The price increases coming your way – and how to avoid them
Each year, there’s an increase in broadband prices, just as there is in many mobile contracts. Referred to as mid-contract price rises, communication around these price rises has become clearer in 2025, with Ofcom ruling that all price increases should be declared when the contract is taken out.
Previously, some customers wouldn’t know what the increases would be, because it was linked to the consumer price index, with a percentage increase. Now, when taking out a contract, the increases are declared for most broadband providers in pounds and pence.
I’ve looked at the price increases for the big broadband providers for 2026, as well as suggesting some of the best broadband deals for those looking to switch and avoid up to a £48 hike in prices – including how you can get your new provider to cover the costs of switching.
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Under the terms of Ofcom’s ruling, if a supplier wants to increase prices more than previously declared, they have to tell the customer 30 days in advance, while also allowing them to find a new supplier without any early termination penalties.
For 2026, these rules are in full force, so for shoppers who have taken out broadband contracts in 2025, here’s what to expect from 31 April 2026:
- BT – £4 a month increase
- Community Fibre – £2 a month
- EE – £4 a month increase
- Hyperoptic – £3 a month increase
- Now Broadband – Not declared
- Plusnet – £4 a month increase
- Sky – Not declared
- TalkTalk – £4 a month increase
- Three – £2 a month increase
- Virgin Media – £4 a month increase
- Vodafone – £3.50 a month increase
These prices apply regardless of the existing monthly cost, so relatively, those on a lower rate will pay a higher percentage increase than those on a higher rate.
Customers who took out contracts in early 2025 might find that they have a £3 increase instead, as some older contracts were offered at this rate. Note too that some deals are sold at a fixed price, so be sure to check the small print and if in doubt, ask the supplier.
Sky (and Now Broadband, which is powered by Sky) declares that there may be price increases during the term of the contract, but doesn’t specify what they are. In this case, Sky should let customers know while giving them the freedom to leave.
How to find the best broadband deal
With the price increases potentially adding £48 a year to costs, some might prefer to look for a better deal. First of all, it’s best to find out what providers are in your area. Broadly speaking, full fibre services are either provided by BT Openreach (that’s BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, Vodafone, TalkTalk) or Virgin Media, which has its own fibre network.
Best broadband for those stuck in a contract
Those stuck in a contract will find that EE will pay up to £300 to cover early exit fees. The cheapest Full Fibre offer is 74Mbps for £28.99 a month on a 24-month contract. This will have a £4 monthly increase each year.
If interested in that price range, I’d choose the 100Mbps service instead at £29.99 a month, but there’s a range of options up to 900Mbps. Remember, it’s the £300 switching benefit that’s attractive here.
Cheapest broadband overall
The cheapest broadband package for most people will be from Plusnet with 74Mbps Full Fibre for £22.99 a month on a 24-month contract. This will have a £4 monthly increase each year.
Plusnet often offers deals, with reward cards offered and often speed boost deals – stepping up to 145Mbps for £23.99 at the time of writing, although this deal ends soon. That’s cheaper than most other services, while Plusnet also gets top reviews from its customers. It’s also worth looking at Community Fibre, which has 300Mbps for £21 a month, but coverage isn’t wide, so check your postcode.
Best broadband for TV bundles
Those interested in TV packages will find that Sky is much cheaper when taking a TV bundle alongside the fibre broadband. The prices for broadband start at £26 a month for 100Mbps, but Sky also offers £200 to cover switching costs.
But add in a TV package (starting at £15 a month) and the combined cost is £35 a month – for the TV package and 150Mbps broadband. That means the price for broadband is then only £20 a month, which is cheap for that speed.
Best Virgin Media broadband
As I said above, shoppers looking for new fibre deals might find that Virgin Media is the only option. Currently, Virgin Media is running a deal including free Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, which is a tempting bundle offer, but costs from £46.99 a month.
Those just looking for broadband will find that prices on the 132Mbps service start at £23.99 a month. Again, there will be a £4 monthly annual price increase on this 24-month contract – but for those not on BT Openreach fibre, this is probably the best option.
What speed broadband do I need?
Deals from broadband providers are frequent, with prices often changing month by month, but the important thing is to know what speeds you need. While 500Mbps might sound tempting, many shoppers could survive on slower speeds with lower prices.
What demands are there on the connection? Those who only need light internet connections, including streaming, might find that 100Mbps packages are perfectly fine. It’s possible to stream 4K on the 74Mbps connection, that is the entry level, with Netflix only recommending 15Mbps or higher.
One important factor is the connection in the home: if the Wi-Fi is poor, it might seem like it’s the fault of the broadband, when in fact it’s the fault of the Wi-Fi router. My advice would be the run a speedtest (just Google “speedtest”). Connect this to the router with a cable, and then just on Wi-Fi to see what speed is actually getting through.
Then test in other locations around the home to see if the problem is Wi-Fi rather than the broadband speed itself. Shoppers can save a lot of money by taking a slower connection – and in some cases, sorting out Wi-Fi in the home will make a bigger difference.
