Best No Contract Broadband Plans
Get the best short-term, open plan broadband deal and avoid costly termination fees – our guide explains everything you need to know
Updated 16 May 2023
Summary
Our guide covers:
Summary
- No contract broadband, also known as ‘open-plan broadband’, is popular with students, short-term renters and anyone in between permanent living arrangements. Whatever your need for an open plan, there are a few must-know considerations when comparing providers.
Our guide covers:
No Contract Broadband – Pros and Cons
Pros:
Cons:
- No long-term commitment – you’re not tied into any contract and have the freedom to discontinue any time. Usually, you’ll have to give 30 days notice, and after that, there’s nothing else you need to do.
- No cancellation fee – there are no expensive early exit fees that would otherwise apply on a 12-month plan etc. These are usually $100+, and some providers charge up to $200.
- Flexibility – you can move to cheaper deals as they’re advertised and/or upgrade or downgrade as your data needs change.
Cons:
- High set-up fees – while contract broadband plans usually offer free modems and connection, no contract broadband plans typically require customers to buy a compatible modem and pay a connection or new-user fee.
- Higher monthly cost – open plans are more expensive than contracts because providers make more money long-term from contracted customers. This means unlimited no-contract broadband plans may be $20 or $30+ more per month.
- No promotions – some broadband providers offer contract customers free tablets, free credit and other discounts; customers opting for a no-contract deal are rarely offered any promotional deals.
Best No Contract Broadband Plans
The Best Open (No Contract) Providers and Plans Based on Specific Needs
All the open/no contract plans below have unlimited data. In selecting the best plans, we have categorised the connection types as follows :
Costs and Freebies: Our table below includes the advertised Monthly Cost. Some plans may charge a connection fee, modem fee and shipping costs. There may also be discounts (such as a sign-up bonus or credit, free months, Netflix subscriptions etc.). We have taken these into account when presenting our results below, as evidenced in our research around weighted costs.
Terms: The below plans are open plans, meaning there is no contract and you can cancel anytime.
- ADSL - This category includes ADSL and VDSL, as providers usually charge the same price even if VDSL is much faster than ADSL
- 4G - This includes 4G connections only
- 5G - This includes 5G connections, the speed is usually not disclosed by the provider as it's a rather new technology
- Fibre - These are fibre connections in the range of 30 to 50 Mbps
- Fibre UFB - These are fibre connections known as 'ultra fast' and have speeds of about 300 Mbps
- Max - These are fibre connections of about 900 Mbps
- Hyper - These are fibre connections of 2000+ Mbps
Costs and Freebies: Our table below includes the advertised Monthly Cost. Some plans may charge a connection fee, modem fee and shipping costs. There may also be discounts (such as a sign-up bonus or credit, free months, Netflix subscriptions etc.). We have taken these into account when presenting our results below, as evidenced in our research around weighted costs.
Terms: The below plans are open plans, meaning there is no contract and you can cancel anytime.
Category and Speed |
Top Provider & Packages |
Monthly Cost |
Our View: |
Learn More and View Alternatives |
4G (30Mbps) |
Spark - Everyday Wireless Plus (4G Unlimited) |
$65 |
Spark offers great value by including subscriptions to Netflix and excellent coverage Read our Spark Review for More Details |
|
5G |
Spark - Max Wireless Plus (5G Unlimited) |
$85 |
Spark dominates with great value by including Netflix with excellent 5G coverage Read our Spark Review for More Details |
|
ADSL (9 Mbps) & VDSL (42 Mbps) |
Skinny - ADSL Unlimited |
$73 |
Skinny offers the lowest cost overall because even though the setup costs are similar to other providers, their monthly fee is lower Read our Skinny Review for More Details |
|
Fibre (50 Mbps) |
Flip - Flip Fibre Broadband Plan [Fibre] |
$56 |
Flip offers the lowest cost for fibre, setup costs and monthly fees are below their competitors Read our Flip Review for More Details |
|
Fibre UFB (300 Mbps) |
Skinny - Fibre Unlimited [UFB] |
$75 |
Skinny offers the lowest cost overall because even though the setup costs are similar to other providers, their monthly fee is lower Read our Skinny Review for More Details |
|
Fibre Max (900 Mbps) |
MyRepublic - Fibre Pro [MAX] |
$90 |
MyRepublic offers free installation and free refurbished modem rental (only pay shipping costs), monthly fee matches their competitors Read our MyRepublic Review for More Details |
Our pricing assumptions:
- We have assumed in all cases that a modem is being purchased, but some providers let you bring your modem. If you have a modem you can use, you can avoid the modem cost and shipping fee.
- When a provider offers a bundle with mobile, we have assumed that you would switch mobile providers to use the bundled discount.
- We have taken benefits in kind at the value advertised by the providers. Still, you might not consider these valuable if you have no use for a Prezzy card, an antivirus or a particular streaming service like Netflix or Prime Video.
- Please note we have not included discounts for bundling broadband with energy. We consider this a big commitment and think you should evaluate energy providers on their merit. We have, however, included the discounts from bundling broadband with mobile as these can deliver good monthly savings, and mobile services are largely interchangeable.
- We have only included discounts advertised on the provider's website. Still, you might find additional discounts through broadband comparison sites or when you contact the broadband sales team to inquire about their plans.
- For plans that only offer open-term contracts, we have included the "weighted monthly cost" in the fixed-term contract section, so you can consider these plans when evaluating fixed-term plans, as there is no downside to having a flexible contract.
- When plans had names we considered were not descriptive enough, we added our category in brackets at the end of the plan's name, for example, [UFB].
No Contract Broadband - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortest period I can get broadband for?
The shortest period offered by most providers is 30 days or one month. However, in practice, most providers need one month’s notice to cancel.
How fast is no contract broadband?
It depends on where you live, what plan you choose and whether you’re on a fibre, wireless or copper-line. Generally, the higher the monthly cost, the faster the speed.
Are there extra costs with no contract broadband plans?
Yes – you’ll usually need to pay for a modem and the delivery cost (unless you can source one from Trade Me or Facebook Marketplace etc., or from a friend). There may also be a connection charge if you’re using a copper-based connection (i.e. not fibre or mobile broadband) and you’ll also pay for a phone connection and ongoing rental.
I’m moving house soon – should I get a no-contract broadband plan?
It depends on your plans – no contract options are the most flexible and will cover you until you move. However, some broadband providers allow fixed contract plans to be portable, meaning you can move them to a new address. However, as moving homes can be stressful enough, the fewer complications with your broadband billing, the better. Arguably, an open plan is best for the short-term.
What no-contract broadband connection types are available?
Broadband providers offer short-term connections on Fibre, VDSL, ADSL and mobile connections. Keep in mind that copper connections (i.e. non-fibre, non-mobile) require a line rental and the cost of this needs to be added on top of the monthly broadband bill.
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