Google Fiber – Finest total ISP (if you may get it)
- Costs: $70 – $100 per thirty days
- Speeds: 1,000 – 2,000Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, no contracts, tools included
Astound Broadband – Finest promo pricing
- Costs: $20 – $80 per thirty days
- Speeds: 100 – 1,500Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, low promo costs, no contracts
CenturyLink – Finest for DSL worth
- Costs: $55 per thirty days
- Speeds: 10 – 140Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, no contracts
Spectrum Web – Finest no-contract cable web
- Costs: $50 – $80 per thirty days
- Speeds: 300 – 1,000Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, easy pricing, no contracts, modem included, free entry to nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots
Kinetic by Windstream – Finest various for rural areas
- Costs: $40 – $70 per thirty days
- Speeds: 100 – 1,000Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, no contracts
AT&T – Finest for fiber protection
- Costs: $55 – $250 per thirty days
- Speeds: 300 – 5,000Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, no contracts, tools included
Verizon Fios – Finest for buyer satisfaction
- Costs: $50 – $120 per thirty days
- Speeds: 300 – 2,000Mbps
- Key Information: Limitless knowledge, no contracts, free tools with gig service
When you’re available in the market for a brand new web service supplier and like one which gained’t ask you to signal on the dotted line, we’ve acquired you coated.
What’s one of the best no-contract web supplier total?
CNET’s choose for one of the best total no-contract web is Google Fiber. With constant speeds (two plans of 1,000 and a pair of,000 megabits per second out there in all serviceable areas and even quicker speeds in choose areas) and no tools charges, it blows the competitors out of the water. That individual ISP has restricted availability throughout the nation. When you’re not in one of many 19 states wherein Google Fiber operates, don’t be concerned: You may nonetheless be in nice form should you can entry AT&T Fiber or any of the opposite suppliers we listing under.
One little bit of enterprise first: Simply because you do not have to signal a time period settlement would not at all times imply you are getting one of the best worth. Some suppliers will put a premium on their pay-as-you-go plans whereas their contract charges can be less expensive. To assist preserve your prices in perspective, we famous the cost per Mbps for every listed no-contract web supplier. It is a wonderful technique to examine apples to apples.
Finest no-contract web service suppliers of 2024
1,000 – 2,000 Mbps
$70 – $100 per thirty days
Our take – At first look, Google Fiber plans appear costly. There are 5 choices: the most affordable at $70 per thirty days and the most costly at $150 month-to-month. These plans provide speeds from 1 gigabit (1,000Mbps) to eight gigabits (8,000Mbps), so the precise value per Mbps is 7 and a pair of cents, respectively, which is superb. You are getting a quick connection to your cash. On high of that, your tools is included in your month-to-month worth, which is a good deal.
1,000 – 2,000 Mbps
$70 – $100 per thirty days
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per thirty days
Our take – This cable web supplier boasts among the greatest pricing out of the gates. It has fairly a spread of pricing throughout its numerous markets — together with Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York Metropolis, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Francisco, Seattle and others. Nonetheless, it has an aggressively aggressive common value of 8 cents per Mbps for the promo worth. In lots of markets, you will discover a 300Mbps plan for $25 per thirty days. That is glorious. That tough-to-beat worth for cable web falls nearer to the pack after your introductory interval, as the common value jumps to 57 cents per Mbps. You may be hard-pressed to discover a higher worth to your preliminary years of service.
100 – 1,500 Mbps
$20 – $80 per thirty days
10 – 140 Mbps
$55 per thirty days
Our take – There isn’t any want to fret about cancellation charges on any CenturyLink plans — none of them include any contractual commitments by any means. The worth is fairly robust with CenturyLink, too — the corporate’s DSL plan rings in at a worth of $1 per Mbps, which is difficult to beat amongst DSL choices.
10 – 140 Mbps
$55 per thirty days
300 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per thirty days
Our take – Spectrum is as easy as you may get when cable web suppliers. There are three plans: 300Mbps, 500Mbps and 1 Gig, and all are freed from contracts and knowledge caps. Throughout all three, the common value per Mbps within the first yr is 14 cents, which is sort of good for cable web. Maybe extra spectacular, the second-year leap is not too steep (for an ISP, anyway), as much as a mean of 19 cents per Mbps.
