Like TalkTalk, Plusnet is a low cost broadband provider helping customers to save money. Along with discounts, new customers also get cashback and reward cards which significantly reduce the over-all cost.
According to Ofcom’s annual report, the provider is often praised for its good customer support and fewer complaints.
Overview
Plusnet broadband include unlimited usage, average download speeds from 10Mb to 500Mb, Safeguard online protection, and an 18-month contract.
Plusnet has just launched full fibre broadband plans which offer a range of speeds starting at 145Mbps and going up to 500Mbps.
Plusnet offers standard (ADSL) and fibre broadband plans. Plusnet brodband packages include home phone as standard with option to make PAYG calls. You can add a call plan – anytime or international calls.
Your are allowed to make free home phone calls between Plusnet landlines
Hub Zero router or Plusnet Hub One router is included free of charge.
Plusnet SafeGuard protection is provided for devices
Plusnet Broadband Speeds
Plusnet offers broadband and phone plans (line rental only) at three different speeds. Standard ADSL service remains an entry-level plan, while two fibre optic packages are available for busy homes.
Plusnet full fibre offers 74Mbps, 145Mbps, 500Mbps, and 900Mbps, but Gigabit (900Mbps) service is not yet available.
Plusnet Unlimited
Plusnet Unlimited is ADSL broadband plan which offers 10Mbps average download speed and 1Mbps average upload speed. Speeds are quite enough for 1 – 2 users, browsing and streaming videos.
Plusnet Unlimited Fibre
Plusnet Unlimited Fibre comes with 36Mbps average download speed and 9Mbps average upload speed. Ideal for small households, HD streaming and quicker downloads.
Plusnet Unlimited Fibre Extra
Fibre Extra offers 66Mbps average download speed and 18Mbps average upload speed. The plan offers excellent speeds for connecting multiple devices, smoother HD streaming and online gaming.
Plusnet Full Fibre Broadband
If you need to connect more devices at the same time, you can choose a faster fibre plan from their full fibre service.
The main advantage of full fibre broadband connections is they are very consistent and reliable. Additionally, Plusnet full-fibre broadband can reach speeds of up to 500 Mbit/s.
Just like FTTP products, no landline is included. You will need to use VoIP for calling, if needed. Alternatively, customers can keep their current phone number by adding a separate phone line for an additional fee.
The advanced Hub Two router is included.
- Full Fibre 74
74Mbps avg. download speed and 20Mbps avg. upload speed - Full Fibre 145
145Mbps avg. download speed and 30Mbps avg. upload speed - Full FIbre 500
500Mbps avg. download speed and 75Mbps avg. upload speed
Plusnet routers
Plusnet fibre broadband packages come with Hub One, a dual band wireless router packed with features like WiFi ac ( 802.11b/g/n/ac) , 4 gigabit connections, USB slot, WPS and IPv6 support.
Its ADSL customers get Hub Zero router which supports only standard, ADSL broadband connection.
Plusnet Hub Zero router
Specifications
- Built-in ADSL compatible modem
- Basic WiFi router (Model: Plusnet 2704n)
- Can it handle faster fibre speeds? – No
- Single band router (2.4Ghz band)
- 802.11b/g/n WiFi
- Four Ethernet ports (10/100)
- Firewall settings, DNS management and Port Forwarding can be changed.
- Device access can be controlled during selected times.
- Dimensions: 140mm width x 115mm height
- In the box: Micro filter, DSL cable or Ethernet cable
- Cost: Free with Plusnet broadband
Plusnet Hub One router
Specifications
- Built-in ADSL 2+ and Fibre broadband (VDSL2) compatible modem
- Model: Rebranded BT HomeHub 5A router
- Can it handle faster fibre speeds? – Yes
- Dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands)
- 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (2.4Ghz) and 802.11 a/n/ac (5Ghz)
- Smart channel selection
- Four gigabit ports
- DNS control? – No
- WPA / WPA2 & WPS security
- USB 2.0 port
- In the box: Micro filter, DSL cable or Ethernet cable
- Cost: Free with Plusnet fibre broadband
Plusnet Hub Two router
After including the Hub One router in the fibre package, Plunet now introduces an advanced Hub 2 router that can support faster fibre broadband services such as G.fast and FTTP (fibre to the premises) broadband.
Plusnet Hub Two comes with advanced technology support and compatibility with ultrafast fibre broadband.
Specifications
- Built-in ADSL 2+ Fibre broadband (VDSL2), G.fast compatible modem
- Model: Rebranded BT Smart Hub 2 router
- Speeds – 1Gbps
- Dual band router (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands)
- WiFi 5: 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (2.4Ghz) and 802.11 a/n/ac (5Ghz)
- Seven antenna and 2 DECT antenna
- Smart channel selection
- Four gigabit ports
- FXS phone port (for VoIP calling)
- WPA / WPA2 & WPS security
- USB 2.0 port
- Compatibility with WiFi disc and WiFi app.
- Support for BT WiFi Openzone
- In the box: Micro filter, DSL cable or Ethernet cable
Hub One vs Hub Two
| Feature | Hub One | Hub 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Rebranded BT HomeHub 5A router |
Rebranded BT Smart Hub 2 |
| G.fast & ultrafast support | no | yes |
| 802.11ac support | yes | yes |
| Dual bands | yes | yes |
| Gigabit ports | 4 | 4 |
| Smart channel selection | yes | yes |
| Antennae | 3 | 7 |
| VoIP support (FXS port) | no | yes |
| WiFi Disc support | no | yes |
| USB port | yes | yes |
For more information, Plusnet offers these router guides
Reliability
While advertised speeds are often shown on price lists, Ofcom’s 2021 survey shows the actual speeds users are getting across the UK.
| Plan | Avg. download speed | Latency |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited Fibre 36Mbps |
31.3Mbps | 11.9ms |
| Unlimited Fibre Extra 66Mbps |
59.3Mbps | 11.4ms |
Speeds: Plusnet vs TalkTalk vs BT
If we compare the average speeds that users get, the speeds of providers in the same tier are not very different.
Plusnet’s median average speed on the 67Mbps plan (64.4Mbps) was faster than BT, EE, and TalkTalk.
Plusnet Customer Service
Plusnet offers UK based customer support and its customer service is quite outstanding and Plusnet successfully has been maintaining the quality of its service over the years.
Plusnet generally gets top marks for customer service in the Ofcom surveys, although it scored lower in the recent survey.
Plusnet has 79% of broadband customers who are satisfied with its service, reveals the latest annual Ofcom 2022 report.
Plusnet ranked in the middle when compared to all the major broadband providers. Certain aspects of the provider lags behind the average. Not many customers have a reason to complaint, though satisfaction averages out at a satisfactory rate. The number of complaints is higher than average. However, it has received fewer complaints than TalkTalk, Vodafone and Virgin Media.
- Satisfied Plusnet broadband customers – 79% (ranks 4th among major providers)
- Satisfied Plusnet phone customers – 83% (ranks 1st)
- Number of complaints per 100k customers – 56 (ranks 3rd)
- Average call waiting time – 2.07 minutes
Read the Ofcom report 2022.
Plusnet Customer Support
Plusnet customer service is available by phone and social media sites such as Twitter. Call centers in the UK are open 365 days a year. You must call 0800 432 0200 between 8am and 8pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am and 6pm at weekends.
Plusnet also has an excellent knowledge base on their website that helps customers find answers to their questions about Plusnet services.
