NBN plans with a free modem, no upfront cost or no contract: what still ties you in

Which NBN plans come with a free modem?

A "free" modem usually means free if you stay. TPG and iiNet supply one on all their fixed-line plans and charge $200 if you leave within 24 months, unless you return it in good working order within 21 days; both charge $10 for delivery. Vodafone and Optus build the modem's cost into the plan and credit it back each month you stay, so leaving early means paying the remaining amount (Vodafone credits it back if you return the modem within 30 days). Telstra includes its Smart Modem on plans with a phone line and asks for it back, or $200, if you cancel within 24 months.

Superloop's free modem comes only with selected plans, such as Power Home 100/40, Creator, Megaspeed and Lightspeed, still carries a $25 delivery charge, and costs $9 for each month left if you leave within 24 months. Tangerine's offer is different: its NetComm CF40 modem is $0 outright while stock lasts and is yours to keep, with no stay condition stated.

Can you bring your own modem (BYO)?

Yes, with every provider in the table, and with Exetel and Kogan Internet you must. Bringing your own is the simplest way to stay free to leave, and it costs nothing upfront: none of these providers charges a set-up fee for a standard connection with a BYO modem. TPG also offers a $100 rebate to new data-only customers who buy a modem elsewhere.

The catches are the home phone and support. TPG's and iiNet's home phone services need their modem, Telstra's phone line needs the Telstra modem and Telstra won't troubleshoot others, Vodafone and Optus don't add a home phone to a BYO service, and Kogan Internet's plans are data only. On FTTN and FTTB the modem must be VDSL2-compatible, and the fastest plans need a modem that can handle the speed.

How no-contract internet plans work

On a month-to-month plan you pay one month at a time and can leave with notice, usually by switching to another provider or cancelling. There is no early termination charge for the plan itself. The ACMA notes that on a fixed-term contract you may instead have to pay a fixed fee for ending it early, or a fee that varies with how long is left.

The Critical Information Summary for each plan must state the minimum term and the maximum early termination charge on its first page. For a no-contract plan, look for a minimum term of one month and check what else the charge covers. Data is rarely the issue: unlimited data is standard, and every provider in the table lists unlimited data on its main NBN plans, though TPG's smallest bundles and Aussie Broadband's seniors plan have a monthly limit.

What is the cheapest internet I can get for my house?

We don't name one, because it depends on your connection type, the speed you need and the discounts on offer when you look. The method that finds it: choose the lowest speed tier your household can live with, compare plans on their total cost over 12 or 24 months after any introductory discount ends, and bring your own modem if you have one. The calculator above does the sums for up to two plans, and our NBN hub compares providers' terms side by side.

Other things that can tie you in

Even without a contract, a few things make leaving more expensive or awkward:

• Modem instalments. Belong ($11 a month for 12 months), Dodo ($7.50 a month for 24 months) and Tangerine's other modems ($16.50 a month for 12 months) bill whatever is left when you go.
• Bundle discounts. A discount for combining internet with a mobile or energy plan may end if you move one service.
• Introductory discounts that you lose if you leave and come back.
• A New Development Charge, which nbn charges for the first connection in some new developments: up to $300 including GST, which providers can pass on, in some cases in instalments that fall due if you leave.
• Provider email addresses, static IP addresses or security add-ons that stop when the account closes.
• A home phone number, which can move with you only while the service is active.

Is no-contract more expensive?

Not necessarily. Month-to-month terms are now the norm on NBN plans. The trade-off is in the extras: a plan with a 24-month modem term may include a better modem at no upfront cost, while a plan with no modem strings may expect you to bring your own or pay upfront.

The fair comparison is the total cost over the time you expect to stay, including the modem. If you might move or switch within a year, a plan where you bring your own modem or can return the provider's without charge usually works out cheapest. Is TPG or Dodo better, for example? Put both into the calculator: TPG's modem is free if you stay 24 months, while Dodo's is $169.90 upfront or in instalments, so the answer turns on how long you'll stay and the monthly prices. Our hub explains how to judge two providers.

No-contract options beyond the NBN

5G home internet plans are typically sold without a lock-in contract, but often with 24 to 36-month modem terms, and they are tied to an eligible address. Starlink plans have a one-month minimum term and no early termination fee, plus a 30-day trial with a refund subject to Starlink's conditions. Mobile broadband and data-only SIMs are often month to month too, but data limits make them better for light or temporary use than for a household.

How to leave a no-contract plan cleanly

When you are ready to go:

• Check the CIS and your account for any modem balance or return deadline.
• If you are moving to another NBN provider, don't cancel; give the new provider your AVC ID and let it transfer the service. See how to switch NBN provider.
• If you are leaving the NBN altogether, cancel only after the new service is working, and port any home phone number first.
• Return the modem within the deadline if that avoids a charge, and keep proof of postage.
• Check the final bill. If you are charged for a period after you left, raise it with the provider, then the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman if it isn't fixed.