By EE offers 4G home broadband from £35 per month. You’ll get a 4GEE Home Router 3 and average download speeds of up to 40Mbps.
In the UK, EE now offers 4G home broadband from £35 per month. Using the 4GEE Home Router 3, you can connect up to 64 devices to the internet at the same time. You’ll get average download speeds of 40Mbps when you choose the 300GB or unlimited data plan (or up to 30Mbps when you choose the 100GB plan).
In this article, we’ll review EE’s 4G home broadband. We’ll start by looking at how it works and how it compares to EE’s fibre broadband plans. We’ll then look at the 4GEE Home Router 3 in more detail, along with the BT 4G Home Hub which is a cheaper alternative on some plans. Finally, we’ll look at the optional 4GEE Antenna, before comparing EE’s 4G home broadband to rival offerings from other networks.
| Prices From: | £35 per month |
|---|---|
| Contract Length: | 18 months or 1-month rolling |
| Download Speed: |
Will vary based on the signal strength & coverage in your area |
| Router: | 4GEE Home Router 3 BT 4G Home Hub |
| Coverage: | 99% of UK households (check your postcode) |
Contents
EE 4G Home Broadband Plans
If you’re living in an area where you’re not able to get decent fibre broadband, 4G home broadband can be a good alternative to traditional fixed-line home broadband.
On EE, this is currently available on the 4GEE Home Router 3. In addition, some slightly cheaper plans are available on the BT 4G Home Hub if you’re looking for 100GB or 300GB data per month.
4GEE Home Router 3 Plans
In the UK, EE now offers 4G home broadband from £35 per month on the 4GEE Home Router 3.
The following table shows EE’s 4G home broadband plans:
| Service | Data Allowance | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 month contracts | ||||
 4GEE Home | 100GB Data | 18 month contract | £0 | £35/month |
4GEE Home | 300GB Data | 18 month contract | £0 | £45/month |
4GEE Home | Unlimited Data | 18 month contract | £0 | £50/month |
| 1 month contracts | ||||
4GEE Home | 100GB Data | 1 month contract | £150 | £35/month |
4GEE Home | 300GB Data | 1 month contract | £150 | £45/month |
4GEE Home | Unlimited Data | 1 month contract | £150 | £50/month |
If you choose the 100GB per month plan, this will have a maximum download speed of 30Mbps. Meanwhile, if you choose the 300GB per month or unlimited data plan, you’ll get EE’s fastest available 4G download speeds where you live. On average, this should be around 40Mbps.
As of 2020, the average UK household consumed 429GB of data per month on their home broadband connection (this was up from 315GB in 2019). For this reason, we’d normally recommend choosing EE’s unlimited data plan if you’re planning to replace your existing fixed-line broadband connection with EE’s 4G home broadband.
If you’re also an EE pay monthly mobile customer, you’ll get a mobile data boost when you sign up for 4GEE Home. If you have a 5G phone plan, this will be boosted with an extra 20GB data per month. Meanwhile, on 4G phone plans and 12-month SIM-only deals, you’ll get an extra 5GB data per month.
BT 4G Home Hub with EE SIM
If you’re looking to get either 100GB or 300GB data per month, it’s slightly cheaper to get the BT 4G Home Hub with an EE SIM. You’ll get an older and less powerful router (based on the first-generation 4GEE Home Router, which was released in 2017). However, it brings the price down to just £25 per month for 100GB data:
| Service | Data Allowance | Contract Length | Upfront Price | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No price plans could be found matching this criteria. | ||||
For most people, we’d still recommend getting the 4GEE Home Router 3 as it will give you better 4G performance in most areas. You’ll also be able to connect more devices at the same time (64 devices on the 4GEE Home Router 3, versus 32 devices on the BT 4G Home Hub).
EE 4G Broadband Speeds
With 4G home broadband, the download speeds available will depend very much on the signal strength and coverage in your area. You can use EE’s online coverage map to get an idea of what the signal is like where you are.