300 – 1,000 Mbps
$50 – $80 per thirty days
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per thirty days
Our take – In lots of suburban and rural areas the place it typically competes with satellite tv for pc suppliers (most of which require a two-year contract), Kinetic by Windstream units itself aside by ditching time period agreements altogether. You will get both DSL (a majority of its footprint) or fiber service (at the moment about one-fifth of its community) for a mean value of fifty cents per Mbps in the course of the first yr and 56 cents per Mbps afterward.
100 – 1,000 Mbps
$40 – $70 per thirty days
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per thirty days
Our take – Out there to roughly a 3rd of its footprint, AT&T fiber plans present glorious worth. There are 5 completely different plan choices (300, 500 and 940Mbps, in addition to 2 and 5 gigabits) ranging in worth from $55 to $225 per thirty days, with no knowledge cap. Altogether, AT&T’s fiber plans common simply over 10 cents per Mbps, which is stable, however much more spectacular are the multi-gigabit plans, which common out to underneath 7 cents per Mbps, which is superb.
300 – 5,000 Mbps
$55 – $250 per thirty days
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per thirty days
Our take – Verizon Fios, the corporate’s fiber-optic web choice, would not require contracts for its residence web plans. Moreover, it scores excessive buyer satisfaction marks in each ISP survey. It nabbed the highest spot in a current broadband survey and at all times does effectively within the annual American Buyer Satisfaction Index report, scoring 75 out of 100 factors, seven factors above the business common. Verizon Fios did equally effectively within the 2023 J.D. Energy ISP examine by grabbing the very best rating within the East area for the tenth consecutive yr.
300 – 2,000 Mbps
$50 – $120 per thirty days
Further no-contract web suppliers to think about
- Cox Communications: There’s flexibility right here, nevertheless it comes at a value. Cox would not require you to signal a contract to obtain web service, nevertheless it does encourage prospects to signal a one-year settlement, which takes $10 off the month-to-month invoice. When you conform to the contract, you will pay a mean of 53 cents per Mbps, whereas those that go on the time period settlement should pay a mean of 67 cents per Mbps. Cox additionally provides StraightUp Pay as you go Web, which offers the simplicity of 1 plan (100Mbps obtain) with all tools, set up and taxes included within the worth. For that streamlined strategy, you will pay 50 cents per Mbps, which is best than the common of all different plans Cox provides however would not provide you with any choices for quicker obtain speeds.
- Frontier Communications: You will not have to fret about binding contracts should you can entry Frontier Web (DSL) or Frontier Fiber. Along with that, tools charges are included within the month-to-month worth, too. Clients of Frontier Fiber will see a mean value of seven cents per Mbps for first-year pricing, whereas DSL prospects can count on to pay $2.17 per Mbps.
- Mediacom: Although you will have to deal with knowledge caps, Mediacom’s Xtream web alternatives don’t require you to signal a long-term contract. Throughout all 4 plans, you’ll be able to count on to pay a mean of 28 cents per Mbps throughout your first yr; after that, the common value per Mbps jumps to 43 cents. It ought to be famous that its quickest plans (Web 300, 600 and the Gig plan) have a further scheduled enhance after 24 months.
- Metronet: This Midwest fiber-optic web supplier serves 16 states throughout the nation. No time period contracts are required for any plans, nor are there extra tools charges. The promo costs are first rate, particularly for its gigabit plan, which is a nifty 6 cents per Mbps. The common value per Mbps of its common charges is 22 cents, which is honest, however nothing particular.
- Optimum: All Optimum plans function no knowledge caps, no contracts and among the greatest promo pricing for cable web. Your first-year pricing will function a mean value per Mbps of slightly below 12 cents, probably the most inexpensive charges we have seen for that web connection kind. After 12 months, the common value per Mbps jumps to 46 cents, which is middle-of-the-road.
