How to get the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday broadband deals

The Black Friday & Cyber Monday period is the best time of year to get some great deals on electronics and other Christmas gifts. But recently, broadband providers have started using the event to offer their own Black Friday broadband deals too.

With so many offers now available, it can be hard to figure out which ones are the best for you. Find out how to grab the right Black Friday broadband deal for you and your household.

How to get a good broadband deal on Black Friday & Cyber Monday

If your broadband contract is ending soon, Black Friday could be a great chance to switch to a new broadband package. And if you're currently out of contract on your current service, you could make some serious savings on your monthly bills this November.

As in previous years, broadband deals will be available at heavily discounted prices over the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, meaning you could get a high-speed, high-quality service for a much more affordable price, saving you money throughout the year.

So if you're free to shop around for a Black Friday broadband deal this year, here's what you need to do.

1. Decide what broadband speed you need

If you bought any new electronics this Black Friday, it’s a good idea to also think about what broadband speeds you might need to support them. With new devices being used in your home, maybe you need to increase your data allowance or speeds — but by how much?

You might not need a premium, high-speed package if you’re just checking emails and Facebook. But if you’re planning on getting a Netflix, Apple TV Plus or Disney Plus subscription to get you through the colder months, you might want to opt for a faster fibre broadband package to ensure uninterrupted streaming.

Are you looking to buy a new TV on sale? Look for broadband and digital TV bundles so you can make the most of your new TV and the content you watch on it. And remember, if it’s a smart TV that connects to Wi-Fi, it will now also be using your data and broadband too.

2. Don’t be too tempted by freebies

Providers often sweeten their Black Friday broadband deals with complimentary gifts and vouchers. And while these are great, you need to make sure you read the fine print first before you sign.

Be sure to check out how long introductory discounts actually last, too. Are they only good for a few months or do they last the entire contract? A free 4K TV may not actually be that great a deal if you end up paying more than you need to for the whole contract.

3. Find out the cost of the full contract

Speaking of your contract, consider the cost of the full thing, not just the monthly rate. On our Uswitch deals tables, you can press the ‘Price details’ button to find the total cost of your contract and compare that to other deals.

4. Check if you're able to switch broadband today

Finally, make sure you check your current contract — if you’re still in one — to see if you’ll be free to switch during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday period. If you’re halfway through your contract, you’ll be charged early termination fees to leave, and a Black Friday saving likely won’t make up for the money you’ll have to pay to exit your existing agreement.

But if you’re out of contract, or your contract is ending in November or December this year, you should be able to switch to a discounted Black Friday deal free of charge. That’s not including any setup fees you might have to pay to install your next broadband connection, though.

Just keep in mind you'll need to notify your provider that you want to switch roughly 30 days in advance, whether you’re in or out of contract.

Which providers have Black Friday 2023 deals?

A lot of Black Friday broadband deals are only available for a few days, with most running until the end of Cyber Monday. You could grab a Black Friday deal from one of these broadband providers, and based on their deals from 2023, you could end up saving a lot.

Virgin Media

Virgin Media had some great value Uswitch exclusive Black Friday deals for 2023, with significant discounts and £120 bill credit offered on its lightning-fast broadband-only deals.

Virgin Media also had a range of broadband & TV bundles to choose from in Black Friday 2023, offering the first three months free of an 18-month contract. Browse our all of our Virgin Media Black Friday deals on its provider page.

Sky

Sky had a range of Black Friday deals available in 2023, and they spun across broadband-only to all-in broadband and TV bundles.

The provider offered its Superfast and Ultrafast broadband deals for a great monthly price and a generous gift voucher, and let you choose between loads of different TV options too.

Whether it's just Sky Entertainment & Netflix or an additional Sky Sports or Sky Cinema package, Sky's Black Friday TV and broadband offers are usually super enticing.

BT

BT was offering the first three months of selected broadband packages for free (or for just £1) in Black Friday 2023. You'll also get a £100 BT reward card to spend on a range of products or services owned by the provider.

In Black Friday 2023, it also let customers choose between either its popular Fibre 2 broadband-only deal or a TNT Sports bundle package, which was available for just £1 a month up until Month 4.

Plusnet

Plusnet went all-out on its full fibre offers in Black Friday 2023, with price discounts on its full range of ultrafast deals. If they're available in your area, Black Friday is a great time to snap one up.

When is Black Friday 2023?

This year, Black Friday took place on the 24th of November 2023.

What is Black Friday?

Black Friday was originally a US holiday, celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Therefore, Black Friday is always the fourth Friday in November.

Since the early 20th Century, this day has come to signal the beginning of the Christmas shopping season for a few reasons. In America, Thanksgiving is a major holiday with televised parades — usually sponsored by department stores — to celebrate the holiday.

At the end of most parades, Santa Claus makes an appearance, which inevitably makes people start thinking about Christmas and shopping. This is convenient because students and the majority of non-retail employees have both Thursday and Friday off of work, giving most people a four-day weekend — perfect for shopping.

Why is it called Black Friday?

Black Friday is one of the biggest, busiest shopping days of the year. Because of the increase in spending, there’s a popular theory that the day gets its name from older accounting systems which wrote losses in red ink and profits in black.

The uptick in sales on this day drives enough profits to move stores out of the red and into the black — but this is just a theory. In reality, no one knows exactly where the name came from.

One thing is clear, though: Black Friday is here to stay.

What is Cyber Monday?

While many people still go shopping on Black Friday, retailers noticed an interesting shift in the early 2000s. In 2003 and 2004, online sales for retailers — particularly clothing stores — spiked on the following Monday.

This could be due to people who were too busy with family or travelling over the Thanksgiving weekend to get any shopping done, or maybe people needed backup gifts after missing out on limited-time Black Friday deals in store. Or maybe employees returning to work after a long weekend wanted to carry on shopping rather than focusing on work again.

Online retailers quickly took advantage of this trend and coined a new term and event in 2005: Cyber Monday.

When is Cyber Monday 2023?

Cyber Monday 2023 was on the 27th November.

Are there Christmas broadband deals?

You will be able to switch broadband during the Christmas period, but it’s not usually the best time to get a discounted Wi-Fi package. Broadband deals are often a little cheaper during Black Friday and Cyber Monday than in the actual Christmas period.

So if you’re eligible to switch at the end of November 2023, it’d make sense to look for a new internet deal then rather than wait until the festive period in late December. You’ll likely find a better offer during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.