EE BROADBAND VALUE FOR MONEY REVIEW

EE Broadband value for money: How good is it?

EE has fantastic routers – no one can argue with that. They alone make the value for money proposition pretty positive right from the get-go. But obviously there are a range of other factors that need to be considered. And consider them we will.

By Data checked  Checked weekly
The fibredog mascot – a dog – standing over s set of scales, weighing a stack of coins against EE Broadband routers and equipment, representing value for money.
fibredog mascot wearing a headset

Having trouble choosing a broadband provider?

No single best provider or package exists – only the best pick for you personally. Fibredog’s YourMatch™ system uses thousands of provider metrics and a lot of maths to find you your perfect match.

EE Broadband value for money scorecard

Six key areas. One overall score. All calculated using our transparent methodology.

What you get as standard

The features, equipment and services included as standard, before paid add-ons, premium tiers or optional upgrades are added.

7.0/10

Included router quality

How much value the included router adds to the package, including Wi-Fi standard, ports, coverage and overall hardware quality.

9.3/10

Annual price rises

How clearly annual price rises are explained, how predictable they are, and how much they add during the minimum term.

6.8/10

Cost of upgrades and extras

Which useful extras cost more, which are bundled in, and whether upgrades feel sensible or too easy to overspend on.

6.7/10

End-of-contract pricing

What happens when the minimum term ends, whether the price jumps, and how easy it is to avoid poor rollover value.

9.2/10

Service guarantees

The service guarantees, speed promises, compensation rules and fault protections that apply when the connection underperforms.

8.4/10

What you get as standard

EE can be pretty generous when it comes to what you get before gilding the lily – the stuff everyone gets before adding anything on. However, like most providers, they do reserve the juiciest stuff either as a paid extra, or a freebie to tempt you into opting for a higher-tier or higher speed package. Let's take a look.

You'll get pretty much everything you actually need

And what we mean by that is that, day one, you'll be up and running and wanting for nothing. Unless you need a telephone line of course and forgot to add one at checkout. EE's standard package pricing doesn't include a phone line, but you can add a digital line if you need one.

Internet security has everything you need as standard too, and there's an additional paid security tier for the narrow sliver of people who need it. But the package you pick isn't the complete picture with EE. You then need to choose a package tier on top. There are four of those to choose from, and they vary in price.

EE’s package tiers are chosen after you pick a speed

EE’s Full Fibre packages are slightly unusual, because the speed is only part of what you’re choosing. You might start by picking Full Fibre 150, 500 or whatever, but EE then asks which package tier you want that speed on: Core, Standard, Premium or Ultimate.

Different levels of extras are tied to the tier, not the speed. So two people could both be looking at the same headline download speed, but one package could come with just the basics, while another might get additional security, Connectivity Backup, or one or more EE WiFi Extenders.

Core is the basic Full Fibre option

Core is the entry-level Full Fibre tier. It still includes the main broadband service, a Smart Hub 7 Plus on speeds up to 900Mbps, WiFi Controls, WiFi Intelligence, Advanced Web Protect and EE’s speed guarantee, so it isn’t barebones by any means.

What you don’t get on Core is the stuff EE keeps aside for their fastest packages. Things like the Keep Connected Promise, Norton Cyber Security, and a Wi-Fi extender are not part of the Core bundle, so if you want any or all of them, you'll need to go with Standard, Premium or Ultimate instead.

Standard, Premium and Ultimate add stuff

Standard is the first step up. It adds the Keep Connected Promise, Norton Cyber Security and WiFi Optimiser – and honestly these are the three we would say are the most worthwhile. Premium then adds a Wi-Fi extender, so that’s the more obvious choice if the issue is whole-home Wi-Fi rather than just the broadband speed coming into the property.

Ultimate Full Fibre is the top version. It upgrades the router to the Smart Hub 7 Pro, you get a WiFi Extender 7 Pro to go with it, and it also includes an EE Guides Home Visit. The key thing to check is whether you actually need those extras, because EE also sells some of them as separate add-ons. So the cheapest route is not always the lowest tier, or the highest. It'll sometimes be Core-plus-extender, or whatever specific feature you actually need. It's a very flexible system, we'll give it that, but crikey can it also be a bit confusing.

