It is widely acknowledged that the United Kingdom is renowned for its high cost of living, with study cities like Manchester and Glasgow being costly. However, by employing specific strategies, students can effectively manage their expenses. For instance, utilizing reputable British price comparison websites can prove advantageous. These platforms offer comprehensive categorization of goods and services along with detailed price comparisons, enabling individuals to tailor their budgetary requirements and ultimately save both money and time. This blog aims to recommend a selection of invaluable British price comparison websites that encompass various aspects of daily life, such as shopping, insurance, loans, credit cards, travel arrangements, as well as utility bills, including electricity, gas and mobile phone subscriptions.
Table of Mainstream Price Comparison Websites in the UK
The following table compares the most popular price comparison websites in the UK to help you quickly find the platform that best suits your needs.
| Website | Core areas | Coverage area | Suitable for | uhomes.com Recommendation Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moneysavingexpert | Comprehensive Consumption/Finance | Credit cards, insurance, bank accounts, shopping tips | Seek authoritative money-saving tips and comparisons of financial products | ★★★★★ |
| CompareTheMarket | Financial services | Automobile/home/travel insurance, energy, credit cards | A quick and comprehensive comparison of insurance and energy prices is needed | ★★★★☆ |
| MoneySuperMarket | Financial services | Insurance, loans, credit cards, broadband, mobile phones | It is necessary to compare multiple financial products to find the best rate | ★★★★☆ |
| idealo | Commodity price comparison | Electronic products, home furnishings, clothing, travel | Purchase electronic products and track historical prices of goods | ★★★★☆ |
| PriceRunner | Commodity price comparison | Electronic products, home furnishings, beauty products, sports goods | Buy daily necessities and look for the lowest price | ★★★☆☆ |
| Go.Compare | Financial services | Automobile/home insurance, energy, broadband | Seek detailed comparisons of insurance policies and pay attention to additional services | ★★★★☆ |
Price Comparison Sites: Essential Tools for UK International Students
In the life of international students in the UK, there are several key areas where comparison websites can play a significant role, which are directly related to your living costs and security.
Student Insurance v.s. OSHC Additional Insurance Price Comparison
Although international students must purchase OSHC (Overseas Student Health Insurance), many students will also consider buying travel insurance (for trips to Europe) or property insurance (for protecting valuable electronic products).
- Travel insurance: CompareTheMarket and MoneySuperMarket offer specialized travel insurance price comparison services. Students should pay particular attention to the coverage of cancellation insurance, medical emergencies and lost luggage.
- Property insurance: Many student apartments do not include personal item insurance. You can use Go.Compare or MoneySuperMarket to compare Tenant’s Insurance to ensure that your valuable items such as laptops and mobile phones are protected.
Energy &Broadband Price Comparison: Key Money-saving Points for Renting a House
For students renting houses in the UK, energy (Gas & Electricity) and broadband are fixed large monthly expenses.
- Energy price comparison: In the UK, there is a huge price difference among energy suppliers. CompareTheMarket and MoneySuperMarket offer energy price comparison tools. Students should pay attention to contracts without exit fees so that they can flexibly change suppliers when moving.
- Broadband contract: Many student shared rentals require separate broadband contracts. Price comparison websites can help you find packages with the shortest contract period (such as 9 months or 12 months) and the fastest Internet speed, avoiding paying unnecessary fees.
International Remittances and Financial Products
International students often need to make international remittances or apply for local bank accounts in the UK.
- International money transfer: Although comparison websites do not directly offer money transfer services, Moneysavingexpert frequently releases fair evaluations of the best international money transfer service providers to help you avoid high fees and unfavorable exchange rates.
- Student credit card/bank account: Moneysavingexpert will also compare the offers, overdraft limits and application difficulties of student bank accounts and student credit cards, which is the first step to building a good credit record in the UK.
UK Product Price Comparison Sites
Kelkoo
The website was established in 2000 and is headquartered in London, UK. Kelkoo operates in various locations, including Paris, Grenoble, Vilnius, Oslo, and Milan, serving customers across 22 countries, such as France, Germany, and the United States. Utilizing advanced technology, Kelkoo analyzes millions of products from thousands of retailers within seconds to provide users with the best options.
The website operates based on three fundamental principles:
- Cost-effective: helping users save an average of 15% by finding the lowest prices
- Efficient: swiftly identifying the latest deals through fast search capabilities
- Precise: filtering out irrelevant information and focusing on user objectives.
Pricerunner
The PriceRunner service website was launched in Sweden in 1999 and is currently headquartered in London, UK. It offers comprehensive coverage of various aspects of life, including digital products, electronics, home appliances, games, clothing, beauty, sports, health and more.
By combining website information with retailer-provided documents and utilizing a fuzzy logic automatic matching system or manual administration by administrators, the website ensures accurate quotations for its users.
