The Best No-Contract Internet Providers

Editor's Note: This story comes from CableTV.com.

Our top no-contract internet providers all have low prices and allow you to bow out whenever you want.

Optimum offers fast packages, while Astound Broadband Powered by RCN and AT&T have affordable fiber internet plans.

And though CenturyLink and T-Mobile aren’t our first picks for no-contract internet, they may have some affordably priced, gigabit-speed internet in your area.

Read on for an in-depth look at the no-contract internet plans these providers offer, and find the most flexible internet plan for you.

Best no-contract internet plans

Here’s an overview of the plans, prices, max download speeds, and data caps:

• Optimum: $40-$180/month, 300-5,000 Mbps, Unlimited
• Astound Broadband: $20-$70/month, 100-1,500 Mbps, Unlimited
• AT&T: $55-$250/month, 75-5,000 Mbps, 1 TB-unlimited
• CenturyLink: $30-$75/month 100-940 Mbps Unlimited
• T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: $50/month, 72-245 Mbps, Unlimited

With Optimum, you’ll have affordable no-contract cable internet plans that come with excellent minimum download speeds. Although Astound Broadband has limited availability, it still offers some of the cheapest internet plans around.

AT&T and CenturyLink have excellent fiber internet plans. CenturyLink also has decent, if occasionally inconsistent, DSL networks, while T-Mobile has great pricing and inconsistent availability. With all three of those providers, you’ll also have peace of mind since there are no scheduled price increases.

Editor’s choice: Optimum

• Price: $40-$80/month
• Download speed: 300-5,000 Mbps
• Data cap: None

Pros

• Contract buyout up to $500
• Affordable price
• Reputation for reliable online gaming
• Free equipment

Cons

• Limited availability

More About Optimum

If you want no-contract internet because you hate to be tied down, Optimum offers tons of freedom and great download speeds for the price.

Optimum will give you up to $500 to escape your current contract and switch to its plans. You won’t have to worry about going over a data allowance — something that can cost you a lot in hidden fees with other providers.

Optimum is also one of the best ISPs for gaming, thanks to its low latency and jitter. Now, if only this author lived in the greater New York region where you can get this deal, their headshot ratio would be peachy keen.

We’d recommend the Optimum 300 plan, which offers excellent 300 Mbps download speeds for only $40 per month. It’s a great deal on fast speeds, since the average internet cost is $50 per month.

Best value: Astound Broadband Powered by RCN

• Price: $200-$700/month
• Download speed: 100-1,200 Mbps
• Data cap: None

Pros

• Incredibly affordable prices for gig speeds
• No data caps

Cons

• Prices that vary by area
• Limited availability

More About Astound

Astound Broadband offers internet service in several large cities, and while its package costs vary by location, its gig plan is a steal wherever you live.

It’s usually in the ballpark of $50-$60 monthly, and we’d recommend it if your neighborhood has Astound Broadband coverage.

With Astound Broadband, you also don’t have to worry about going over a data cap while you’re cruising with such high internet speeds. With Astound Broadband’s unlimited data, you can stream videos to your heart’s content.

Astound Broadband’s biggest issue is its extremely limited availability, with coverage in only six cities (Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania).

If you don’t live in an Astound Broadband area, but you want those fast speeds, you’ll be out of luck.

Fastest: AT&T Fiber

• Price: $55-$250/month
• Download speed: 75-5,000 Mbps
• Data cap: 1 TB

Pros

• Excellent internet plan prices
• Fiber internet support

Cons

• Limited fiber availability

More About AT&T Fiber

AT&T is one of the biggest ISPs to adopt no-contract pricing, and we’re always fans of simpler monthly bills. AT&T also finished third out of 10 ISPs on our annual customer satisfaction survey, so you won’t have to worry about serious customer service problems.

If you’re in an area with AT&T Fiber coverage, we’d recommend AT&T’s fiber internet plan. AT&T 5 Gig Internet is the fastest fiber internet plan from a nationwide ISP, and you’ll get equal upload and download speeds of up to 5,000 Mbps on a wired connection.

We always recommend fiber internet when it’s available because you’ll get best-in-class performance compared to cable or DSL internet. AT&T’s 300 Mbps and 500 Mbps fiber internet plans offer excellent performance for their prices and they’re great fits for most households.

As of August 2023, AT&T no longer offers their DSL plans. If you still want AT&T internet but don’t live in an AT&T fiber area, check out AT&T Internet Air.

At the same price as AT&T’s old DSL plan and with nearly the same download and upload speeds, Internet Air offers up a solid alternative — if you’re okay with slow speeds.

Cheapest: CenturyLink

Price: $30-$70/month

Download speed: 100-940 Mbps

Data cap: None

Pros

• Simple flat-rate pricing
• Excellent fiber internet plans

Cons

• Unpredictable DSL availability
• Lackluster customer service

More About CenturyLink

With CenturyLink you get simple pricing and great fiber internet plans, along with a dated DSL network and spotty fiber availability.

