The UK's internet has been put through its paces and these are the best and worst providers.06:26, 29 Jul 2026Updated 06:31, 29 Jul 2026The results are in, and it seems some of the UK's biggest broadband providers are falling short when it comes to delivering the reliable service customers expect. That's according to a new report from consumer champion Which? who says many smaller alternative networks – often called "alt-nets" – are outperforming the major brands by offering faster speeds, more dependable connections and better value for money.‌The latest research found that problems with internet connections are the norm rather than the exception, with frequent dropouts topping the list of complaints. Slow download speeds and annoying service outages were also common consumer frustrations.‌In fact, a staggering 91% of broadband customers said they experienced gremlins with their web service over the past year, meaning fewer than one in ten households have enjoyed a totally trouble-free connection.‌Among the biggest names, Sky came out worst for frequent dropouts with 38% of customers reporting the issue. Luckily, these were all quickly fixed, but it's still an annoyance when trying to work from home or stream TV.Virgin Media also performed poorly, with 30% of users reporting regular connection dropouts despite paying some of the highest average broadband bills. Around a quarter of Virgin customers also complained about sluggish download speeds.Sky users were particularly unhappy with performance as well, with almost one in three saying their broadband wasn't fast enough.‌Other losers include TalkTalk and Sky's NOW service which also scored poorly with customers.So who gets the thumbs up?Which? says many of those smaller UK providers continue to lead the way. Zen Internet was one of the best performers, with customers reporting far fewer reliability issues than the major brands. Community Fibre and Hyperoptic also impressed.‌Among the larger providers, Plusnet stood out by outperforming rivals including Vodafone, EE, BT and Sky.The findings mirror previous Which? research, which has consistently shown that smaller broadband firms score higher for reliability, customer service and value for money than many of the UK's biggest providers.Which? is now urging households to check whether alternative providers are available in their area and consider switching if they're unhappy with their current service. One of the easiest ways to see which broadband networks are available is by using Ofcom's broadband checker.‌HERE'S THE FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND LOSERSZen • Customer rating 83%Hyperoptic • Customer rating 77%‌Community Fibre • Customer rating 72%Plusnet • Customer rating 71%Vodafone • Customer rating 67%‌EE • Customer rating 66%BT • Customer rating 65%Utility Warehouse • Customer rating 65%‌Sky• Customer rating 62%TalkTalk • Customer rating 59%Virgin Media • Customer rating 59%‌NOW • Customer rating 54%Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: "For many broadband customers, these findings will come as no surprise. Our research consistently shows that larger providers are outshone by smaller rivals."Many of the biggest names in broadband have been letting customers down for too long. Delaying improvements and failing to offer a better service will only drive customers to companies that treat them better.Article continues below"Good-quality broadband isn't a luxury – it's an essential. With plenty of competitive deals available, consumers have more power than ever to vote with their feet and switch."Responding to the report, a Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We're investing millions of pounds every day to give our customers great services, with Ofcom's latest official data showing Virgin Media is now the least-complained-about broadband provider, with complaints at record lows."Real-world independent data from Opensignal ranks Virgin Media top across every national broadband category – including download speed, upload speed, consistent quality, video experience and reliability – showing that in reality our customers benefit from the UK's best broadband services."