Research by decision
Guides and comparisons
Buying routes, problem solvers and explanations in one place. Use search when you know the room, device or service causing trouble.
Comparisons
- ComparisonUK fibre broadbandCompare UK part-fibre and full-fibre broadband: speeds that matter, address checks, contract cost and the Wi-Fi needed inside the home.
- ComparisonBroadband for gamingChoose UK broadband for gaming by checking latency, jitter, upload capacity, local Wi-Fi and contract reliability—not download speed alone.
- ComparisonBroadband for home workingCompare broadband for home working using upload speed, video-call stability, backup connectivity, Wi-Fi coverage and contract terms.
- ComparisonMesh Wi-Fi systemsCompare mesh Wi-Fi by home layout, backhaul, Wi-Fi generation, Ethernet ports and compatibility after trying the free fixes first.
- ComparisonMesh vs extenderCompare mesh Wi-Fi and extenders by coverage, roaming, speed, setup and cost, with free placement checks before either purchase.
- ComparisonPowerline vs meshCompare powerline networking and mesh Wi-Fi by wiring, interference, speed, placement and the rooms you need to reach.
- ComparisonEthernet vs Wi-FiCompare Ethernet and Wi-Fi for speed, latency, reliability, installation and everyday flexibility around the home.
- ComparisonUK SIM-only plansCompare UK SIM-only plans using real data use, coverage where you live, contract length, roaming and total cost before opening a provider.
- ComparisonTravel eSIMCompare travel eSIMs with inclusive roaming, network passes, local SIMs and pay-as-you-go using destination, trip length and data need.
- ComparisonBroadband without a long contractCompare rolling and short-term broadband by total cost, setup requirements, notice periods and address availability.
- ComparisonBroadband for studentsPlan student broadband around tenancy dates, shared demand, setup timing, bill responsibility and the full contract cost.
- ComparisonUnlimited-data SIM-onlyCompare unlimited-data SIM-only choices by network fit, traffic terms, tethering, roaming, contract length and total cost.
- ComparisonCompare SIM-only plansBuild a useful SIM-only shortlist from data use, local coverage, contract flexibility, roaming and handset compatibility.
- ComparisoneSIM for EuropeCompare a Europe travel eSIM with home-network roaming and local alternatives using destinations, duration, data and phone compatibility.
- ComparisonInternational travel eSIMPlan an international eSIM around all destinations, connection needs, validity, handset support and alternatives already available.
- ComparisonWi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 7Compare Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 by client support, channel availability, wired backhaul, broadband speed and expected device lifetime.
- ComparisonUK broadband comparisonA practical UK broadband comparison guide covering speed, usage, contract terms and Wi-Fi limits.
- ComparisonBroadband for familiesHow UK families can choose broadband for streaming, homework, calls and connected devices.
- ComparisonWi-Fi versus broadbandA clear diagnostic guide to tell whether slow internet is caused by broadband or home Wi-Fi.
- ComparisonUK antivirus comparisonA plain-English UK antivirus comparison covering protection, device support, privacy and renewal terms.
- ComparisonVPN and privacy comparisonHow to compare VPN and privacy tools without confusing encryption, anonymity and marketing claims.
- ComparisonEnergy switching guideA practical guide to comparing UK energy tariffs, meter information, exit fees and estimated bills.
- ComparisonHomeCare and boiler-cover guideWhat to compare in boiler and home emergency cover, including exclusions, call-outs and renewal pricing.
Buying guides
- Buying guideFull-fibre guideA practical UK full-fibre checklist covering availability, installation, upload speed, router setup and whole-contract cost.
- Buying guidePower-bank guideChoose a power bank by usable capacity, USB-C charging standards, port mix, weight and travel restrictions rather than one large number.
- Buying guideTravel-adapter guideChoose a travel adapter by destination plug type, voltage compatibility, USB-C output, earthing and device load.
- Buying guideTravel-router guideDecide whether a travel router helps with hotel Wi-Fi, several devices or mobile data, then compare modes, power and compatibility.
- Buying guideHome-working setupPrioritise a home-working setup by comfort, call quality, screen space, connectivity and power before shopping for accessories.
- Buying guideUSB-C dock guideChoose a USB-C dock by laptop video support, display count, charging power, bandwidth and operating-system compatibility.
- Buying guideVPN for travelAssess a travel VPN by the networks, devices, destinations and risks involved, with its limits made explicit.
- Buying guideMobile-hotspot SIM guideChoose a SIM for a mobile hotspot by checking coverage, real data demand, device compatibility, tethering terms and travel use.
- Buying guideWi-Fi extender guideChoose a Wi-Fi extender for a UK home by checking the relay position, required speed, bands, setup and socket layout before buying.
- Buying guideGaming Wi-Fi extendersWork out whether a Wi-Fi extender can help a gaming setup by comparing latency, stability, relay quality and wired alternatives.
- Buying guideExtenders with EthernetChoose a Wi-Fi extender with Ethernet by checking port speed, operating modes, wireless backhaul and the device that needs a cable.
- Buying guidePowerline adapter guideChoose powerline networking for a UK home by checking circuits, wall sockets, port needs, pass-through power and realistic use.
- Buying guideWi-Fi powerline guideChoose a Wi-Fi powerline kit by checking the electrical backhaul, remote wireless bands, roaming behaviour and Ethernet ports.
- Buying guideGaming Ethernet cablesChoose an Ethernet cable for a gaming setup by run length, port speed, installation route, connector durability and genuine category marking.
- Buying guideGaming router guideChoose a router for gaming by checking UK broadband compatibility, latency under load, Ethernet capacity, Wi-Fi coverage and update support.
- Buying guideTravel mobile hotspotsDecide whether to use phone tethering or a mobile hotspot abroad by checking bands, SIM support, roaming data, battery life and group use.