In addition, the download speeds available will depend on the plan you choose:
| Data Plan | Average Download Speeds | Maximum Download Speeds |
|---|---|---|
| 100GB data | 30Mbps average | Up to 30Mbps |
| 300GB data & unlimited data |
40Mbps average | Uncapped (up to 300Mbps) |
Check EE 4G Broadband Coverage →
The exact placement of your router can sometimes make a major difference (ideally, you should place it near an upstairs window that faces in the direction of your local mast). In addition, an external 4G antenna may improve the speeds and reliability of your 4G home broadband service.
4GEE Home vs EE Fibre Broadband
If you’re able to get EE’s fibre broadband service where you live, this will often give you better performance at a lower price than on 4GEE Home.
At present, you’ll pay £29.99 per month for EE’s fibre broadband service, with average download speeds of 36Mbps. This comes with unlimited data included. For comparison, you’d need to pay £50 per month for unlimited data on 4GEE Home, with an average download speed of 40Mbps.
| Service | Download Speed | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by £3) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
 EE Fibre 36 | 36Mbps average download | £29.99 per month No upfront fee 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Fibre 50 | 50Mbps average download | £30.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre 150 | 150Mbps average download | £30.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Fibre 67 | 67Mbps average download | £31.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre 74 | 74Mbps average download | £31.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre 300 | 300Mbps average download | £37.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre 500 | 500Mbps average download | £39.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre Gigabit | 900Mbps average download | £47.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
EE Full Fibre 1.6 Gigabit | 1600Mbps average download | £69.99 per month plus £31.99 upfront 24 month contract | See deal |
Where 4GEE Home really comes into its own is if you’re unable to get fibre broadband from EE, or if you’re looking for a more flexible service (e.g. broadband on a one-month rolling contract). With 4GEE Home, you can also get online more quickly. The router is normally dispatched within 1 day and it’s a simple plug-and-play install. In contrast, EE’s fibre broadband service normally takes around two weeks to be installed.
For more information, see our in-depth EE broadband review.
4GEE Home Router 3
When you sign up for EE’s 4G home broadband, you’ll now receive the 4GEE Home Router 3 (unless you choose the older BT 4G Home Hub).
The 4GEE Home Router 3 connects to EE’s 4G mobile network in the background. Using the 4G signal, it will then produce a wi-fi network for your other devices to connect to.
According to EE, the 4GEE Home Router 3 will allow you to connect up to 64 devices to your network at the same time. It also offers up to “30 metres of wi-fi range”. There’s support for dual-band Wi-Fi 5 technology (802.11b/g/n/ac). You’ll also get two Gigabit Ethernet sockets for connecting wired devices to your home network (including other whole home mesh wi-fi systems).
In terms of mobile connectivity, the 4GEE Home Router 3 has support for Category 7 LTE speeds (up to 300Mbps download and 100Mbps upload). It also has a built-in antenna you can use, or there’s a pair of SMA connectors for attaching an external antenna if required.
The following table shows the technical specifications of EE’s latest 4GEE Home Router 3:
| 4GEE Home (EE 4GEE Home Router 3) | |
|---|---|
| |
| Home Broadband Plans | |
| Price: | From £35/month |
| Data: | 100GB - Unlimited |
| Unlimited Data: | £50/month |
| Contract Length: | 1-18 months |
| Mobile Connectivity | |
| 4G Bands: | LTE bands TBC |
| External Antenna: | Yes, 2x SMA connectors |
| Home Network Connectivity | |
| Dual-Band Wi-Fi: | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Connectivity: | 802.11a/b/ |
| Wi-Fi Devices: | Up to 64 devices |
| Ethernet: | 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| Other | |
| Model: | EE 4GEE Home Router 3 |
| Colour: | White |
| More Information: | See shop.ee.co.uk |
For comparison, the BT 4G Home Hub only supports up to 32 devices on Wi-Fi at a given time.
External Antenna
The 4GEE Home Router 3 has two SMA sockets allowing you to connect an external antenna. This can help you to get a more reliable connection and faster download speeds, compared to using the antenna that’s inside the router.
If you like, you can buy an external SMA antenna from websites like Amazon. Our guide to external 4G antennas will tell you what to look for when buying your own antenna.
Alternatively, EE offers a professional installation service for their 4GEE Antenna. This installation service costs £100 and the 4GEE Antenna will be “positioned on an exterior wall of your property”. A 5m cable will then run from the aerial to your router.
