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Many NBN plans in Australia are already no-contract: the ACMA describes "no lock in" contracts that work on a month-to-month basis, and providers such as TPG, iiNet and Belong show no lock-in or a one-month minimum term on their NBN plans. Starlink's Australian plans and several 5G home internet plans are month to month too. You can usually leave by switching to another provider without paying an exit fee.
What can still cost you is the modem. Many providers supply one on the condition that you stay for 12, 24 or 36 months, and charge you for it if you leave earlier. This page explains how no-contract plans work, what else can tie you in, how to find the real exit cost in the Critical Information Summary, and how to leave cleanly.
By Better Rate Mate Editorial Team ยท Last reviewed
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.
A "free" modem usually means free if you stay. Here is how some providers describe it on their own pages and CIS documents as at September 2026:
| Provider | Plan term | If you leave early |
|---|---|---|
| TPG (NBN) | No lock-in contract | Pay for the modem if you leave within 24 months, or return it in good working order within 21 days at no cost |
| iiNet (NBN) | No lock-in contract | Same approach: modem charge within 24 months unless returned within 21 days |
| Superloop (NBN) | No lock-in | Modem is free if the service stays active 24 months; otherwise a modem payout fee for the remaining months |
| Belong (NBN) | One-month minimum term | No cancellation charge, but modem or New Development Charge instalments still owing may fall due |
| Telstra 5G Home Internet | No lock-in contract | Return the modem if you leave within 24 months |
| Optus 5G Home Internet | Month to month | Modem is free only if you stay 36 months |
| TPG 5G Home Broadband | No lock-in contract | Modem fee if you leave within 36 months and keep the modem |
| Starlink | One-month minimum, no early termination fee | You own or rent the kit on Starlink's hardware terms |
Even without a contract, a few things make leaving more expensive or awkward:
Not necessarily. Month-to-month terms are common on NBN plans. The trade-off is in the extras: a plan with a long 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.
5G home internet plans are typically sold without a lock-in contract, but often with 24 to 36-month modem terms. They are tied to an eligible address, so check whether you can take the plan with you if you move.
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. Its Roam plans suit people who travel. 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.
When you are ready to go:
The best no-contract plan is one with the speed tier you need, a good typical evening speed, a fair ongoing price and modem terms that don't penalise you for leaving. Check the CIS for the minimum term and early termination charge, and compare the total cost over the time you expect to stay.
Yes. Many NBN plans are month to month, as are several 5G home internet plans and Starlink's Australian plans. Watch for modem charges if you leave within the provider's modem period.
Yes. 5G home internet runs on a mobile network at eligible addresses, Starlink uses its own satellites, and some new estates and apartment buildings are served by other fibre networks. Mobile broadband is another option for light use.
Starlink's Australian Residential plans have a one-month minimum term and no early termination fee, according to its Critical Information Summaries. It also offers a 30-day trial with a refund, subject to its conditions. The kit is a separate cost, so check what happens to it if you leave.
Often, if you leave within the provider's modem period. For example, TPG and iiNet charge for the modem if you leave within 24 months unless you return it within 21 days, and Superloop charges a payout fee for the remaining months. Check your plan's CIS.
