April 2026 Broadband Price Rises Explained

Several major broadband providers are raising prices in April 2026 — BT and Virgin Media by £4/month, TalkTalk by £4/month, Sky by £3/month, and Vodafone and Three by £3.50/month. On an average bill of £35.90/month, a £4 rise equals roughly 11% — three times the current rate of inflation. Under Ofcom's rules, customers who received less than 30 days' notice have the right to exit their contract penalty-free.

Which Providers Are Raising Prices in April 2026?

The biggest rises come from the UK's largest providers. BT is raising bills by £4/month for customers on contracts from October 2025 onwards, and £3/month for those on contracts from April 2024. EE and Plusnet — both BT Group brands — are applying the same increases. Virgin Media is raising prices by £4/month for newer contract customers and £3.50/month for those who signed between January and October 2025. Sky is applying a flat £3/month rise to all customers from 1 April 2026, regardless of when they signed up. TalkTalk is adding £4/month for contracts from November 2025, and £3/month for mid-cycle customers. Vodafone and Three are both raising prices by £3.50/month for newer customers and £3/month for older contracts. These increases are fixed pound amounts — Ofcom banned the previous practice of linking rises to CPI+X inflation in January 2025. All affected customers must receive written notice before the increase takes effect.

What Did the Ofcom Rule Change Mean?

From January 2025, Ofcom banned broadband providers from using CPI+X (Consumer Price Index plus a percentage uplift) as the basis for mid-contract price rises. Under the old system, providers could raise prices by CPI inflation plus up to 3.9% — meaning customers had no idea how much their bill would increase when they signed up. This was widely criticised as misleading. The new rules require all price rises for contracts sold from January 2025 to be stated as a clear fixed pound amount at the point of sale. Providers must display the exact amount and the date the rise will take effect on the contract before a customer signs. For contracts sold before January 2025, CPI+X rises may still apply under the original terms — which is why some customers see different rise amounts depending on when they signed. The change was intended to make broadband pricing more transparent and comparable, helping consumers make informed switching decisions. However, critics note that providers have simply set their fixed amounts at levels similar to the old CPI+X formula.

Can You Leave Your Contract Penalty-Free?

Yes — if your provider is raising prices and gives you notice of less than 30 days, or if the rise was not stated in your original contract, you have a right to exit without paying an early termination charge. Under Ofcom's General Conditions, a mid-contract price rise that is a genuine change to your detriment triggers your right to leave. You must notify your provider within 30 days of receiving the price rise notification. The 30-day clock starts from the date you receive the notification — not the date the rise takes effect. To exercise this right: contact your provider by phone or in writing, state that you wish to cancel under your right to exit due to the price rise, and request confirmation. Your provider cannot charge an exit fee in these circumstances. Be aware that some providers may dispute whether the rise was pre-disclosed; check your original contract carefully. If you signed after January 2025 and the fixed rise amount was clearly stated at sign-up, providers may argue you have no exit right — though this remains a contested area. Citizens Advice can provide further guidance if you face difficulties.

Which Providers Do NOT Raise Prices Mid-Contract?

A number of providers — mostly altnet (alternative network) operators — have committed not to raise prices mid-contract. Hyperoptic offers full fibre up to 1 Gbps symmetrical speeds and has not imposed mid-contract price rises. Zen Internet is the UK's only Which? Recommended broadband provider and has a long-standing price guarantee. Cuckoo offers rolling monthly contracts with no price rise commitment, making it easy to leave if prices do increase. Community Fibre (serving London), Brsk, and Toob are altnet providers that have similarly committed to no mid-contract rises. These providers typically use full fibre (FTTP) infrastructure, offering speeds from 150Mbps up to 8 Gbps. Because altnets are growing their customer bases, they often compete on price stability as well as speed. If you are out of contract or facing a price rise from a major provider, switching to an altnet that guarantees no mid-contract rises can deliver both a better deal and peace of mind. Availability varies by area — use CompareFibre to check which of these providers serves your postcode.

Compare Broadband Deals at Your Address

If you are facing a price rise in April 2026, now is the ideal time to compare deals. CompareFibre checks availability from 38+ providers at your specific address — including national brands and local altnets you may not have heard of. Many providers offer incentives for switchers, including free setup, gift cards, and speeds up to 8 Gbps. Enter your postcode to see every deal available to you right now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are broadband prices rising in April 2026?

BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk, and Virgin Media are raising prices by up to £4/month. Sky is applying a flat £3/month increase to all customers. Vodafone and Three are increasing by £3.50/month for newer customers. On an average bill of £35.90/month, a £4 rise represents approximately 11% — three times current UK inflation.

Why did Ofcom ban CPI+X price rises?

Ofcom found that linking mid-contract rises to CPI+X made it impossible for consumers to know their actual cost at sign-up. From January 2025, all new contracts must state the exact pound amount of any planned mid-contract rise. This gives customers full price transparency before committing to a deal.

Can I leave my broadband contract because of a price rise?

You have a 30-day right to exit without penalty if your provider raises prices mid-contract and this was not clearly disclosed at sign-up. You must act within 30 days of receiving the notification. Contact your provider directly and state you are exercising your exit right due to the price rise. They cannot charge an early termination fee in this scenario.

Which broadband providers don't raise prices?

Hyperoptic, Community Fibre, Brsk, Zen Internet, Cuckoo, and Toob are among the providers that do not apply mid-contract price rises. Most are altnet full fibre providers with price guarantees. Availability varies by location — Hyperoptic covers major cities, Community Fibre covers London, and others serve specific regions.

Related Guides

Best Broadband Deals with No Contract (2026) · How to Switch Broadband: The Complete Guide · Broadband Costs Explained (2026) · Sky Broadband Deals 2026 · Virgin Media Broadband Deals 2026

Methodology

This guide is based on publicly available data from Ofcom, provider websites, and independent sources including ISPreview.co.uk, Thinkbroadband, and Point Topic. Pricing, speeds, and availability were verified in March 2026 and are subject to change. CompareFibre is editorially independent — providers do not pay for placement or influence our recommendations.