If you’re out of contract or have stayed with the same provider for years, you’re likely paying more than you need to for your broadband.
Broadband is now a vital part of everyday life, but our research shows that millions of customers are unhappy with the value they’re getting for their money. Despite this, many people are not taking advantage of the competitive and affordable deals available. Over a third of broadband users are out of contract, meaning they’re likely on expensive standard tariffs — and paying more each year.
Our analysis shows that if you’re paying more than £30 a month, your broadband is probably overpriced.
Why Most People Shouldn’t Pay Over £30 for Broadband
Many customers are still on outdated part-fibre deals. However, recent infrastructure upgrades mean full fibre is now available in most areas — offering better reliability and significantly faster speeds.
Full fibre is now the gold standard. It’s no longer just for a small minority; it’s available in about 75% of UK premises. Even better, prices are falling. According to Ofcom, advertised promotional prices for the fastest deals actually dropped last year. Meanwhile, prices for existing customers went up, as most major providers raise their rates each spring.
We analysed full fibre deals currently listed on the some websites. Many widely available deals, such as those from Switch Broadband, offer at least 70Mbps (the UK average) for £30 or less per month — even after factoring in upfront fees, discounts, and future price hikes.
What If Full Fibre Isn’t Available in My Area?
Around one in four premises — mostly outside major cities — still can’t access full fibre. But that doesn’t mean you have to pay more than £30 a month.
Our analysis of part-fibre deals shows it’s still possible to get average speeds around 70Mbps (typically between 61Mbps and 74Mbps) for less than £30 a month.
Even Cheaper Deals Exist in Some Areas
Our research focused on providers using the Openreach and Virgin Media networks, which are widely available across England.
However, some regions offer even better prices. For example, if you live in parts of London or Hull, providers like Community Fibre and KCOM often have more affordable deals than the major brands.
Alternative networks (known as “altnets”) also operate across the UK. If you’re lucky, you might have access to services from Hyperoptic or CityFibre — used by Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone, and Zen Internet in some locations — or other smaller local providers.
Switching Providers Is Easy — and Saves Money
Switching providers is one of the best ways to make your money work harder. Our research consistently shows it’s the most effective way to save — with average yearly savings of £105. If you’re with one of the Big Four providers, you could save even more.
Your new provider will handle the entire switch, and getting started is quick and simple.
