Broadband Price Rises April 2026 How to Escape Mid-Contract Increases
Millions of UK broadband customers are facing mid-contract price rises in April 2026. Sky, BT, Virgin Media and others are all raising prices. Here's exactly what each provider is charging, your rights to exit without penalty, and how to get a better deal.
Broadband Price Rises April 2026 — How to Escape Mid-Contract Increases
Millions of UK broadband customers are facing mid-contract price rises in April 2026. Sky, BT, Virgin Media and EE are all raising prices for customers on older contracts. Here's exactly what each provider is charging, your rights to exit without penalty, and the best deals to switch to right now.
Which Broadband Providers Are Raising Prices in April 2026?
Not all broadband providers are raising prices in April 2026. The increases affect customers on older contracts that contain inflation-linked or percentage-based annual price rise clauses — contracts signed before January 2024 when Ofcom's new rules came into force requiring providers to state exact price rises in pounds at the point of sale.
Sky Broadband Price rising
BT Broadband Price rising
Virgin Media Price rising
EE (BT Group) Price rising
Vodafone Fixed price contracts
Plusnet Check contract
Price Rise Summary — All Major Providers
| Provider | April 2026 rise? | Fixed-price contracts? | Exit right if price rises? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Yes — older contracts | Some newer deals | Yes ✓ |
| BT | Yes — older contracts | Some newer deals | Check contract |
| Virgin Media | Yes — older contracts | Some newer deals | Check contract |
| EE | Yes — older contracts | Some newer deals | Check contract |
| Vodafone | No — fixed price | Yes ✓ | N/A |
| Plusnet | Check contract | Some deals | Check contract |
| NOW Broadband | No | Yes ✓ | N/A |
| Community Fibre | No | Yes ✓ | N/A |
The New Ofcom Rules — What Changed in January 2024
Ofcom introduced new rules in January 2024 that fundamentally changed how broadband providers can structure mid-contract price rises. Under the new rules, providers must state any mid-contract price rises in exact pound amounts rather than as a percentage of inflation at the point of sale. This gives customers clarity on exactly what they are committing to.
Contracts signed before January 2024 may still contain the old-style inflation-linked clauses — these are the contracts where millions of customers are now seeing unexpected increases as inflation has risen. Contracts signed after January 2024 should clearly state any future price rises in pounds.
Your Rights — Can You Exit Without Paying a Fee?
This is the most important question for anyone facing a broadband price rise. Your right to exit without an early termination charge (ETC) depends on:
- Sky: Sky explicitly gives customers the right to exit without penalty when it raises prices mid-contract. This is confirmed in their terms and conditions.
- Other providers: Whether a mid-contract price rise triggers a right to exit depends on the specific contract terms. Under general consumer contract law, a material change to a contract (such as a price rise) may give you the right to exit — but this is not guaranteed and providers may dispute it.
- Out of contract: If your minimum contract term has ended, you can leave at any time with no exit fee regardless of price rises.
How to Switch Broadband — Step by Step
Log into your provider's account portal or check your original welcome email. Note whether you are in contract, out of contract, or facing a price rise that may allow penalty-free exit.
Not all providers are available at all addresses — full fibre availability varies. Use a comparison tool and enter your postcode to see what's available. Check our best broadband deals guide for current top offers.
If in contract, calculate whether the saving from switching outweighs the exit fee. If your provider is raising prices mid-contract, call them and ask whether this allows you to exit penalty-free.
Call your provider's retentions team (not general customer service) and tell them you are considering leaving. Providers often offer existing customers deals matching or beating new customer prices to retain them. This takes 15 minutes and can save you the hassle of switching.
Under Ofcom's One Touch Switching (OTS) rules, switching broadband providers is now much simpler. You sign up with your new provider and they manage the switch — you do not need to cancel your old service first. The switch typically takes 1–2 weeks.
Best Broadband Deals to Switch to — April 2026
If you are switching, here are the types of deals currently offering the best value. Always check current prices as offers change frequently — see our full broadband deals comparison for up-to-date pricing.
| Provider type | Speed range | Typical new customer price | Contract length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget standard fibre | 36–67Mbps | From ~£20/mo | 12–18 months | Light users, lower cost |
| Standard fibre (major providers) | 36–67Mbps | From ~£25/mo | 18–24 months | Most households |
| Full fibre (FTTP) | 150–900Mbps | From ~£28/mo | 18–24 months | Heavy users, home workers |
| Ultrafast (Virgin/others) | 500Mbps–1Gbps | From ~£35/mo | 18–24 months | Large households, gamers |
Broadband Price Rises FAQs
Can I exit my broadband contract because of a price rise?
It depends on your contract. Sky explicitly gives customers the right to exit without penalty when it raises prices. For other providers, whether a mid-contract rise allows penalty-free exit depends on the contract terms and whether the rise constitutes a material change. Always ask your provider directly before assuming you can leave free of charge.
Which broadband providers are raising prices in April 2026?
Sky, BT, Virgin Media and EE are raising prices for customers on older contracts with inflation-linked increase clauses. Vodafone, NOW Broadband and Community Fibre offer fixed-price contracts with no mid-contract rises. Providers signed after January 2024 under new Ofcom rules should have stated any rises in exact pounds at the point of sale.
How much notice must broadband providers give before raising prices?
Providers must give at least 30 days notice before applying a mid-contract price rise. You typically have 30 days from receiving the notice to decide whether to accept the new price or exit your contract.
Is it worth switching broadband providers in April 2026?
Yes — especially if you are out of contract. Out-of-contract customers typically pay £5–20/month more than new customer rates. Switching saves £100–200/year on average. Under One Touch Switching rules, the process is now straightforward and handled by your new provider.
What is One Touch Switching for broadband?
One Touch Switching (OTS) is Ofcom's broadband switching system introduced in 2023. You sign up with your new provider and they manage the entire switch — contacting your old provider and coordinating the changeover. You do not need to cancel your old service first. The switch typically takes 1–2 weeks with no gap in service.
