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No-contract internet service providers

Looking for internet service without the long-term commitment? There are a few no-contract internet providers and prepaid internet plans that may be available in your area.

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Find internet service without a contract

David Anders Last updated: February 1, 2021

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Service term agreements are common when signing up for home services such as internet and TV, but you don’t always have to commit to one. 

Depending on the available internet providers in your area, you could have internet options from providers that require no contract. Opting for an internet provider that doesn’t require a contract could make it easier to cancel or transfer service to a new address without being hit with early termination fees.

Which contract-free internet service is best?

Recommended contract-free internet providers

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Last updated 01/29/21.

Most of the internet providers listed above are truly contract-free. Some, however, may require a contract when bundling services or to qualify for the cheapest internet pricing. 

AT&T, for example, does not require a contract for internet service, but if you bundle with AT&T TV or DIRECTV, you’ll have a two-year term agreement for the TV service.

Xfinity is another provider that may or may not require a contract. In some regions, mostly in the West and Northeast, Xfinity requires a one-year service agreement to get the lowest price on their cheapest plan, but not for other plans (other than Gigabit Pro). Xfinity service areas in the Central and South regions require a one- or two-year service agreement with all plans in order to get the lowest introductory rate.

Can I prepay for internet service?

Cox, Verizon Fios and Xfinity offer prepaid internet service that requires no contract, credit check or deposit.

  • Cox StraightUp Internet – Prepaid internet from Cox is month-to-month internet service requiring no contract. It’s a bit pricey at $50/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps, but there are no equipment or installation fees. 
  • Verizon Fios Prepaid – Verizon’s prepaid service is similar to their standard fiber internet service. With Verizon Fios Prepaid, you can choose their 200 Mbps, 400 Mbps or Gigabit plan and pay month-to-month with no contract, credit check or deposit required. The only catch is you have to either purchase a router for $199.99 or use your own.
  • Xfinity Prepaid Internet – After an initial fee of $80 for your equipment and first 30 days of service, Xfinity Prepaid Internet lets you “refill” your service in seven-day increments for $15 or 30-day increments for $45. The service comes with speeds up to 20 Mbps and requires no contract, credit check or deposit.

Expert tip: Prepaid internet cards are not recommended for home internet

You may come across prepaid internet cards at your local retailer or gas station, but these cards are intended more for mobile data than home internet use. Prepaid internet cards require you to already have some sort of service connection, such as mobile service or a Wi-Fi hotspot device, but are not typically compatible with standard home internet connections.

Top 5 recommended internet services without a contract

Our recommendations for contract-free internet service includes a mix of prepaid services and traditional internet services that simply require no contract. Keep in mind that not all providers or their contract-free plans will be available in all areas.

Verizon Fios – Best overall

Verizon Fios requires no contract with their standard or prepaid internet services. In addition to being contract-free, both services also come with unlimited data and fast download and upload speeds over a 100% fiber optic connection. 

As long as you don’t mind the initial credit check, we’d recommend opting for standard Verizon Fios internet service. This will help keep initial costs low as you won’t be required to purchase a Verizon modem/router or supply your own. 

If you’d rather avoid the credit check, Verizon Fios Prepaid is still an enticing option with the same pricing and speed tiers as standard Verizon Fios service. You may have higher initial costs with this service, though, as you’ll be required to supply your own compatible router or purchase one from Verizon for around $200.

Learn more about Verizon internet

Spectrum – Best availability and contract buyout

Like with Verizon Fios, all standard Spectrum internet plans and bundles are contract-free. Spectrum also comes with fast max download speeds (200-940 Mbps depending on the plan you choose), no data cap and a low monthly equipment fee. And as the second-largest cable internet provider in the U.S., Spectrum is the most widely-available provider that does not require a contract.

Need out of your contract with your current provider? Spectrum has a contract buyout offer available to new customers worth up to $500 in bill credit. You’ll have to sign up for a qualifying Spectrum internet and TV bundle to receive this offer, however.