AT A GLANCE

What you get with EE Broadband

Here’s what's included as standard, what may cost extra, and what's only free on top-end packages.

Feature
On all standard packages
Paid extra
Free on highest speed packages
Landline
No
Yes
No
App management
Yes
No
Yes
Parental controls
Yes
No
Yes
Guest network
Yes
No
Yes
Router security features
Yes
Yes
Yes
Automatic firmware updates
Yes
No
Yes
Wi-Fi guarantee
No
Yes
Yes
Mesh devices
No
Yes
Yes
Security software
Yes
Yes
Yes
Provider email
No
No
No
Broadband backup
No
Yes
No

Standard kit versus paid extras

This table separates everyday included features from extras that may depend on package tier, router choice or paid add-ons.

Good to know: Included features are easier to compare because you won’t need to budget for them separately.

Worth checking: Some useful extras may only be included on selected packages or as paid add-ons.

Looking at the 'What you get' table, EE covers the everyday router basics well, with app controls, parental controls, guest Wi-Fi, router security and firmware updates all included as standard.

The main things to watch are the home Wi-Fi extras. Mesh devices, broadband backup and the Wi-Fi guarantee are not standard across every package, so they’re the bits most likely to depend on the tier or add-ons you choose at checkout.

How to work out if EE Broadband extras are worth it

  1. Pick your speed first

    Choose the Full Fibre speed you want, then decide whether to bolt Core, Standard, Premium or Ultimate onto it.

  2. Then choose the tier

    The tier is the second choice on top of the speed: Core is basic, while higher tiers add more useful extras.

  3. Price up what you need

    If you pick Core, check what it would cost to add things like Norton security, Wi-Fi Optimiser or backup separately.

  4. Compare tiers at that speed

    Look at Core, Standard, Premium and Ultimate for the same headline speed, then see which bundle makes most sense.

  5. Pick the useful bundle

    The best value is the tier that gives you the extras you will use, not automatically the cheapest or most loaded one.

EE does well on its standard offering, with app control, parental controls, guest Wi-Fi, router security and firmware updates included as standard. But there is a fair bit of useful stuff it keeps out of the standard tier. Stronger security, WiFi Optimiser, Connectivity Backup, and an EE WiFi Extender are reserved for paid add-ons, highest speeds, or the higher Standard, Premium and Ultimate tiers.

7.0 /10
Overall score

What you get as standard score

This score looks at the useful extras included before you start paying more, including router controls, security features, Wi-Fi help, backup options and everyday add-ons.

Included router value

EE’s routers are legendary. The 'basic' Smart Hub 7 Plus already outclasses most of the competition, while the Smart Hub 7 Pro option looks down on its competitors from a great height. The catch is you won't really be able to stretch the Pro's legs unless you're onEE's Full Fibre 1.6Gbps. Let's take a closer look.

EE Broadband's routers really mean business

The standard router’s already good

The Smart Hub 7 Plus is the one most of you will get, but it’s not basic by any stretch. It offers Wi-Fi 7, WPA3 security, guest Wi-Fi, app controls, parental controls, smart channel selection, MU-MIMO and OFDMA (click the words to find out what those are). The main limitation is that it’s dual-band, so there’s no 6GHz band, but for a standard, bundled router it’s shockingly good.

The Pro’s where EE gets serious

The Smart Hub 7 Pro looks at routers supplied by most other providers and says 'bother me not with this amateur nonsense'. It adds tri-band Wi-Fi 7, 6GHz support, eight antennas, support for up to 190 connected devices, a USB port and five 2.5Gbps Ethernet ports. It’s the one you want if you’re taking EE’s fastest Full Fibre speed or just trying to squeeze more out of a busy home network.

