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Deals last updated: 18th August 2024
Unlike other broadband deals, no-contract broadband offers more flexibility and requires minimal commitment thanks to the lack of cancellation fees.
In this guide, our experts explain everything you need to know about no-contract broadband so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for your household.
No-contract broadband deals operate on a rolling 30 day basis. The contracts can be cancelled with 30 days’ notice without incurring any cancellation fees or additional charges, making them an ideal broadband solution for students, renters or those frequently on the move.
Rolling contractNo-contract broadband is a good option if you are living in short-term accommodation, moving home or renting since these deals offer more flexibility than long-term contracts.
If you are intending to live in the same place for 12 months or more, it’s advisable to get a traditional contract. Longer contracts tend to come with reduced monthly prices and lower upfront costs as well as the possibility of incentives and discounts when you sign up.
Our postcode checker will reveal if you can access rolling contract broadband in mere seconds; simply enter your postcode and toggle the “No contract (monthly contract)” filter. If this filter is greyed out, you are not eligible for no-contract broadband in your area.
If that’s the case, consider opting for a mobile broadband or wireless broadband package; these deals can usually be found on a no-contract basis, making them a great alternative to traditional broadband offers.
In our survey of over 2,000* participants, 94 per cent claimed the price was an important factor when picking a new broadband deal.
Rolling contract broadband prices can range from £18 to £49 per month, depending on available providers and desired speed. The best way to find the best no-contract broadband in your area is to use our postcode checker; filter by contract length, price and speed to find the package which best suits your household.
Few broadband providers offer no-contact broadband packages, making them less accessible than longer-term deals.
Our experts listed some of the most popular rolling contract broadband providers to make finding a new provider easier. We also ranked the applicable providers using our Independent Advisor Rating, gathered from our survey data.
| Broadband provider | Independent Advisor rating | Fastest speed available | Minimum cost per month* | Upfront costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperoptic | ★★★★ | 1,000Mbps | £30 | £29/£39 |
| Virgin Media | ★★★ | 362Mbps | £48 | £35 |
| G.Network | N/A | 1,000Mbps | £29 | £29 |
| 4th Utility | N/A | 900Mbps | £18 | £0 |
| WeightFibre | N/A | 900Mbps | £19.95 | £0 |
Like all broadband contracts, no-contract packages vary between providers. Our survey data showed that the average broadband contract costs £52 per month, with full fibre broadband costing £54 per month.
The average price of a rolling contract broadband package from the providers above is £47.50 per month**. G.Network offers the cheapest overall deal, at £29 for 150Mbps, while Hyperoptic provides speeds of 1,000Mbps for £66 per month.
It’s not just the monthly cost you have to consider, however, as rolling contract broadband packages come with higher-than-average upfront costs. We found that these fees averaged £33; while this is only a one time payment, they’re an important part of balancing your broadband needs and your budget.
Almost every type of broadband connection can be found on a no-contract basis. Most providers will offer standard, fibre and full fibre broadband, as well as mobile and wireless broadband packages.
Although rolling contract broadband appears to come without a contract, this isn’t strictly true. In practice, 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 their no-contract plans. You should check with the provider about the exact time frame, as it can vary.
You will most likely incur a higher setup fee with a no-contract broadband deal, but this cost shouldn’t be hidden. Usually, providers will clearly advertise the setup or installation fee, as well as any extra fees before you sign the contract.
The most common way to get short-term broadband service is to sign up for a rolling contract broadband package. Some broadband providers do offer six-month deals, but these are very rare.
Most broadband contacts are either 12, 18 or 24 months long. Generally, 12-month broadband packages are cheaper than longer contracts. The pricing of your deal depends on several factors including your choice of provider, the type of broadband connection and the number of extras, if any.
*Survey of broadband customers aged between 24 and 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) and 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?” and “How would you rate the transparency of pricing and additional fees in your broadband service?”
Our Independent Advisor rating is a combination of our home tech team’s expertise (60 per cent) and the data collated from our survey (40 per cent).
**To find the average cost of no-contract packages, we looked at prices offered by the no-contract providers above; these deals vary from 12 months to 18 months with speeds ranging from 54Mbps to 1,000Mbps.
Explore our picks of the best no-contract broadband deals in July
Deals checked by Gemma Ryles, our broadband expert
With her expert advice and knowledge, you can trust Gemma to guide you to the best broadband deal for your needs.