Editorial Policy and How We Review
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026
Editorial Policy
How Switchking researches, compares and reviews UK services
Switchking publishes independent consumer information about broadband, television, mobile and related connectivity services.
This policy explains how we research products, assess value, distinguish fact from opinion, handle commercial relationships and correct inaccurate information.
Use reliable sources
Material claims should be supported by current and authoritative information.
Explain limitations
Availability, contract conditions and important restrictions should be visible.
Assess real value
The fastest or most expensive option is not automatically the best choice.
Remain independent
Commercial relationships do not provide control over our conclusions.
What this policy covers
This policy applies to Switchking reviews, comparisons, deal guides, explanatory articles and other editorial content.
Our content commonly examines:
- Broadband providers and packages
- Full Fibre, part-fibre, cable and mobile networks
- Download and upload speeds
- Routers, Wi-Fi systems and coverage guarantees
- Television packages, channels and streaming services
- Mobile networks and SIM-only services
- New-customer and existing-customer deals
- Contract length, annual increases and post-contract pricing
- Installation, setup charges and equipment
- Provider comparisons and switching considerations
Our editorial process
Define the reader's question
We identify the decision the article needs to help with, such as choosing a provider, selecting a speed tier or understanding whether an upgrade is worthwhile.
Gather primary information
We examine official provider pages, published terms, price guides, help documentation and other relevant first-party information.
Check independent sources
Where appropriate, we consult regulators, industry bodies, official coverage information and other authoritative independent sources.
Compare complete propositions
We look beyond the headline price and consider speeds, uploads, equipment, contract length, future increases, availability and service limitations.
Reach an editorial conclusion
We assess which types of user the service suits, its strongest features, its principal drawbacks and the alternatives worth considering.
Date and publish the findings
Time-sensitive reviews include a checked or reviewed date so readers can understand when prices and product information were assessed.
Sources we use
Provider information
Official product pages, package descriptions, technical specifications, price lists, help pages, coverage tools and contractual documentation.
Regulators and industry bodies
Information published by organisations such as Ofcom, the Advertising Standards Authority and other appropriate regulatory or industry sources.
Contractual documents
Terms and conditions, contract summaries, price-change information, cancellation policies and published service guarantees.
Technical information
Network descriptions, equipment specifications, wireless standards and other technical documentation relevant to the service being assessed.
We prefer primary sources for current prices, package specifications and contractual claims. Third-party sources may provide context, but they should not replace provider documentation when the provider's own current terms are available.
What we evaluate
Price
The opening monthly price, setup costs, scheduled increases and likely out-of-contract price.
Contract
Minimum term, cancellation considerations, cooling-off rights and important contractual limitations.
Performance
Advertised downloads, uploads, minimum guarantees and the difference between line speed and device performance.
Equipment
Routers, Wi-Fi standards, ports, mesh equipment, backup connectivity and supplied hardware.
Availability
Network footprint, postcode dependence and differences between the services available at individual properties.
Practical value
Whether the features and performance justify the price for the households most likely to consider the service.
How we assess value
We do not assume that the fastest package is automatically the best package.
A 2Gbps broadband service may be technically superior to a 150Mbps service, but that does not mean every household will receive enough practical benefit to justify the additional cost.
Our value assessments consider:
- The needs of different household types
- The number of simultaneous users
- Typical streaming, gaming and home-working requirements
- Download and upload workloads
- Wi-Fi coverage and equipment
- Price differences between adjacent packages
- Features that may duplicate services a reader already has
- The complete minimum-term cost where it can be established
Research-based reviews and hands-on testing
Most Switchking articles are research-based reviews produced using current published product information, technical documentation and contractual terms.
We do not claim to have installed, personally used or laboratory-tested every broadband connection, router, television platform or mobile service covered on the website.
Where hands-on testing or direct experience forms part of an article, the nature and limitations of that testing should be explained within the article.
