Broadband
Cheap Broadband: What You Actually Pay Over 24 Months
The advertised monthly price is not the only cost. Add up the monthly price over the full term, any setup charge and any stated price rise. A reward card reduces the effective cost, but only if you claim it on time.
- Monthly price x number of months
- Setup and activation cost
- A reward card is conditional
Keeps the monthly price, any stated rise and the end date on record. Plans from the providers Wisemium works with, with their monthly price, stated rise and contract length.
What a broadband deal costs
- Monthly price x term
- The fixed part
- Setup cost
- Upfront, if any
- Reward card
- Received once, if claimed in time
Example. Your own details appear once you add them.
Fixed and conditional costs
Fixed costs
- Monthly price x term
- For example: £25 x 24 months = £600
- Setup or activation
- Upfront, if the provider charges it
- Price rise
- Stated in pounds from a specific date, if any
Conditional costs
- Reward card
- Received once, usually within 30 to 90 days, if claimed by the deadline in the provider’s terms
- Introductory pricing
- A lower price for the first few months, then the full price for the rest of the term
General information. The provider’s terms state the exact charges.
The full guide
The advertised monthly price is the largest variable, but it is not the only cost. A deal advertised at a low monthly price can cost more over a 24-month contract than a deal advertised at a higher monthly price, once setup costs and a built-in price rise are counted.
The total cost of a 24-month broadband deal
The total cost is: (monthly price × months before any rise) + (post-rise price × remaining months) + setup cost − reward card (if claimed on time).
The four costs in a 24-month broadband deal
| Cost | How it works |
|---|---|
| Monthly price | The headline price. A £1 monthly difference is £24 over 24 months. |
| Setup cost | Some providers charge for activation, installation or equipment. Many current deals have no setup cost. A £50 charge on an otherwise identical deal adds £50 to the total. |
| Stated price rise | Many broadband contracts include a rise built into the terms — a set amount from a specific month. A rise of £4 a month for the last 12 months of a 24-month contract adds £48 to the total. |
| Reward card (a deduction, conditional) | A one-time payment from the provider after your broadband starts, if you claim it by the deadline. It reduces the effective total, but is conditional. |
How to compare deals on total cost
- Multiply the monthly price by the number of months before any stated rise.
- If there is a rise, multiply the post-rise price by the remaining months.
- Add any setup cost.
- Subtract the reward card value (only if you are confident you will claim it on time).
- Divide the result by the contract length to get the effective monthly cost.
Enter the monthly price, contract length, setup fee, any stated rise and the reward card value. The Wisemium value calculator does the maths.
What "no price rise" means
A deal with no stated price rise costs exactly (monthly price × contract length) + setup cost. The providers that offer this guarantee it for the contract term. It does not mean the price cannot rise once the minimum term ends — after the minimum term, the out-of-contract price applies.
Speed and cost
A faster speed tier often costs more per month. If your household does not need more than 50 Mbps, choosing a lower speed tier may save money over the contract term without affecting your experience. If full fibre is available at your address, some full fibre plans are priced similarly to part-fibre plans and come with higher reward cards.
Plans from the providers Wisemium works with at your postcode.
Common questions
Does the price rise apply to the full 24 months?
No. The rise typically starts from a stated month during the contract — for example, from month 13. The terms state the exact month and the exact amount.
Can I leave the contract if there is a price rise?
Under Ofcom rules, you have the right to leave without an exit fee if the provider gives you less than 30 days' notice of a price rise and the rise is above a threshold. The rules differ between contracts taken out before and after January 2025.
Is a reward card worth counting in the total cost?
Only if you will claim it on time and spend it before its own expiry. If either is uncertain, leave it out when you compare deals.
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