You’ll either need to be the owner of the property or you’ll need permission from the owner to use the 4GEE External Antenna.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for a different 4G home broadband or 5G home broadband service, the best value plans are currently available from Three Broadband.
On Three, you can pay as little as £24/month for unlimited 4G & 5G home broadband. This makes it a lot cheaper than 4GEE Home. However, Three’s home broadband service is only available in selected postcodes across the UK.
| Service | Data | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by £2) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
 Three 4G Hub | Unlimited data | £12.00 for 6 months, then £24 per month No upfront fee 24 month contract | See deal |
Three 5G Hub | Unlimited data 150Mbps average speed | £12.00 for 6 months, then £24 per month No upfront fee 24 month contract | See deal |
See all Three Broadband deals →
It’s also possible to get 4G home broadband from the following providers:
- 4G Internet is a specialist provider of 4G home broadband, making use of 4G coverage from Vodafone and O2. You can get unlimited 4G home broadband from £31.99/month. They also offer a professional 4G antenna installation service for £399.
- BT offers 4G home broadband with unlimited data from £53.73/month. They use EE’s 4G network for this. On BT, you can choose from two different plans with a maximum download speed of either 15Mbps or 30Mbps.
- Vodafone offers 4G and 5G home broadband on their GigaCube service. Plans start from £30 per month for 100GB of data. If you choose the GigaCube 5G service, you can get unlimited 5G data for £35 per month.
For more information, see our in-depth guides to 4G home broadband and 5G home broadband in the UK.
Alternatively, if you’re simply looking for 4G-based backup for your fibre broadband connection, you can get this through BT’s Hybrid Connect and Vodafone’s 4G Broadband Backup. Meanwhile, BT Business customers with an ADSL (copper) broadband connection will get Hybrid Speed Boost included which combines 4G broadband with copper broadband.
Coverage & Availability
EE’s 4G home broadband uses a wireless 4G connection going into your home. This contrasts with traditional fixed-line broadband, where a phone line or cable is used to deliver the service into your home.
At present, EE’s 4G network covers 99% of the UK’s population and around 85% of the UK’s landmass. Before you sign up for the service, it’s important to double-check the coverage in your area. You can do this by entering your postcode on EE’s online coverage map:
Check EE Coverage (ee.co.uk) →
If you prefer, you can also use EE’s combined coverage checker for both 4G broadband and fibre broadband. This is able to check the availability of both types of broadband, showing you the speeds and data plans available on each one.
For more information, see our EE broadband review and our guide to EE’s mobile coverage in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How much does 4G home broadband cost on EE? | You can get EE’s 4G home broadband from £35 per month. For this, you'll get 100GB data and download speeds of up to 30Mbps. If you want unlimited data, you’ll need to pay £50 per month. This comes with an average download speed of 40Mbps.
It’s worth comparing this against other 4G home broadband deals and other 5G home broadband deals. For instance, Three only charges £24/month for unlimited 4G home broadband. |
|---|---|
| What speeds will I get on EE’s 4G home broadband? | If you choose the 100GB per month plan, you’ll get download speeds of up to 30Mbps on your service.
If you choose the 300GB per month or unlimited data plan, you’ll get uncapped download speeds. According to EE, the average download speed available is 40Mbps. However, this can vary depending on your location and the quality of your 4G coverage. The 4GEE Home Router 3 can support up to Category 7 LTE speeds (up to 300Mbps download and up to 100Mbps upload). |
| How many devices can I use with EE’s 4G home broadband? | You can connect up to 64 devices to your 4GEE Home Router 3 using wi-fi (this includes your laptop, tablet, smartphone, smart TV or other smart home devices). Additionally, you can connect 2 devices to the router using a Gigabit Ethernet connection. |
| Does the 4GEE Home Router support 5G? | No. The 4GEE Home Router 3 only supports 4G technology. If you want access to 5G, you’ll need to get 5G home broadband instead. Three’s 5G home broadband is the most popular service, currently costing £24/month for unlimited 5G data. |
| What coverage will I get on 4GEE Home? | EE offers 99% population coverage and 85% geographical coverage across the UK. You should use their online coverage map to see whether 4G is available in your area. You can also use EE’s combined line checker to see the fibre broadband and 4G broadband plans in your area. |
More Information
For more information about EE’s 4G home broadband, please see EE’s official website.