Learn more about Spectrum internet

Cox StraightUp Internet – Best for simple pricing

For a prepaid internet plan with simple month-to-month pricing and no added fees, consider Cox StraightUp Internet. The plan requires no contract, credit check or deposit, plus you won’t have any added fees for equipment or installation. 

At $50/mo. for speeds up to 25 Mbps, Cox StraightUp Internet isn’t necessarily a better value than you’ll find with other contract-free internet services, but the simple pricing and setup provides a quick and easy way to sign up and pay for internet.

Standard Cox internet plans require a one-year term agreement for service.

Learn more about Cox internet

CenturyLink offers two types of internet service: DSL and fiber optic, both of which require no contract. If CenturyLink Fiber is available in your area, we’d recommend it as the contract-free service comes with speeds up to 940 Mbps starting at $65/mo. (but no price for life guarantee).

While CenturyLink DSL doesn’t offer the speeds their fiber service can, it does come with a price for life guarantee on all plans up to 100 Mbps. So even though you aren’t required to make any commitment for CenturyLink DSL service, CenturyLink commits to not raising the price on you for as long as you have the plan.

Learn more about CenturyLink internet

Starry Internet – Best for renters

Starry Internet is a new fixed wireless internet service currently available in select parts of Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. with plans to expand service in 51 markets in coming years. 

Starry Internet works by beaming service to buildings, not individual residences, so those moving into an apartment complex are most likely to be eligible for service. Setup is simple and no contract is required, making this an ideal service for renters, especially those who are renting month-to-month.

Learn more about Starry Internet

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Our take on contract-free internet services

Contract-free internet services are convenient, but a contract shouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker when choosing an internet service. Consider the internet providers and plans available in your area and find those with the speeds and pricing you’re looking for, then compare contract details. You’ll likely find many of the top providers, including AT&T, Spectrum and Verizon Fios are contract-free anyway. 

If a contract is a concern, perhaps because you plan to move before the term agreement expires, there are great prepaid options from Cox, Verizon Fios and Xfinity. You might also be able to find regional providers such as Starry Internet that essentially offer month-to-month service for a decent price.

No-contract internet provider FAQs

What is prepaid internet?

Prepaid internet lets you pay for service either month-to-month or by “refilling” your service for a set number of days. Prepaid service typically comes with slower speeds or higher initial costs than traditional internet service, but allows customers to avoid contracts, credit checks or deposits.The top prepaid internet providers are Cox, Verizon Fios and Xfinity.

Most providers allow you to cancel service, but if still under contract, you may be required to pay an early termination fee (ETF). The ETF may be a flat fee or variable depending on how many months are left on your contract. As long as you pay the ETF, cancelling your internet service agreement early should have no impact on your credit, but failure to pay the fee could hurt your credit if the internet provider turns your account over to a collection agency.

If you’re considering switching internet services but are stuck in a contract, consider Spectrum or Verizon Fios. Both providers offer a contract buyout credit up to $500.

Most internet providers require a contract to guarantee they will recoup the cost of supplying internet to your address. For example, satellite internet providers HughesNet and Viasat both require a two-year contract. Considering the costs of equipment and installation (which is typically waived for new customers) these providers need more of a guarantee the customer will keep the service long enough for them to recoup their cost of supplying service.

If you already have a compatible router, the Verizon Fios 200 Mbps Prepaid plan is likely the best no-contract plan. Starting at $39.99/mo. for speeds up to 200 Mbps, the Verizon Fios 200 Mbps Prepaid plan is an excellent no-contract option that also requires no credit check or deposit.

For those who don’t have the necessary equipment for Verizon Fios Prepaid, Spectrum Internet is a great no-contract option with speeds up to 200 Mbps starting at $49.99/mo. Equipment rental fees are just $5/mo. compared to the $199.99 initial equipment fee for Verizon Fios Prepaid.

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David Anders

Written by:

David Anders

Senior Writer, Broadband Content

David joined the Allconnect team in 2017, specializing in broadband and TV content. His work has been referenced by a variety of sources, including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. As a Senior Writer, David is motivate… Read more

Robin Layton

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband & Wireless Content

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