Price comparison sites

By THIS IS MONEY
Updated:

 

We look at the websites that can help stop you being ripped-off.

What are they?

Sites that help stop you being ripped off. They collect the prices of goods or services from many different suppliers so you can see which suits you and which is cheapest.

Many sites have been around for years, but their popularity has soared with the increasing takeup of broadband.

High-speed internet means consumers can get the answers to their search within seconds.

Why are they popular?

They work best when you know exactly what you want. TVs, cameras, books, CDs, gas and electricity are all easy to compare because the decision normally just boils down to price.

Flights and holidays have grown in popularity thanks to sites like Expedia. Simply Switch is often used for utility prices.

Confused.com provides car insurance quotes, while moneysupermarket.com allows you to compare a raft of financial products.

Any pitfalls?

You probably wouldn't be interested in using a price comparison site to buy a sofa, or anything that you'd need to touch or feel to check the quality.

Also, sites don't always show all the brands or suppliers and they may give more prominence to those which pay them the most money.

• This is Money aims to partner with the best comparison websites across different financial services products. Find out more about us - and see the full selection of comparison tools

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