's hard to look past Virgin Media or Digiweb's current SIRO offer if it's available in your area.

The key point here is that there are some genuinely fantastic offers out there at the moment for people who are prepared to switch.

So if you're not happy with your current broadband speed or the price you’re paying, there’s no reason to settle. All of the deals we’ve covered are available for sign up on bonkers.ie right now.