UK Financial Services Price Comparison Sites
Gocompare
GoCompare is a UK financial services comparison website established in 2006 in Wales. It provides detailed information on financial products, including car insurance, home and pet insurance, and sub-insurance. It also provides comparison services for travel insurance, gas and electricity, broadband, loans, credit cards, mortgages, and other financial products through providers such as Energylinx and Experian, comparing which companies are cheaper and have better value.
If a student in the UK is buying insurance, click Student Insurance in the Insurance Property column at the top. This International student insurance covers various issues: illness, tuition fees, personal expenses and passports. Even if your family comes to the UK to visit you if you are sick, the insurance company will reimburse the travel costs of a relative.
Compare The Market
Comparethemarket.com is a UK-based price comparison website established in 2006 and operated as part of the BGL Group. The platform also facilitates co-branded or comparative services for other online companies to offer their customers. It ranks as the third-largest price comparison website in the United Kingdom now.
Comparethemarket enables users to compare prices across a diverse range of products, encompassing car insurance, travel options, and utility network comparisons. Moreover, energy tariffs, broadband plans, and digital TV packages are frequently compared items on this platform. If you are considering purchasing social housing in the UK, you can search for available options by entering your postcode on our website.
Moneysupermarket
Moneysupermarket.com was one of the first aggregator websites launched in the UK in 1999 and has become one of the largest and most successful aggregator websites in the UK, with a market capitalization of over $200 million. The business model enables customers to compare a wide range of financial products, including insurance, loans, credit cards and various other services, including gas, electricity, broadband, mobile phone, travel, etc., as quickly and efficiently as possible so that they can make an informed choice about the products they want to buy.
For insurance, customers fill out a form and get quotes from different insurance companies, enabling them to compare and ultimately select and purchase the policy/product. As the quotes are stored on the insurance company’s servers, customers can return to complete the purchase later. In addition, Moneysupermarket also works with over 900 companies to allow users to manage their household finances online.
UK Express Comparison Website
Parcelcompare
ParcelCompare has been providing comparison rates for express delivery services since 1985. The website offers a direct price comparison from top-rated delivery companies in over 220 countries worldwide. Utilizing our unique Smart Booking technology, you can effortlessly save up to 60% on next-day deliveries from the UK to any destination globally.
Additionally, we also offer comparisons within Europe for shipments originating outside the UK. Simply input the sender’s and receiver’s postcodes, along with package dimensions and weight, and our system will automatically calculate prices from various delivery providers.
UK Travel Comparison Website
Lastminute.com
Britain’s premier online travel and leisure platform boasts a staggering 1.65 million weekly visitors. It offers an all-encompassing booking service, including flights, tickets, accommodations, car rentals, musicals, and travel agents, among others.
The website frequently unveils enticing hotel and travel package deals that combine flights with top-notch accommodations at unbeatable prices. These packages guarantee exceptional value for money as they feature hotels of a 3-star rating or higher – equivalent to the luxury of a star-rated hotel at the cost of a cosy B&B.
Pros & Cons of Using Price Comparison Sites in the UK
Pros: Efficiency and Transparency
The core value of a price comparison website lies in efficiency and transparency.
- Save time: No need to visit the websites of dozens of retailers or insurance companies. You can get a large number of quotations with just one click.
- Price transparency: Many websites (such as idealo) offer price history charts to help you understand if the current price is the lowest in history and avoid being misled by false discounts during promotional seasons.
- Discover new suppliers: They can lead you to some small or specialized suppliers that you may have never heard of but offer lower prices.
Cons: Coverage and Fairness
However, price comparison websites are not omnipotent, and users must understand their limitations.
- Incomplete coverage: Not all suppliers cooperate with price comparison websites. For instance, some large insurance companies or retailers may choose not to join the price comparison platform, so you might miss out on their exclusive offers.
- The impact of the commission model: Most price comparison websites make profits through commissions. Although they claim to be fair, users should be cautious that certain products may be prioritized for display due to higher commissions.
- Lack of product details: Especially in financial product price comparisons, comparison websites usually only display prices while neglecting policy details. For instance, the cheapest car insurance might be undercovered in some key terms. We strongly recommend that users carefully read the complete terms and conditions of the supplier before making a final purchase.
FAQ
The MoneySuperMarket platform stands out as a beacon of consumer respect, renowned for its comprehensive approach that can be applied across a diverse range of products, including insurance, utilities, and financial services. With transparent and honest evaluations, it not only offers in-depth comparisons but also provides user-friendly navigation and insightful advice to foster deep-rooted trust among users.
By leveraging the potential of data and the capacity to negotiate collectively, comparison platforms possess the capability to provide deals that individual searches may not uncover.
Kelkoo is a leading comparison shopping service that enables consumers to make informed purchasing decisions through the provision of comprehensive product information, reviews and price comparisons.
The core essence of Parcel Compare lies in its user-friendly system, which aims to facilitate the comparison of diverse express delivery services, thereby enhancing transparency and efficiency in the package-sending process.
If you are interested in other UK living tips. Please check following blogs!
