How much does IT support cost in London? (2026 pricing guide)
"How much should IT support cost?" is one of the first questions every business owner asks, and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Prices vary because what's included varies enormously. This 2026 guide breaks down the common pricing models, typical London ranges, and the hidden extras to watch for, so you can compare quotes fairly.
The three common pricing models
1. Per-user, per-month (most common today)
You pay a fixed monthly fee for each member of staff, and that covers all their devices: laptop, desktop, phone, mailbox. It's simple, scales cleanly as you hire, and is the model most modern managed providers (including us) use. Typical London ranges in 2026 run from roughly £50 to £110+ per user per month, depending on how much security and support is bundled in.
2. Per-device, per-month
You pay per server, desktop or laptop instead of per person. This can suit businesses with lots of shared or unattended machines, but it gets complicated when one person uses several devices.
3. Break-fix / pay-as-you-go
No monthly fee. You pay an hourly rate (often £75–£120+ per hour in London) only when something breaks. It looks cheap until you have a bad month. There's no proactive monitoring, no included security, and costs are unpredictable.
What actually drives the price
- Security depth. Basic antivirus is cheap; managed EDR, email security, phishing training and 24/7 monitoring cost more but prevent the incidents that really hurt.
- Backup & disaster recovery. Managed backups with tested restores add cost and are worth every penny.
- Support hours. Business-hours cover is cheaper than genuine 24/7, out-of-hours support.
- Response times (SLAs). Faster guaranteed response usually costs a little more.
- Compliance. Help with Cyber Essentials, SIEM and log retention, and reporting.
- On-site vs remote. A local provider who can attend in person, like a Dagenham-based team, adds value for hardware issues.
Hidden fees to watch for
When you compare quotes, read past the headline number and ask about:
- Onboarding / setup fees.
- Charges for "out of scope" work, and what counts as out of scope.
- Project work (migrations, new setups) billed separately.
- Whether security tools and backup licences are included or added on top.
- Minimum contract lengths and exit terms.
A transparent provider will tell you exactly what's in the monthly fee and what isn't. In writing.
What we charge (and why we publish it)
We think pricing should be public. Our managed IT plans are £50, £77 and £108 per user per month (excluding VAT), benchmarked at roughly 10% below 2026 London market rates, and each tier lists exactly what's included, from monitoring and patching on the entry plan up to 24/7 support, MDR and compliance reporting on the top plan. Web design packages start at £270. You can see the full breakdown on our pricing page, or get a free, no-obligation quote for your exact headcount.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IT support cost per user per month in London?+
In 2026, managed IT support in London typically ranges from about £50 to £110+ per user per month. The price depends mainly on how much security, backup and support is included. Alpha IT's plans are £50, £77 and £108 per user per month excluding VAT.
Is managed IT cheaper than break-fix?+
Over a year, usually yes. Break-fix has no monthly fee but charges £75–£120+ per hour reactively and includes no proactive security or monitoring, so a single serious incident can cost more than a year of managed support.
What should be included in an IT support price?+
At minimum: 24/7 monitoring, patching, managed antivirus/EDR, backup with tested restores and an unlimited helpdesk. Higher tiers add email security, staff training, out-of-hours support, MDR and compliance reporting.
Are there hidden costs in IT support contracts?+
There can be. Onboarding fees, out-of-scope charges, separate project billing and add-on security licences. Always ask a provider to confirm in writing exactly what the monthly fee covers.