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 using the Openreach network, with prices starting at £28.99 per month.
EE is the UK’s largest mobile network with 34 million subscribers. Part of BT Group, EE sells Full Fibre broadband from 150 Mbps to 900 Mbps and 5G Home broadband from 100 to 500 Mbps, starting at £35 per month.
Quick verdict: BT for cheaper FTTC plans and BT Sport. EE for mobile bundling and 5G Home broadband.
Side-by-Side Comparison
BT and EE are both owned by BT Group but target different customers with different plans and pricing. The table below shows how each provider stacks up across key features.
| Feature | BT | EE |
|---|---|---|
| Parent Company | BT Group | BT Group |
| Subscribers | 9.2M broadband | 34M mobile |
| Network | Openreach FTTC/FTTP | Openreach FTTP + 5G |
| Cheapest Plan | £28.99/month (36 Mbps) | £35/month (5G Home) |
| Max Fiber Speed | 900 Mbps | 900 Mbps |
| FTTC Plans | Yes (36-74 Mbps) | No |
| 5G Home Broadband | No | Yes (100-500 Mbps) |
| Router | Smart Hub 2 | Smart Hub Plus |
| TV Service | BT Sport | No |
| 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 |
BT offers wider plan variety including budget FTTC options. EE focuses on premium fiber and 5G wireless broadband.
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. Speeds are identical since both providers deliver broadband over the same physical infrastructure.
| Plan Tier | BT Speed | BT Price | EE Speed | EE Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry FTTC | 36 Mbps | £28.99 | Not available | - |
| Mid FTTC | 74 Mbps | £35.99 | Not available | - |
| Full Fibre 100 | 150 Mbps | £39.99 | 150 Mbps | £38 |
| Full Fibre 500 | 500 Mbps | £49.99 | 500 Mbps | £48 |
| Full Fibre 900 | 900 Mbps | £59.99 | 900 Mbps | £58 |
Upload speeds on Full Fibre range from 30 to 110 Mbps for both providers. Latency averages 8-12ms on FTTP connections.
EE 5G Home Broadband
EE offers an alternative to fixed-line broadband using its 5G mobile network. BT does not sell a comparable wireless broadband product.
| EE 5G Plan | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Home | 100-300 Mbps | £35/month |
| 5G Home Plus | 300-500 Mbps | £45/month |
5G Home broadband requires no phone line and no Openreach installation. Speeds depend on 5G signal strength at your address.
Run 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 reaches approximately 12 million UK premises (40% of homes) as of 2026. FTTC 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.
EE 5G Home broadband covers 90% of the UK population across 500+ towns and cities. This gives EE an 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 | 40% UK premises | 40% UK premises |
| 5G Home | Not offered | 90% population |
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 BT Sport (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 BT Sport on select tiers. EE mobile customers can bundle broadband for additional perks.
Pros and Cons
BT Advantages
- FTTC plans from £28.99 for addresses without Full Fibre
- Stay Fast Guarantee with £20/month compensation if speeds drop
- BT Sport included on select bundles
- Smart Hub 2 router with WiFi 6 included free
- Complete WiFi mesh system available for £10/month
- Owns Openreach for faster fault resolution (24-48 hours)
BT Disadvantages
- Full Fibre plans £1-2 more expensive than EE
- No 5G wireless broadband option
- Customer service wait times 15-25 minutes during peak hours
- No mobile smart benefits like Apple Music or Xbox Game Pass
EE Advantages
- Full Fibre plans £1-2 cheaper than BT at top tiers
- 5G Home broadband available without phone line or Openreach install
- Smart Benefits (Apple Music, Xbox Game Pass) with select plans
- EE mobile bundling discounts
- UK’s largest and fastest 5G network for wireless broadband
EE Disadvantages
- No FTTC plans for addresses without Full Fibre
- Limited broadband coverage compared to BT (no FTTC fallback)
- 5G Home speeds vary with signal strength and location
- No TV service comparable to BT Sport
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 | BT Sport 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 (BT Sport), 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 at BT Speed Test or EE Speed Test to see if an upgrade is worth it.
Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Data Sources: BT official website, EE official website, Ofcom broadband market data, Openreach coverage reports