Methodology
How we calculate your verdict. Transparency is important to us.
How we calculate your verdict
When you submit your bill, we compare your monthly price against a database of internet plans. Here's what happens:
1. Identify comparable plans
We group plans by speed tier and connection type. If you tell us your speed (e.g., 50/20 Mbps) and connection type (e.g., FTTP), we filter to that segment. If you're not sure, we use all available plans as a national comparison.
2. Calculate percentile
We rank your price against all matched plans. The percentile tells you: "You're paying more than X% of plans in the comparison set." For example:
- Percentile 30 = You're paying more than 30% (a good deal)
- Percentile 50 = You're at the median (average)
- Percentile 75 = You're paying more than 75% (overpaying)
3. Assign verdict
We use these thresholds:
- Good deal: Below 40th percentile
- About average: 40th–70th percentile
- Overpaying: Above 70th percentile
4. Estimate annual impact
We calculate the difference between your price and the median plan price in your comparison set, then multiply by 12. This shows you approximate annual savings or overspend if you switched to a median-priced plan.
Confidence and limitations
We show you the number of plans we compared against. This is your confidence indicator.
⚠️ Low confidence (fewer than 20 plans)
We found only a small number of comparable plans for your speed and connection type.
This usually happens when providers haven't published recent Critical Information Summary (CIS) documents, or when the connection type is less common.
With fewer plans to compare, the result is less certain. Confidence improves when more CIS data is available or when you provide additional details.
Other factors we don't model:
- Plans not documented in accessible CIS formats
- Contract terms, setup fees, or promotional discounts
- Network quality, customer service, or reliability ratings
- Future price increases or plan changes
- Your individual eligibility for certain plans
- Bundled services (e.g., phone + internet)
- Actual network performance (speed varies in practice)
- Geographic availability in your specific area
Data source
Bill Owl uses Critical Information Summary (CIS) documents published by internet providers. These are standardised, regulatory-required documents that contain plan pricing, speeds, and terms.
- We collect CIS documents directly from provider websites
- Our coverage depends on CIS availability and freshness
- We provide provider website links so you can verify pricing yourself
- Not all providers publish CIS documents in accessible formats
Affiliate transparency
Bill Owl has no affiliate relationships with any internet provider. We do not receive commission for referrals or plan recommendations. Provider website links are included for verification purposes only, not as endorsements. Our verdict is based purely on CIS-documented pricing.
✓ Our incentive: Help you make an informed decision, not push you to switch.
Disclaimers
Not financial advice. Bill Owl provides estimates for informational purposes only. We are not financial advisors. Always verify current pricing and eligibility directly with providers.
Prices change. Internet plans, pricing, and availability change constantly. Our data reflects CIS documents at the time of collection and may lag current provider offerings.
No warranty. We make no guarantees about accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose. Use at your own discretion.
Not an endorsement. Appearing in our comparison does not imply endorsement of any provider or plan.
Questions?
Bill Owl is a transparent, consumer-first tool. If you have feedback or questions about our methodology, please reach out. We're building this for you.