The Post Office is one of the UK’s most recognisable brands, and they offer home broadband in amongst a diverse range of consumer services.
Although the Post Office has a relatively low market share of the UK broadband market, in terms of volume it is estimated they supply broadband to around half a million UK households.
One of the first things you notice when you visit the Post Office’s broadband page is that there are no taglines or grand claims about what they can offer, just clear, easy to understand information around what it is they offer.
What Broadband Speeds are Available with Post Office Broadband?
Like many broadband providers, the Post Office provides an option for bundling a calls package to your broadband, but you can take out broadband as a standalone service if you wish.
There are currently three packages available with Post Office broadband, which are highlighted in the table below.
| Post Office Broadband Package | Advertised average Speed |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Broadband | 11MB |
| Unlimited Fibre Broadband | 38MB |
| Fibre Broadband Plus | 67MB |
Post Office Broadband Speeds
Due to a ruling from the Advertising Standards Authority that came into effect in May 2018, internet service providers (ISP’s) in the United Kingdom are now required to advertise average speeds on the basis of what at least half of their customers can receive at peak times. Prior to this ruling, ISP’s could advertise higher headline speeds, so long as only 10% of customers were being provided with such a speed.
Although this ruling means the advertised speeds you see when looking for your ideal broadband package are more accurate, the speed you can receive, and use, depends on several variables. Use a broadband speed checker to get an even more accurate idea of the internet speeds you can expect to receive, from Post Office broadband or any other provider.
The tables below highlight the most recent data based on Ofcom’s home broadband performance research, comparing popular broadband providers against the advertised speeds they offer. This research took place in November 2018 and was published in May 2019.
Although Post Office broadband was not included in the speed testing elements of the study, the Post Office delivers its broadband services across the TalkTalk network. In the below tables, we have changed the TalkTalk performance to the Post Office to give you an idea of the speeds you can expect to receive, but please note that TalkTalk was the ISP actually reported on in the Ofcom research.
How Do Post Office Broadband Speeds Compare to Other UK ISP’s?
Let’s look at how Post Office broadband compares to other UK ISP’s for speed performance across the packages it offers.
Post Office Unlimited Broadband 11MB Speed Comparison
| ISP | Advertised Average speed | Performance range over a 24-hour period | Performance range at peak times (8pm – 10pm, weekdays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BT | 10MB | 9.7MB – 12.1MB | 9.7MB – 12.1MB |
| Plusnet | 10MB | 10.7MB – 13MB | 10.6MB – 12.9MB |
| Sky | 11MB | 10.8MB – 12.8MB | 10.7MB – 12.7MB |
| Post Office Broadband | 11MB | 8.9MB – 11.1MB | 8.8MB – 11.0MB |
Post Office broadband performs worst out of all the UK ISP’s tested by Ofcom, with what it bills as its average speed representing the peak speed enjoyed during testing.
Post Office Unlimited Fibre Broadband 38MB Speed Comparison
| ISP | Advertised Average speed | Performance range over a 24-hour period | Performance range at peak times (8pm – 10pm, weekdays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plusnet | 36MB | 31.4MB – 33.1MB | 31.0MB – 32.8MB |
| EE | 36MB | 32.5MB – 34.8MB | 32.2MB – 34.5MB |
| Sky | 36MB | 32.3MB – 34.2MB | 32.0MB – 34.0MB |
| BT | 36MB | 26.6MB – 29.2MB | 26.5MB – 29.0MB |
| Post Office Broadband | 38MB | 31.6MB – 33.6MB | 31.4MB – 33.4MB |
While Post Office broadband fails to hit its advertised average speeds at this tier, the same is true of all the other ISP’s tested. Overall, Post Office broadband performs on par with most of the other ISP’s, and easily outperforms BT.
However, it should also be noted that Post Office broadband advertises higher average speeds than the other ISP’s tested, so in that context their performance could be interpreted as being worse than the other ISP’s, like Plusnet, that they appear to be on par with.
Post Office Fibre Broadband Plus 67MB Speed Comparison
| ISP | Advertised Average speed | Performance range over a 24-hour period | Performance range at peak times (8pm – 10pm, weekdays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | 59MB | 56.3MB – 61.0MB | 55.9MB – 60.7MB |
| Plusnet | 66MB | 58.0MB – 61.4MB | 57.6MB – 61.0MB |
| BT | 67MB | 62.4MB – 64.6MB | 62.1MB – 64.3MB |
| Post Office Broadband | 67MB | 61.0MB – 64.5MB | 60.5MB – 64.1MB |
| EE | 67MB | 60.0MB – 64.9MB | 59.4MB – 64.5MB |
For the fastest broadband packages it offers, Post Office broadband again doesn’t meet the average speeds it says it does, but again this is a trend seen across many other ISP’s. Post Office broadband actually hits some of the highest speeds in the UK alongside BT and EE and performs much better than Plusnet and Sky.
