How we choose and rank deals

We rank every deal by real cost, cheapest first. Real cost is what you pay over the whole contract, divided by the number of months.

Real cost adds the monthly price for every month. It also adds every price rise the provider has stated, plus any setup or delivery fee. We then take off the cash value of any reward card or bill credit. Rolling plans with no contract are totalled over 12 months, so they compare fairly with a 12-month deal.

Here is an example with made-up numbers, not a real deal. Imagine a £25 monthly plan with a £30 setup fee and a £3 rise after 12 months, over 24 months. You pay £25 for 12 months, which is £300. Then you pay £28 for 12 months, which is £336. Add the £30 setup fee and the total is £666. Divide by 24 months and the real cost is £27.75 a month.

The headline price says £25, but the real cost is £27.75. That gap is why we always compare real cost, not the headline price.

We list every provider we can find on the national market, including the many that pay us nothing. A provider that pays us gets no higher place in our tables. Every deal is ranked by the same real cost.

Seeing every option side by side helps you find the cheapest real cost, not just the best-known name. Sort the table by real cost, then check the top deal on the provider's own site. To see how we earn money, read how we make money.

When two deals cost the same, the faster or bigger deal ranks higher. Faster broadband or a bigger data allowance goes first, so you get more for the same real cost. Tabs above each table help you narrow the choice. Each tab shows the best value at one speed or data level, so you only compare deals that fit you. Looking for home internet? See all broadband deals.

Commission never changes the order of our tables. Our ranking code does not read whether a provider pays us. Most of the providers in our tables pay us nothing.

A table that includes a paying provider has one small "Affiliate" tag under it. The tag links to this explanation, so you can check how we rank deals.

Want to see how we earn money? Read how BuyingExpert earns money. You always pay the provider's normal price, and BuyingExpert is free to use.

Some prices depend on your address or region, so we show the national price first. Broadband can vary by address, and energy by region. Enter your postcode on the provider's own website, and it confirms your exact price. Then compare that figure with our table, and sort by speed or data to find your best fit.