The monthly price is the headline. It's rarely the full story. Broadband contracts hide clauses that add real cost over 18 or 24 months. Most households sign without reading them. The providers know this.
Here are the seven things worth checking before you commit to any broadband deal.
1. Mid-contract price rises
Every major broadband provider in the UK can raise your price mid-contract. They all do it. Until 2025, they tied rises to CPI or RPI plus a percentage, which meant nobody knew the actual number until it happened. Ofcom changed the rules in January 2025: providers now have to state rises in pounds and pence at sign-up. Better. But rises still happen.
This is an improvement, but rises still happen. BT, Sky, and Virgin Media all applied above-inflation price increases in April 2026. Before signing, confirm the specific annual rise amount, not just the starting monthly price.
Use our postcode checker to compare deals at your address including any stated annual increase amounts.
2. Early exit fees
Leave before your contract ends and most providers will charge you the remaining months at the monthly price. On a 24-month contract at £30/month with 12 months remaining, that's up to £360.
Some providers calculate exit fees differently. Check the exact formula before signing, especially if you might move house during the contract. Some providers waive exit fees if your new address can't get their service. Not all do. Ask before you sign, not after.
3. What "up to" means
Advertised speeds are maximum speeds under ideal conditions. Ofcom rules require providers to show an "average" speed during peak hours (8pm to 10pm), which is more useful. But even this figure applies to the service broadly, not to your specific address and line.
Before signing, use our postcode lookup to check the actual Ofcom data for your postcode. This shows the real-world speeds recorded in your area, not the headline marketing figure. If ADSL is the only option at your postcode, no provider's "up to 80 Mbps" figure applies to you.
4. Router costs and ownership
Most providers include a router in the monthly price. Some charge separately. A few have moved to a model where you pay a monthly equipment fee for the router, which you return when you leave. Read the small print on whether the router is included, leased, or sold.
Router quality varies a lot. The routers bundled with budget deals are often adequate for standard use but can struggle with large homes or many simultaneous devices. If you know you'll need a mesh system or a better router, factor that cost into the comparison.
5. What happens when the contract ends
When your contract term finishes, you usually move onto a rolling monthly deal at a much higher price. This is the out-of-contract rate, and it's often 30 to 50% more than the promotional contract price.
Ofcom requires providers to notify you when your contract is ending and tell you what your out-of-contract rate will be. Set a reminder in your calendar for one month before your contract end date. Switching at that point typically gets you back onto a promotional rate with the same or a different provider. Our switching guide explains the process.
6. Speed guarantees and what happens if speeds underperform
Ofcom's automatic compensation scheme means you're entitled to compensation if your broadband is completely down for more than two working days, if an engineer doesn't show for an appointment, or if your new service isn't activated on time.
Speed guarantees are different. Providers must provide a minimum guaranteed speed at the point of sale. If your line consistently fails to meet this minimum, you have the right to exit the contract without early exit fees after giving the provider a chance to fix the problem. Keep records of speed test results if you think you're not getting what was promised. Our speed test guide explains how to get reliable readings.
7. The cooling-off period
When you sign up for broadband online or by phone, you have a 14-day cooling-off period under UK consumer law. If you change your mind, you can cancel without penalty within those 14 days, even if the service has already been activated.
This doesn't apply if you signed the contract in a provider's shop, though some providers extend the same right voluntarily. Check the specific terms.
One more thing before you switch
Ofcom's One Touch Switch scheme (launched September 2023) means you can switch broadband providers on the same underlying network without contacting your old provider. You just sign up with the new provider and the switch happens automatically, typically within one working day for like-for-like technology swaps.
If you're switching from FTTC to FTTP or between different technologies, the process is more involved. Our full switching guide covers each scenario step by step.