Declines in air fares nothwithstanding, airline price comparison site Webjet seems to be doing OK. Steve Creedy at the Australian reports that the site has seen a 19 per cent rise in demand over the last six months. To be honest, I'm surprised that so many people make use of the service, because of the $21.85 in extra charges which it slaps on bookings -- my inner scrooge would rather try and score the same flight direct from the relevant airline with that kind of fee involved.

Getting home or car insurance online is pretty standard these days, but more specialised insurance categories can be harder work. If you're self-employed and work as a contractor in many fields (including IT), professional indemnity insurance is a key requirement. Comparison site BizCover generates custom quotes based on your business size and activity, and will sell you the insurance directly if you find a deal that suits. Indemnity insurance is hardly glamorous, but better to hunt it down online than suffer from an unexpected lawsuit later.

If you're trying to trim the family budget in lean times, the electricity bill is a good place to start. More sensible use of appliances is always a good approach, but with competition now at least a partial reality, it also pays to work out if you could get a better deal on your existing service. Recently launched web comparison service Switchwise takes your location (by suburb name or postcode) and then suggests alternative suppliers that might come out cheaper (and gives you the option of switching if you want). Answering additional questions like house size and current consumption patterns refines the list, but not having to answer those questions up front makes it easier to get started. Switchwise is currently Victoria-only (like similar and previously mentioned GoSwitch), but you can sign up to be notified when it's available in your area.

Competition is supposed to have made electricity cheaper for the average consumer, but comparing services can be painful. Web site GoSwitch lets you look at available options and can switch your account automatically if you live in Victoria (site founder Ben Freund explains in an interview with The Australian why the process is fiddlier in other states). The service is free; it works on the same basis as mortgage comparison services, with the company receiving a standard finders' fee from whichever provider you choose if you change. If you've tried out GoSwitch, let us know your experience in the comments. [GoSwitch via The Australian]

Web site ReviewGist gathers the results of expert reviews from around the web to give you a better understanding of the pros and cons of a potential purchase. Aside from its deep analysis, which dives into the nuts and bolts of what a reviewer liked and disliked about a product, ReviewGist also provides a great comparison tool to check the ratings of similar products side-by-side. While a lot of people tend to stick to the consumer reviews on the site they're purchasing from, like Amazon, ReviewGist looks like a great place to check out the broader merits of a product before making a big purchase.

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