Seven million households are likely overpaying for broadband as costs rocket when promo deals end. So if you're out of contract, check now if you can save £100s/year by switching. Our Broadband Comparison tool helps you compare broadband, line and TV deals.
Slow broadband? Do a broadband speed check and try our eight speed-boosters.
Consider if you really need faster speeds.
You're told the switch time and most won't need an engineer to visit.
Switching usually only means about two hours' downtime.
Broadband customers typically pay £40-£60/month if they're out of contract, but you can slash costs by pouncing on short-lived promo deals. Here's what you need to know when switching:
At least 50% of customers must get the advertised speeds at peak times. Many providers also tell you the estimated max speed you're likely to get before you sign up.
Switching usually only means about two hours' downtime. Most don't need an engineer to visit, the exceptions may be if you're moving to/from Virgin, or you're getting fibre to the premises (FTTP).
Bundling your broadband, TV and phone with one provider can work out cheaper – but there are drawbacks. While bundles can unlock cheaper prices – see Broadband and TV deals - you'll have fewer switchable options when you get to the end of your contract.
If your deal's ending, or you're out of contract, switching isn't the only way to cut costs. Slash £100s off your bills by using a method that dates back to the dawn of civilisation... haggling.
Benchmark deals using our Broadband Comparison tool.
Get through to retentions (disconnections) – it's their job to keep you.
Turn on the charm – be polite and use the phrases that pay.
If they really won't play ball, vote with your feet and leave.
If you're on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or equivalent benefits, you could be eligible for special social broadband tariffs. These tariffs are designed to give long-term consistently cheap prices. But around four million eligible households are missing out.
Prices start from £12.50/month for 35Mb fibre. You can opt to see these tariffs from firms with near-national coverage alongside standard deals in our broadband comparison. But for a list of all of them, see our...
Over half of UK households are signed up to at least one streaming service, while millions spend £100s a year on digital TV subscriptions. Don't overpay.
Make the most of streaming service trials.
Watch 100s of films and box sets for free.
Check if you really need a TV licence.
Save on streaming, including with Apple TV+, Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video and Now.
Martin Lewis: "Unless you've a need for hyperspeed via a special broadband connection, you probably needn't be paying over £30/month. Yet most people pay £40 to £60 monthly, with speeds less of a blur, more of a blah.
"As long as you're out of contract (no easy tool here to check, but if you've not done owt for a while, you usually are), it's easy to ditch, switch and save. As usual, the cheapest broadband deals aren't available direct, they're short-lived switching promos via comparison sites. We amalgamate them in our Broadband Comparison tool (and we include social tariffs for those on Universal Credit)."
Below we've featured some fantastic success from MSE users who've used these guides to save money on their broadband & TV. If you've found success using our tools or guides, let us know via email.
"I'm with Virgin Media and my bill was going to increase to £64 next month. After calling them and following the Broadband haggling tips, they have offered me a new price of £26. This will save me £684 over the contract term!"
- Dawn, February 2024
" I managed to get my phone bill down from £52/mth to Sim-only for £9. Plus my fibre broadband from £32/mth to £20. Well happy."
- TSBear, March 2024
"Thank you to your helpful Sky haggling guide. I was able to negotiate our broadband, phone and TV package down from £123 a month to £86 a month, which over the course of the next 18 months will save me £666!"
- Calum, January 2024
Broadband and TV bundles differ among providers. You can choose your preferred broadband speed and customise your TV package to suit your needs, including options such as basic TV or additional packages such as cinema, sports, or kids' channels. You can explore your options using our broadband and TV finder.
If you would normally pay for TV services such as Sky, Netflix or Disney+, switching to a broadband and TV bundle might save you some money. These bundles usually work out cheaper if you are paying for lots of subscriptions separately as they add up individually and can be easier to manage with just one bill each month. But this varies from deal to deal, so it's best to run a full broadband comparison to see what's cheapest.
If you're currently paying for a broadband and TV package and think you might be overpaying, you might want to consider haggling for a better deal.
However, it's worth deciding and assessing what streaming services you actually need as there's plenty of free alternatives. Check out our TV MoneySaving tricks guide to see whether you can slash the costs of watching your favourite shows and films.
There are a number of ways to slash the costs of broadband and TV including pouncing on short-lived promo deals, and if you don't want to switch, haggling with your broadband provider. If you're paying for a TV package, you can save on the cost of watching TV by making the most of streaming service trials or watch 100s of films and boxsets for free.
You can also make the most of your current package by looking at ways to improve your broadband speed and work out whether you truly need the fastest speeds.
Virgin Media, Now, Sky, TalkTalk, EE and BT all offer broadband and TV bundles which you can explore using our broadband and TV comparison tool.