CenturyLink charges $50 per month for its Simply Unlimited Internet DSL plan and $30 to $70 monthly for fiber internet coverage.

We’d recommend CenturyLink’s fiber internet plan if it’s available at your address. The plan offers excellent maximum upload and download speeds of 940 Mbps, along with a free combo modem/wireless router.

But if CenturyLink hasn’t installed fiber in your neighborhood yet, you’ll be limited to the ISP’s DSL plan. As with most DSL networks, CenturyLink’s Simply Unlimited Internet plan has hit-or-miss options because your download speed depends on CenturyLink’s support in your neighborhood.

Based on your address, you could be paying $50 for a 100 Mbps plan or a 15 Mbps DSL plan. We’d only recommend CenturyLink DSL if you don’t need super-fast internet and qualify for at least CenturyLink’s 40 Mbps DSL plan.

Also, CenturyLink landed well behind AT&T in our annual customer satisfaction survey. If you run into technical problems, be prepared for longer customer wait times (or learn how to troubleshoot your CenturyLink connection).

Most flexible: T-Mobile 5G Home Internet

• Price: $50/month
• Download speed: 72-245 Mbps
• Data cap: None

Pros

• Unlimited data
• No contracts

Cons

• Inconsistent availability
• Variable download speeds

More About T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s home internet service uses its 5G cellular data network to deliver internet to your home.

We love T-Mobile’s straightforward pricing, as its no-contract internet service costs only $50 monthly. If you bundle it with an eligible T-Mobile plan, the carrier drops an additional $20 off the monthly price tag.

But as with other 5G internet services, download speeds can vary depending on T-Mobile’s 5G coverage and network traffic in your area.

And unlike cable or fiber internet providers, T-Mobile’s availability varies widely depending on your address.

What to look for in no-contract internet providers

When you’re looking for a no-contract internet provider, you’re likely to run into some jargon. Let’s break down what these phrases mean.

Download speeds

Download speed refers to how much information you can download every second. The higher the number, the faster your browser can open a webpage.

The FCC set 25 Mbps download speed as the standard for broadband internet. But if you have smart home devices or a lot of people using the internet in your home, you’ll want more than the broadband standard.

A plan with a 100 Mbps download speed is more than enough for most households, but you can get plans as fast as 1,000 Mbps.

Upload speeds

Upload speed refers to how much information you can upload every second. The higher the number, the faster you can upload pictures and videos to the internet.

The FCC set 3 Mbps upload speed as the standard for broadband internet.

Unless you’re uploading large pictures and videos to the internet (or a lot of little ones at once), you probably won’t need more than that.

Data cap

A data cap — or data allowance, as many ISPs call it so it doesn’t seem like a bad thing — is how much information your ISP allows you to upload and download every month.

There are usually penalties for going over data caps, such as fines or slower internet speeds.

But most data caps are about 1,000 GB (or 1 TB), which is more than three times what the average U.S. household needs.

Unless a data cap is under 500 GB, you probably won’t have to worry about it very often.

Prepaid internet plans

Providers including Xfinity and Cox have launched prepaid internet plans along with their standard contract internet plans.

Prepaid internet plans offer no-contract flexibility, so you’ll pay month by month and won’t be locked into a lengthy service agreement.

But we’d recommend prepaid internet plans only if your household has basic internet needs like web browsing or checking emails.

Prepaid plans typically come with low download speeds meant for households that need internet on a budget.

For instance, Xfinity Prepaid Internet has weekly and monthly pricing, but the plan comes with one 50 Mbps option. At this speed, your internet will slow down if more than a few people are streaming videos or downloading files.

Our final take

Many ISPs will let you dodge contracts, so take advantage of this if you’re not staying in one place for long.

Optimum, Astound Broadband, T-Mobile, AT&T, and CenturyLink all offer excellent internet packages without locking you into long-term service agreements.

When you’re shopping for no-contract internet providers, look for ISPs that offer competitive download speeds of at least 100 Mbps and price guarantees that last longer than 12 months.

Let’s tackle some no-contract internet FAQ next.

What is the lowest monthly rate for no-contract internet and home phone service in Miami Beach?

There are no advertised no-contract deals for internet and phone in Miami Beach.

But if you’re willing to get a contract, local provider Atlantic Broadband offers the best deal — 50 Mbps download internet and unlimited local and long-distance phone for $49.99 per month.

How much does no-contract internet cost?

No-contract internet deals from major providers cost between $22.00 and $79.99 per month. Your rate will vary based on your location, provider, and plan.

What is the best no-contract internet?

Optimum’s high speeds, low prices, and unlimited data make it the best no-contract internet.

You’ll get internet access that supports your home Wi-Fi with a no-contract plan. If you make the switch from a competing provider, Optimum will even help buy out your old contract.

How can I get no-contract internet?

Go for a provider that advertises its plans as contract-free.

If you don’t have a no-contract internet provider in your area, try calling your available ISPs. They may allow you to get a no-contract plan for an extra charge.