No contract and rolling contract broadband
Dan Howdle
If you’re a student, planning on moving house in the near future, or going through an uncertain time in your personal or professional life, you may want to explore ‘no contract’ broadband options. These allow for more freedom and flexibility than standard 12-36 month deals, but come with some important considerations – primarily that they are considerably more expensive: You pay for the privilege of being able to switch whenever you like.
This page will tell you everything you need to know about short-term broadband deals - what they are, where to get them, and who they suit.
What does no contract broadband mean?
Though a limited number of pay monthly or ‘no contract’ broadband deals are available, it’s becoming more difficult to find one, as most providers prefer you to commit to a period of at least 12 months. Here, in Spring 2024, even 12-month broadband deals are becoming somewhat scarce however, with 18 months more 'the norm' and 24 months being pushed by BT and its subsidiary providers, EE and Plusnet.
The term ‘no contract’ broadband is misleading though, as you’ll still have a contract with your broadband provider which will run on a rolling basis from month to month. The difference is that, with a month’s notice or less, you can cancel this contract at any time without being charged an exit fee. With long-term contracts, you’ll usually be charged a fixed penalty if you want to leave early.
No-contract broadband gives you greater flexibility, for instance, if you want to move house or end a contract at short notice because you’re unhappy with the broadband being provided.
Is no contract broadband right for me?
No-contract broadband is great for students living in halls of residence or shared housing, people who rent their homes on short contracts, and for people who know they’ll be moving house in the near future and won't be able to continue with their provider wherever they're ending up. Read our guide to broadband and moving house to make your move as seamless as possible. Rolling contracts are also a good option for people who aren’t sure what their circumstances will be in the short-term – perhaps if they’re looking for employment and may need to relocate without much notice.
Some people just don’t like being tied into a long-term contract, and enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with being able to cancel their broadband provision at short notice. Or they might want to try out a new provider or service, but cancel without paying a penalty if it doesn’t meet their needs or expectations.
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Which providers offer short-term broadband?
As no contract broadband has become less popular in recent years, your choice of provider is limited. Not all providers offer short-term broadband contracts, but we’ve found some great deals from the following:
- NOW broadband: Owned by Sky, NOW Broadband offers a range of no contract broadband deals with the added benefit of no credit checks – perfect if you’re worried about your financial history. There are also some great TV bundles on offer from this brand. The caveat is that the company charges a steep £60 activation fee for no-contract deals, which it does not levy on its longer contracts.
- Virgin broadband: This brand leads the pack in terms of flexibility, as a number of its current broadband packages are available on a rolling monthly contract, albeit at a vastly higher price compared to the same speeds on an 18-month contract. There's also a reason you won't find these deals on this page as we just don't consider them to be good value for money. You'll have to head over to Virgin Media's site and delve deep to find them, and then be stunned how much they cost. Proper sticker shock territory!
Make sure you don’t miss out on any deals by checking to see what monthly contract broadband deals are available in your area.
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Are there any downsides to no contract broadband?
It may be tempting to sign up for a short-term broadband contract as it gives you the freedom to cancel and switch providers at any time. This can be really helpful if you’re going through an uncertain period in your personal or professional life, or if you’re planning on moving house soon.
There are a number of downsides to no contract broadband, however, which should be carefully considered before you sign up for this type of provision.
It’s still a contract: You’ll still be signing a legal document, and must give notice if you want to end the commitment – even if only a month in advance.
Higher monthly rates: No contract broadband offers greater flexibility, but this comes at a price. With most rolling or short-term contract deals, you’ll pay a much higher monthly price for your broadband connection than if you’d taken out a contract of 12 months or longer.
Set-up costs: Generally, a 30-day rolling broadband contract comes with much higher upfront set-up fees than broadband with a longer contract, as regardless of type, all broadband provision needs the same equipment (a router, phone line and – in some cases – fibre activation). Most of the additional cost you'll pay for a no-contract Now Broadband deal, for example, will be the up-front fee, with the monthly costs only slightly higher than its standard contracts.
No new customer benefits: With one-month contract broadband, you’re unlikely to enjoy the range of incentives that you can expect with a traditional broadband contract deal, so you’ll miss out on sweeteners like cashback, shopping vouchers, and free gifts.
How much notice do I need to give for a rolling broadband contract?
Most rolling broadband contracts operate on a month-to-month basis, so you’ll need to give 30-days notice if you want to end your deal. Some short-term broadband deals offer a 14-day cooling-off period when you first sign up, too. Read the small print before signing up to find out what notice period will be required for your deal. Our guide to understanding your contract might be useful for figuring out the details.
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What other contract lengths are available for broadband?
Most broadband providers offer a 12-month contract as standard. Other than one-month contracts, the shortest broadband contracts on the market are for 12 months.
Can I get fibre and Full Fibre broadband with no contract?
Yes, more often than not you’ll be able to choose fibre, but also Full Fibre, on a one-month contract, provided you live somewhere you can get it. If you’re not sure which is right for you, our guide to broadband speed should help you decide.
Can I get no contract broadband with no landline?
Yes. Virgin Media offers its no contract deals with or without a landline and calls, and these are cheaper than choosing a broadband and phone package. But Virgin Media Broadband no-contract deals are prohibitively expensive. Now Broadband will provide a pay as you go landline with its deals, but you don't have to use it.
What alternatives are there to no contract broadband?
If you only need broadband for a short time, but you don’t want to pay set-up costs or commit to a month-by-month arrangement, there are some temporary broadband options that will get you connected.
4G/5G tethering: Tethering allows you to create a ‘hotspot’ with your mobile phone, using it as a temporary mini-router to connect other devices like laptops and tablets to the internet. This is a great option for occasional use, but if you use tethering to stream video or download large files, you’ll find that your data is soon eaten up. Connecting several devices at once can also be difficult, so it’s only really helpful for personal use.
Mobile broadband: Broadband with a portable router is a good short-term option but instead of being able to use your existing mobile deal, you’ll need to sign up for a new one. As with tethering, data is also usually very limited.
Free public wifi: Step back in time and visit a cafe or public building with a wifi connection. The obvious downside to this solution is that you won’t be able to use the internet at home, and you may end up spending a fortune on expensive coffee!
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