67% of UK adults have used a price comparison website to search for insurance policies in the last year. Price comparison has gone beyond a convenient hack for finding products,…
UK
Financial Services
simple
UK Price Comparison Sites in Financial Services Market Report 2025
"PCWs have benefited from an increase in shopping around as insurance premiums have risen. Looking ahead, AI poses both opportunities and challenges for aggregators."
Rich Shepherd, Category Director - Financial Services and Social Research
UK Price Comparison Websites Industry – Trends and Insights
67% of UK adults have used a price comparison website (PCW) to search for insurance policies in the last year. Price comparison has gone beyond a convenient hack for finding products, and is now a standard part of the customer journey.
Consumers not only see the benefits of using PCWs, but also expect to be rewarded with additional perks. 69% of PCW users are more likely to use a site that offers rewards, such as vouchers and discounts, than one that doesn’t.
Surging insurance premiums have fuelled demand for aggregation. This has boosted revenues among leading sites, with Compare the Market and Go.Compare recording the highest revenue growth among the big four, up by 21% and 28% in 2024, respectively. The big four dominate the market, making it difficult for new challengers to break through.
AI represents both the biggest challenge to and opportunity for PCWs. While emerging agentic AI offers the potential that consumers will bypass traditional PCWs, incumbent brands are well-placed to act as the host for such tools, benefiting from their heritage and trusted reputations.
Key Issues Covered in the Report
Rising premiums in motor and home insurance have maintained strong demand for price comparison in core markets
Elevated credit and savings interest rates have expanded opportunities for price comparison in money products
Analysis of PCW market share and the dominance of the big four brands
Consumer satisfaction with PCWs is very high, but perks remain essential factors in choosing a site
AI-powered, agentic search tools are both the biggest disruptive threat and the next major innovation opportunity for PCWs
Advertising, particularly TV advertising, is key for PCWs to maintain brand recognition
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for Price Comparison Sites in Financial Services
Opportunities
Innovate with AI now, before others move in
Personalised perks will increase resonance among older groups
Learning hubs can prompt more-frequent engagement
THE MARKET
Rising inflation has knocked financial wellbeing, increasing demand for price comparison
Core PCW products have recently experienced large price rises
Graph 1: selected average annual general insurance premiums, by product line, Q1 2021-Q2 2025
Price is the key purchase driver across general insurance
Elevated interest rates offer greater opportunities for aggregation in money products
Graph 2: average quoted household rates for consumer credit products, 2018-25
Graph 3: average quoted household interest rates for selected savings products, 2018-25
Compare the Market leads as the big four aggregators hold a firm grip on the market
Graph 4: price comparison websites used to compare/obtain quotes in the last 12 months, 2025
Compare the Market is winning at keeping customers loyal
Graph 5: number of price comparison websites used to compare/obtain quotes in the last 12 months, by site used most often, 2025
A challenging consumer environment has fuelled revenue growth
Graph 6: market share of big four price comparison websites, by revenue, 2023-24
THE CONSUMER
Use of price comparison websites in insurance
Use of PCWs in insurance is a standard part of the customer journey
Keep messaging centred on core products
Graph 7: any use of price comparison websites to search for insurance products (in the last 12 months or previously), 2025
Re-engage with lapsed customers to maximise use
Graph 8: use of price comparison websites to search for selected insurance products, 2025
Educate consumers to exploit growth in overseas travel
Use of price comparison websites in retail banking
Retail banking products lag behind insurance, but represent potential for PCW expansion
Tap into Gen Z’s desire to take control of their finances
PCWs can be a trusted guide to car finance in a post-scandal environment
Current accounts offer opportunities to show off personalised search results
Satisfaction with price comparison websites
Strong satisfaction can make it difficult for PCWs to take business away from competitors
Innovation will be led by brands, not consumer demand
Make perks more relevant for older groups to increase engagement
Graph 9: satisfaction with benefits/perks earned for using price comparison websites, 2025
Overall satisfaction with PCWs is impressively high
Strive for maximum satisfaction to ensure repeat use
Graph 10: likelihood to use a price comparison website to search for financial services products in the next 12 months, by overall satisfaction with the comparison website used most often in the last 12 months, 2025
High trust underlines overall satisfaction
Engaging consumers in price comparison
PCWs struggle to engage users outside their renewal periods
Perks are essential value-boosters
Specialists can find a niche in underserved product lines
Graph 11: agreement with the statement “I would prefer to use a comparison website that specialised in a particular area than one that offers a large range of products”, by insurance products searched for on PCWs, 2025
AI innovation and price comparison sites
AI represents both the biggest opportunity and threat for PCWs
Move on AI now, but make it optional
Graph 12: response to the statement “I would be interested in a comparison service that uses AI to both find and arrange financial services products for me”, by age, 2025
Be transparent to reaffirm trust perceptions amid technological change
INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Big four take distinct approaches to benefits
Adspend remains subdued, but TV spots are still essential in PCW brand building
Graph 13: total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on price comparison sites, by media type, 2020/21-2024/25
Ads focus on mascots and rewards
The big four PCWs compete closely on advertising
Graph 14: percentage share of total above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on price comparison sites, by brand, 2024/25
APPENDIX
Market definition
Supplementary data
Adspend by brand
Adspend by media type
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
UK generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
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