cheapbills.com.au Review & First Look

When you first land on Cheapbills.com.au, you’re greeted with a straightforward proposition: “Compare & Save on Electricity, Gas and Broadband.” It’s designed to appeal to the average Australian household looking to trim down their monthly expenses. The site boasts a clean interface, with clear calls to action like “Sign up for a Free Comparison!” and promises of “Hassle-free Switching.” Visually, it’s pretty standard for a comparison site – a hero section with a compelling headline, service icons for electricity, gas, NBN, and even 5G/4G, and testimonials. They even mention PayTV, home insurance, life insurance, car insurance, and most importantly, home loans, credit cards, loans, mortgages, and savings.

The immediate impression is one of convenience and potential savings. The site clearly lays out its operating hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 8 PM AEST) and provides a prominent contact number, 1300 786 045. This transparency regarding contact information is a positive sign for any online service. They also explicitly state that “CheapBills does not compare all brands in the market,” a small but important disclaimer that manages expectations. This is good practice, as it means they are transparent about their panel of providers, which includes “Australia’s leading energy retailers.”

However, the inclusion of “Home Loans, Credit Cards, Loans, Mortgages, Savings, Business Finance” immediately raises red flags from an ethical perspective. In Islam, engaging in transactions that involve Riba (interest) is strictly prohibited. This prohibition extends to both paying and receiving interest. Conventional home loans, credit cards, and personal loans are fundamentally structured around interest. While a website facilitating utility comparisons might otherwise be permissible, integrating these interest-bearing financial products into their core offering makes the entire platform problematic for those adhering to Islamic financial principles. It’s a critical oversight that needs to be addressed for the platform to be considered ethically sound from this viewpoint. The promise of “More in Your Pocket” quickly becomes a concern when the means to achieve it involves impermissible financial dealings.

Website Design and User Experience

The website’s design is intuitive, leveraging common UI patterns to guide users. The navigation is clear, with links to “Moving Home,” “Blogs,” “About us,” “Contact Us,” and “Help & FAQs” easily accessible. The primary focus on the homepage is the comparison tool, front and centre.

• Ease of Navigation: Users can quickly find the service they’re interested in, whether it’s electricity, gas, or NBN.
• Visual Appeal: The use of clean graphics and a simple colour scheme contributes to a professional look.
• Mobile Responsiveness: The site appears to adapt well to different screen sizes, making it accessible on various devices.
• Call-to-Actions: Buttons like “Start saving on your energy bills today – get started” are clear and encourage user interaction.

Stated Value Proposition

Cheapbills.com.au asserts that it simplifies the process of finding better utility deals. They claim to “reduce the run around for you,” save money, and offer a “100% free to use” comparison service.

• Time-Saving: The service aims to eliminate the need for users to contact individual providers.
• Cost Savings: They state an average saving of “$400 a year when we compare energy.”
• Free Service: The cost of the service is presumably covered by commissions from providers, which is a common business model for comparison sites.

Transparency and Disclaimers

The disclaimer about not comparing all brands is vital. It signals that users might not see every single deal available in the market, but rather a curated selection from “Australia’s leading energy retailers.”

• Limited Comparison Scope: Users should be aware that the comparison is not exhaustive.
• Provider Partnerships: The site partners with specific providers (e.g., EnergyAustralia, Optus, TPG).
• Trustpilot Rating: They prominently display a 4.5-star rating based on customer reviews from Trustpilot, aiming to build trust.

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