Availability: If you can get broadband at all in your area, you should be able to receive Plusnet. As an ADSL service all you need to access Plusnet is a regular phone line, and you should be able to do a test on your line to make sure things are ok. Currently ADSL covers about 95% of the country, so unless you live in a very rural location you should be able to receive Plusnet's broadband service.

Speed: As an ADSL service, Plusnet will vary on speed depending on how far away from the exchange you happen to be. Most of the packages available from Plusnet advertise as up to 20 Mb, but that depends on a lot of different factors and it's pretty unlikely you'll get close to 20 Mb unless you live very close to your local exchange. The average speed for ADSL in the UK is about 5 Mbps, but you can do your own line test to see what sort of speeds your home should be able to handle. Rural areas should expect speeds more around the 1 - 3 Mbps mark.

Bandwidth Caps: Plusnet a quite restrictive on their bandwidth cap for their basic service, offering only 10Gb a month usage, which isn't much at all if you use the internet from home every day, but should suit most casual users. The Plusnet Extra package extends that limit to 60Gb a month, which should be enough for most users even those who often stream digital television and films. Heavy downloaders should still be away about Plusnet though, as it's not really designed with them in mind. It's worth noting that these limits don't apply overnight though, so you can download as much as you like while you sleep.

Customer Service: Plusnet prides itself on offering simple and honest advice and has won a number of awards for low cost, high quality broadband. Their customer service is based in Yorkshire and is open 24/7 and is free to call which is a good option if you're getting frustrating with having to deal with foreign call centres every time you have a problem. Even the basic package can be augmented with extra security software, with consumers able to purchase a McAfee security package for £2 a month. Always check out Plusnet broadband reviews on a user review or comparison site first to get an up to date opinion on the service!

Value for money: Value for money is Plusnet's strong point, offering simple no frills broadband for half the cost of the average broadband connection, and a slightly more involved package with higher bandwidth limits for about £12. Other than that limit being higher though there's not a lot of reason to go for the more expensive option which makes Plusnet most ideal for people who don't use the internet heavily but want a cheap and easy way to get online.

Summary: Plusnet doesn't come with all the bells and whistles of most ADSL providers, but it doesn't come with the hefty monthly price tag either. If you don't mind having to restrict any heavy downloading until after midnight, Plusnet offers some very attractive options - just make sure you don't go over that 10 Gb limit every month!