How to Save Money On Your Broadband

Broadband is an essential service for many households, but it can also be one of the most expensive bills we pay. Most providers raise their prices once a year, and since January 2025 they have had to tell you the increase in pounds and pence before you sign rather than tying it to inflation. That makes deals easier to compare, but it does not stop the bill climbing. With a little effort you can bring it back down. Here are the practical ways to do it:

Shop around: Before signing up for a broadband package, take the time to compare different providers and their offers. If you are with a provider but are out of contract. You may be able to find a better deal by switching to a different company or negotiating with your current provider.
Choose a lower-speed package: It is easy to over-estimate what speed you’ll need. If you don’t need the fastest possible speeds, you can save money by choosing a lower-speed package. This can be particularly effective if you’re not using your broadband for data-intensive activities like gaming or a household that needs to be streaming high-definition video on multiple devices.
Consider a broadband-only package: If you don’t need a landline phone or TV service, you can save money by choosing a broadband-only package. This can also be a good option if you already have a mobile phone for calls and a streaming service for TV. Likewise, if you use a home phone regularly, or have a separate mobile contract, bundling them with your broadband can sometimes work out cheaper.
Check for introductory offers: Many broadband providers offer introductory discounts for the first few months of a new contract. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of these offers, as the price may increase after the introductory period.
Choose a bundled package: Bundled packages that include broadband, TV, and phone services can often be cheaper than buying each service separately. However, be sure to compare the total cost of the bundle with the cost of individual services to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Negotiate with your provider: If you’ve been with your broadband provider for a while, you may be able to negotiate a better deal by threatening to switch to a different provider. Explain your situation and ask for a discount or a better package.
Avoid unnecessary extras: Some broadband providers offer add-ons like anti-virus software or parental controls, but these can add to the cost of your bill. Only choose the extras you really need.
Check for additional costs: Some broadband providers may charge extra fees for things like router delivery, activation, or early termination. Make sure you understand all the costs associated with your broadband package before signing up.
Get cash-back: When signing up to a service, look at cashback sites to see whether they offer anything on your chosen provider. Don’t just choose a provider based on the cash back though. You could end up paying more, than other cheaper broadband plans that are available. Consider cash-back as the cherry on the top.

The biggest saving is not being out of contract

Everything above is worth doing, but one thing dwarfs the rest. When a contract ends you are moved onto out of contract pricing, which is typically far higher than anything offered to a new customer, and it continues indefinitely until you act. Households that have quietly rolled on for a year or two are almost always the ones overpaying most.

Providers have to write to you before your term ends and tell you their best available price, but that notice is easy to miss among everything else. The single most effective habit is to put the end date in your calendar on the day you sign, with a reminder a month before. Everything else on this page is optimisation. This one is the difference between paying a fair price and paying a penalty for inattention.

Check whether you qualify for a social tariff

If anyone in your household receives Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support, you may be eligible for a social tariff. These are heavily discounted packages, often starting around £12 to £15 a month, offered by most of the large providers and some smaller ones.

They are worth knowing about for two reasons. They are far cheaper than any ordinary deal, and hardly anyone uses them. Ofcom has found that only a small fraction of eligible households are on one, largely because most people have never heard of them. Providers are not especially loud about it, so you generally have to ask.

A few practical points:

You can usually move onto a social tariff without paying an exit fee, even mid-contract.
They are ordinary broadband, not a restricted service, though speeds are typically modest.
Availability depends on which networks reach your address, as with any other package.
Eligibility is checked against benefit records when you apply.

How to actually haggle

Negotiating works, but vague dissatisfaction does not. What works is arriving with a specific alternative: the name of a provider, the package, and the price, ideally for your own address so it cannot be waved away as unavailable.

Ask to be put through to the retentions or cancellations team, since front line staff generally cannot access the better offers. Be straightforward rather than aggressive, say what you are paying and what you have been quoted elsewhere, and ask what they can do. If the answer is nothing worthwhile, you are free to leave, which is exactly why the tactic works. Be prepared to follow through. Our guide to negotiating a better broadband deal covers the whole process in more detail.

Switching is easier than it used to be

Under Ofcom’s One Touch Switch process you only contact the provider you want to move to. They arrange everything else, including telling your existing supplier, and the move can often complete within a day. You no longer need a code from your current provider or a separate cancellation call.

There are also circumstances where you can leave without paying an exit fee. If a provider raises the price by more than it disclosed when you signed, you can normally leave within 30 days. If your speed falls below the guaranteed minimum you were given and they cannot fix it, the same applies. Our guide to mid-contract price rises covers the rules, and our page on switching provider covers the process.

Where to start

Find out what you are currently paying and when your contract ends, then see what your address can actually get. Check availability where you live, compare broadband deals, or use the savings checker to put a figure on the gap between your bill and the market. If the answer is that you are paying more than you need to, our guide to finding the right broadband deal covers what to look for in a replacement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest way to cut my broadband bill?

Check whether you are out of contract. Out of contract pricing is typically well above any new customer deal and continues indefinitely until you act, so households that have rolled on for a year or two are usually the ones overpaying most.

What is a broadband social tariff and do I qualify?

A heavily discounted package, often around £12 to £15 a month, for households receiving means tested benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support. Most large providers offer one, but take up is low because few people know they exist.

Can I haggle with my broadband provider?

Yes, and it works, but only with specifics. Arrive with a named provider, package and price for your address, ask for the retentions team rather than front line staff, and be prepared to follow through if the answer is no.

Can I leave my broadband contract if the price goes up?

If the increase is larger than the provider disclosed in pounds and pence when you signed, you can normally leave within 30 days without an exit fee. If it matches what you were told, the rise is part of the contract you agreed to.

Is a cheaper, slower package a false economy?

Not usually. Most households buy more speed than they use, and past roughly 100 Mb extra speed changes little in everyday use. The exception is a busy household with several people streaming, gaming or working from home at once.