Zen Internet or Plusnet 500/900mbps?They both include STATIC DEDICATED IP

Posted 16th Nov 2023

So I finally want a proper broadband at home,after using mobile sim cards for long time;since I can not remotely bypass CGNAT and access my files attached to my Asus routers due to a lack of a static IP, I eventually narrowed down the choice to Zen Internet and Plusnet,since both includes a dedicated IP (Plusnet asks only £5 one off,negligible).
Now, Zen is the best one according to awards and unfortunately also the most expensive,asking £45/m for their 500mbps and £55ish for their 900mbps tariffs;Plusnet asks £31.99 for their 500mbps and £41.99 for the 900mbps tariffs. However Zen promises not to raise their prices till you don't change your contract,which lasts for 18 months, whereas Plusnet follows the inflation+CPI increase policies and lasts for 24 months...
Plusnet also offers £75 and £100 reward cashback but don't know how guaranteed that would be...
I thought that 500mbps would be enough for me, so £45 vs £31.99..
Assuming same speed performance more or less, what you people think is the best option in this scenario?

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16th Nov
I’ve been with Zen for some years now. Never have to worry about prise rises. Yes it’s a bit pricier than some but customer service is good and tech support also is very good.
Author
16th Nov
Good to know. But what you think in relation to 18vs24 months, £45(no increases) vs £31.99(with price hike)? Zen is £12 pricier per month but in 18 months is in total only £42.24 more expensive compared to Plusnet's 24 months,excluding the %CPI hikes...(likely Zen £1.76 more expensive/month excluding Plusnet's future price increases) so overall it seems I would spend more with Plusnet,unless the £75 reward is real...
But then Zen should be cheaper in the longer term
16th Nov
I've just switched from Plusnet to Zen, albeit on a FTTC rather than FTTP. Plusnet put their prices up every time I renewed, I've not been with Zen long enough but they've not done any price rises.

Zens wireless hub is slightly better than Plusnet, but apart from that there's not been any difference in service. In my opinion my move to Zen was a good thing.
22 h, 53 m ago
Based on the price and rewards, Plusnet.
20 h, 44 m ago
I personally use Tailscale but used Zerotier too in the past to access my home network. Currently running Openwrt and tailscale on my router but also have a second vm with tailscale installed. No static ip required and works on most networks. (edited)
Author
10 h, 21 m ago
My problem is that I use a Huawei p40 pro tethered via USB to my Asus RT-AX92U router to provide internet, meaning CGNAT and that the router doesn't have a public IP and therefore that the dynamic port forwarding doesn't work,since the router only sees a private IP from the Huawei. I tried all sim cards,even 3 network with "3internet" apn which was supposed to give a static IP afaik, but nothing. Asus' "Instant Guard" app for remote access doesn't work. I want to access remotely my drives plugged to my 2 Asus RT-AX92U without using spare old computers or PI, just via the routers..so unless Tailscale or Zerotier solve this issue of mobile IP behind CGNAT then I can only go for a broadband like Zen or Plusnet with dedicated IP.. (edited)
8 h, 54 m ago
As long as tailscale is able to make an outbound connection (direct or via the closest public relay they offer), incoming connections will work and you can route your home subnet with tailscale or access the single machine via the tailscale private IP address.
More here: tailscale.com/kb/…es/
Author
8 h, 26 m ago
I appreciate the link and your help,at a first glance it seems not just a "walk in the park" to me;I mean I got some IT background and knowledge but with kids and busy life...I hope I can cope with that. I will Google keywords for my scenario but I hope I will be able to find some walk-through tutorials to implement tailscale or other similar "things"..if anything come to your mind about it,I would appreciate any further suggestions
7 h, 54 m ago
Customer service has always been very good with PlusNet. Our price with them is significantly more at 300.