The trade-off is access, not quality

EE’s routers are good. Really good. The question is which one you actually get with the package you've chosen. The 7 Plus is going to do everything you need it to and more on speeds up to 900Mbps, while the 7 Pro is reserved for Full Fibre 1.6Gbps. This really does make sense.

The Plus can push 900Mbps around the average home over Wi-Fi in perfect conditions. And the Pro does hit around 1400-1500Mbps over Wi-Fi in our testing. These numbers are very, very impressive.

INTERACTIVE TOOL

Compare routers from any provider

This provider’s routers are pre-selected for comparison with one another. However, you can use this tool to compare any router from any major provider using the dropdown menus below.

Feature Choose router Choose router
Fibredog rating
Router included as standard
Router manufacturer
Router model
Wi-Fi standard
Wi-Fi bands
2.4GHz supported
5GHz supported
6GHz supported
Beamforming
Antenna count
Maximum connected devices
Stated coverage
Total Ethernet ports
MU-MIMO
OFDMA
WPA3 security
Guest network
Antenna type
Gigabit Ethernet ports
2.5Gb Ethernet ports
5Gb Ethernet ports
10Gb Ethernet ports
WAN port speed
USB ports
Telephone ports
ONT Ethernet input
Coaxial input
Power connection
Mesh support
Provider mesh product
Third-party router use
Modem mode
Compatible broadband technology
App management
Parental controls
QoS
Automated QoS
Device prioritisation
Anti-bufferbloat controls
Manual queue management (SQM/CAKE)
Smart channel selection
Security features
Gamer mode
Game traffic prioritisation
Gaming QoS profiles
Server ping routing tools
Latency dashboards
Per-device gaming presets
Gaming VPN routing features
Work from home mode
Automatic firmware updates
Firmware update notes
Router height
Router width
Router depth
Router weight
Power consumption
Router orientation
Wall mountable
Router colour
Self-installation
Browser admin interface
WPS
Status light control
Reset button
Wi-Fi on/off button
Where would you like to go next? See all tools See all tools

How EE decides which router you get

Most Full Fibre packages

You get the Smart Hub 7 Plus.

This is EE's main Wi-Fi 7 router, and it's supplied on Full Fibre packages up to 900Mbps.

Full Fibre 1.6Gbps

You get the Smart Hub 7 Pro.

EE's fastest package gets the tri-band Pro router as standard, with 6GHz Wi-Fi and stronger wired ports.

Want the Pro anyway?

It can be a paid upgrade.

If you're not on 1.6Gbps, EE will sell the Pro anyway, it's just it'll add to your monthly cost, so be aware of that, and of the fact that the Pro may not be worth it if you're going for a middling to low speed.

Is the Smart Hub 7 Plus good value for money?

Yes, very. This is the router most EE Full Fibre customers get unless they’re on the 1.6Gbps package, and it’s miles better than the 'free router' label might suggest. You’re getting Wi-Fi 7, WPA3 security, guest Wi-Fi, app controls, parental controls, smart channel selection, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, five Ethernet ports and support for up to 100 connected devices. That’s properly modern tech.

The only real catch is that it’s dual-band, not tri-band, so there’s no breathtakingly quick 6GHz Wi-Fi channel. That means it isn’t the absolute best match if you're trying to squeeze every last drop out of a gigabit or faster connection over Wi-Fi. But as an included router on EE’s regular Full Fibre packages, it’s terrific value. Most people won’t need to buy anything better.

Is the Smart Hub 7 Pro good value for money?

Is that even a question? The Smart Hub 7 Pro comes as standard with EE’s Full Fibre 1.6Gbps package, or you can get it as a paid upgrade on other packages. And this is where EE stops looking like an ordinary home broadband provider, and starts looking like one that's targeting the bleeding edge.

You get tri-band Wi-Fi 7, the 6GHz band, eight antennas, support for up to 190 devices, five 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and EE’s 100Mbps-in-every-room coverage guarantee. You can't promise that without a router that has a monstrous amount of welly, but they needn't worry. It does.

Comparable routers you could go out and buy yourself cost hundreds of pounds, so if you do get hold of one of these, look after it.

