Quick Answer: BT vs EE
BT is the UK’s largest broadband provider with 9.2 million customers. BT offers FTTC and Full Fibre plans from 36 Mbps to 900 Mbps on the Openreach network, starting at £24.99 per month. BT includes the Smart Hub 2 router with WiFi 5.
EE is the UK’s largest mobile network with 34 million subscribers. Part of BT Group, EE sells Full Fibre from 100 Mbps to 1.6 Gbps and 5G Home broadband from 100 to 500 Mbps, starting at £24.99 per month. EE includes the Smart Hub 7 Plus with WiFi 7 and built-in 4G backup.
Quick verdict: BT for budget FTTC plans (36-74 Mbps) and TNT Sports. EE for WiFi 7, 1.6 Gbps speeds, 4G backup, and mobile bundling.
Side-by-Side Comparison
BT and EE are both owned by BT Group but target different customers. EE has shifted toward premium hardware and faster speeds while BT retains wider plan variety. Both use the same Openreach FTTP network for fiber plans.
| Feature | BT | EE |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Company | BT Group | BT Group |
| Subscribers | 9.2M broadband | 34M mobile |
| Network | Openreach FTTC/FTTP | Openreach FTTP + 5G |
| Cheapest Plan | £24.99/month (100 Mbps) | £24.99/month (100 Mbps) |
| Max Fiber Speed | 900 Mbps | 1.6 Gbps |
| FTTC Plans | Yes (36-74 Mbps) | No |
| 5G Home Broadband | No | Yes (100-500 Mbps) |
| Router | Smart Hub 2 (WiFi 5) | Smart Hub 7 Plus (WiFi 7) |
| 4G Backup | Halo add-on (£6/month) | Built-in (free) |
| TV Service | TNT Sports | Apple TV 4K option |
| Mobile Benefits | EE/BT Halo bundles | EE Smart Benefits |
| Contract Length | 18-24 months | 18-24 months |
| Unlimited Data | Yes, all plans | Yes, all plans |
EE’s WiFi 7 router and 4G backup are included free. BT charges £6/month for Halo backup. Both providers will increase prices by £4/month from March 2027.
Test Your BT Speed | Test Your EE Speed
Speed Comparison
Fiber Broadband Speeds
Both BT and EE use the Openreach FTTP network for Full Fibre plans. Fiber speeds are identical at matching tiers since both providers deliver broadband over the same physical infrastructure. EE offers an exclusive 1.6 Gbps tier that BT does not match.
| Plan Tier | BT Speed | BT Price | EE Speed | EE Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry FTTC | 36 Mbps | £28/month | Not available | - |
| Mid FTTC | 74 Mbps | £30/month | Not available | - |
| Full Fibre 100 | 150 Mbps | £28.99/month | 150 Mbps | £26.99/month |
| Full Fibre 300 | 300 Mbps | £32.99/month | 300 Mbps | £27.99/month |
| Full Fibre 500 | 500 Mbps | £32.99/month | 500 Mbps | £29.99/month |
| Full Fibre 900 | 900 Mbps | £34.99/month | 900 Mbps | £31.99/month |
| Full Fibre 1.6 Gbps | Not available | - | 1.6 Gbps | £39.99/month |
Upload speeds on Full Fibre range from 30 to 110 Mbps for both providers. Latency averages 8-12 ms on FTTP connections. EE is £2-5 cheaper at every comparable Full Fibre tier.
EE 5G Home Broadband
EE offers wireless broadband using its 5G mobile network. BT does not sell a comparable wireless product. 5G Home requires no phone line and no Openreach installation.
| EE 5G Plan | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Home | 100-300 Mbps | £35/month |
| 5G Home Plus | 300-500 Mbps | £45/month |
5G Home covers 90% of the UK population across 500+ towns and cities. Speeds depend on 5G signal strength at your address.
