The best broadband deals for designers and studios in 2018

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You may feel aggrieved at having to dedicate a portion of your budget to simply connecting to the internet, but choose the wrong broadband deal and you could be left with a painfully slow service or paying too much for a package you just don't need.

And then there's the precious time it will cost you to hunt around for the perfect deal for you or your business. That's where Creative Bloq comes in. We've done the hard work for you, scouring the market and narrowing down the multitudes of packages to a shortlist of five to choose from.

We've unearthed internet deals that will suit self-employed freelancers on a tight budget, small businesses and studios where super-fast fibre broadband is a must and all-in-one plans that include unlimited telephone calls as well. 

And if you're still scratching your head at the sheer amount of options out there, below the deals we have some morsels of advice to help you come to your decision. (Non-UK readers, don't despair that our top featured deals are for UK customers, as our deal finder at the bottom of this article will show you local deals for you).

Best fibre broadband deal for freelancers:

Best fibre broadband deal for a studio:

Best value cheap broadband-only deal:

Best BT Infinity broadband deal:

Best broadband and phone package deal:

What broadband speed do I need?

Home workers: Generally, we would say that you should get the fastest internet that you can allow your budget to stretch to. So if there's fibre where you live, the extra money is worth it to ensure that your work is never hindered by a faltering broadband connection speed. That said, if the only thing you really need it for is checking and replying to emails and the odd bit of Google research, 17Mb should be sufficient.

Small business or agency: Don't be faffing around with 17Mb internet if you've got a busy office with (hopefully) busy employees. Be sure to get at least the 38Mb fibre broadband. We'd actually recommend you go the next level up and sign up for a 76Mb deal instead. That equates to roughly 9.5MB per second, which should be a fast enough connection to cope with at least 10 people at once.

What contract length should I go for?

12 months remains the most common contract length that internet providers will give you, especially with standard ADSL internet. However, more and more companies are now making 18 months the norm for fibre broadband deals.

It's worth having a quick think ahead now before you choose your plan. If you're in a situation where you're unsure where you'll be and what you'll be doing next year, then make sure to pick a one year term – the costs of breaking a longer contract can be severe. Otherwise, 18 months can give a little more surety, as some providers guarantee you the cheaper introductory rate for the entirety of the broadband contract.

Do I have to pay more to have a phone line?

Not any more you don't. Not so long ago, you would have to add on an extra cost for line rental, but now it's included in the internet providers' tariffs.

Today's best broadband deals where you are

If you've not found the broadband deal to suit you in our recommendations above, then you're sure to in the below comparison chart. It includes the full range of internet plans from a whole fleet of providers. Pop in your postcode to narrow down the available packages where you live, and then use the filters to handcraft your ideal plan.

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