The best broadband deals for price and speed

Now is a good time to make sure you get a good broadband deal as many providers are likely to raise rates in the coming months.

But what a “good deal” looks like to you depends on what you need when it comes to your internet. If you’re on a tight budget, the price will come before the broadband speed, but for many, including regular home workers, paying a little more for faster internet might be more of a priority.

To add another complication, there are also little-known low-cost broadband offers that are only accessible to retirees and people on benefits.

To navigate your way through the broadband minefield, here’s the current best deals broken down by price, speed and social rate, as well as the main pitfalls to watch out for.

Read our guide below and compare the best broadband deals for you with ours comparison tool.

The best deals for low prices

An important caveat is that the cheapest deals are not available everywhere in the country.

Much depends on your zip code and the internet network of that region. Another variable is that advertised internet speeds are averages, so you may be getting less than you think.

But with that out of the way, here are some of the cheapest deals on the market right now.

Best speed deals

If you need fast internet, for example because you stream a lot of video, play online video games or have a large household, then speed becomes more of a factor.

Here are the top five cheapest deals for people who need (broadband) speed.

Best social rates

A social tariff is a cheap broadband deal only available to struggling households. These cheap deals exist because since 2020 industry regulator Ofcom has required providers to offer cheap options to the most difficult customers.

Most of these deals require you to be on benefits to be eligible.

It’s worth checking your eligibility, as Ofcom says only 3 per cent of eligible households have a cheaper social rate. Last September, Ofcom said: ‘As a result, 97 per cent miss out on average annual savings of around £144 a year.’

Another advantage of social rates is that there are no exit fees if you leave them before your term ends.

To qualify for the EE Basics deal which costs £12 a month you need to get Universal Credit, the guarantee element of Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support.

After 12 months, EE will verify that you are still receiving eligible benefits before renewing the deal.

The Vodafone deal requires you to have Job Seeker’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Retirement Credit, ESA, Income Support, Lower Income Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or disability benefit. After 12 months the price goes up to £22 per month.

The Virgin Media Essential Broadband rate is only available to those with Universal Credit. It is renewed monthly.

The KCOM social rate is only available in Hull and East Yorkshire for people claiming Income Support, Pension Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefit, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Universal Credit or ESA.

It is also available to people in care homes and those who have left care, if they have been referred by social services.

Finally, the Lightning Fiber deal is open if you or someone in your household claims Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance, ESA, Income Assistance, PIP, Attendance Allowance or Care Leaver Assistance.

Sneaky broadband tricks to watch out for

There are a few pitfalls to watch out for when looking for a new broadband deal.

First, make sure you look beyond the advertised monthly price. Broadband providers know that consumers and price comparison websites rank internet deals based on monthly charges.

This has led to a wave of introductory offers and start-up costs that muddy the waters when trying to figure out what a deal really costs.

For example, some deals advertise a low rate, but this only applies for the first few months. After that, a higher rate applies to the rest of the deal.

Another thing to watch out for is the startup costs. As the name suggests, this is a one-off fee paid at the start of a new broadband deal and is normally around £10.

If you leave your current provider before the fixed-term contract expires, there may be an exit fee.

It’s also worth reading the fine print of your deal, as providers may raise the price midway through.

Most broadband deals last for 12, 18 or 24 months, but many providers reserve the right to increase prices before your contract expires, often in April each year.

But make sure you know your rights. Ofcom rules say if your provider raises prices midway through the contract you have 30 days to cancel with no exit charges

Fortunately, thanks to Ofcom rules, once you’ve been notified of a price change, you have 30 days to cancel your existing contract without paying an exit fee.

The 30-day period starts from the moment your broadband company notifies you of its price increase plans.

Don’t forget to haggle – and be prepared to switch

One thing to remember is that these rates are not set in stone and are often more like target prices.

Survey of consumer champions Which? found last week that customers who negotiated broadband prices saved £43 a year.

That? Head of Home Products and Services Natalie Hitchins said: ‘Given the relentless crisis of the cost of living, which one? calls on all providers to allow all customers to cancel their contract without penalty if their rate rises midway through the contract, and that anyone eligible for a social rate should be able to switch without any switching costs.’

> View the best broadband offers in your area with our zip code finder