Best Business Broadband Suppliers: Vodafone Vs XLN

Broadband is an essential component of modern-day business. Vodafone business broadband and XLN business broadband are at the forefront of connectivity services in the UK. No one can deny that Vodafone and XLN are industry giants, but business owners have more choices than ever. With the number of broadband providers on the market steadily increasing, it is no surprise that business owners are considering smaller, newer providers for their connectivity needs. 

Broadband suppliers have to juggle lots of services. Superfast speeds and package deals are often at the top of the list for new customers, but factors like customer service ratings and customer incentives are also important. At Love Energy Savings, we encourage consumers to consider potential providers from a comprehensive perspective.  The best business broadband company might not have the most recognisable name. Lots of business owners fall into the trap of choosing a household name and being disappointed. 

That being said, hundreds of thousands of business owners depend on Vodafone business broadband and XLN business broadband every day. In this guide, our experts peek behind the curtain to see how these household names compare. We discuss package deals, prices, Trustpilot ratings, and customer support information. 

Why Compare Business Broadband?

In our modern world, connectivity is key. For a lot of businesses, broadband is an essential part of the day to day operations. As with any other essential utility, it is important to shop around to find the best business broadband deal. 

Each broadband provider creates different deals. These deals often have different names. They can be tailored or general and can include a wide range of benefits. Once business owners understand the broadband landscape, they are better equipped to find a deal that meets their needs. 

Lots of business owners make the mistake of opting for a recognisable name. Recognisable names such as Vodafone and XLN make big promises about connectivity, but the services that they provide might not reflect their claims. By comparing Vodafone business broadband and XLN business broadband with all the other connectivity packages on the market, business owners can secure a tailor-made deal. 

Switching suppliers is the easiest, quickest way to save a lump sum of money. We encourage business owners to switch once a year to secure the most competitive broadband deals on the market. 

We have created a broadband comparison generator for business owners who want a hassle-free way to scan the market. 

Vodafone Business Broadband Vs XLN Business Broadband

Vodafone is a purpose-led company that aims to be a driving force for positive change in society. This connectivity giant was founded in 1984 and has since amassed over 16.9 million customers in the UK. Vodafone is known as the third-largest network operator in the UK, but it has made inroads into more tailored business broadband services in recent years. 

XLN is a relatively new company that was founded in 2002. It has 700,000 customers in the UK. Unlike Vodafone business broadband, XLN business broadband is tailored towards small businesses. XLN makes three promises to prospective customers: world-class service, hassle-free switching, and a price match guarantee. 

Which Has Better Speeds and Packages? (Winner: Vodafone Business Broadband)

Small, medium and large businesses can expect a wide selection of suitable packages from Vodafone. Vodafone’s Complete Connectivity deal is designed for individuals who want a comprehensive, easy-to-understand package. This plan is available from £70 a month (excluding VAT) for 12, 24, or 36 months. Customers on the 36-month plan can expect Superfast Fibre Broadband, professional-grade WiFi with Advanced Security, online dashboard and mobile app accessibility, and automatic 4G Mobile backup as standard. We recommend this Vodafone business broadband deal for small and medium-sized companies. 

Bigger companies should browse through Vodafone’s Enterprise Broadband services. Enterprise is specifically designed for larger businesses that have 50 or more employees. Prospective customers can choose from ADSL 17, Fibre 38, Fibre 52, and Fibre 76 packages. All the packages come with unlimited downloads, a single Static IP address on request, and standard support on a 24 or 36-month contract. Customers can expect up to 76Mbp download speeds. The difference between these deals is unclear. Prospective customers have to request a quote or call Vodafone directly to find out whether these tailored packages are suitable for their needs.

XLN only creates packages for small businesses. There are three XLN broadband packages to choose from Broadband Phone & UK Calls, Superfast Fibre Phone & UK Calls, and Free Public WiFi Service. 

The Broadband Phone & UK Calls package is available on an 18-month contract. It is listed as an affordable business essential. Line rental is included in the package, as well as unlimited UK calls, speeds up to 17Mb, a free plug-and-play router, and the option to keep existing numbers. 

Likewise, the Superfast Fibre Phone & UK Calls package is available on an 18-month contract. Customers can expect line rental as standard, unlimited UK calls, Superfast speeds of up to 76Mb, a minimum speed guarantee, a free plug-and-play router, and free internet security. Customers can also add award-winning XLN broadband guest WiFi to this package.

Potential XLN business broadband customers should note that they need to pay £9.99 post and packaging for the free plug-and-play router.  

XLN also has a Free Public WiFi package. This package allows customers to surf for free. There is no set-up cost, no complex configuration, and no password sharing. 

Winner: Vodafone business broadband wins this round because it has a wider range of packages available for small, medium, and large businesses, but potential customers should be aware that this supplier is not forthcoming about package information for large businesses. Both broadband providers offer the same maximum speed of 76Mb. 

Which Is Better for Small, Medium, and Large Businesses? (Winner: XLN Business Broadband)

Vodafone business broadband is better suited to large businesses. The team at Vodafone have created Enterprise services specifically for larger businesses. There are four deals to choose from and, although the difference between the deals could be clearer, business owners can secure guaranteed perks such as unlimited downloads and Static IP addresses. 