Router and WiFi Technology
EE includes the Smart Hub 7 Plus with WiFi 7 (802.11be) on all Full Fibre plans. WiFi 7 supports multi-link operation and 320 MHz channels for faster wireless speeds throughout your home. EE also offers the tri-band Smart Hub 7 Pro for larger homes.
BT includes the Smart Hub 2 with WiFi 5 (802.11ac). This is a 2018-era router that lacks WiFi 6 or 7 capability. BT offers Complete WiFi mesh extenders at £10/month for coverage in larger homes.
EE’s Smart Hub 7 Plus also includes built-in 4G backup at no extra cost. If your Openreach line drops, the router switches to EE’s 4G network automatically. BT requires the Halo add-on at £6/month for the same backup feature.
Run a speed test now to check your actual connection speed.
Coverage Comparison
BT and EE Full Fibre coverage is identical since both use Openreach infrastructure. Openreach FTTP now passes over 20 million premises, covering more than 60% of UK homes. FTTC (part-fibre) covers 96% of UK premises.
BT offers FTTC plans (36-74 Mbps) for addresses without Full Fibre. EE does not sell FTTC plans, so EE broadband availability is limited to FTTP areas or locations with EE 5G coverage. This is the biggest practical difference between the two providers.
EE 5G Home broadband covers 90% of the UK population across 500+ towns and cities. This gives EE a wireless option in areas where Openreach Full Fibre has not yet been built.
| Coverage Type | BT | EE |
|---|---|---|
| FTTC (36-74 Mbps) | 96% UK premises | Not offered |
| FTTP Full Fibre | 60%+ UK premises | 60%+ UK premises |
| 5G Home | Not offered | 90% population |
According to Ofcom data, BT serves 9.2 million broadband customers while EE’s fixed broadband base is smaller but growing. EE’s 5G network fills coverage gaps that neither provider’s fixed line reaches.
Pricing Comparison
All prices shown in British Pounds (£) per month. Both providers require 18-24 month contracts with price increases of £5-10 after the initial term.
Entry-Level Plans
BT Fibre Essential at £28.99 per month (36 Mbps FTTC) is the cheapest option from either provider. EE’s cheapest broadband is 5G Home at £35 per month or Full Fibre 100 at £38 per month. BT saves you £6-9 per month at entry level.
Mid-Range Plans
BT Full Fibre 500 costs £49.99 per month. EE Full Fibre 500 costs £48 per month. EE is £1.99 cheaper at this tier.
Top-Tier Plans
BT Full Fibre 900 costs £59.99 per month. EE Full Fibre 900 costs £58 per month. EE saves £1.99 per month for the same 900 Mbps speed.
Bundle Value
BT offers TNT Sports (Premier League, Champions League, UFC) with select broadband bundles. This content is worth £25-30 per month if purchased separately.
EE offers Smart Benefits with broadband plans including Apple Music, Xbox Game Pass, or TNT Sports on select tiers. EE mobile customers can bundle broadband for additional perks.
Pros and Cons
BT Advantages
- FTTC plans from £28/month for addresses without Full Fibre
- Stay Fast Guarantee with £20/month compensation if speeds drop
- TNT Sports included on select bundles (Premier League, Champions League, UFC)
- Complete WiFi mesh system available for £10/month with coverage guarantee
- BT Cloud with 1000 GB storage included
- Owns Openreach for faster fault resolution (24-48 hours)
BT Disadvantages
- Smart Hub 2 router uses WiFi 5 (2018 hardware) - no WiFi 6 or 7
- Full Fibre plans £2-5 more expensive than EE at every tier
- No 5G wireless broadband option
- 4G backup requires Halo add-on at £6/month (free on EE)
- Maximum speed 900 Mbps - no 1.6 Gbps option
EE Advantages
- Smart Hub 7 Plus with WiFi 7 and built-in 4G backup included free
- Full Fibre plans £2-5 cheaper than BT at comparable speeds
- 1.6 Gbps plan available - fastest widely available UK broadband
- 5G Home broadband without phone line or Openreach installation
- Smart Benefits (Apple Music, Xbox Game Pass) with select plans
- EE mobile bundling discounts for existing subscribers
EE Disadvantages
- No FTTC plans for addresses without Full Fibre
- No broadband at addresses without FTTP or 5G coverage
- 5G Home speeds vary with signal strength and location
- No TV service comparable to TNT Sports
- EE Cloud only 25 GB compared to BT’s 1000 GB
Which Should You Choose?
