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 22 August 2021
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.
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.
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
In selecting our top no contract broadband plans, we considered:
- Monthly cost: Lower monthly costs means your dollar can go towards better things than your internet bill!
- Set-up cost: Installation and modem costs can be hidden by what seems like a low monthly cost. We factor in the cost of renting or buying a new modem.
- Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: To get a fair picture of the costs over a longer term, we add monthly and set-up costs and divide this across 12 months to establish a baseline. Depending on how long you want to stay with a broadband provider, your total cost per month will vary.
- Speed and reliability: Broadband providers may offer unlimited broadband plans at different connection types and speeds. Some providers also offer wireless broadband options, which are cheaper than the fibre equivalent but do not have the same reliability or speed of connection. We prioritised fibre plans, especially as we found few wireless broadband plans available on no contract plans. We also considered whether a plan offered unlimited data usage.
- Flexibility: Plans offering open term contracts at no additional cost provide additional flexibility. Some providers also offer different payment options, such as prepaid, weekly or fortnightly billing. Meanwhile, some providers offer great broadband deals if bundled with other utilities (such as power and gas); while we like the price point of these bundled broadband plans, we do consider the limited flexibility in having to use the same utilities provider for other services to receive this lower price.
- Notice period: A function of flexibility, a shorter notice period means that if you switch broadband providers, you may be able to get away without having to pay for an entire month's worth of broadband.
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Monthly cost: Just over $63/month
Set up costs: $25 set up fee, $25 fee for new modem (includes delivery) Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$69/month Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 50Mbps download / 10 Mbps upload on a fibre connection Flexibility: Option to pay weekly or fortnightly Notice period: 7 days if you pay weekly, 14 days if you pay fortnightly Our view:
When it comes to best no-contract broadband plans, Flip comes out trumps. Flip offers the cheapest monthly price for a no-term contract (excluding the offerings of Contact and Nova Energy, where customers are typically bound to a power and/or gas contract). Unlike most other broadband providers, Flip doesn't reward customers for signing long-term contracts. Instead, Flip only offers a no-term plan. Flip provides incredible flexibility. Customers can choose to pay weekly or fortnightly, so if you have to move house halfway through the month, you aren't stuck paying for the rest of the month's broadband that you're not using. Flip broadband also features low upfront costs, so even if you switch broadband provider after a few months, you will only have spent $50 in set up fees. Flip's key downside is the connection speed available: up to 50/10 Mbps is noticeably slower than the standard 100/20 Mbps offered by competitors. This may be enough bandwidth for an individual streaming videos, but families using multiple screens may not find this slower speed suitable. The 50Mbps speed is also only available in regions with Chorus Fibre; customers in other regions may only be able to get speeds of up to 30Mbps/10 Mbps.
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Monthly cost: $79.95/month
Set up costs: $99 modem fee Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$79.90/month (factoring in a "get $10 off for the first 10 weeks promotion) Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 100Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload on a fibre connection Flexibility: Option to pay daily (prepaid), weekly or monthly Notice period: None if on the prepaid plan; 30 days for weekly or monthly payment Our view:
Compass's Fibre 100 plan provides great value, with faster broadband speeds than Flip, lower cost than the likes of Skinny and Bigpipe's no contract offerings, and no data cap. Aside from its value, Compass also excels in the flexibility aspect. While Compass does require 30 days' notice of termination for all plans, Compass offers three ways you can pay for your broadband:
If we had to find a gripe with Compass, it would be its 30 day notice period. Compared to some other plans on this list offering one working day or seven days' notice, a 30 day notice period is rather ordinary. It also does limit the flexibility of Compass's prepaid and weekly payment options.
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Monthly cost: $79/month
Set up costs: $99 set up fee for customers in Chorus fibre areas (includes new fibre box, replacing an external modem), $169 for customers not in Chorus fibre areas Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$87.25/month for customers in Chorus fibre areas Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 100Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload on a fibre connection Flexibility: Pay monthly Notice period: 30 days Our view:
If you're in a Chorus fibre area and are looking for a no contract plan, give Wireless Nation a go. For one of the lowest average total monthly prices for no contract plans, customers get access to unlimited internet and great speeds. Wireless Nation also offers a fibre set up that doesn't require a clunky modem that you may be used to. This includes a fibre box with built in wifi that can cover most small/medium-sized homes. There is no price difference in monthly costs between Wireless Nation's no contract and fixed term broadband customers - fixed term customers do get the advantage of a free set-up though. While this plan is a good deal for customers in Chorus fibre areas, it may not be so good for those outside Chorus areas, who would have to pay an additional $70 in set up fees. This represents quite a hefty set up cost and drives up the overall cost of the plan. |
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Monthly cost: $79/month
Set up costs: $99 modem fee, $49 connection fee Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$91.30/month Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 100Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload on a fibre connection (or fastest DSL alternative) Flexibility: Pay monthly Notice period: One business day Our view:
With unlimited data and a speedy broadband connection, Bigpipe offers a fantastic Leave Any Time plan. There is enough bandwidth for a small flat to stream data-intensive applications simultaneously, with a relatively low price tag attached. Bigpipe absolutely shines when it comes to short notice periods: simply let the team know one business day in advance and they will close up your account for you. Effectively, most Bipipe customers (paying monthly) can conclude their contract sooner than even Compass prepaid customers (who must serve notice of termination 30 days in advance).
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Monthly cost: $79/month
Set up costs: $14.95 modem shipping fee, $5/month modem rental Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$91.25/month Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 100Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload on a fibre connection Flexibility: Pay monthly Notice period: Any time before your next monthly bill is due Our view:
MyRepublic offers a solid no contract broadband plan, allowing customers to pay monthly and cancel any time before the beginning of their next billing month. At just over $91/month over a 12 month period, MyRepublic offers a relatively good deal. While it is marginally more expensive than Skinny's offering (see our #5 ranking below), we like that MyRepublic's set up costs are much lower than Skinny's - this means that if you're planning to change providers in under a year, you'll be paying less per month on MyRepublic's plan. MyRepublic's offering for its contract and no contract customers is very similar. If you select a Month-to-Month term, you still pay the same for your broadband use and don't incur any set up / connection fees. The only difference is if you have to rent a modem, in which case a Month-to-Month customer would pay an additional $5/month to rent a TP-Link AC1600 (and a one-off postage fee).
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Monthly cost: $78/month
Set up costs: $49 connection fee, $99 modem, $10 modem delivery fee Total cost per month, spread across 12 months: ~$91.20/month Speed and reliability: Unlimited data, up to 100Mbps download / 20 Mbps upload on a fibre connection Flexibility: Pay monthly Notice period: Any time before your next monthly bill is due Our view:
Skinny's No Pesky Term plan has very features to that of Bigpipe's, making it a great choice for a small family or flat wanting more flexibility with their broadband plan. With this plan, you can cancel any time before your next billing period and this will take effect at the end of your billing month. Depending on timings, Skinny's cancellation period could mean you can get out of your contract several weeks early compared to many other no contract plans. There is a noticeable price difference between Skinny's Unlimited Fibre plans on a 12 month term compared to the No Pesky Term option. No Pesky Term customers cannot access the "get your first three months free" promotion available for 12 month term customers, and also have to pay for a new modem.
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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.
Who offers no-contract broadband in New Zealand?
Many providers do, including Flip, Compass, Wireless Nation and Skinny. Our best no-contract plans above (LINK) has the full list.
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.
What no-contract broadband plan is best for students?
Our guide explains the most suitable options for a range of users, including students.
