The best broadband dongle

On the hunt for a decent broadband dongle? We round up the very best deals.

When dongles were first introduced to the broadband market to give customers broadband via a 3G connection, we wrote about how they could potentially save you £203 a year compared to a BT landline.

We also looked into whether they could be the next big thing for internet users. Today, they are still a popular option, but come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes. How do you know what kind to get and will they actually save you any money?

The basics

Below are the most affordable plans available from each of the top five providers, designed for people who only need a very basic package.

As you can see, these packages range from the flexibility of a one-month rolling deal to the commitment of a 24-month contract, the sort of thing normally associated with a traditional mobile phone contract.

These deals offer fairly limited data allowances, so are best suited for those people who only need to do things like access their emails, go on Facebook or Twitter and do some general surfing.

Internet access for £3 a month for someone who only needs to check their emails and the football scores every now and again is a pretty decent deal.

Bigger users

However, if you need more data at your disposal, there are yet more tariffs to choose from. Below are our favourites from each of the big five networks.

Most of these deals offer significantly more data usage, without breaking the bank - well, except the O2 deal anyway. These are a better option if you are likely to use the dongle for downloading or streaming.

Three by far has the biggest allowance available at a reasonable price but you will need to sign up for 24 months!

Finding a dongle to fit you

Coverage varies immensely depending on where you live, so doing your research is vital.

If you're considering getting a dongle, use these links for 3, Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2, Orange to check the coverage in your area. However, though the sites will tell you if your area is covered, by no means will you get the advertised speeds.

The best thing you can do to test mobile broadband speeds in your area is to borrow a dongle. That way, you'll know how fast it will perform where you live.

For those who do not have that luxury, if your existing mobile phone has 3G capability and your tariff supports internet browsing, simply hook it up to your computer (there should be a cable to connect it in the box your phone came in), and conduct a broadband speed test which will give you an idea of speeds in your area.

One final word of warning

Although services within the UK are becoming more competitive, overseas broadband charges continue to be high.

Inclusive data allowances normally do not apply abroad so you can rack up a pretty huge bill if you’re not careful.

You are normally charged per MB of data up to a capped limit unless you opt out. But most now also offer bundled add-ons that can help keep the cost down. However, if you don’t arrange this with your provider you will pay the standard charges.

To give you an idea of how expensive overseas dongle surfing is, if you downloaded a 20Mb podcast abroad with a 3 dongle, it would set you back £13.92 within the EU or £120 if you're outside the EU.

So the moral of the story is; avoid using your dongle abroad and if you have to choose a Wi-Fi connection instead or even seek out a trusty internet café. Even in the UK, exceeding your allowance could cost you dearly.

Healthy competition?

So, are dongles worth it? It really depends on your individual circumstances, how much data you need and when you need it.

Most of us rely on our smartphones for internet access, while others stick to their home broadband system, but dongles can be a good alternative for access on the go or help you to keep connected when you move home.

As most providers offer shorter contracts, you could always try one out to see if it will save you money compared to another broadband system.

Dongles may not be the next big thing, but if you're looking for broadband on the move -- or simply an alternative to landline broadband, then a dongle may just be right up your street.

This is a lovemoney.com classic article that has been updated.

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BT launches 'truly unlimited' broadband

Switching broadband: Is it worth the effort?

The best broadband freebies and incentives

How to find the best deal on your broadband, TV and phone package