EE scores exceptionally here because its included routers are properly matched to their packages. Most folk will get the Smart Hub 7 Plus, which is already a very good Wi-Fi 7 router, while the 1.6Gbps package gets the absolutely monstrous Smart Hub 7 Pro as standard. The 'Pro' here is no marketing spiel – this router is able to compete with some of the best routers money can buy, let alone the free offerings from other providers.

9.3 /10
Overall score

Included router value score

This score looks at whether the router you get included feels fair for the package, including the router’s overall quality, Wi-Fi generation, frequency bands and whether the best kit is easy to get.

Annual price rises

EE’s broadband pricing is now much easier to understand than it used to be. Rather than linking the increase to inflation, EE shows the rise as a fixed pounds-and-pence amount before you sign up. For EE, that means your bill goes up by £4 a month each April, which works out as £48 more per year after each rise.

Why does the cost of EE Broadband go up every year?

Because EE builds the inflationary rise into your contract

EE’s price rises are part of the deal from the start. So, while the monthly price you see when you sign up is the starting price, it isn’t the price you’ll be paying by the end. Once April comes around, EE adds the fixed annual increase shown in your contract. For these packages, that’s £4 a month. It’s simpler than the old inflation-linked system, because you know the exact increase in advance, but it still means the package gets more expensive as you go. And there's nothing you can do about that.

Who does it apply to then?

It applies to anyone who's still in an EE broadband contract whenever April hits. So if you sign up to a 24-month package and the annual rise is £4 a month, your second year will usually cost £48 more for the total year than it did in your first year. That’s before any paid extras, add-ons or package changes are taken into account of course. It’s not a penalty or a one-off charge.

Clarity is good, but...

EE deserves credit for showing the increase clearly, because you can see the pounds-and-pence rise before you commit. But the advertised monthly price still doesn’t tell you the full cost over the whole contract. A package that looks cheaper at the start may be less impressive once the April rise is included. Twice. So it’s worth whipping the calculator out to make sure you're happy before you commit.


INTERACTIVE CHART

How much will your bill rise by?

This interactive chart shows how much this provider adds to its package prices each April, and lets you compare that with literally any other provider in our database.

Provider N/A Choose a provider
Provider average N/A The average April price rise among providers that apply one.
Compare provider N/A Choose another provider

Package annual price rises

April price rise shown package by package

Package view

The provider-average benchmark is calculated from each provider that applies an annual price rise. Fixed-price providers are shown in the chart but are excluded from the benchmark.

EE’s annual price rise is at least clear: Your bill goes up by £4 a month each April, which is pretty much in line with the UK provider average. It’s easier to understand than the old inflation-linked system, but it still means the price you sign up to isn’t the full cost across the minimum term, and it's high time national providers started offering simple, fixed-price contracts.

6.8 /10
Overall score

Annual price rises score

This score looks at how a provider’s in-contract annual price rises compare with the wider market, and whether the rules are simple, consistent and easy to understand.

fibredog mascot wearing a headset

Having trouble choosing a broadband provider?

No single best provider or package exists – only the best pick for you personally. Fibredog's YourMatch™ system uses thousands of provider metrics and a lot of maths to find you your perfect match.

Cost of upgrades and extras

With EE, you don’t just choose the speed then stop. At checkout, there are package tiers to choose from that add various extras – things like an upgraded router or mesh extender, broadband backup and additional internet security. Some of these are genuinely useful, some of them you won't need. You'll need to decide.

How to work out what your EE Broadband package will actually cost

Start with the speed you want, then think about the extras

EE’s headline monthly price is only the starting point, because the speed you choose isn’t the only thing that affects what you get.

After picking a speed, you'll need to check whether that's Core, Standard, Premium or Ultimate. The package tier decides whether useful extras like Norton security, WiFi Optimiser, EE's Wi-Fi Extender, or Connectivity Backup are included, or whether you’ll need to pay more. And that does vary depending on the speed you first choose. So simple!

