Most broadband contracts get more expensive every spring, even halfway through the minimum term. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has banned inflation linked rises in new contracts. Providers must now tell you, in pounds and pence, exactly how much your price will rise and when.
That makes rises predictable, but not small. A fixed rise lands on every package from the same provider, so it takes a bigger share of a cheap deal than an expensive one.
Price rises for new contracts
| Provider | Monthly rise each year | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| BT | £4 broadband only, £6 broadband and TV | 31 March |
| EE | £4 | 31 March |
| Plusnet | £4 | 31 March |
| Virgin Media | £4 | 1 April |
| TalkTalk | £4 | 1 April |
| Hyperoptic | £4 | 1 April |
| Vodafone | £3.50 | 1 April |
| Three | £3.50 | 1 April |
| Community Fibre | £3 | 1 April |
| Onestream | £2.75 | 1 April |
| toob | £2 | 1 April |
| Sky | Not fixed in the contract; Sky raised broadband by £3 in April 2026 | Usually April |
| NOW Broadband | Not fixed in the contract | Varies |
| Zzoomm | £4 | From month 13 of the contract | |
| Hey! Broadband | £2 | April |
Figures apply to contracts taken out now and were checked on 15 October 2026. Older contracts may follow different rules.
Cost of rises over a contract
| Monthly rise | Extra paid over a 24 month contract with two rises | Extra paid over a 12 month contract with one rise |
|---|---|---|
| £2 | Up to £48 | Up to £24 |
| £3.50 | Up to £84 | Up to £42 |
| £4 | Up to £96 | Up to £48 |
The exact extra depends on the month you start. Joining in October means the first rise arrives about six months in.
Sky broadband price increase
Sky works differently from most providers. Its broadband contracts leave the size of future increases open, and Sky confirms each year’s figure in late winter, ready for 1 April. As the amount wasn’t part of the deal you signed, broadband customers get 30 days from Sky’s message to cancel without a penalty.
| Sky price rise 2026 | Details |
|---|---|
| Broadband | £3 more a month |
| TV packages | £1 to £3 more a month, depending on the package |
| Date applied | 1 April 2026 |
| Customers told | February 2026 |
| Right to leave free | Broadband only, within 30 days of the notice |
| Social tariff | No rise in 2026 |
That penalty free exit applies to the broadband only. Sky TV sits outside it, so a bundle customer who drops the TV as well may face a charge for ending that part early.
Anyone who signed up after the 2026 announcement knew the new price from the start, so that rise doesn’t open a free exit for them.
Expect Sky’s 2027 figure to arrive in the same way early next year. If you decide to go, our switching guide shows how to move without a gap in service.
Providers with fixed prices
A handful of providers promise no rise during the minimum term. These include Rebel, YouFibre, Trooli, Brsk, Airband, Hey! Broadband, Zen, Connect Fibre and Fibrus. Most are regional full fibre networks, so availability is patchy, although Rebel uses the Openreach network and reaches most homes. A quick postcode search on our broadband checker tells you if any of them serve your street.
Social tariffs are also exempt from mid contract rises. See our social tariff guide.
Older contracts and inflation linked rises
If you signed up before your provider moved to fixed rises, your contract may still use a formula linked to inflation, such as CPI plus 3.9%. Provider switchover dates vary: BT, EE and Plusnet contracts from 10 April 2024, Vodafone from 2 July 2024, TalkTalk from 12 August 2024 and Virgin Media from 9 January 2025 use fixed amounts. Your contract summary shows which rule applies to you.
Price rise notices
A price rise notice only comes with a right to leave when the rise is more than you agreed at sign up. If your provider’s fixed yearly rise was written into your contract, it isn’t a change to the deal, so it doesn’t count. Those notices come with at least a month’s warning, so there is time to compare deals before you decide.
Keep an eye on your email and online account in February and March, when most providers announce or remind customers about April changes. If the notice gives you the right to leave, check the deadline and compare deals before it passes.
Your right to leave
If a provider raises your price by more than you agreed when you signed up, Ofcom rules say it must give you at least one month’s notice and let you leave without paying an exit fee. That right doesn’t apply to rises set out in pounds and pence at the point of sale, because you agreed to them.
Sky and NOW Broadband don’t fix their future rises in the contract in the same way, which can give their customers a window to leave when a rise is announced. Check the notice and act before the deadline. Our switching guide explains how to move provider quickly, and our guide to leaving a broadband contract early covers exit fees.
Out of contract prices
Yearly rises are only part of the picture. When your minimum term ends, your price usually moves to the provider’s standard rate, which can be much higher than the deal you signed up to. Ofcom requires a reminder in the weeks before that date, setting out the new price and the best offers available to you. Our best broadband picks show what you could move to.
Keeping rises in check
- Compare the total contract cost, not the first month.
- Put your contract end date in your calendar. Your provider must send an end of contract notice, but acting early gives you time to compare.
- Switch or renegotiate as soon as your contract ends. Out of contract prices are usually higher.
- Ask about a social tariff if you claim Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
- Consider a shorter contract. A 12 month or rolling deal means fewer yearly rises before you can move.
FAQs
Can my broadband provider put my price up mid contract?
Yes, if the rise was set out clearly in pounds and pence when you signed up. Rises beyond that give you the right to leave without an exit fee.
When do broadband prices go up?
Most providers apply their rise on 31 March or 1 April each year.
How much is the Sky broadband price increase?
Sky raised broadband prices by a fixed amount a month from 1 April 2026. See the Sky table above for the figures. Its 2027 rise will be announced separately.
Can I leave Sky because of a price rise?
For the broadband part, usually yes. You get a 30 day window once Sky tells you about an increase you didn’t agree to. TV subscriptions aren’t covered.
Can I avoid broadband price rises?
Choose a provider with a fixed price promise, take a social tariff if you are eligible, or switch when your contract ends.
Do price rises apply to TV and phone add-ons?
Often, yes. BT, for example, applies a larger rise to broadband and TV bundles. Check the contract summary for every service you take.