With so many UK Internet service providers offering broadband, how can you decide which is the right choice for you? Well, it may be trickier than you realize.

When you compare broadband providers there are quite a few factors you need to consider:

Why do you need broadband? Honestly. You should think hard about this, as you may end up paying through the nose for speed you simply don't need. If you'd just like to be able to read your e-mails and browse your favourite sites a little quicker you really don't need a 10Mb connection.

If, however, you spend all day on the Internet downloading movies and playing online games you'd do well to invest in a speedy connection. If you need the speed that 10Mb connection will be worth every penny.

For an idea of how important the 'speed question' really is you should compare broadband providers' prices - you'll see that the difference between the 1Mb and 10Mb prices can be enormous over a year.

You need to watch out for this. Many broadband providers put a cap on your monthly downloads, either blocking your access or forcing you to pay extra when you hit the limit. If you only use the net for browsing don't panic! You could happily surf the net for a whole year before hitting the limit for a single month.

Movie fans, though, should watch out. Downloading just one movie could easily gobble up half your monthly limit, so you should compare broadband providers' usage limits carefully before making your choice.

A 12-month contract may be fine if you're getting good service, but what if the service sucks? ISPs insist that you commit to a 12 or 18-month contract when you sign up. You may have to pay a little more for your freedom to move, but if you don't want to get locked it might pay to compare broadband providers who offer flexibility over the guys who insist on a contract.

It's the old favourite of broadband providers everywhere. They offer a great monthly price, and then hit you with a hefty connection fee when you forget to read the fine print. There's nothing wrong with charging a fee for the broadband modem and installation, but you should be aware that there are broadband providers out there who don't charge a penny for connection.

As well as all of these factors, there are also a few bonuses to look out for when you compare broadband providers. While some just offer the 'bare bones', many offer extras such as virus protection, free phone calls and exclusive content to sweeten the deal. While these extras shouldn't be the deciding factor in choosing a broadband provider, it's always nice to get a little something for free, isn't it?