Decide whether you need EE’s top router

This is the big one, especially for larger homes. EE includes a Smart Hub 7 Plus on anything less than the 1.6Gbps flagship package speed, but you can opt for it on any package if you're willing to pay a bit more.

That doesn’t mean you should automatically choose the top speed just to get it. It just means you should price up the package you actually want with the router you'll actually need. And honestly, the 7 Pro is so powerful it's actually hard to justify on anything less than 1.6Gbps.

Check whether broadband backup is included

EE Connectivity Backup can keep you online over 4G if your fixed broadband connection drops out, but it isn’t included as standard with every speed or tier.

If you work from home, run a busy household or hate losing connection at awkward moments, it’s worth considering. However, if you have a mobile and a good amount of data, there's an argument to be made that you probably don't need it for the very rare times when your broadband may or may not go down.

Don’t pay twice for security you don’t need

EE includes Advanced Web Protect as part of its basic setup, and its higher package tiers add Cyber Security powered by Norton.

That can be useful if it replaces something you’d otherwise pay for separately. But if you don't need Norton and let's be honest, most people don't need Norton, just avoid it.

All these options, but no static IP?

Some extras just aren’t part of EE’s normal home broadband offer. The main missing-in-action feature is a static IP, which means your broadband address stays fixed instead of changing, and can be useful for those hosting their own servers.

99.99999% of homes won’t need one, so this won’t matter for streaming, browsing, gaming or normal working from home. But it's just one of those things we like to see offered anyway. You know... for the 0.00001%.

Remember: Choose the EE speed you want, then check the package tier and add-ons before you compare prices. The cheapest-looking option may not be cheapest once you add better Wi-Fi stuff, broadband backup, or security software you're paying for already elsewhere.

EE does offer a premium router option

Unlike some providers, EE does have a clear router upgrade path. Its standard Full Fibre packages come with the Smart Hub 7 Plus, while its top speed uses the Smart Hub 7 Pro and WiFi Extender 7 Pro. It's kit aimed at busier homes, the fastest packages and people who care more about Wi-Fi performance than anything else.

For most households, the standard router will be more than enough. That's the beauty of EE's router line-up. There's a brilliant router everyone gets, and then a super-premium, gobsmackingly powerful one you can get if you just have to have the best.

EE Cyber Security isn't going to be useful for most people

EE offers Cyber Security powered by Norton, and it’s a more complete security add-on than the basic router protection you get as standard. It can cover devices around the home and includes features such as virus protection, password management, dark web monitoring, social media alerts and SMS security.

That sounds good, and for a handful of households it will be. But a lot of people already get similar protection through their devices, browsers, password managers or separate security software. It's protection on top of protection, and our honest opinion on it is it's unnecessary.

You can’t get a static IP

A static IP means your home broadband address stays the same, which can matter if you want to run a home server, connect back into your network remotely, host a game server, or do anything else where a changing address becomes annoying.

EE doesn’t offer a static IP on its normal home broadband packages. That won’t matter to most people, because everyday browsing, streaming, gaming and working from home don’t usually need one. But if you know you need a fixed address, EE residential broadband probably isn’t the right fit.

EE Broadband add-ons at a glance

EE has more optional extras than some broadband providers, so the headline speed price isn’t always the final price. The main thing to check is whether the bits you want are included with your package tier, or added separately at checkout.

Most likely to matter

Premium router upgrade

EE’s top Full Fibre setup uses the Smart Hub 7 Pro and WiFi Extender 7 Pro, but you’ll need the right package tier or add-on bundle.

WiFi Extender

Included on selected package tiers, or available as an extra if your home has awkward rooms, thick walls or dead spots.

Digital Home Phone

EE Full Fibre doesn’t include a call service as standard, so add Digital Home Phone if you still need a landline.

Worth checking

Cyber Security

EE includes Advanced Web Protect, but Norton-powered Cyber Security depends on your package tier or a separate add-on.

WiFi Optimiser

This can prioritise work, streaming or gaming traffic at home, but it’s not part of every EE package by default.

