Most broadband contracts go up in price every year, partway through the contract. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has banned new contracts from linking those rises to inflation or a percentage. Any rise written into a new contract must now be set out in pounds and pence, with the date it happens, and shown clearly when you sign up.
That makes the yearly rise easy to compare, and worth comparing. A £4 rise on a £25 deal adds £48 in the second year and £96 in the third if you stay on.
What each provider adds for new customers
| Provider | Yearly rise for new contracts | When |
|---|---|---|
| BT | £4.00 a month | Every 31 March, from 2027 |
| EE | £4.00 a month | Every 31 March, from 2027 |
| Plusnet | £4.00 a month | Every 31 March, from 2027 |
| Virgin Media | £4.00 a month | Every April, from 2027 |
| TalkTalk | £4.00 a month | Every April, from 2027 |
| Utility Warehouse | £4.00 a month | Every April, from 2027 |
| Hyperoptic | £4.00 a month | Every April, from 2027 |
| Vodafone | £3.50 a month | Every 1 April, from 2027 |
| Community Fibre | £3.00 a month | Every April, from 2027 |
| Sky | Not fixed at sale (last rise £3 in April 2026) | Sky says prices may change |
| NOW Broadband | Not fixed at sale (last rise £3 in July 2026) | NOW says prices may change |
| Zen Internet | No mid-contract rises | Price fixed for the contract |
| YouFibre | No mid-contract rises | Price fixed for the minimum term |
Checked 12 October 2026 against each provider's website. Each provider page links to its source.
If your contract was signed before 17 January 2025
The ban only applies to new contracts. Older contracts can still carry rises linked to inflation (CPI or RPI), often plus a few percent. In April 2026 several providers applied different rises depending on when customers signed up: for example, Plusnet, Vodafone and TalkTalk customers on older contracts saw inflation-linked rises, while newer customers paid a fixed £3, £3.50 or £4.
When you can leave without paying
If your provider raises your price in a way your contract didn't set out, it must tell you at least 30 days before the rise. You then have 30 days to leave without exit fees.
If the rise was clearly set out when you signed up, as the pounds-and-pence rises above are, you normally can't leave penalty-free because of it. That's why it matters to compare rises before you sign.
Sky and NOW don't state a fixed amount at sale. When they do raise prices, customers are told and can leave penalty-free within 30 days.
Ways to avoid the rise
- Choose a provider with no mid-contract rises. Zen and YouFibre both fix the price for the contract.
- Look at social tariffs if you get Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits. Most have no mid-contract rises and can be left at any time. See our social tariffs guide.
- Haggle at the end of your contract. Your provider must tell you its best deals before your contract ends, and once a year if you're out of contract.