Author: Emma Davenport

Last updated: 22 October 2025

Why choose short-term broadband?

Many of the UK’s major broadband providers including BT, Sky, Vodafone and Virgin Media have made 24-month contracts the standard.

Do these lengthy deals make you feel uneasy? You’re not alone. 66% of people told us they don’t feel comfortable committing to a contract of more than 18 months.

On this page, we’re going to be exploring broadband providers that offer more flexible deals without tying customers into 2-year agreements.

If you’re unsure of your circumstances, you’re planning to move, you need temporary broadband solutions, or you’re just uneasy about that long commitment, we’re here to help!

What are the best options for short-term broadband contracts?

There are a few options for broadband deals without long-term commitment. These are:

• 12-month deals
• 1-month deals (also known as ‘rolling monthly broadband’ or ‘no contract deals’)
• Pay As You Go mobile broadband

Benefits of short-term broadband deals

• No long tie-in: it’s a more flexible option
• Avoid price rises: many longer deals increase in price each spring
• Lower risk: if the service doesn’t suit you, you can leave sooner
• Perfect for temporary stays: students, movers or renters
• Switch faster: no hefty exit fees if things change

What are the downsides of short-term contracts?

• Higher monthly cost than long contracts (often up to 50% more)
• Fewer freebies like vouchers or reward cards
• Possible setup fees for equipment or installation
• Less choice as most big providers focus on 24-month plans

Genie Tip!

Short-term can still save you money if you might otherwise face large cancellation fees on a long deal.

Find broadband rewards and vouchers

Who is short-term broadband best for?

Anyone with temporary living arrangements, or those who aren’t too sure of their plans in the near future. This might include:

• Students staying in term-time accommodation
• People moving house soon
• Renters on rolling leases
• Anyone uncomfortable with an 18-month+ tie-in for any reason

• Is Pay As You Go broadband the same as No Contract broadband?

  Not quite.

  No Contract broadband plans:

  • Fixed monthly fee
  • Usually unlimited data (with fair use policy)
  • 30-day rolling contracts with cancel anytime flexibility

  
  Pay As You Go broadband:

  • Pay only for the data you use
  • Often via a dongle or mobile Wi-Fi device
  • Can be expensive for streaming or heavy use

  Genie Tip: For streaming, gaming, or regular use, 1-month broadband is usually the better value.

Providers offering short-term internet options

Several providers currently offering short-term broadband packages on Broadband Genie. These packages are available all year round:

Let’s take a look at some of the main selling points of these internet service providers:

Three 5G Home Broadband

• Mobile broadband service with no need for a landline
• Requires a good 5G signal
• Broadband only (no TV or phone options)

For more advice on 5G connections, visit our guide: '5G home broadband’

Rebel Internet

• Operates on the Openreach network
• Most homes in the UK can sign up to Rebel
• Comes with a fixed price promise: no annual price rise

4th Utility

• Full fibre broadband (FTTP) on 12-month contracts or a monthly basis
• Offers a 30-day rolling contract social tariff

toob

• No installation fees
• Fixed price promise

Community Fibre

• ‘Best Broadband Provider in London’ - 2025 Broadband Awards
• Symmetrical upload and download speeds

Onestream

• Cheap broadband deals
• Offers two superfast fibre packages on a shorter 12-month basis

Hyperoptic

• Rolling monthly broadband contracts available
• Home phone add-ons available

Find out whether you can sign up to these providers, or discover more options with our deals checker:

Genie Tip: Smaller broadband providers (altnets) are more likely to offer shorter 12-month and 1-month contracts. Not only this, but Broadband Genie research from 2025 shows that customers signed up to local altnets can get 2x faster speeds for a third less!

• Find out more about altnets.

Alternatives to short-term broadband

• Mobile broadband: 4G/5G SIMs, dongles, or MiFi
• Tethering: use your phone as a hotspot
• Wi-Fi hotspots: temporary public access (slower and less secure)

Genie Tip!

Mobile broadband can sometimes be faster than a fixed line broadband connection if you have strong 5G signal.

Read more:

• 'How BT Hotspots work and where to find them'
• ‘Can mobile broadband replace home broadband’
• ‘Guide to mobile broadband speed’

How to switch to a short-term broadband deal

Tempted by these flexible broadband options? Here’s how to switch:

1. Check you’re out of contract with any current provider

2. Find a new short-term deal by using our deals checker and making use of our ‘contract length’ filters

3. Complete the checkout and set the start date

4. Follow the instructions and make sure you look out for any notifications  

Many of the broadband providers who offer short-term deals use different networks, so you can avoid downtime by overlapping services.

Find out ‘how to switch broadband provider’ and get an amazing deal in our separate guide.

Short-term student broadband deals

Unfortunately, unless you opt for a no contract broadband deal, there aren’t many options for deals that align exactly with term time.

For best value for money, we recommend looking into 12-month deals. You can often sign up to these without any upfront fees and without paying a premium.

Virgin Media has recently released dedicated 12-month student broadband deals, with prices starting from around £24 per month. Most of these options will be fast enough for shared homes with three or more people.

Find the best short-term deal for you

FAQs

• What are the best options for short-term broadband contracts?

  Look for 12-month deals, 1-month rolling deals or Pay As You Go mobile broadband. You will often pay more per month for shorter or no-contract deals.

• What's the cheapest broadband with No Contract?

  The Three 5G Hub is regularly the cheapest option for rolling monthly deals, with a price around £28 per month and no set-up fee. For a more accurate check, enter your address into our deals checker and set the ‘Contract Length’ filter to 1-month.

• Can I get a No Contract deal with Sky or Virgin Media?

  No. Virgin Media only offers 12-month deals for students. Otherwise, the standard for either provider is 24 months.

• How much notice do I need to cancel?

  Most broadband deals require 30 days' notice, but some 1-month contracts allow you to cancel any time before your next month starts.

• Is Pay As You Go broadband cheaper?

  PAYG broadband can end up expensive with regular use. 1-month rolling contracts or 12-month broadband plans are usually better value.

• Can I get No Contract broadband with no upfront costs?

  Yes - some providers like toob offer no upfront fees on rolling deals.

• Can I get a 6-month broadband contract?

  No. 6-month broadband contracts are rare. A 1-month rolling deal gives you similar flexibility without the need to commit.

• How do I switch to a short contract deal?

  Find and select a deal and complete the checkout process. If you’re out of contract with your previous supplier, you can make use of One Touch Switch for an easy transfer. Remember, you may be subject to a credit check, even for shorter deals.

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• Ofcom-accredited comparison site
• Over 20 years helping UK households find the best broadband
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