Connectivity Backup

This uses EE’s 4G network to keep you online if your broadband drops, but it depends on coverage and usually costs extra.

Not available

Static IP

You can’t add a static public IP to a normal EE home broadband package, so look elsewhere if you know you need one.

upgrade mascot 2
Fibredog illustration showing a broadband router with wireless signal waves

You can upgrade your EE router, but should you?

EE does offer a premium router, and it's genuinely brilliant. The question isn’t whether it’s good, though. It’s whether your broadband speed and home setup can actually make use of it.

The good bit

The Pro kit is seriously capable

EE’s Smart Hub 7 Pro is a Wi-Fi 7 router with tri-band support and multi-gigabit wired ports, so it’s built for very fast fibre rather than just ordinary home broadband.

If you’ve got a busy home, lots of newer devices and 900Mbps-plus speeds available, this is one of the few provider routers that’s actually worth getting excited about.

The bad bit

Slower packages won’t really show it off

The upgrade makes much less sense if your broadband speed is nowhere near gigabit level. At that point, the Smart Hub 7 Plus is more than enough.

On the 1.6Gbps package, though, the Pro setup starts to feel less like a luxury and more like the right tool for the job.

EE has more optional extras than some providers. It's a double-edged sword. On the one hand it means there's a lot of extra stuff there if you need it. On the other it means the headline package price you clicked on might not be the final price you pay. The main extras to watch are the premium router route, WiFi Extender and WiFi Optimiser, Connectivity Backup and Cyber Security. Some will be useful to you, no doubt, but they're not free.

6.7 /10
Overall score

Cost of upgrades and extras score

This score looks at how close the advertised package price is likely to be to the price you actually pay once useful extras, paid add-ons and missing options are taken into account.

End-of-contract pricing

End of contract pricing is one of those areas that Ofcom doesn't seem to have quite got around to fixing yet. To this day, providers will double the monthly cost of your broadband from the day your contract ends, and despite end-of-contract notifications being mandatory, many people still realise too late and fall into the trap. Let's see how EE Broadband does here.

The starting price still isn’t the whole price

EE’s advertised broadband price is the price you pay while the package discount is doing its job. That’s normal for broadband, but it means the monthly figure you see at the start isn’t always the long-term price you’ll pay if you stay put.

The better news is that EE’s current out-of-contract jump is basically nothing. Once your minimum term ends, EE will put you on a rolling monthly contract, paying exactly what you were already paying. This is very consumer-friendly behaviour when you consider there are still providers out there who will double the price and do their best to ensure you probably won't open the email they sent to tell you they're doing it.

It’s much less of a trap than it used to be

So, yeah. With some providers (naming no names here Virgin Media), the end of your contract can mean falling off a discounted rate and landing on a much higher monthly price overnight. EE just lets it roll.

That doesn’t make the annual increase irrelevant. £4 added to your monthly bill every April is still an extra £48 a year. But compared with providers that push you over a cliff when your contract ends, EE’s approach is as good as it gets.

EE will warn you before it happens anyway

EE can’t just let your minimum term end quietly and hope you never notice. It has to send you end-of-contract information before your deal finishes, so you’ve got a chance to renew, change package, switch provider or leave things as they are.

That reminder matters, because broadband contracts don’t simply stop at the end of the minimum term. If you do nothing, your service keeps going. So the email or letter is the point where you need to pay attention if you're thinking of switching to a better deal.

The real mistake is doing nothing

EE’s end-of-contract pricing is fine, but doing nothing still usually means worse value because after two years you'll be paying more than you were at the start, while new customer deals, renewed contracts or different package tiers remain cheaper.

So the sensible move is this: When EE tells you your contract is ending, don’t ignore it. Check your renewal price with EE, compare it with EE’s current deals, and compare it with other providers too. Even a fairly modest increase is still money you don’t necessarily need to be paying. And if you're thinking it's a hassle to switch and it's only £10 per month, think about how that mounts up over two years.

INTERACTIVE TOOL

What could your broadband bill roll on to?

