Introduction to AOL Broadband

AOL Broadband is one of the very first ISPs (internet service providers) and has over 12 years experience of providing internet access in the UK.  It has moved from being one of the largest and best known broadband providers, to a larger niche broadband player.  It's now part of the TalkTalk Group and managed alongside TalkTalk home phone and broadband and still has  over 1 million broadband and home phone customers.

The AOL Broadband service

AOL Broadband offers three basic packages.  A broadband, calls and line rental option; a broadband and calls option; and a broadband only package.  AOL Broadband offers broadband speeds of up to 24 Mbps, but you woudl be extremely unlikely to receive even close to that speed, unless you live very close (less than 0.5 km) from your local telephone exchange (which you can check using our postcode checker). 

AOL Broadband pricing is at the cheaper end of the market, but there are cheaper alternatives from Plusnet, Primus and TalkTalk for example.

  AOL Broadband benefits

AOL Broadband used to be well known for its value add benefits.  And indeed, all the AOL packages come with a free wireless router so you can go online in any room in your house, or your garden. AOL also includes parental controls as standard. You can use the software to set a different level of security for each member of your family. It's great if you have children using your PC.  However, these benefits are offered by most other broadband providers. 

Our verdict on AOL Broadband

AOL has a loyal customer base, but probably does not wholeheartedly deserve their loyalty.  The broadband market has somewhat overtaken AOL Broadband, with broadband and home phone suppliers such as TalkTalk and Plusnet offering just as capable and cheaper alternatives.  Also we still hear stories of very expensive legacy deals, with long term AOL Broadband customers paying way over the odds for their broadband.