No-contract internet service providers

Find internet service without a contract

David Anders Last updated: July 12, 2021

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 allow you to pay as you go instead of signing a long-term 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.

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 06/03/21.

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 allow you to pay for internet service only when you need it. If you only need Wi-Fi access sporadically, are planning to move soon or don’t want to have to provide a credit check or deposit, a prepaid internet service may be the best option for you. 

Cox StraightUp Internet – A month-to-month Cox internet service requiring no contract 

• Pros: No equipment or installation fees 
• Cons: Expensive considering you only get 25 Mbps for $50/mo. 

Verizon Fios Prepaid – Nearly identical to Verizon’s standard fiber internet service

• Pros: Great speed plans (200, 400, 1,000 Mbps); pay month-to-month with no contract
• Cons: Credit check or deposit required; must purchase a Verizon router for $199.99 or use your own 

Xfinity Prepaid Internet – Pay week-to-week or month-to-month for 20 Mbps 

• Pros: Option to “refill” your Xfinity Prepaid Internet service in seven-day increments for $15 or 30-day increments for $45; no contract, credit check or deposit 
• Cons: $80 equipment fee, limited speeds

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 providers that offer pay as you go internet

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 – Best price for life guarantee

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

Our methodology

We compared all the major internet providers that offer a no-contract option. We considered pricing, speeds, data caps, equipment fees and availability in order to come up with the top 5 best contract-free internet options.

We compared all the major internet providers that offer a no-contract option. We considered pricing, speeds, data caps, equipment fees and availability in order to come up with the top 5 best contract-free internet options. We did not choose all the fastest options or are the cheapest options for our list, but instead chose five internet plans that offer distinct benefits in order to ensure all customer’s needs are met.

Learn more

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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

Edited by:

Robin Layton

Editor, Broadband Content

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