The right choice depends on your location, budget, and whether you value mobile bundling or TV content. Use the table below to match your situation.
| Use Case | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget broadband | BT | £28.99 FTTC is cheapest UK broadband |
| No Full Fibre at address | BT | FTTC available at 96% of premises |
| No phone line wanted | EE | 5G Home needs no landline |
| Sports fan | BT | TNT Sports included in bundles |
| EE mobile customer | EE | Bundle discounts and Smart Benefits |
| Remote work (uploads) | Either | Both offer 110 Mbps upload on Full Fibre 900 |
| Rural area | EE 5G | 5G Home works where fiber has not reached |
| Fastest fiber available | Either | Both deliver 900 Mbps on same network |
How to Run a Fair Speed Test
BT and EE Full Fibre use the same Openreach infrastructure. Any speed difference you measure is likely caused by your router, WiFi, or device rather than the network itself. Follow these steps for accurate results.
- Connect your device to the router with an ethernet cable.
- Close all background apps, streaming, and downloads.
- Run 3 tests during off-peak hours (morning) and 3 during peak hours (7-11 PM).
- Compare median download, upload, and latency results.
- Test on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi bands if testing wirelessly.
For EE 5G Home, test in the same room as the 5G router. Signal strength affects wireless broadband speeds more than fiber connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are BT and EE the same company?
BT Group owns both BT and EE. BT acquired EE in 2016. However, they operate as separate brands with different plans, pricing, routers, and customer service teams. You cannot combine a BT broadband plan with EE mobile on a single bill unless using specific Halo packages.
Can I switch from BT to EE or EE to BT?
Yes. Since both use Openreach for fiber, switching between BT and EE is straightforward. The new provider handles the transfer. You may need to return your old router. Check contract end dates to avoid early termination fees of £5-15 per month multiplied by remaining months.
Which has better WiFi?
BT includes the Smart Hub 2 router with WiFi 6 capability and offers Complete WiFi mesh (£10/month) with coverage guarantee. EE includes the Smart Hub Plus router. Both are adequate for homes under 2,000 square feet. For larger homes, BT’s mesh option with money-back guarantee provides more confidence.
Is EE 5G Home as fast as BT Full Fibre?
EE 5G Home averages 100-300 Mbps on the standard plan and 300-500 Mbps on 5G Home Plus. BT Full Fibre 900 delivers up to 900 Mbps. Fiber is faster and more consistent. 5G Home is a good alternative where fiber is unavailable but does not match top-tier fiber speeds.
Do both providers include unlimited data?
Yes. All BT broadband plans and all EE broadband plans include unlimited data with no caps, fair usage policies, or throttling. This applies to FTTC, Full Fibre, and EE 5G Home plans.
Summary
BT and EE deliver identical fiber speeds since both use the Openreach network. BT is the better choice for budget users (£28.99 FTTC), sports fans (TNT Sports), and addresses without Full Fibre coverage. EE is better for mobile bundling, 5G Home wireless broadband, and Smart Benefits.
For addresses with Full Fibre, EE is slightly cheaper at £48-58 per month versus BT’s £49.99-59.99. The price gap is small. Choose based on which extras matter more to you.
Test your current speed to see if an upgrade is worth it. Use the speed test tool on our homepage for a provider-neutral measurement.
Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Data Sources: BT official website, EE official website, Ofcom broadband market data, Openreach coverage reports