Pay as you go broadband (or PAYG broadband) is as close to freedom as you are going to get with a utility like broadband; you can have limited (1-month) or no contract with the broadband company, little complexity to the set-up on your pc or mac and the freedom to switch provider when you want a more permanent arrangement or feel like a change.

Pay as you go broadband providers

 There aren’t actually that many pay as you go broadband providers; the best deal you are going to get is no contract broadband.

Pay as you go providers:

• AOL website - Flexible packages including no long term contract.
• Plusnet website – Link goes to their price comparison page. 1 month contracts are available.

Other broadband providers:

• BT website - No pay as you go packages are available.
• Madasafish website - No pay as you go packages but a low-cost annual package is available.
• Post Office website - Only 12 month contract broadband is available.
• Sky website - broadband, with flexible tiers.
• TalkTalk website – Compare broadband prices at TalkTalk
• Tiscali website -  Cheap but comes with a 12 month contract
• Virgin media website  – You will be tied into a contract but there is an initial 28-day money-back guarantee.
• Bethere website – don’t have to  pay as you go but they do have some damn fast broadband.
• Eclipse website – broadband from the business broadband specialists, worth a look.

The flexibility of no binding contracts

Pay as you go broadband offers you the flexibility of using broadband without the consequences of a 12, 18, or 24 month contract. Okay, so pay as you go broadband is probably going to cost you slightly more than contract broadband if you use it for the long-run. But chances are, you are going to use pay as you go broadband, or mobile broadband, to test out a broadband provider in the short-term. Find a broadband provider you like and then switch to them in the longer term.

Once you like a provider you can take on a contract

If you like their service and the price is right, chances are you are going to take on a contract deal for the long-run. Use pay as you go offers to find the best broadband deal for your needs and then settle on the one that suits you best. With pay as you go broadband you can even test a few broadband providers out over a short period of time. Try testing home broadband versus mobile broadband too; they offer you very different experiences for a similar price.

What are the pay as you go options?

The are two major options open to you: pay as you go broadband or pay as you go mobile broadband.

Pay as you go broadband (home)

The first option has been around for quite some time. Basically, you take a modem broadband from a major broadband provider (such as AOL, Plusnet or Madasafish). You install some software on your computer or laptop and connect to the internet via a normal, standard telephone line. You go on to pay for access to the internet on a pay as you go basis (i.e. you pay for what you use). For this to work for you, you do need an existing telephone line  rental (not great if you are mobile and don’t have a fixed location).

Pay as you go mobile broadband

Pay as you go mobile broadband is relatively new technology but one that has been undergoing massive growth in the UK market. Find out more about pay as you go mobile broadband by visiting my dedicated web-page.

Pay as you go broadband is great for those that don’t have a fixed telephone line and live their life on the go. Mobile broadband could well offer you the flexibility that a fixed-line, home broadband cannot provide. Give it a go – with a product like mobile broadband from 3 (three) you could be looking at just £45 to get you set-up and running in month-1 and as little as £10 per month ongoing.