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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →To change broadband provider in the UK, choose your new provider and ask it to arrange the move using Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process. You usually do not need to cancel your old broadband separately. Before confirming, check exit charges, any landline or TV bundle, email access, and what equipment the new service requires.
How to switch broadband provider
- Check what is available at your address. Compare services you can actually order, including connection type, expected speed, contract length, total cost and any stated in-contract price rises.
- Contact the provider you want to join. Give it your address, current provider and the services you want to switch. Ask it to use One Touch Switch (OTS). The new provider manages the switch and, where technically possible, arranges it for your preferred date. Your details need to match the records held by your current provider.
- Read the information from your current provider. Check any early termination charge and what will happen to other services linked to your account. If the new service uses a different network, ask whether you need an engineer visit, new equipment or other setup.
- Confirm the order and follow the new provider’s setup instructions. Check the switch date and whether a router is supplied or required. Once the new service is working, your old service should cease automatically under OTS.
- Connect your devices to the new Wi-Fi. Update their network settings, or ask the new provider whether you can use your old network name and password on its router. Use a strong Wi-Fi password.
What to check before you confirm
Contract end date and exit charges
If you are still within your minimum contract period, your current provider may charge an early termination fee. Under OTS, it must tell you about charges before the switch. If a new provider offers to cover exit fees, read its terms and check what is included before relying on it.
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Notice-period billing
With OTS, your old provider must not charge for a notice period after the switchover date. Ofcom’s switching guidance states: “Your old provider must not charge you for any notice period after the switchover date.”
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Possible interruption and compensation
A switch can involve a service interruption; the protection is not a promise of uninterrupted broadband. Under OTS, Ofcom says any loss of service should not last longer than one working day. Providers must compensate customers in specified circumstances, including a loss of service lasting longer than one working day or a missed confirmed service or installation appointment. See Ofcom’s guidance on switching broadband provider for the applicable protections.
#1 Best Overall
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Landline, TV and other bundled services
Check exactly which services are part of your package. A landline may move with your broadband, while a TV service may need to be cancelled separately. If you want to keep one part of a bundle, ask both providers what the switch will change before placing the order.
Provider email
If you use an email address supplied by your current provider, ask whether it will remain available after you leave. If it will not, set up a replacement and move important accounts and contacts before switching.
Rank #2
- OneMesh Compatible Router - Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders
- Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Technology – The Archer AX10 leverages advanced Wi-Fi 6 features like OFDMA and 1024-QAM to deliver improved efficiency across your entire network. Perfect for high-bandwidth activities like streaming, gaming, and smart home connectivity.
- Next-gen Dual Band router - 300 Mbps on 2. 4 GHz (802. 11n) plus 1201 Mbps on 5 GHz (802. 11ax)
- Connect more devices than ever before - Wi-Fi 6 technology simultaneously communicates more data to more devices using OFDMA and MU-MIMO while reducing lag dramatically
- Powerful Dual-Core 900MHz Processor – Handles multiple data streams simultaneously for reliable performance across your devices. Ensures smooth streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing without buffering or lag.
Routers and other equipment
Ask whether you must return your current router and what the new provider will supply. A new router is not necessary for every switch. Before buying one, confirm compatibility and whether equipment is already included.
Cooling-off period
Ofcom says you may cancel an order within 14 calendar days. Its guide to choosing a broadband provider says this applies when you sign up online, by phone or on the doorstep, and might not apply to an in-store purchase. If service has already started, you may still have to pay for service used and installation. Cancelling does not automatically restore your old service.
Rank #3
- NIGHTHAWK WIFI 6 ROUTER FOR YOUR WHOLE HOME: Delivers fast, reliable WiFi across every room of your apartment or small home for streaming, gaming, video calls, and smart home devices, all running at the same time without slowing each other down.
- WORKS WITH YOUR EXISTING INTERNET SERVICE: Pairs with your existing modem or gateway via ethernet. Compatible with most cable, fiber, DSL, and satellite providers. Some gateways and modem router combos may require bridge mode. No coax needed.
- SET UP AND MANAGE YOUR NETWORK WITH THE NIGHTHAWK APP: Download the free Nighthawk app on iOS or Android for guided setup. Manage WiFi, run speed tests, pause devices, and set up guest networks from anywhere. Active internet required.
- READY FOR THE DEVICES YOU ALREADY OWN: Your phones, laptops, and TVs work right out of the box. WiFi 6 delivers speeds up to 1.8 Gbps across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Backward compatible with WiFi 5 and earlier.
- COVERAGE IN EVERY ROOM: Covers up to 1,500 sq. ft. for up to 20 connected devices. Walls, floors, and interference can reduce range. Larger or multi-story homes may benefit from a NETGEAR Orbi mesh WiFi system.
How to choose the new package
Check address-level availability first, then compare the full package rather than the advertised monthly price alone. Ofcom’s broadband-choice guide describes full fibre as usually faster and more reliable than part fibre for a similar price; what you can order and the terms offered depend on your location and package.
| Ofcom speed category | Broad speed range | Typical uses in Ofcom’s guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Up to 30 Mbit/s | Basic browsing, email and standard video |
| Superfast | 30–300 Mbit/s | Common uses such as working from home, video calls and streaming |
| Ultrafast | 300 Mbit/s or above | Multiple simultaneous users or data-intensive use |
These are broad guide categories, not a guarantee that a connection will achieve its advertised speed. Assess the speed you need against the number of people and devices using the connection at once, and check the terms for the specific service available at your address.
Rank #4
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
Compare these factors before choosing:
- Address-level availability and connection type.
- Expected speed against your household’s actual use.
- Total contract cost, including setup fees, stated price rises and possible exit charges.
- Contract term and flexibility.
- Customer service.
- Effects on any landline or TV bundle, plus equipment and installation requirements.
Ofcom says customers receiving certain benefits may be eligible for a social tariff, which it describes as cheaper and without mid-contract price rises. Check the eligibility rules and current terms with providers.
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If you need the new connection working before the old service ends, you can arrange the new service and cancel the old one separately. This self-managed overlap is not an OTS switch. Check the old provider’s notice period and charges, and account for the possibility that installation is delayed and both services are billed at once.
Best Value
- 𝐆𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟖𝐊 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Up to 5400 Mbps WiFi for faster browsing, streaming, gaming and downloading, all at the same time. Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, & obstacles such as walls.
- 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐅𝐢 𝟔 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 – Equipped with 4T4R and HE160 technologies on the 5 GHz band to enable max 4.8 Gbps ultra-fast connections.Power:12 V 2.5 A
- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 – Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA to reduce congestion and 4X the average throughput
- 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 - Covers up to 2,000 sq. ft. High-Power FEM, 6× Antennas, Beamforming, and 4T4R structures combine to adapt WiFi coverage to perfectly fit your home and concentrate signal strength towards your devices.
- 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭 – Improved vented areas help unleash the full power of the router
How common is switching?
Ofcom’s 2025 Pricing and Consumer Engagement Report says more than two million customers used OTS to switch broadband and/or fixed voice between its launch in September 2024 and the end of 2025. Separately, 18% of fixed broadband customers switched provider in 2025, compared with 14% in 2023. The report says some switches completed in as little as one day; that does not establish one day as the usual completion time.
Quick Recap
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