- Rise Broadband: This fastened wi-fi web supplier contains a service with obtain speeds from 25Mbps to 1,000Mbps. Whereas many of the plans embrace limitless knowledge, the 2 cheaper choices both include a 250GB knowledge cap or require a further $10 for limitless knowledge. The common value per Mbps within the first yr is $1.40, rising to $1.70 afterward.
- Sparklight: This ISP is a bit uncommon amongst cable web suppliers in that it would not play the sport of attempting to entice you with a promo worth that then jumps up after 12 months. As a substitute, what you pay now — a mean value per Mbps of 19 cents — is basically what you will be paying later. It does low cost its Freedom Join 600Mbps plan for the primary three months of service. Additionally, Sparklight enforces knowledge caps, so there’s the potential for added charges should you exceed your month-to-month limits.
- Starlink: Elon Musk’s budding web service is exclusive amongst satellite internet providers as a result of it would not require a contract. Additionally, the common value per Mbps of its commonplace plan (100Mbps) is simply over $1, which is superb for that connection kind. The premium plan, which provides 250Mbps, knocks the common value per Mbps all the way down to 54 cents. That is fairly spectacular for an web know-how recognized to fall on the pricier facet. Starlink nonetheless requires a little bit of a dedication: you should make a one-time tools buy of $599 (or a large $2,500 should you’re buying the premium plan). That is a large chunk of change that almost all cable and fiber web prospects get to keep away from. This may very well be a digital lifeline for rural regions of the country that don’t have access to those connections.
- Starry Internet: This fastened wi-fi supplier provides an answer just like 5G home internet, utilizing millimeter-wave know-how. It options no contracts, and the worth contains tools, set up prices and limitless knowledge. The common value per Mbps for Starry Web is an affordable 25 cents.
- T-Mobile Home Internet: Much like Starry, T-Cell Dwelling Web options every part underneath one worth, with no contracts required. All tools, set up charges and taxes are included at $60 a month (or $40 per thirty days for eligible cellular prospects). The associated fee per Mbps is tough to pin down since speeds will fluctuate by handle. T-Cell claims most prospects will common between 72 to 245Mbps obtain speeds. When CNET tested T-Mobile Home Internet, we hit a most of 132Mbps, and we have additionally obtained anecdotal proof of shoppers hitting speeds of as much as 300Mbps in some areas. In the meantime, per T-Cell, it is attainable some may doubtlessly max out at 72Mbps. In different phrases, your mileage could fluctuate — but when your handle has a powerful connection to a close-by cell tower, T-Cell may very well be effectively price a shot.
- Verizon 5G Home Internet: Verizon 5G Dwelling Web (its 5G fastened wi-fi web service) can be squishy as a result of its obtain speeds, starting from 50 to 1,000Mbps, aren’t assured. Assuming the common of 300Mbps, the common value per Mbps can be 17 cents. Verizon 5G Dwelling Web is an all-in worth that features taxes, charges and tools.
- WOW: WideOpenWest, which prefers to go by WOW, goals to wow its prospects by requiring no contracts and really aggressive beginning charges. This cable web supplier provides 5 completely different plan choices, with a extremely aggressive common value of simply over 12 cents per Mbps for its promo worth and 21 cents after the primary yr of service.
- Xfinity: Sadly, Xfinity requires prospects to signal a contract to get its lowest worth on web service. Generally, and for some plans, it even requires a two-year dedication. Xfinity does provide a Pay as you go Web choice that requires no contract and offers you 30 days of web service for $45. No deposit is required, and no charges, however you should make a one-time modem buy of $35. The utmost obtain velocity provided is 50Mbps, that means this service has a mean value of 90 cents per Mbps, a lot larger than the 25 to 39 cents per Mbps different Xfinity prospects can pay.
- Ziply Fiber: This firm started providing service in 2020 after buying Frontier Communications networks in 4 Northwest states. It goals to simplify the buying course of by skipping credit score checks, knowledge caps and time period agreements. It options DSL and fiber plans, with the common value per Mbps at 25 cents for the promo interval and 40 cents after the primary yr.
Elements to think about when selecting a no-contract ISP
You may wish to take a look at the price per megabit per second of the supplier’s plans to raised perceive whether or not you are getting a superb deal. Whereas it is incredible to keep away from having to signal a contract (and escape the looming risk of early termination charges), you continue to wish to do your homework and ensure you’re not paying a premium for the liberty of not having a time period settlement.
