Contract broadband is something most of us have come to accept, these days. While it was pretty easy to sign up for a provider for a single month when it came to dial up internet, in the broadband world almost every big supplier seems to only offer broadband with a hefty contract length ranging from 12 months right up to two years. For some people, especially those in rented accommodation, the idea of having to pay for broadband for two years with no way out of the contract is a little scary, but there are other options available if you know where to look, and if you compare broadband phone and tv packages online you can find out which companies are offering the best deals for the shortest contract lengths overall.

The two most well known fixed line providers to offer flexible contracts are PlusNet and Be. PlusNet offer a truly free contract option for both of the company's broadband packages, which allow you to leave the company with only ten days notice and with no extra charges. You do have to pay for the companies router if you got one free at the start of your connection, but if you have your own router already you can even avoid those charges, too. While Be Broadband don't offer truly zero contract broadband, they do allow customers to sign up for both their Pro and Unlimited packages for 3 months at a time, which offers quite a bit of flexibility compared to the usual 12 months.

Then there's the option of mobile broadband, which also offers no contract broadband through a Pay as you Go (PAYG) system that operates in a similar way to a mobile phone. However, this service requires you to pay up front for a dongle to access the service, and speeds and bandwidth limitations make mobile broadband a poor choice for a primary broadband supplier unless your internet usage is very light.

It's also worth noting that whatever you choose, no-contract broadband is almost always more expensive than a contract deal. Generally, the longer you stick with a contract, the cheaper your broadband will be overall on a monthly basis. This means that often if know you'll only want your broadband connection for 10 or 11 months, it's worth getting a 12 month deal and just paying the extra for the months you won't use than it is going for a more expensive month by month deal. If you know exactly how long you'll be using broadband at your property, it's worth doing the maths first.

At the same time, a lengthier contract isn't always a good deal. While opting for a two year contract will give you access to the best monthly deals available right now, it also means a fairly massive commitment to a single supplier. A lot can happen in the broadband world within 2 years and you'll miss out on a lot of deals and new technology if you get stuck on the same provider for too long. Remember, broadband contracts can be very difficult to escape from, so if you choose a dodgy provider and a two year contract you could end up having to pay a lot of money if you want to leave early!