Few of us can imagine life without broadband – but many people will be asking how they can afford it as living costs soar.
Fast internet is a part of everyday life, right up there with having a telly, washing machine or kettle.
It does add to the financial burden, so do all you can to avoid overpaying, particularly if your original contract ends, says Archna Luthra, editorial chief at money-saving app Snoop.
“The cost of staying on expensive out-of-contract deals for broadband and linked services such as digital TV and mobile phone packages is huge.”
Getting cheaper broadband isn't simply a case of searching the market and grabbing the cheapest you can find – there are plenty of factors to consider. Not least whether you are still locked into your current contract.
Here’s what you need to know to secure the fastest speeds for the lowest possible price.
Check your contract situation
Most broadband contracts run for 12, 18 or 24 months, with exit penalties if you ditch yours or switch supplier early. Yet millions are out of contract without even realising it, leaving them free to hunt around for a better deal, says Nick Baker, broadband expert at uswitch.com.
“Your broadband provider must inform you when your contract is about to expire, so keep a lookout for an end-of-contract notification by post, email or text,” he says.
“This reminder will tell you the date your current deal expires, the new monthly price you will pay once it does, and alternative deals your provider can offer.”
Uswitch data shows out-of-contract broadband customers could save an average of £162 a year by switching to a new deal.
There is plenty of competition out there, as a quick online search will confirm, with big names such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone battling for your business, along with smaller rivals like Hyperoptic, NOW Broadband and Plusnet joining the fray.
You might be able to get faster, full-fibre broadband with consistent connectivity and superfast downloads for less than you are paying today.
Check your speed
One of the most important decisions you have to make is how fast you need your broadband to be, which largely depends on your household’s usage patterns. Download speeds start from about 10 megabits-per-second (Mbps) whereas 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) is 100 times as fast.
Nick at Uswitch says as a rough guide, a speed of 30Mbps or over will be suitable for small households that use their internet for activities like streaming TV.
“Busier households or customers who want to use their broadband for regular online gaming should consider a speed of 60-100Mbps,” he adds.
Don’t just buy the fastest you can get, as you could end up overpaying for a package that doesn’t suit your current usage, he adds.
Google ‘Broadband Speed Checker’ to run a fast and free online test to see how fast your current connection is.
“If you’re happy with the performance, consider if a faster deal is worth the extra money,” Nick says.
Michael Armitage, founder of ultrafast fibre supplier Broadway Broadband, says it can be a hard balance to strike.
“Your usage may grow over time, so if you can afford it, it may be better to go for a slightly faster speed than you have today,” he says.
Speed merchants should look for deals with wi-fi 6 routers, which offer faster performance, less bandwidth congestion and faster speeds across all corners of your home, he adds.
People living in bigger homes could also consider a mesh wi-fi system, which combines several routers into one single, seamless network.
Timing is everything
Before signing on the dotted line for a new broadband contract, consider how long you’re prepared to be locked in for, Nick says.
“Most deals are 18 months or 24 months, but there are shorter-term offers available, which may appeal if you plan to move house in the next year or two.”
If you only need to stay connected for a short time you could think about a monthly rolling contract, to avoid paying an exit fee on a longer deal. But these typically cost more.
Start shopping around
Comparing your own deal with the best buys on the market is a quick and easy way to curb your spending and see your way through the cost-of-living crisis.
There is no one single best broadband deal, it will depend on your needs, says expert Ava Kelly, from Love Energy Savings.
“If you simply want basic internet search, email and social media, a cheap broadband deal is perfect. If your household uses the internet for gaming or streaming, you will need to pay extra for faster speeds.”
Ava highlights some of the cheapest deals you can get today, so as a starting point, compare these with what you are paying.
Onestream Fibre 80 costs £19.95 a month, with an average download speed of 67 Mbps.
Onestream Fibre 55 costs £18.95 a month and gives you a slightly slower average download speed of 45 Mbps.
Ava also highlights Now Super Fibre Broadband, which charges £22 a month for an average download speed of 63 Mbps.
Uswitch figures show Sky Superfast Broadband charging £23 a month for 59Mbps, with Virgin Media charging £24 for its M100 Ultrafast Fibre Broadband package at 108Mbps.
If you want the fastest possible speed, Virgin Media’s Gig1 Fibre Broadband costs £60 a month (plus £35 set-up fee) for 1.13Gbps, which it says is 22 times faster than the national average.
