There's a lot to take in when you're shopping for a new broadband deal. Should you be looking mainly at the speed, or the price? And with many packages that seem quite similar, how can you decide between one provider or another?
Here are some tips to help make sure you find the broadband deal that's right for you.
1. See what's available
The absolute most important thing is to know what deals are available to you right now, so you know what your options are. The way to do this is to use our postcode checker.
Just type in your postcode and we'll show you all the best broadband deals that you can pick from. This enables you to home in on your priorities. Cheap, ultrafast, short-term, whatever else you want, you'll be able to find it.
2. Don't pay for more than you need
It's tempting to assume that you should just sign up to the fastest deal from the biggest name provider offering the most bells and whistles. And while this might be the easiest way to shop, it can leave you paying for stuff you don't actually need.
So try and figure out what it is you do need. Big household with loads of kids? Fast downloads are a must. Work from home? Reliability and fast uploads are important. Only use the internet for shopping and paying bills? A bare bones package might be right for you.
This isn't just true of speed, but also applies to the extras that broadband suppliers offer. If you've got modest requirements, you might not need a high-end router. Or if you're more tech savvy, you might not want free anti-virus software. We all like getting free stuff, but it doesn't always add value to your deal.
And if you don't make many landline calls, don't be tempted into paying an extra five or ten pounds a month for a calls package you won't ever use.
3. Bundles can cut the price
That said, bundles can help to save money in the longer run. If you do make a lot of calls, then a call plan is likely to work out cheaper than paying for each call separately - especially if you have family overseas. Likewise, it's worth exploring the bundles available from the like of Sky, Virgin Media, BT and NOW if you're looking to take out a premium TV subscription.
A growing number of broadband providers also offer mobile deals, including Plusnet and Vodafone, that can often be added as part of a broadband and mobile bundle. Getting multiple services from the same company can often work out cheaper, and it's simpler to manage your bills as well.
4. Look for rewards
A lot of broadband suppliers offer rewards to entice new customers. The best of these are the cash rewards, like cashback which effectively gives you a month or two of free broadband use, or cash-equivalent rewards, like vouchers that you can spend on the high street.
Some rewards also come in the form of free gifts, like wine or tech products. These are in some ways more exciting, but you should probably think of them as being a bonus - unless you happened to be planning to buy that same product anyway.
5. Check the yearly price
When you compare broadband deals it's a good idea to order them by the total cost in the first year, not the monthly price. This is the best way to see exactly what you'll be paying, and makes it a lot easier to pitch one deal against another.
There shouldn't be any hidden fees in the small print of any broadband contract, but there are still extra costs like setup and postage fees that you might overlook if you only focus on the cost per month. These are factored in to the yearly price.
Even then, there may still be a few extra costs beyond the norm, like if you want to pay in a certain way, need paper billing, or are planning to move house during your contract period. Keep an eye out for all of these in your broadband contract.
Also, make sure you know how much the price can rise during the length of your contract. Most deals specify rises in line with inflation, but a few providers go further than that - and if it's written in the contract you won't have grounds to complain when it happens.
6. Read the reviews
Price and speed aren't everything, of course. If you're committing yourself to a provider for a year or more, you want to be confident that you'll be happy with the service you're getting.
Reading the reviews of broadband suppliers is a good place to start. They'll give you an idea of what kind of service you'll get, how reliable it is, and - perhaps most important - what the customer service is like if you ever need it.
7. Never stay on an out-of-contract deal
Among all the tips for getting the best broadband deal, perhaps the most important is to ensure you never stay on a deal once your contract has ended. In fact, doing so will only get you the worst possible deal, as you get hit by frequent price rises that leave you paying way over the odds for what you're getting.
Your provider should contact you before your contract comes to an end, and remind that you're out of contract every year after that. But it's better to take matters into your own hands. Simply renewing with your existing provider will usually bag you a price cut, and is a great option if you're happy with what you've got. But if you're willing to switch providers, you'll open yourself up to a whole new range of options and deals.
Ready to start looking for a new broadband deal? Use our postcode checker to find the best deals that are available in your area right now.
Posted by Andy Betts on in Features