Estimate what your monthly broadband price could look like by the end of your minimum term, and what it will jump to if you let the deal roll over.

Step 1: Choose your provider and package

Start by choosing your broadband provider, then select the package your contract is based on.

Provider
Package

Step 2: Tell us the starting month of your contract and what you pay

Use the first full monthly price before any mid-contract April increases.

Contract start month

Step 3: Estimate the rollover shock

This is an estimate. Your provider’s end-of-contract notice will be the exact figure.

Your estimate

    Where would you like to go next?

    How to use the Contract Rollover Estimator

    Like all our tools, this uses a few moving parts behind the scenes, but from your perspective it’s simple. Choose your provider and package, tell us the starting month of your contract and enter your first full monthly bill. We’ll estimate what your price will rise to during the contract, and what it will roll on to if you don’t agree a new deal.

    What to do before your broadband deal rolls over

    1. Get your rollover number

      Use the calculator above with your first full monthly bill, not the price after later rises.

    2. Find your end date

      Check your contract, account area or end-of-contract email so you know the month the discount ends.

    3. Set a reminder

      Put a reminder in your calendar before the end date, while you still have time to haggle or switch.

    4. Compare the alternatives

      Look at current new-customer prices elsewhere, then use that number as leverage with EE.

    5. Act before rollover

      Agree a new deal, switch provider or cancel in time. The expensive option is doing nothing.

    You may be able to haggle it down

    EE should tell you before your minimum term ends, and it may offer you a renewal deal at that point. That’s better than simply letting the price change unnoticed, but it still doesn’t mean the first offer you see is the best one you can get.

    If your EE contract is ending, it’s worth checking the renewal price against new-customer offers and other providers before you agree to anything. EE’s end-of-contract increase may be modest compared with some providers, but staying put without checking can still leave you paying more than you need to.

    Don’t rely on loyalty: Haggling can work, but it’s not guaranteed. Ask EE what it can do, know what other providers are charging, and be ready to switch if the renewal price doesn’t make sense. The best deal is the one that actually beats your alternatives, not just the one that sounds slightly better than doing nothing.

    EE is better than many providers here because its current out-of-contract jump is non-existant rather than outright loyalty-punishing, as it is with some other providers. But it still means paying more if you do nothing, and that extra cost sits on top of any in-contract annual rises. It's much less of a trap than it used to be, though, and EE clearly knows which way the wind is blowing.

    9.2 /10
    Overall score

    End of contract pricing score

    This score looks at what happens when your minimum term ends, how much warning you get, and how easy the provider makes it to avoid sliding onto an expensive post-contract price.

    Service guarantees

    When it comes to guarantees, there’s the basic contractual side, where EE has to provide the service with reasonable care, and there’s the more useful speed-guarantee side, where you’re given a personalised minimum speed before you sign up. EE is also signed up to Ofcom’s voluntary broadband speed code, which is exactly what we want to see.

    Contractual guarantees offered by EE Broadband

    EE’s broadband speed guarantee is based on the speed to your router from the wall, not the speed you happen to get on a phone in the back bedroom over Wi-Fi. That distinction matters, because Wi-Fi problems inside the home can be caused by walls, distance, interference, device limits or where the router has been placed.

    Before you join, EE gives you a personalised minimum speed for your broadband service. For Full Fibre, that should usually be much more predictable than old copper-based broadband, but the important bit is the same. EE tells you the minimum speed it’s prepared to stand behind, and that’s the figure you can hold it to in a pinch.

    Ofcom's voluntary code of practice

    This is where EE deserves credit. EE is signed up to Ofcom’s voluntary broadband speed code, which means its minimum speed guarantee has proper teeth. Only five providers in the UK subscribe to this and EE is one of them. If your speed to the hub drops below the guaranteed level, EE has to investigate and try to put it right.

    If EE can’t fix the problem within 30 days, you can leave your contract without paying an early exit fee. That’s good protection, and it’s one of the reasons EE scores so well here. Not every broadband annoyance will qualify, but genuine below-guarantee speed problems are covered properly.