Post Office Broadband Download Speeds Summary
Post Office broadband struggles to deliver on its promises for its budget broadband package, with testing showing it hitting a peak around 11MB, rather than this being in the centre of a range as we might expect to see with an advertised average speed.
Post Office broadband performs better in the superfast section of the market, although not hitting its own average advertised speeds it compares favourably against other ISP’s in speed performance.
Post Office Broadband Upload Speeds
While not all consumers look at the upload speeds being offered prior to taking out a home broadband package, it is worth knowing what you’re going to be getting even if you’re not planning on uploading dozens of photos and videos on a weekly basis.
Discovering what upload speeds you can expect to get can be difficult, as not all ISP’s highlight it or even mention it at all until you’re going through the checkout process.
The tables below are from the same Ofcom research mentioned earlier, conducted in November 2018 and published in May 2019. As noted earlier, Post Office broadband is delivered via the TalkTalk network, so you’re looking at the TalkTalk upload performance for an idea of how your Post Office broadband would perform for uploads.
Post Office broadband’s performance at the slowest speed it offers (11MB) is the same for uploads as it is for downloads, and lags behind other UK ISP’s.
At its 38MB package, Post Office broadband’s improvement is like what we saw when looking at average download speeds. Their upload speeds are on par with most competitors, and are significantly better than BT’s slower package and way better than what Virgin Media offer from what is a far quicker downloads package.
Post Office broadband again performs well for uploads with its fastest package, on par or outperforming all other ISP’s except for BT’s full fibre package.
Post Office Broadband Speeds Summary
While Post Office broadband doesn’t really deliver at the budget end of the market, if you’re looking for superfast rather than basic broadband then you can be confident their speeds will be on par with the larger UK ISP’s.
Post Office Broadband Offers and Deals
The Post Office currently offers no specific incentives or free gifts to sign up to their broadband packages.
However, Post Office broadband incurs no upfront costs for users, and the Post Office fixes the price of the broadband for the duration of the contract, with a fixed term of 12 months as standard.
How Does Post Office Broadband Pricing Compare with Other UK ISP’s?
Let’s look at how Post Office broadband’s prices compare to other UK ISP’s.
Post Office Unlimited Broadband 11MB Price Comparison
| ISP | Package | Advertised Average Speed | Contract Terms | Upfront Fee | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plusnet | Unlimited | 10MB | 18 months | Free | £19.99 for 18 months, then £30.98 |
| EE | Standard Broadband | 10MB | 18 months | Free | £20 a month for 18 months, then £32 |
| BT | Broadband | 10MB | 24 months | £29.99 | £26.99 for 24 months, then £32.99 |
| Shell Energy | Fast Broadband | 11MB | 18 months | Free | £19.99 |
| Sky | Essential | 11MB | 18 months | £19.95 | £20 for 18 months, then £25 |
| TalkTalk | Fast Broadband | 11MB | 24 months | Free | £19.95 for 24 months, then £30 |
| Now Broadband | Brilliant Broadband | 11MB | 12 months | Free | £18 for 12 months, then £25.99 |
| Onestream Broadband | Flow Unlimited with Uptime Calls* | 11MB | 12 months | £9.99 | £17.99** |
| Post Office Broadband | Unlimited Broadband | 11MB | 12 months | Free | £15.90 a month for 12 months, then £30 |
*Flow Unlimited only available with calls.
**Cost unknown after initial 12/24-month contract period.
Post Office broadband offers the cheapest basic broadband package in the UK, at £2 per month cheaper than Onestream and with no upfront payment. Post Office broadband is also £4 a month cheaper than TalkTalk, on whose network it runs, while also only locking customers in for 12 months.
