Quick Answer: Sky vs EE
Sky is the UK’s second-largest broadband provider with 6.2 million customers. Sky uses the Openreach network for FTTC and Full Fibre plans from 36 Mbps to 900 Mbps, starting at £25 per month. Sky is owned by Comcast.
EE is the UK’s largest mobile operator with 34 million subscribers, owned by BT Group. EE offers Full Fibre broadband from 150 to 900 Mbps and 5G Home wireless broadband from 100 to 500 Mbps, starting at £35 per month.
Quick verdict: Sky for budget broadband and TV bundles. EE for mobile bundling and 5G Home.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Sky and EE both use Openreach for fiber broadband but differ in pricing, TV content, and wireless options. The table below highlights the key differences.
| Feature | Sky | EE |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Comcast | BT Group |
| Subscribers | 6.2M broadband | 34M mobile |
| Network | Openreach FTTC/FTTP | Openreach FTTP + 5G |
| Cheapest Plan | £25/month (61 Mbps) | £35/month (5G Home) |
| Max Fiber Speed | 900 Mbps | 900 Mbps |
| FTTC Plans | Yes (36-61 Mbps) | No |
| 5G Home Broadband | No | Yes (100-500 Mbps) |
| TV Service | Sky Glass/Stream | No (BT Sport via Smart Benefit) |
| Mobile Benefits | Sky Mobile bundle | EE Smart Benefits |
| Contract Length | 18 months | 18-24 months |
| Unlimited Data | Yes, all plans | Yes, all plans |
Sky offers more variety with FTTC plans and TV integration. EE provides wireless broadband as an alternative to fiber.
Test Your Sky Speed | Test Your EE Speed
Speed Comparison
Fiber Broadband Speeds
Sky and EE Full Fibre use the same Openreach FTTP network. Download and upload speeds are the same on equivalent tiers.
| Plan Tier | Sky Speed | Sky Price | EE Speed | EE Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Superfast 35 | 36 Mbps | £25 | Not available | - |
| Superfast | 61 Mbps | £25 | Not available | - |
| Ultrafast | 145 Mbps | £29 | 150 Mbps | £38 |
| Ultrafast Plus | 500 Mbps | £33 | 500 Mbps | £48 |
| Gigafast | 900 Mbps | £43 | 900 Mbps | £58 |
Sky is cheaper at every comparable tier. At the top 900 Mbps tier, Sky saves £15 per month (£43 vs £58). Over an 18-month contract, that adds up to £270.
EE 5G Home Broadband
EE offers wireless broadband using its 5G network. Sky does not have a 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 speeds depend on signal quality. Fiber is more consistent and typically faster at the top tier.
Run Speed Test Now to check your actual connection speed.
Coverage Comparison
Sky and EE fiber coverage is identical because both use Openreach infrastructure. Full Fibre (FTTP) is available to 12 million UK premises (40%). FTTC covers 96% of UK premises.
Sky offers FTTC plans for addresses without Full Fibre, making Sky available to nearly all UK homes. EE does not sell FTTC plans. EE broadband availability is limited to Full Fibre areas or 5G coverage zones.
EE 5G Home broadband reaches 90% of the UK population across 500+ towns and cities. This gives EE customers an alternative in areas without Openreach Full Fibre.
| Coverage Type | Sky | EE |
|---|---|---|
| FTTC (36-61 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.
Budget Tier
Sky Superfast at £25 per month for 61 Mbps is the cheapest broadband from either provider. EE’s cheapest option is 5G Home at £35 per month. Sky saves £10 per month at entry level.
Mid-Range Tier
Sky Ultrafast Plus costs £33 per month for 500 Mbps. EE Full Fibre 500 costs £48 per month. Sky saves £15 per month for the same speed.
Premium Tier
Sky Gigafast costs £43 per month for 900 Mbps. EE Full Fibre 900 costs £58 per month. Sky saves £15 per month. Over 18 months, that is a £270 saving.
TV and Entertainment
Sky broadband integrates with Sky TV, Sky Glass, and Sky Stream. Sky TV packages start at £26 per month for Sky Entertainment and go up to £48 for Sky Ultimate (includes Netflix, Cinema, and Sports).
EE does not offer TV packages. EE Smart Benefits include Apple Music, Xbox Game Pass, or BT Sport depending on your plan tier. These are included at no extra cost on select broadband plans.