    INTERACTIVE TOOL

    Are you getting your minimum guaranteed speed?

    Choose your provider and package, then run a speed test. For the cleanest test of the broadband speed coming into your home, plug a laptop or desktop directly into your router with a LAN cable. You can also test on a phone or tablet to check Wi-Fi speed, but make sure mobile data is switched off first.

    Choose your provider and package

    Choose your provider and package so we can compare the test result with the package's minimum guaranteed download speed.

    Provider
    Package

    Before you test

    For an absolute line-speed check, use a computer connected to the router by Ethernet. If you test over Wi-Fi, the result may reflect your in-home Wi-Fi as much as the broadband line itself.

    Run the speed test

    Upload Mbps
    Latency ms

    Ready. Select a package, tick the data policy box, then run the test.

    
    				

    Your result

    Result waiting Run the speed test to compare your download speed with the selected package’s minimum guaranteed speed.

      Where would you like to go next?

      This tool uses M-Lab’s open measurement platform. A single speed test is a useful check, but it is not a formal fault diagnosis.

      How EE Broadband service guarantees work in practice

      A slow broadband complaint can fall under different service protections depending on what’s actually going wrong.

      The problem

      You’re paying for fast broadband, but the connection feels slow. Streams buffer, downloads crawl, or one room keeps dropping out.

      Layer 1: the contract

      EE’s contract gives you the basic protection you’d expect: It aims to provide a continuous, high-quality service using reasonable care and skill, and it’ll try to fix network faults as soon as it can. But it doesn’t promise the service will be available perfectly all the time.

      Layer 2: the speed guarantee

      If the speed to your hub is below EE’s personalised minimum guarantee, Ofcom’s voluntary code is the stronger protection. EE will run checks and may send an engineer. If it can’t fix the problem within 30 days, you can leave your contract without paying an early cancellation fee.

      Layer 3: the Wi-Fi guarantee

      If the line is fine but Wi-Fi is weak around the house, EE’s Wi-Fi guarantee is the relevant bit. With the Smart Hub 7 Pro and WiFi Extender 7 Pro, EE says you can get £100 if Wi-Fi speed is below 100Mbps in any corner of your home. It's a bit more vague tieht the 7 Plus router, though – it says you can expect a strong signal in every room. Whatever that means.

      What this means

      EE has a good set of protections here, but each one covers a different problem. Slow speed to the hub, poor in-home Wi-Fi, connection faults and total service losses aren’t treated as the same thing, so the right route depends on what’s actually gone wrong.

      fibredog mascot looking worried beside a knocked-over plant pot

      Additional 'premium' guarantees

      EE also has a separate Wi-Fi guarantee on some of its top-end kit. If you have the Smart Hub 7 Pro and WiFi Extender 7 Pro, EE says you can get £100 if it can’t deliver 100Mbps Wi-Fi in every corner of your home, after the required checks and fixes have been attempted.

      That’s not the same thing as the main speed guarantee. The main guarantee is about the broadband speed reaching your hub. The Wi-Fi guarantee is about coverage around the home, and it depends on having the right EE extender setup.

      EE does well here. It gives you the basic contractual protections you’d expect, signs up to Ofcom’s voluntary broadband speed code, and gives you a personalised minimum speed before you join. The extra Wi-Fi guarantee is only specific about speeds if you're on the top router option, but the main line-speed protection is both clear and useful.

      8.4 /10
      Overall score

      Service guarantees score

      This score reflects how much protection you get when your broadband speed, Wi-Fi, installation, repair or service reliability doesn’t meet expectations.

      fibredog mascot wearing a headset

      Having trouble choosing a broadband provider?

      No single best provider or package exists – only the best pick for you personally. Fibredog's YourMatch™ system uses thousands of provider metrics and a lot of maths to find you your perfect match.

      Some links on this page may earn us a small commission if you click through and buy. This never affects either what you pay, or our scores and recommendations. If, however, you’d rather bypass affiliate links, use this direct EE Broadband link instead.