Broadband Guide

Pay as you go broadband

Updated: Tuesday 17 January, 2012

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you are looking for pay as you go broadband, you will find that the shortest home broadband contracts are available from O2, Plusnet and BE. Compare the UK's shortest broadband contracts, or check our guide to pay as you go mobile broadband instead.

Pay as you go home broadband

No Internet Service Provider in the UK offers broadband on a pay as you basis. However, short contracts are available from BE Broadband, O2 and Plusnet. Broadband contracts available from other providers, such as BT, Virgin Media or Sky typically start from 12-months up.

• BE (www.BeThere.co.uk) offers a 3-month contract, ideal for students and people living in rented accommodation.
• O2 (www.O2.co.uk) offers 30-day rolling contracts with all of its broadband packages.
• Plusnet (www.Plus.net) offers a genuine "no contract option" with only 10 days notice required and no penalties however you have to pay up front for your router.

Short contracts typically come with highly monthly rates and connection fees - flexibility comes at a premium to longer term contracts. The best deals are typically available on longer term 18 and 24-month contracts, so it may be worth taking a look at these too.

Use our broadband comparison calculator to find the latest pay as you go, no contract and mobile broadband deals, as well as the cheapest regular pay monthly home broadband.

Pay as you go mobile broadband

Most pay as you go broadband packages are now offered by mobile phone providers in the form of mobile broadband - which means you can take it with you wherever you go. Once you have bought your dongle, which allows you to connect to the internet, you simply pay per day or week of use, or opt for a full 30 days - with costs starting from as little as £2 per day with O2 Mobile Broadband (www.O2.co.uk) and T-Mobile Broadband (www.T-Mobile.co.uk).

Pay monthly broadband costs are at an all-time low, so it’s never been cheaper to get online. However, if you don’t want to commit to a 12, 18 or even 24 month contract, you could go for a no contract broadband package.

Click here to read more about mobile broadband.