How Rocket Money Slashed My Broadband Bill Automatically

I recently discovered that my budgeting app, Rocket Money, had automatically negotiated a cheaper monthly rate and a major speed upgrade with my internet provider, Spectrum, without me lifting a finger. Unexpected price hikes are a constant headache, so opening my inbox to find a notification about an automatic bill reduction felt like a rare victory.

What made the news even better was that I had not requested the renegotiation this time. While I had previously authorised Rocket Money to tackle my Spectrum bill last year, this latest discount was secured completely on my behalf without any prompting.

Read more: Drowning in Subscriptions? I Saved $400 in 15 Minutes With Rocket Money. Here’s How You Can, Too

How Rocket Money Slashed My Monthly Bill Automatically

Last year, I decided to test Rocket’s bill negotiation service to see if it could lower my Spectrum costs. The app succeeded, slashing my bill by $300 over the year, which worked out to a saving of $25 a month. Like most people managing multiple subscriptions, I made a mental note of when this 12-month promotional rate would end, and then promptly forgot about it.

Fortunately, the app has a better memory than I do. When you opt into Rocket’s bill negotiation feature, you can choose to enable automatic renegotiations for when your discounts expire. Even if your rates do not have an expiration date, Rocket will periodically scan for new opportunities to lower your bills.

As soon as my Spectrum promotional rate expired this month, Rocket immediately stepped in. The app secured a fresh 12-month discount, reducing my monthly bill by $13, which adds up to $156 in annual savings.

Screenshot by Kelly Ernst/CNET

In total, this single app has saved me $456 over a two-year period—all for zero effort on my part during this second round.

A Surprise Broadband Speed Upgrade

The savings were not the only benefit. Rocket also managed to upgrade my broadband plan, boosting my download speeds from 600Mbps to 1,000Mbps—a substantial 66% increase. Shortly after, I received a package from Spectrum containing a brand-new modem and straightforward setup instructions to replace my outdated hardware.

Screenshot by Kelly Ernst/CNET

Having already appreciated the app’s features—which previously earned an Editors’ Choice award—getting faster internet at a lower cost was a highly welcome surprise.

Understanding the Costs: Is the Service Worth It?

While the savings are impressive, Rocket does not provide this service for free. If the app successfully lowers your bill, it charges a success fee ranging between 30% and 60% of the total yearly savings. For both of my Spectrum negotiations, Rocket charged a 30% fee. This meant they took $90 of my initial $300 savings last year, and $46.80 of this year’s $156 savings.

While I could have called Spectrum myself to haggle, there is no guarantee I would have secured the same discount. More importantly, I simply would not have remembered to make the call. For me, paying a percentage of guaranteed savings that I otherwise would have missed out on is a fair trade-off.

Additionally, Rocket helped me save $400 last year through its subscription cancellation tool. To have the app cancel unwanted subscriptions on your behalf, you need to subscribe to the premium tier, which costs $6 per month. However, the free version still provides a clear overview of your active subscriptions, allowing you to cancel them manually if you prefer to save on the fee.