You may also find it useful to read our EE broadband review and our overview of 4G home broadband in the UK.
Rallen said:
Hi,
I’m in a familiar situation to others it seems but I’m hoping there’s been improvements since the most recently relevant query.
I’m proposing a move which hinges on the internet as I and my partner work from home so it’s essential it’s a strong enough signal and stable. Or I’ll lose my job. I’m moving to an area which is remote, (LN4), and maybe wouldn’t see another human for days, I’ve spoke to the reps at EE and as much as they profess that everything will dandy, with the external booster etc, I’ve doubts as I can’t risk moving to find I have to move again immediately because I can’t work there. Whats your thoughts being far more knowledgeable in these things than me?
Thanks in advance
Rallen
Ken replied:
Hi Rallen,
Thanks for your comment. My recommendation, if possible, would be to go there with your mobile phone and an EE SIM card. That way, you can test-drive the coverage to see what it’s really like in that area. If possible, try and camp out for a couple of hours (or even a day) and tether from your phone. That’ll give you a good idea of how well 4G broadband will work in that location, including at different times of the day.
Hope this helps!
Ken
Alastair said:
Hi Ken
Somewhat behind the curve on this topic date however having a punt.
I have been researching these options for several years and losing faith. We are on a farm in a rural location very near a city in the West Midlands. Therefore we are not classed as rural for any broadband grants. Our exchange was upgraded to fibre a few years ago but our cabinet wasn’t. Too few connections to be viable. Took the council Superfast team to subsidise it 18 months later. We purchased FTTC immediately. Speeds are supposed to be 13mbps down but regularly fail to reach this.
We are a 1.25 km copper wire from the cabinet despite being able to see it from our bedroom window. My mother-in-law who is slightly closer to the cabinet, in the farm cottage, gets 30mb down with Now Broadband. Doesn’t matter who we use our line is only capable of 13mb down I’m told. FTTP On Demand is not available either according to OpenReach. Starlink is available too apparently but way too expensive.
I have been considering a 5G EE Home Router to use the fallback 4G signal until 5G is available. I would run it on our TP Link Deco 5 mesh system. There is 5G signal one small field away from us and on the other side of the nearby dual-carriageway but we are in a not-spot which is infuriating. However, a helpful telecoms engineer told me the network capacity of 5G is choked in our area as there are too few masts. Everyone being sold 5G devices is thus connecting to a limited network until the telco’s roll-out enough too make it viable.
Reading these comments I am still worried the speeds, stability and continuity of using a 4G home router won’t cut it. We are heavy users, my daughter all day and my wife tutors students all over the world from home so needs a very reliable connection.
We are apparently within range of the Airband.co.uk network. Do you or anyone else have experience of these wireless networks? They claim up to 60 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up. If we can achieve these with stability, it seems a sensible upgrade option.
Ray Harris said:
Hi
We went on an EE 4G router plan for 18 months having got fed up with 20th century Broadband internet speeds for too long in our rural area, with c 8-13Mb and 0.5Mb up.
4G routers seemed like a fairly new and better option at the time, so we went for one with EE. There was a bit of an improvement with the router, although with frequent drop outs and intermittent issues, at £90/mo for unlimited data, it came at a very high cost. Average speeds were 15-max 30 Mb and 15Mb up, but often much less.
Last year we went on a Sim only unlimited data plan which brought cost down to c£20 a month. But last month the box failed. EE were good enough to send me a new sim, but that was not the issue. The router itself needed replacing. The only option they had was to buy a new plan at £55 / mo for 18 months. Over £1000!
Instead we went for an unlocked TPLink dual band AR600 for £123 using the new sim. I was shocked. Our 4G isn’t bad here at all. We now have a rock solid connection, no drop outs, 40-50 Mb up and 25Mb down consistently – on the same EE cellular 4G SIM card.
EE has been a fairly good provider and quite responsive, but avoid their white i4G routers. Cheap nasty and massively overpriced.