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Unlike most broadband deals, no-contract broadband deals offer minimal commitment due to the lack of cancellation fee. As such, no-contract broadband is ideal for students or those living in short-term accommodation.
To help you determine if no-contract broadband deals are right for you, our expert team has run through all the advantages and disadvantages of these broadband deals, and which broadband providers currently offer these packages.
Despite what the name suggests, no contract broadband does require a contract, but a one-month rolling one. These deals can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice without any cancellation fees, making them well-suited for people moving home or those who move around frequently.
No-contract broadband deals are generally more expensive than long term deals: they typically come with higher upfront costs that cover the delivery, installation and activation, and the monthly payments will likely be higher than a long-term contract too. If you won’t be moving accommodation within the next 12 or 24 months, opting for a long-term contract will be more affordable.
No broadband contracts are the shortest type of broadband contracts on the market. Some broadband providers do offer six-month deals, but these are a very rare find.
Most broadband contracts are either 12, 18 or 24 months; in general, the longer the contract, the cheaper it will be overall. The pricing of your deal depends on several factors including the provider, the type of broadband connection and any extras, but looking through broadband deals shows that longer contracts are the least expensive.
The easiest way to find a no-contract broadband deal is to use our postcode checker. Use the “All Contract Lengths” filter to see if you are eligible for a no-contract deal; if the “Up to 1 month” filter does not show up, no broadband providers in your area offer these deals.
If no-contract broadband deals are in your area, check if they offer full fibre or fibre broadband, since no-contract deals can sometimes come with lower speeds. You should also ensure you’re comfortable with any upfront fees and how much notice you must give to cancel – this is usually 30 days.
We surveyed over 2,000 broadband customers* to find out what they thought the most important factors are when picking a new broadband deal; 94 per cent of people said price was important, with speed (93 per cent) coming in as a close second.
Make sure you use our comparison tool to compare no-contract broadband deals to ensure you find the best speed and price. Not everyone will require a gigabit broadband connection, so consider a slower speed if you want to save money.
Since no-contract broadband deals are less common than longer-term contracts, we compiled a list of all the best broadband providers that offer monthly rolling contracts.
To help you find the best providers, we have given each of them an Independent Advisor Rating. These scores were informed by a survey we conducted with over 2,000 participants who were asked about factors including value for money, speed, reliability and ease of contact, among other things.
| Broadband provider | Independent Advisor Rating | Fastest speed available | Minimum cost per month | Upfront costs |
| Hyperoptic | ★★★★ | 68Mbps | £20 | £60 |
| NOW Broadband | ★★★½ | 900Mbps | £30 | £29 or £39 |
| Plusnet | ★★★½ | 11Mbps | £44.35 | £49.99 |
| Virgin Media | ★★★ | 362Mbps | £48 + £45 extra every month | £35 |
| G.Network | N/A | 1,000Mbps | £36 | £29 |
No-contract broadband has both advantages and disadvantages. It does provide a lot of flexibility, as customers can cancel with minimal notice and avoid paying a cancellation fee. If you’re in the middle of moving home or are a student who will only reside at your current property for a short period of time, then a monthly rolling contract is ideal.
However, a short-term contract usually doesn’t come with any incentives or added extras. Installation fees also tend to be higher. For those looking for a more permanent deal, it’s best to steer clear of no-contract broadband. Longer deals are usually less expensive, come with added extras, and you’ll have more choice of providers to choose from.
*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24-64 conducted on Censuswide, 11-14 March 2024. Survey sample: 2,003 respondents, totalling Sky (489), BT Broadband (412), Virgin Media (396), EE (134), Vodafone (124), Other (102), Plusnet (66), NOW Broadband (45), Three (31), Hyperoptic (14), Community Fibre (8), Unsure (7). Respondents were asked to rate each category on a five-point scale, from Very Poor to Excellent, or from Never to Always, with the option of selecting Don’t Know for all questions. For the third question (“What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider”) respondents could select from the following: Price Hikes, Slow Speeds, High Prices, Frequent Disconnections, Poor Customer Service, Billing Issues, Other and N/A. The questions used to calculate our score were: “How often, if at all, do you feel the actual speed of your broadband service matches the advertised speed,” “How would you rate your experience with customer service and support from your broadband provider,” ”What issues, if any, have you experienced with your current broadband provider? (Select all that apply),” “How easy or difficult is it/would it be to reach your provider using your preferred method,” “How do you rate the value for money of your broadband service,” “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service”.
No-contract broadband deals offer the same types as longer-term deals. Most providers will offer basic, fibre and full-fibre broadband, but monthly 4G and 5G mobile broadband plans are only offered by a few providers.
Usually, providers will offer packages with internet speeds that are comparable to their longer-term contracts. However, there are times when the fastest broadband deals are not available for no-contract deals, such as Virgin Media’s M500 and G1 plans.
Although no-contract broadband appears to come without a contract, this isn’t strictly true. It’s a monthly rolling contract, which means you’re still required to give notice. Usually, providers require customers to give 30 days’ notice prior to terminating the contract. You should check with the provider about the exact timeframe, as it can sometimes vary.
You will most likely incur a higher set-up fee with a no-contract broadband deal, but this cost shouldn’t be hidden. Usually, providers will clearly advertise the set-up or installation fee, as well as any extra fees prior to you signing the contract.