Pros and Cons
Sky Advantages
- Cheapest broadband from £25 per month for 61 Mbps
- Sky Gigafast 900 Mbps at £43 is £15 cheaper than EE equivalent
- FTTC plans available for addresses without Full Fibre
- Sky TV, Sky Glass, and Sky Stream bundles with premium content
- Sky Mobile customers get broadband bundle discounts
- 18-month contracts (shorter than EE’s 24-month options)
Sky Disadvantages
- Sky resells Openreach infrastructure with slower fault resolution (3-5 days vs BT/EE 24-48 hours)
- Sky Broadband Hub router is average quality
- No 5G wireless broadband option
- No Smart Benefits like Apple Music or Xbox Game Pass
- Price increases of £5-10 per month after contract ends
EE Advantages
- 5G Home broadband available without phone line or fiber installation
- Smart Benefits (Apple Music, Xbox Game Pass, BT Sport) included
- EE mobile bundling with perks for existing EE customers
- UK’s largest 5G network (90% population coverage)
- BT Group ownership means strong network reliability
EE Disadvantages
- £9-15 per month more expensive than Sky at every fiber tier
- No FTTC plans for addresses without Full Fibre
- 5G Home speeds vary with signal strength and weather
- No TV service comparable to Sky TV
- 24-month contracts on some plans
Which Should You Choose?
Sky wins on price at every tier. EE wins on wireless alternatives and mobile bundling. Match your priorities with the table below.
| Use Case | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget broadband | Sky | £25 FTTC is cheapest in the UK |
| Fastest fiber, lowest cost | Sky | £43 for 900 Mbps vs EE £58 |
| TV and entertainment | Sky | Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Cinema |
| No phone line wanted | EE | 5G Home needs no landline or fiber |
| EE mobile customer | EE | Smart Benefits and bundle discounts |
| Rural area without fiber | EE | 5G Home works where fiber has not reached |
| Apple Music or Xbox Game Pass | EE | Included as Smart Benefits |
| Remote work (uploads) | Either | Both offer 110 Mbps upload on Full Fibre 900 |
How to Run a Fair Speed Test
Sky and EE Full Fibre use the same Openreach infrastructure. Speed differences between the two are unlikely unless caused by router quality or WiFi setup. Follow these steps for accurate testing.
- Connect your device directly to the router using an ethernet cable.
- Close all background downloads, streaming, and cloud sync.
- Run 3 tests during morning hours and 3 during evening peak (7-11 PM).
- Compare median download, upload, and latency across all tests.
- If testing WiFi, check both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands separately.
For EE 5G Home, place the router near a window facing the nearest 5G tower. Signal quality has a large effect on wireless broadband speeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sky broadband the same speed as EE?
Yes, for fiber plans. Both Sky and EE use the Openreach network. Sky Gigafast and EE Full Fibre 900 both deliver up to 900 Mbps download. The physical connection is identical. Any speed difference is caused by the router or your home WiFi setup.
Can I get Sky TV with EE broadband?
No. Sky TV is only available with Sky broadband. EE does not sell Sky TV packages. EE offers BT Sport as a Smart Benefit on select plans. If Sky TV content (Sky Cinema, Sky Atlantic, Premier League via Sky Sports) is important, you need Sky broadband.
Which has better customer service?
Sky customer service average wait times run 15-20 minutes with resolution for faults taking 3-5 days since Sky must work through Openreach. EE has similar wait times but faster fault resolution (24-48 hours) because its parent company BT Group owns Openreach infrastructure. For technical issues, EE has an advantage.
Is 5G Home broadband worth it over Sky fiber?
EE 5G Home averages 100-300 Mbps at £35 per month. Sky Superfast offers 61 Mbps at £25. Sky Ultrafast delivers 145 Mbps at £29. If you need more than 145 Mbps and Full Fibre is unavailable, EE 5G Home is a good option. If Full Fibre is available, Sky Gigafast at £43 beats EE 5G on both speed and price.
Do both providers include unlimited data?
Yes. All Sky broadband plans and all EE broadband plans include unlimited data with no caps or throttling. This covers FTTC, Full Fibre, and EE 5G Home.
Summary
Sky is the clear winner on price. Sky Gigafast delivers 900 Mbps for £43 per month while EE charges £58 for the same speed on the same network. Over 18 months, Sky saves £270 at the top tier. Sky also offers FTTC plans from £25 for addresses without Full Fibre and integrates with Sky TV.
EE is the better choice if you need 5G Home broadband (no fiber at your address), want to bundle with EE mobile, or value Smart Benefits like Apple Music and Xbox Game Pass. EE’s wireless broadband fills a gap Sky cannot match.
Test your current speed at Sky Speed Test or EE Speed Test to decide if upgrading makes sense.
Last Updated: February 12, 2026 Data Sources: Sky official website, EE official website, Ofcom broadband market data, Openreach coverage reports