Sky’s Gigafast Broadband charges £52 a month for 900Mbps, plus you get a £100 gift card.
Not every broadband supplier will operate in your area, especially if you live in a small town or the countryside. You can check quickly by entering your postcode on its website.
As well as download speeds, you should check whether there is an activation or delivery fee, a cap on maximum downloads, and whether you have to pay extra for line rental.
And there may be other ways to get out of your contract to switch.
“You are free to break contract if you are not getting the broadband speeds that you signed up for, or your provider increases its prices or any of the terms of the contract,” Ava says.
The same applies if you move home and your provider can’t provide the same speed as before.
If you do face a termination fee, there may be another way of avoiding them.
“If you still want to move, tell your new provider you face an exit fee. It may offer a discount to make moving affordable anyway.”
Sweeten your deal with cashback
When comparing today’s best deals, see if you can get extras such as cashback, says Abigail Yearley at topcashback.co.uk.
TalkTalk offers up to £125 cashback through the site, with BT offering up to £105 and Vodafone up to £100.
Moneysupermarket.com, Uswitch and Broadband Choices are among those offering cashback and vouchers to switchers.
Companies will often throw in extras to make the deal more appealing, but don’t sign up just for a perk, Abigail cautions.
“If you won’t actively use them, a cheaper contract may suit you better,” she says.
Look out for exclusive offers
Comparison sites such as Comparethemarket, GoCompare, Moneysupermarket, Uswitch and Moneysavingexpert let you check a wide range of deals from across the market, and may offer exclusive deals, too. Keep an eye out for limited time offers.
Some packages come with sweeteners such as gift cards or vouchers. For example, Vodafone’s Superfast 2 deal for 67 Mbps at £22 a month throws in a £120 gift card, while TalkTalk’s Unlimited Future Fibre 150, which offers 147 Mbps at £32 a month, has a £75 gift card.
Again, don’t be seduced by the freebies and giveaways – make sure the price, speed and contract length is right for you.
Brush up your haggling skills
Don’t be afraid to haggle down the price of your broadband contract, as TopCashback’s research shows two in five succeed, saving £155 per person on average.
Do some research to identify a best buy deal that takes your fancy, and ask your current supplier to match or even beat it, Abigail says.
“Broadband is the most popular service Brits haggle on so give it a go. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
Timing is crucial when haggling, moneysavingexpert.com claims, so wait until your contract is about to expire, but after you have been hit by a mid-contract price hike, when you are free to move on.
If you’ve been having problems, such as slow speeds, use those to bag yourself a discount.
And never go with the first offer. They may have a better one if you stand firm and show some fibre.
Haggling doesn’t have to be confrontational. It is better to be cheeky rather than grumpy, and definitely avoid being downright rude. That will help nobody.
Read the fine print before signing up
Few of us read the terms and conditions these days but it could really can pay off.
For example, some deals include a clause that they can increase costs annually in line with inflation.
“Even though these should be set out clearly when you sign up, it’s always worth checking the fine print,” Abigail adds.
Go a bundle on broadband
Nick says households can save money by getting a broadband bundle that includes landline and digital TV too.
“If buying pay TV, think about the channels you regularly watch and if the deal suits your needs,” he adds.
“Taking out a basic TV package and using contract-free services like NOW TV to watch a month of sports or movies here and there could save you money in the long run.”
Or consider Virgin Media’s Stream service, available with its ultrafast broadband packages, which allows you to switch and cancel channels each month.
If struggling, it’s time to get social
If you are on a low income or claim benefits such as universal credit, you may be able to get cheap broadband through a “social tariff”.
These are available through several of the main broadband providers, including BT, Sky and NOW. Or call your provider and see what it offers.
Ofcom calculates a social tariff could save you up to £140 per year, and it shows some of the best deals on its site, so log on to compare.
Currently, BT Home Essentials charges £15 a month for an average speed of 30 Mbps, or £20 for 67 Mbps.
Virgin Media Essential Broadband charges £15 a month for 15Mbps, but the Country Connect Social Tariff, G Network Essential Fibre Broadband and Hyperoptic Fair Fibre all charge £15 a month for 50Mbps.
Some of the lesser-known services may not be available where you live, so check first.
Essential questions to ask when considering switching
- Am I still in my initial contract period?
- How much am I paying?
- What am I getting for that price?
- Can I get a better service, and how much will it cost?
- How long will that contract be for?
- Do I need to pay any fees to sign up to a new deal?
- What happens when that contract ends?
Source: Ofcom
