By Dr Alex J Martin-Smith, Strategic Lead
Direct answer: For anyone asking what does a public IP address cost and who still offers one in the UK, there is no reliable UK wide price or permanent provider list. The feature may be included, sold as an add on or unavailable, depending on the service, product terms and your address. Check before ordering.
- A public IP address is not a standard feature of every home broadband service.
- The relevant cost is the full contract cost, including any monthly add on and setup charge.
- Availability can differ between consumer and business broadband products at the same address.
- Confirm the IP address type, contract term and support conditions in writing before you place an order.
What does a public IP address cost and who still offers one in the UK?
Answer: there is no single UK price or fixed list of providers, because public IP availability is product, network and address specific. A public IP address can be included with a broadband service, charged as a monthly add on, offered only on selected business products, or not offered at all. The order journey and product terms are the only dependable place to confirm the current position.
That is why a headline broadband price cannot answer the whole question. A service that looks cheaper each month may not meet your needs if it lacks the public IP option you require. Conversely, paying extra for a business service may be unnecessary if you only need ordinary home connectivity and do not need inbound access to equipment.
Do not rely on old forum posts, expired reviews or a provider name alone. Providers can change their product rules, charging structure and eligibility criteria. Start by checking broadband available at your exact address, then ask whether the selected service includes a public, static or dynamically assigned public IP address, and whether any additional charge applies.
| Question to check | Why it affects cost | What to confirm before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Is a public IP included? | An included feature may avoid a separate monthly charge. | Whether it is public, static or subject to change. |
| Is it an add on? | The add on changes the total monthly and contract cost. | The current monthly charge and any minimum term. |
| Is installation required? | Installation or activation charges can alter the first bill. | Every one off charge shown at checkout. |
| Is business broadband needed? | Business terms and support may differ from consumer services. | The contract length, support scope and cancellation terms. |
Do you actually need a public IP address?
Answer: most households do not need one, but it can matter where you need direct inbound access to a device or service at your premises. A public IP address is an internet facing address that can allow connections from outside your home or office network. The practical need is usually about a particular use case, not about broadband speed.
Before making public IP availability a deciding factor, identify what must work. If you are working from home using ordinary cloud based services, a public IP may not be necessary. If you need remote access to equipment at a home office, it may be relevant, but you should also consider security, technical setup and whether a changing address would cause a problem.
For a sole trader or micro business, the key question is whether the service specification matches the way you work. Do not assume a business labelled product automatically includes a public IP, and do not assume a consumer product cannot provide one. Ask for the precise feature, charge and conditions for the service available at your address.
How should you compare the total cost of a public IP address?
Answer: add every compulsory broadband charge and any optional IP charge across the minimum contract period. The monthly broadband price is only one part of the decision. Your comparison should include the broadband monthly charge, any public IP add on, setup or activation charges, delivery charges where shown, and the cost over the stated minimum term.
Check whether the public IP add on has the same minimum term as the broadband contract. If it can be removed independently, confirm how and when. If you may move home, check the provider's moving home process and whether the same service, including the public IP option, can be supplied at the new address.
For new contracts from 17 January 2025, any mid contract price rise must be stated in pounds and pence at the point of sale, rather than linked to inflation (Ofcom, 2024). This makes it easier to calculate your likely contract cost, but you should still read the order summary carefully and retain a copy of it.
Does a public IP address affect the broadband speed you need?
Answer: no, a public IP address and broadband speed solve different problems. A public IP concerns how your connection can be reached from elsewhere. Speed concerns how much data your connection can download and upload, while reliability can be affected by the technology available at your address, home Wi Fi setup and local conditions.
Choose a broadband speed around the activities that matter in your household or business. Video calls, large file transfers and several people online at once can all make upload and download performance more relevant than an IP address feature. Full fibre, FTTC, cable, 4G, 5G and altnets can have different availability and installation arrangements, so avoid comparing them by a single headline alone.
If your use case depends on remote access, ask about upload performance as well as the public IP feature. A public IP does not compensate for insufficient upload capacity, weak Wi Fi coverage or an unsuitable router location. Treat these as separate checks before committing to a contract.
Will installation timing and setup fees change the decision?
Answer: they can, particularly where a new line, full fibre installation or business setup is required. An address may already be ready for a service, need an engineer appointment, or need further work before activation. The correct installation route and any charge should be shown during the availability check and order process.
Ask whether the public IP feature is active from day one or must be requested after the broadband service goes live. This matters if you are replacing an existing connection that supports equipment you access remotely. Confirm whether your router must be configured, whether technical support covers the feature, and what happens if the address changes.
Avoid arranging the change around an assumed activation date. Keep your existing connection in place where possible until the new service is working as expected. If you are moving home, provide the new address early and make the public IP requirement clear before the order is submitted.
How do you switch broadband if you need a public IP address?
Answer: confirm the feature on the new service before ordering, then let the new provider manage the switch where One Touch Switch applies. One Touch Switch went live on 12 September 2024 and is run by TOTSCo. Under the process, the customer contacts only the new provider, which manages the switch (TOTSCo, 2024).
Before you switch, save the current service details, including whether your existing IP is static or changes over time. A new public IP address will usually not match the old one, so plan for any settings that depend on it. This can include access rules, equipment configuration and notifications to people who need remote access.
Read the new provider's contract information before accepting it. Confirm the minimum term, the full price information, installation steps and the public IP terms. If the answer is unclear, pause the order and ask for confirmation. That is preferable to discovering after activation that the feature is unavailable or carries a charge you did not expect.
Frequently asked questions about public IP addresses
Is a public IP address the same as a static IP address?
No. A public IP address is reachable on the internet, whilst a static IP address stays the same rather than changing. A service may provide a public address that can change, so ask whether the address is static if your equipment or setup depends on it remaining unchanged.
Can I get a public IP address on home broadband?
Sometimes, but it depends on the broadband product and your address. It may be included, offered as an add on, restricted to certain services or unavailable. Confirm the exact arrangement at checkout or with the provider before committing to a contract.
Is a public IP address included in business broadband?
Do not assume so. Business broadband can have different terms, support arrangements and features, but the public IP position must still be confirmed for the specific product. Ask whether it is public, static, chargeable and available from activation.
Can I keep my public IP address when I switch provider?
Usually, plan on changing it. Your new broadband service may use a different public IP address, so update any equipment or settings that rely on the old one. Confirm the new address type and setup process before the old service ends.
What should I check before paying for a public IP add on?
Check the monthly charge, setup charge, minimum term, cancellation rules, whether the address is static, and whether technical support covers configuration. Also confirm that the feature is available on the exact broadband service offered to your address, rather than on a different package.
A public IP is worth paying for only when it solves a clear connectivity need. Enter your postcode on the BroadbandSwitch.uk comparison page to check the services available at your address, then verify the public IP terms and total contract cost before you switch.