Vodafone also has an offering for small and medium-sized businesses called Complete Connectivity. This service is a catch-all for business owners who want comprehensive deals. 

Whereas Vodafone offers a wide range of services to all business owners, XLN offers a small selection of packages to specific businesses. Small business owners rely on XLN broadband for complete, reliable packages that meet their needs.

Winner: XLN broadband is only suitable for small businesses, but it delivers tailored solutions. Vodafone casts its net far and wide and does not deliver clear or comprehensive solutions to small, medium, or large businesses. For this reason, XLN cinches the win. 

Which Has Lower Prices? (Winner: XLN Business Broadband)

Vodafone’s Complete Connectivity package starts from £70. This package is designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Medium-sized business owners might be shocked at the difference between the advertised £70 a month and the actual price.

Large business owners will not be able to find any price information about Vodafone’s Enterprise services. Like a lot of providers, Vodafone does not disclose the price of its larger packages. Instead, interested customers have to request a quote or call customer services. 

Prospective XLN business broadband customers will be happy to see relevant price information on the website. The Broadband Phone & UK Calls package is available from £27.95 per month, the Superfast Fibre Phone & UK Calls package starts from £29.95 per month, and the Free Public WiFi deal starts from £15 per month. XLN also provides handy comparison information on its website. The Superfast deal is labelled ‘best value’ and claims to save customers up to £377 in comparison to the connectivity giant BT. 

Winner: XLN is the best business broadband provider for transparent, low prices. At Love Energy Savings, we do not underestimate the value of clear communication. Customers can find concise price information on XLN’s website.

Which Has Better Customer Service? (Winner: XLN Broadband)

When it comes to the best business broadband, customer service is almost as important as connectivity. Inefficient customer service practices can slow down businesses and force profits to plummet. 

At Love Energy Savings, we rely on Trustpilot for accurate, up-to-date customer reviews. Some businesses have more than one Trustpilot account. This is a sign of poor reviews. Companies create more than one account when they want to direct prospective customers away from the poor reviews that they have already accumulated. Vodafone has several Trustpilot accounts. For this comparison guide, we have chosen the account that matches the URL. 

Vodafone has 1.3/5 stars on Trustpilot and an overall rating of bad. This company has amassed over 15,000 reviews, which means that the overall rating has come from a wide range of domestic and business customers. Only 7% of customers think that the service is excellent, whereas the overwhelming majority of 87% think that it is bad. Vodafone business broadband representatives reply to negative reviews with solutions. 

XLN has 4.5/5 stars on Trustpilot and an overall rating of excellent. It has just under 13,500 reviews. In stark contrast to Vodafone, over 81% of XLN customers think that the service is excellent, whereas only 11% of customers think that the service is bad. XLN broadband representatives reply to some (but not all) negative reviews.

Winner: XLN business broadband wins this round. XLN has a far better overall rating in comparison to Vodafone, but it could improve its customer service offering by replying to all negative reviews. 

Which Has More Transparent Customer Service Information? (Winner: Vodafone Business Broadband)

Both Vodafone and XLN have transparent customer service support information. Customers can easily access support details on each website. Business customers can even find Vodafone’s customer support page and XLN’s customer support page with a simple Google search.

Vodafone business broadband support is tailored to small, medium, and large businesses. This provider has separate customer support numbers for businesses that have 1 to 9 employees, 10 to 49 employees, 50 to 249 employees, and 250+ employees. It also has a live chat function and an online form for customers who prefer alternative forms of communication. 

XLN business broadband customers can expect transparent information about customer support. This provider offers customers a technical support number, customer support number, and email address.

Winner: Vodafone wins this round because it provides more avenues for customers to contact its representatives. Lots of people prefer live chat communication because it allows them to resolve their broadband issues whilst they complete other tasks. 

Which Has Better Incentives? (Winner: Draw)

New customer incentives are designed to entice customers that would otherwise be lost to more established businesses. Both Vodafone and XLN are well-established in the connectivity world and boast over 500,000 customers each. 

Lots of established providers offer new customer incentives to domestic customers. Unfortunately, neither of these providers offers new customer incentives to business customers. Instead, each business depends on its already well-established name to convince potential customers. 

Winner: This round is a draw. 

Overall Winner: XLN Business Broadband

XLN broadband is the overall winner. Vodafone business broadband is much more established and has far more customers, but fails where this smaller, more tailored provider succeeds. We recommend XLN business broadband for small business owners who want concise packages, transparent prices, and excellent customer service. Vodafone is better suited to large businesses that need comprehensive packages for hundreds of employees.

Discover the Best Business Broadband

Business owners should not blindly choose household names, especially for business essentials. Without water, energy, and broadband, businesses all over the UK would have to cease their operations. Lots of business owners look for quick contracts but fail to consider the alternatives. 

Our business utilities comparison generator is perfect for business owners who want to streamline their monthly expenses. It automatically surveys the market for the best deals. Simply put your information into the generator. Within 60 seconds, you will see a range of deals and suppliers that meet your specifications. 

Related Articles