Cuckoo Broadband Review (Updated 2026)
Fair Prices. Flexible Contracts. Full Fibre.
Cuckoo Broadband has quickly made a name for itself by challenging the "big guys" with a promise of fair pricing and simpler contracts. They utilise a mix of full fibre networks to get into homes across the UK. But does their customer service live up to the "compassionate" hype they market? Let's dive into this honest Cuckoo Broadband Review in 2026.
Pros and Cons
What It Nails
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Flexible Contracts Cuckoo offers 12 month contracts as standard, which provides much more flexibility than the 18 or 24 month lock ins you see elsewhere.
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Amazon eero Included Cuckoo supplies an Amazon eero router (often eero Pro 6E on current offers, though the exact model can vary by package/installation). This is a high quality mesh device that is significantly better than the standard plastic hubs most ISPs send out.
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Clear Pricing Terms Cuckoo’s current price book says service charges increase by £3 per year around 1 April during the minimum term (unless your specific offer/contract info says otherwise).
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Wide Availability Because they aggregate different networks (Openreach, CityFibre, etc.), they can offer full fibre to a massive portion of the country.
The Drawbacks
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Price Premium You pay for the flexibility and the router. If you are looking for the absolute rock bottom cheapest deal, you might find cheaper options with longer contracts.
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No Landline Cuckoo doesn’t include a landline with full-fibre plans. They’ve said digital landlines (VoIP) are planned, but not available yet.
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Limited Store Presence Cuckoo is very digital-first (app/help centre/chat), but they also handle support/complaints via phone and email. If you prefer in-store support, that’s where they’re limited.
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Static IPs Cost Extra For tech enthusiasts running home servers, a static IP address is not standard and is often an added cost or unavailable depending on the backbone network.
The Infrastructure
How Cuckoo Works
Cuckoo acts as an aggregator. They do not dig up the roads themselves, but they rent the lines from the people who do. This allows them to offer services via Openreach, CityFibre, and potentially others like AllPoints Fibre.
This approach is clever because it gives them massive coverage. If your street has CityFibre, Cuckoo can usually get you symmetrical download and upload speeds. If you are on Openreach, they use the FTTP network there too.
Hardware: The Amazon eero
Mesh Wi-Fi Standard
Unlike many providers that give you a rebranded budget router, Cuckoo supplies an Amazon eero router (often eero Pro 6E on current offers, though the exact model can vary by package/installation). This is a game changer.
The eero is a mesh system. This means if you have a larger house, you can easily buy another eero unit, plug it in, and the system automatically expands your Wi-Fi coverage without creating a separate network name. It handles congestion beautifully and has a very user friendly app for parental controls.
My Experience: Refreshingly Simple
The Setup
I signed up for the Full Fibre 900 package. The signup process on their website was genuinely one of the easiest I have encountered. No upselling of TV packages I do not want, just a clean interface asking for my postcode and bank details.
The eero router arrived two days before the activation date. On the day itself, I received a text message at 8am saying the line was active. I plugged the eero into the wall box (ONT), and within five minutes, the light turned solid white. I was online.
The Performance
I live in an area served by CityFibre, so my connection is symmetrical. My speed test results were consistently hitting around 910 Mbps download and 905 Mbps upload. This makes backing up files to the cloud incredibly fast.
I did have one minor query about my first bill date. I used their online chat function. I waited about four minutes to get through to a human, which is reasonable. The agent, Sarah, was helpful and clarified that the first payment is taken 3 days after activation. No scripts, just a normal conversation. It was a pleasant surprise compared to other ISPs.
The Packages
Cuckoo’s minimum term depends on the deal shown at checkout (often 12 months, and sometimes longer on promotions). If no minimum term is stated in your contract info, their terms say it’s treated as 12 months.
Full Fibre 150 to 900
Full Fibre 150: This is the entry level for full fibre. At 150Mbps, it is plenty for a couple streaming 4K and working from home. It is their most popular balance of price and performance.
Full Fibre 500: Great for families with teenagers. This speed ensures that even if someone is downloading a huge game update on a console, the rest of the house can still stream Netflix without buffering.
Full Fibre 900: The top tier. This is gigabit class broadband. It is overkill for most single users but essential for content creators, heavy downloaders, or very busy smart homes.
Upload Speed Differences
It is worth noting that your upload speed depends on the infrastructure. If Cuckoo connects you via Openreach, your upload on the 900Mbps plan will likely be around 110Mbps. If they connect you via CityFibre, it could be symmetrical at 900Mbps. Check your address on their site to confirm.
Performance & Speed
By The Numbers
Our testing over a two week period showed excellent stability. We experienced zero dropouts during working hours. Latency was consistently low, hovering around 6ms to 8ms, which is excellent for online gaming.
Top Alternatives
If Cuckoo isn't available or the price is slightly too high, consider these rivals.
The Full List of Extras
Cuckoo does not offer TV boxes or mobile SIMs, focusing purely on broadband. However, they do have some nice touches:
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Social Impact: Cuckoo’s ‘Cuckoo Compass’ puts 1% of each bill toward connectivity projects (e.g., conflict zones, disaster sites, developing communities).
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Switching Guarantee: They make use of the "One Touch Switch" process where available, meaning they handle the cancellation with your old provider so you don't have to make that awkward phone call.
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Referral Bonus: Cuckoo has a very simple referral scheme. If you refer a friend, you both get a voucher or bill credit. It is straightforward and actually works.
The Trade-Offs
No ISP is perfect, and Cuckoo has a few areas where they might not suit everyone.
Digital Only: If you are the sort of person who likes paper bills and calling a support line for a long chat, Cuckoo might feel a bit distant. They are designed for people who are comfortable managing their account via an online portal.
Not The Cheapest: You are paying for the eero router and the shorter contract flexibility. If you are willing to sign up for 24 months with a provider like Vodafone or TalkTalk, you will almost certainly pay less per month.
Ownership & Structure
Powered by Kraken
Cuckoo is powered by Kraken Utilities (Octopus Energy Group’s platform), which Cuckoo licenses for customer/billing operations. They are aiming to be the "Octopus Energy of Broadband", focusing on customer trust and transparency rather than confusing introductory offers.
FAQs
Does Cuckoo use Openreach?
Yes, but they are a network aggregator. This means they use Openreach cables in some areas and alternative networks like CityFibre or AllPoints Fibre in others to deliver the best possible speed.
Which router does Cuckoo supply?
Cuckoo includes an Amazon eero router (currently eero Pro 6E on many offers), though the exact model can vary by package/installation.
Are the contracts really flexible?
Contract length varies by offer (commonly 12 months, sometimes longer on promos). Cuckoo has also offered 1-month options historically, but availability and fees can differ by deal/location.
How We Rated Cuckoo
To ensure fairness, we use a standardised weighting system across all our ISP Reviews. Here is exactly how the 8.6/10 score for Cuckoo was calculated:
This approach allows us to judge the best deal for each customer without bias. Commission, CPA, and margins are not used in the scoring model.
HASNAAT MAHMOOD
Broadband & Technology Expert
"Cuckoo is one of the most refreshing ISPs I have tested in years. The combination of simple bills, good hardware, and honest speeds makes them very easy to recommend. They might not be the absolute cheapest option on the market, but the lack of hidden fees and the quality of the eero router makes them excellent value for money."