Households could save up to €600 a year by switching broadband providers, but where are the best deals?

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite across the country, Newstalk is here to help with a new online series highlighting the best ways to save on your bills.

Cut-the-Cost offers tips and advice on how to save on everything from energy and the weekly shop to modern essentials like broadband and phone contracts.

This week we're taking a deep dive into some of the best broadband deals on offer around Ireland.

What to consider

Speed is an obvious consideration with broadband.

The majority of broadband connections in Ireland range from 24Mbps to 100Mbps although more fibre networks and high-speed broadband is being rolled out all the time.

Watching videos, playing games and downloading music are all impacted by your broadband connection speed.

There are two different speeds to measure: download speed, which is how quickly you can download content and stream video, and upload speed - which means how quickly you can upload data like sending emails or backing up files.

If you’re ready to make the switch, look no further:

Sky

Broadband Ultrafast Plus

€30 per month for 12 months, then €60p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €360

Broadband Superfast

€30 per month for 12 months, then €60p/m

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €360

Broadband Ultrafast Plus - 24 Month

€35 per month for 24 months, then €60p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 24-month
• Year 1 cost: €420

Broadband Superfast - 24 Month

€35 per month for 24 months, then €60p/m

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 24-month
• Year 1 cost: €420

Vodafone

500Mb Full Fibre Broadband

€40 per month*

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €480

Classic Broadband

€40.00 per month*

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €480

1 Gigabit Full Fibre Broadband

€50.00 per month*

• Speed: Up to 1Gb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €600

2 Gigabit Full Fibre Broadband

• €70.00 per month*
• Speed: Up to 2Gb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €840

*An annual price increase applies to this deal. Customers will see an increase in their monthly price plan from April each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI)

eir

Unlimited Broadband, Talk

€34.99 per month for 12 months, then €65.99p/m

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €419.88

Gigabit Broadband, Talk

€34.99 per month for 12 months, then €75.99p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-months
• Year 1 cost: €419.88

Gigabit Broadband, Talk - 24 Month

€39.99 per month for 24 months, then €75.99p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 24-month
• Year 1 cost: €479.88

Virgin Media

500Mb Broadband

€39 per month for 12 months, then €70p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €468

1Gb Broadband

€49 per month for 12 months, then €80p/m

• Speed: Up to 1Gb
• Usage: 1Gb
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €588

Pure Telecom

Purely Broadband

€30 per month for 12 months, then €40p/m

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €360

Premium Speed 500

€35 per month for 12 months, then €55p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: Unlimited
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €420

Digiweb

Superfast Value Broadband with Talk Unlimited Calls

€34.95 per month for 12 months, then €49.95p/m

• Speed: Up to 100Mb
• Usage: 3Tb limit
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €419.40

SIRO Broadband 500

€34.95 per month for 6 months, then €49.95p/m for 6 months, then €54.95p/m

• Speed: Up to 500Mb
• Usage: 3Tb limit
• Contract: 12-month
• Year 1 cost: €558.40

Where you live

Virgin Media offers 2Gb broadband bundles - the fastest speed available in Ireland. Other broadband providers offer super fast, 1Gb broadband bundles.

Broadband speeds available to you will depend on the type of broadband connections available in the area where you live.

You can see what services and speeds are available in your area by entering your Eircode here.

People can also check if their house is included in the National Broadband Plan here.

Several providers also offer numerous different bundles, which can see broadband, TV and landline phone calls all included.

Streaming services, such as Netflix, Prime Video or Disney, may also be offered for a limited time.

Most companies only offer such deals to new customers; however, Vodafone has previously announced that existing customers can sign up to new deals as long as they're no longer in-contract.

A Wi-Fi router close up. Image: Piotr Adamowicz / Alamy Stock Photo

Switcher.ie Commercial Director Eoin Clarke has this advice for people switching.

"Make sure your contract is finished before your switch, or you may have to pay an early cancellation fee if you leave," he said.

"You can check what internet speed you’re currently getting, by doing a broadband speed test, so you can look for a faster plan if you need one.

"As not all plans are accessible in all areas, you can use Switcher.ie's broadband availability checker to see available plans where you live.

"Faster, full fibre deals are becoming more widely available, so it could be worth seeing if they’re available in your area.

"Take note of things like the thereafter cost - the price your plan reverts to when your discount ends - as well as the full yearly cost."

The small print

Mr Clarke said customers should be aware of the small print before they switch.

"Always take note of the price your plan will revert to once your discount period ends, and the end date of your plan," he said.

"Good customer service is also important. You can check the quarterly ComReg complaints report to see who is performing well.

"If you want to be completely sure you won’t lose service while switching, you could choose to cancel your current plan when your new connection is fully up and running.

"Just note that you could end up paying for two plans in your first month."

Mr Clarke also noted that all contracts come with a 14-day cooling off period, so people can cancel within this time without incurring any early termination fees.

"Use this time to test your new connection and make sure it’s up to scratch," he added.