Prices, promotions and availability
Prices and promotions can change quickly. Broadband and mobile availability can also differ between neighbouring properties.
When presenting time-sensitive commercial information, we aim to state when it was checked and make clear that:
- Offers can expire or change
- Prices may vary by postcode or customer status
- Not every package is available at every address
- Setup and installation charges can vary
- Providers may schedule price increases during the contract
- Existing customers may receive different renewal offers
- The provider's checkout contains the definitive order information
Readers should inspect the personalised Contract Summary, order confirmation and applicable terms before purchasing.
Understanding speed claims
Advertised broadband speed is not a guarantee that every device will achieve that speed.
Actual performance can be affected by:
- The network serving the property
- The package and minimum guaranteed speed
- The supplied router
- Wi-Fi standards supported by the device
- Walls, distance and wireless interference
- Ethernet-port and cable limitations
- The remote server supplying the data
- Network congestion and local conditions
We distinguish between broadband speed reaching the router, wireless performance inside the home and the capabilities of individual devices wherever that distinction is material.
Facts, estimates and editorial opinions
| Type of statement | How we handle it |
|---|---|
| Published fact | We seek to support it with current provider documentation or another authoritative source. |
| Calculated figure | We explain the assumptions where a calculation could otherwise be mistaken for a guaranteed result. |
| Illustrative example | We identify it as an example rather than a personalised quote or contractual price. |
| Editorial assessment | We explain the practical reasoning supporting our opinion or recommendation. |
| Provider claim | We attribute the statement to the provider where independent verification is unavailable or inappropriate. |
| Address-dependent result | We direct the reader to check their property rather than present one national outcome as universal. |
Editorial independence and affiliate relationships
Commercial relationships do not provide editorial control
Switchking may receive commission when a reader follows selected links and completes a qualifying purchase or another eligible action.
Providers and affiliate networks do not receive the right to approve our conclusions, suppress relevant drawbacks or guarantee favourable placement.
We may recommend a cheaper product, a competing provider or no upgrade at all when that is the more appropriate conclusion.
Read our Affiliate Disclosure for a complete explanation of how commercial links work.
Sponsored content, supplied products and incentives
If Switchking publishes paid-for or sponsored content, it should be clearly identified so readers can understand the commercial arrangement.
If a provider supplies free equipment, access, travel, hospitality or another material benefit connected to coverage, that relationship should be disclosed where relevant.
Receiving a product, payment or other benefit does not guarantee positive coverage. We reserve the right to decline commercial activity that conflicts with our editorial standards or audience.
Provider involvement
Providers may be contacted to clarify product information or identify factual errors.
A provider may supply evidence supporting a correction, but it does not receive the right to rewrite our article, remove a substantiated criticism or approve our editorial opinion before publication.
Comparisons and market coverage
Switchking comparisons may not include every provider or product available in the United Kingdom.
The scope of a comparison can be affected by:
- The question the article is designed to answer
- Product relevance
- Regional availability
- Access to current and reliable information
- Whether two services are genuinely comparable
- The date on which the comparison was researched
A provider does not need to operate an affiliate programme to receive editorial coverage, and an affiliate relationship does not guarantee inclusion.
Updates and corrections
We update important articles when providers make material changes or when an error is identified.
Minor corrections can include spelling, formatting or clarification changes. Material corrections can include inaccurate prices, contract terms, package specifications, availability claims or conclusions based on incorrect evidence.
Readers can report an issue by emailing switchkingteam@gmail.com and including:
- The relevant Switchking URL
- The statement believed to be inaccurate
- The proposed correction
- A link to supporting evidence
Read our Corrections Policy for more information.
Useful external sources
- Ofcom
- Advertising Standards Authority and Committee of Advertising Practice
- Competition and Markets Authority
Related Switchking policies
Questions about our editorial standards?
Contact the Switchking team about our research, methodology, published conclusions or a possible correction.
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