Post Office Unlimited Fibre Broadband 38MB Price Comparison
| ISP | Package | Advertised Average Speed | Contract Terms | Upfront Fee | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onestream Broadband | Fibre Max Unlimited | 35MB | 24 months | £9.99 | £22.99 per month for 24 months, then £34.99 per month. |
| Shell Energy | Superfast Fibre Broadband | 35MB | 18 months | Free | £24.99 |
| Plusnet | Unlimited Fibre | 36MB | 18 months | Free | £22.99 for 18 months, then £39.48 |
| EE | Fibre | 36MB | 18 months | Free | £24 for 18 months, then £37 |
| Now Broadband | Fab Fibre | 36MB | 12 months | Free | £25 a month for 12 months, then £35.99 |
| BT | Superfast Fibre Essential | 36MB | 24 months | £9.99 | £27.99 a month for 24 months, then £32.99 |
| TalkTalk | Faster Fibre | 38MB | 24 months | Free | £22.45 for 24 months, then £36 |
| Post Office Broadband | Unlimited Fibre Broadband | 38MB | 12 months | Free | £20.90 a month for 12 months, then £37 |
At the mid-range tier it offers, Post Office broadband is again the cheapest provider in the UK, and one of the only UK ISP’s offering a 12-month contract for superfast broadband.
Post Office Fibre Broadband Plus 67MB Price Comparison
| ISP | Package | Advertised Average Speed | Contract Terms | Upfront Fee | Monthly Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Broadband Superfast | 59MB | 18 months | £19.95 | £27 for 18 months, then £32 |
| Shell Energy | Superfast Fibre Plus Broadband | 63MB | 18 months | Free | £34.99 |
| Now | Super Fibre | 63MB | 12 months | Free | £30 a month for 12 months, then £43.99 |
| Onestream Broadband | Superfibre Unlimited | 63MB | 12 or 24 months | £9.99 | £26.99 per month for 12 months, then £39.99 per month. |
| Plusnet | Unlimited Fibre Extra + Line only | 66MB | 18 months | Free | £26.99 for 18 months, then £40.98 |
| TalkTalk | Superfast Fibre | 67MB | 24 months | Free | £24.95 for 24 months, then £41 |
| EE | Fibre Plus | 67MB | 18 months | Free | £28 for 18 months, then £42 |
| BT | Superfast Fibre 2 | 67MB | 24 months | £9.99 | £34.99 for 24 months, then £47.99 |
| Post Office Broadband | Fibre Broadband Plus | 67MB | 12 Months | Free | £26.90 a month for 12 months, then £42 |
For 67MB broadband, Post Office broadband remains one of the cheapest options in the UK, at a similar price to a handful of other ISP’s albeit more expensive per month than TalkTalk. However, the Post Office again offers a 12-month contract for these broadband speeds, with only Now and Onestream doing the same.
Post Office Broadband Pricing Summary
Post Office broadband offers consumers the cheapest broadband in the UK for basic broadband packages and at the entry point into the superfast market. While Post Office broadband loses its crown as the cheapest UK ISP at the 67MB tier, its pricing is still very competitive, and they are one of the few ISP’s who offer a 12-month commitment for this speed of home broadband.
Post Office Broadband Customer Service
Although Post Office broadband is delivered via the TalkTalk network, all customer service-related issues are dealt with independently by the Post Office using their own team.
While Post Office broadband as a service was not tested individually during Ofcom’s research, they were weirdly included in the customer service analysis conducted as part of the same research, although only one metric was measured as we can see in the table below.
While the table shows us that you won’t be waiting long for someone to answer you call if you need to contact the Post Office regarding your broadband, we had to look elsewhere to get a better idea of customer satisfaction.
Post Office broadband currently has a rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars based on customer reviews on the broadband.co.uk website. There is also a Trustpilot rating of 1.6 stars out of 5, although this rating appears to be based on all of the Post Office’s services and is not exclusively related to broadband.
If you’re a Post Office broadband customer, you can contact them on Twitter via @PostOffice, where it appears typically you will be given a number to call to get your query resolved.
Website help is in the form of an FAQ’s section, which you can find here, while customers can also call the Post Office on 0345 600 3210.
Summing Up Post Office Broadband
While Post Office broadband is among the cheapest in the UK, and the cheapest by a considerable cost in some instances, if you’re looking for a budget broadband solution then you might be better served paying a little more for a provider than delivers better speeds.
However, if you’re primarily driven by price when deciding on which broadband provider to use, you’re unlikely to notice much difference in speed in comparison to if you were to use another provider.
At higher speeds, Post Office broadband remains price competitive while performing at least on par with the other UK ISP’s.
The one question mark over Post Office broadband relates to its customer service, although again if you’re predominantly motivated by price this may be something that you’re willing to put up with for the savings you could make compared to going with an alternative ISP.