Additionally, look into the kind of web connection provided by the ISP. Whereas some households — particularly these in underserved or rural areas — could not have many choices, the overall rule is that satellite tv for pc web is best than DSL, cable internet is best than satellite tv for pc and fiber internet trumps all of them. 5G home internet, which has made important strides, can be changing into a reputable choice for a lot of nationwide.
How we evaluated one of the best no-contract suppliers
Web service suppliers are quite a few and regional. In contrast to the most recent smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally check each ISP in a given metropolis. What’s our strategy? We begin by researching the pricing, availability and velocity data, drawing on our personal historic ISP knowledge, the supplier websites and mapping data from the Federal Communications Fee at FCC.gov.
It doesn’t finish there: We go to the FCC’s web site to examine our knowledge and guarantee we take into account each ISP that gives service in an space. We additionally enter native addresses on supplier web sites to search out particular choices for residents. We take a look at sources, together with the American Buyer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Energy, to judge how completely happy prospects are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and costs are topic to frequent modifications; all data supplied is correct as of publication.
As soon as we now have this localized data, we ask three essential questions:
- Does the supplier provide entry to fairly quick web speeds?
- Do prospects get first rate worth for what they’re paying?
- Are prospects pleased with their service?
Whereas the reply to these questions is commonly layered and sophisticated, the suppliers who come closest to “sure” on all three are those we advocate.
To discover our course of in additional depth, go to our how we test ISPs web page.
No-contract web suppliers recap
Generally, it looks like you should signal away your firstborn youngster — or at the least the following two years of your life — to get internet service in your area. It is easy to be swayed by slimmed-down introductory costs, however lurking behind that first-year cheer is usually a hefty invoice enhance and unrelenting further charges should you dare change your thoughts or (shudder!) have to move.
Fortunately, that is altering. Competitors is brewing amongst internet service providers as we grow to be extra depending on broadband connections. That is one purpose why some ISPs have dropped their contract necessities. It’s possible you’ll even discover internet deals providing to purchase you out of your contract to get you to modify. That is excellent news for anybody trying to successfully discover their residence web choices.
No-contract web service FAQs
Can I get Wi-Fi at residence and not using a contract?
We get this query very often, as many assume they have to pay for Wi-Fi individually from their web service. That is not the case, usually. You typically get Wi-Fi while you enroll with an web supplier, as many will give you a gateway. That is a mix of a modem (which connects your own home to the web) and a router (which takes that web sign from the modem and broadcasts it wirelessly to the opposite units in your house). Even when your ISP solely offers the modem, you’ll be able to hire a router or use your personal. If you may get an web connection at your handle with out signing a contract, it is best to have choices to have Wi-Fi at your own home with out committing to a contract.
What’s the greatest no-contract web service supplier?
It might sound like a cop-out, however one of the best no-contract web supplier for you is the one which’s serviceable at your handle. As we have talked about many instances in our ISP opinions, all issues being equal, if you may get fiber web at your location, that is the way in which to go. It will provide the greatest efficiency of all of the web connection varieties — you will get symmetrical obtain and add speeds — and can typically be essentially the most inexpensive by way of value per megabit per second. Google Fiber, which incorporates all tools prices and charges in your month-to-month charge, is the most affordable, averaging simply over 4 cents per Mbps. Its availability pales in comparison with the fiber plans of AT&T, for instance. When you dwell in one of many metro markets the place it provides service, Google Fiber is a straightforward selection, however AT&T Fiber is likely to be everybody else’s high choice.
Can I get web with out paying upfront?
Sadly, not one of the main web suppliers provide buy-now-pay-later plans. If eligible, you may get your broadband service paid for by the Affordable Connectivity Program. The ACP goals to assist low-income households afford the web connectivity all houses now want, offering a $30 month-to-month low cost (and as much as $75 for households on tribal lands) off an web plan. When you qualify, you may certainly get web with out paying upfront. Observe: The ACP not accepts new candidates and will run out of funds by Might 2024.