- Buying guideMobile hotspot devicesChoose a mobile hotspot for UK use by network compatibility, data plan, indoor signal, connected-device load, ports and power arrangements.
- Buying guideHome-office monitor guideChoose a home-office monitor by desk depth, text clarity, laptop outputs, ergonomics, connectivity and the work shown on screen.
- Buying guideWebcams for TeamsChoose a webcam for Microsoft Teams by framing, room lighting, microphone plan, mounting, connection and managed-computer restrictions.
- Buying guideLaptop stand guideChoose a laptop stand by screen position, stability, ventilation, desk space, portability and whether separate input devices are needed.
- Buying guideUSB-C laptop chargersChoose a USB-C laptop charger by laptop input requirements, Power Delivery support, cable rating, port sharing and UK plug safety information.
- Buying guideExternal laptop SSDsChoose an external SSD for a laptop by usable capacity, connection speed, workload, portability, encryption and backup responsibility.
- Buying guideLuggage tracker guideChoose a luggage tracker by phone ecosystem, network method, battery, sharing, privacy controls and current carrier rules.
Guides
- GuideGet Wi-Fi upstairsFix weak upstairs Wi-Fi methodically: placement and band checks first, then compare mesh, access points, powerline and extenders.
- GuideFix Wi-Fi dead zonesFind the cause and shape of a Wi-Fi dead zone, try the free fixes, then compare the relevant networking options.
- GuideBroadband without a landlineWork out what “without a landline” means for your address, phone service and installation before comparing broadband options.
- GuideRural broadband optionsNarrow down rural broadband using address-level availability, measured performance, installation constraints and household demand.
- GuideDo you need a travel VPN?Use the connection, device and task to decide whether a VPN adds useful protection while travelling—and what it cannot fix.
- GuideDoes a VPN slow your internet?Yes, a little — and here is how much is normal and how much is worth fixing.
- GuideWhy does my VPN keep disconnecting?The usual causes, and why a kill switch can look like the internet failing.
- GuideIs public Wi-Fi safe?Safer than the warnings suggest, for reasons worth understanding.
- GuideWhat can a VPN actually hide?A short, specific list — and a longer one of what it cannot.
- GuideWhat can your internet provider see?Less than you might think, more than they need, and what changes it.
- GuideFree VPN versus paid VPNWhat the free ones cost you instead of money, when one is genuinely fine, and what paying actually buys.
- GuideHow to test a VPN fairlyMost VPN speed comparisons measure the wrong thing. This is how to avoid that.
- GuideWhich VPN is fastest?Mostly decided by your line and the server, not by the logo on the app.
- GuideA VPN for public Wi-FiA narrower case than the warnings suggest — and a real one.
- GuideCovering a whole householdConnection limits, running it on the router, and what that costs you.
- GuideComparing providersWhy there is no league table here yet, and what to measure instead.
- GuideHow to calculate an electricity billThe two-part sum every supplier uses, where to find each figure, and why your answer will be a few percent out.
- GuideHow to calculate a gas bill from meter readingsConverting cubic metres or hundreds of cubic feet into kWh using the formula on your own bill, and why the calorific value matters.
- GuideWhat is an energy standing charge?The fixed daily amount you pay for being connected, why it cannot be avoided, and when a lower one is actually worse.
- GuideWhich appliances use the most electricity?Ranked by what they actually cost a year rather than by how powerful they are — the two are not the same.
- GuideWhy is my electricity bill so high?The causes in the order they are worth checking, starting with the ones that are free to rule out.
- GuideWhy is my gas bill so high?Why gas bills move so much between seasons, and what to check before assuming something is wrong.
- GuideFixed versus variable energy tariffsWhat each one actually commits you to, and why "cheaper" depends on a question nobody can answer in advance.
- GuideHow to read an electricity meterDigital, dial and Economy 7 meters, and which digits to write down on each.
- GuideHow to read a gas meterMetric and imperial meters, which digits count, and how to tell which type you have.
- GuideHow to find your overnight base loadTwo meter readings, a division, and the most informative measurement you can take about your electricity — for nothing.
- GuideHow much mobile data do I need?What a realistic month looks like at each allowance size, why the honest answer is a range, and how to find what you actually used.
- GuideWhat uses the most mobile data?The activities that dominate a monthly allowance, in order, and the two that account for most of the usage nobody can explain.
- GuideSIM-only versus a phone contractWhat a bundled contract actually bundles, why the comparison is usually made wrongly, and when bundling genuinely wins.
- GuideHow to work out the true cost of a phone contractUpfront payments, mid-contract increases, out-of-bundle charges and cashback that has to be claimed — and how to get to one comparable number.
- GuideWhy is my mobile data slow?Why a full signal and slow data is the normal case rather than a contradiction, and how to tell congestion from everything else.
- GuideWhy does my phone lose signal indoors?What buildings do to mobile signal, why newer buildings are often worse, and the free setting that solves it outright.
- GuideIs 5G worth paying more for?Where 5G genuinely helps, where it makes no difference on a phone, and the case where it is slower than the 4G it replaced.
- GuideHow to reduce mobile data usageThe changes that actually move the number, in order of how much they save and how little you will notice them.
- GuideRepair or replace a phone?How to compare a repair against a replacement per year of use, and the three cheap explanations that get mistaken for an old phone.
- GuideRoaming, travel eSIM and local SIM comparedCompare an inclusive allowance, provider pass, pay-as-you-go roaming, travel eSIM and local SIM, then set up a dual-SIM phone safely before travel.
- GuidePassword-manager guideUse unique passwords, recovery and multi-factor authentication first, then compare whether a password manager fits your devices and accounts.