Compare 18-month broadband contracts December 2025

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What is an 18-month broadband contract?

Every broadband deal has a minimum contract term, which can range from as little as 30 days to two years depending on the provider and deal that you choose.

Longer-term contracts tend to cost less per month, as you’re committing to sticking with your chosen provider for a good while. If you’re planning to stay at your current address for a decent amount of time, a longer-term contract means you won’t have to think about shopping around for a new deal.

Additionally, some broadband contracts come with the promise of no mid-contract price hikes, meaning you can lock in a price for the entire length of the contract. Not to mention, some providers will raise prices quite significantly when the minimum term is up – so, a longer-term contract will shield you from that.

On the other hand, shorter-term contracts offer more flexibility. They’re better if you’re thinking of moving house, or simply aren’t dead set on sticking with the provider for a long time. You’ll be free to change once your contract is up – and you can take advantage of incentives and free gifts exclusively available to new customers.

With all that in mind, 18-month broadband deals offer a good balance between cost and commitment: they give you a lower monthly price, without locking you in for an overly long period of time.

Once your 18 months are up, you’re free to switch without penalty – or stick around on a renewed deal or one-month rolling basis, whichever suits you best.

What types of broadband can I get on an 18-month contract?

You can get all kinds of broadband deals on an 18-month contract, with a wide array of providers offering such plans and a variety of broadband speeds to choose from. .

For those on a budget, there are many deals available for standard ADSL broadband that uses Openreach’s copper network.

However, we’d recommend getting fibre optic broadband instead. It’s much faster than ADSL broadband, and there’s a brilliant range of plans to suit different budgets and needs.

Entry-level fibre optic broadband is widely available and only a few pounds more than ADSL. And if you’re lucky enough to live in an area where fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP, aka full fibre broadband) networks have been installed, you’ll be able to take advantage of the fastest full fibre deals.

You'll also have the option to bundle your internet with a landline and/or TV package, if you like - or pick a landline-free broadband package.

Put simply, you’ll have plenty of choice when shopping around for 18-month broadband deals.

Why are broadband contracts 18 months?

Providers like to lock customers in for the long term, to ensure customers are committed to paying for their services for a set period of time. It also provides customers with certainty, meaning they don’t have to go looking for a new provider every few weeks or months.

The benefits are clear: an 18-month deal works out cheaper than a shorter-term one. You’ll pay a premium for the flexibility of a 30-day or 12-month contract, while a longer plan will always come in at less per month.

You can always change provider if you want a new or better deal. If you’re still in your 18-month contract, though, you’ll have to pay an exit fee if you leave early. So, it’s best to wait until your minimum term is up, as you’ll then be free to switch.

However, Ofcom rules state that you’re allowed to change provider mid-contract and penalty-free if you aren’t getting the speeds advertised by your internet service provider.

Which broadband providers offer the best 18-month deals?

Plenty of providers offer 18-month broadband deals, including (at the time of writing):

What defines a ‘best deal’, though, all depends on what you’re looking for and what’s available at your address.

For an affordable 18-month broadband deal, look to low-cost providers such as Plusnet, Shell Energy and TalkTalk.

On the other end of the scale, Virgin Media and Sky offer pricier premium packages that can be bundled with landlines and top-notch TV. And if it’s speed you’re after, Virgin Media boasts some of the fastest fibre broadband services in the UK, including full fibre with download speed of up to 1,130 Mbps.

Don’t worry if those speeds aren’t available at your address – there’s still plenty of choice. Sky, TalkTalk, and Truespeed all offer full fibre broadband packages with speeds of 100 Mbps and more depending on your needs.

Use our comparison tool to select what you want from your package, and we’ll show you all the suitable deals available at your address.

What are my other options?

Not convinced by 18-month broadband contracts? Here are your other options…

24-month contracts are common, with providers like BT, EE, TalkTalk and Vodafone offering such deals. If you’re willing to sign up for a longer period, you’ll get lower monthly payments, and it’ll work out cheaper in the long run. Because many providers raise monthly costs when your minimum contract terms ends, this is the best way to lock in a low price for the longest time. This may be ideal to get high broadband speeds, which can otherwise be expensive. The downside is a lack of flexibility – if you need to cancel early, you could be hit by hefty early-termination fees.

12-month contracts lock you in for a shorter time, meaning more flexibility – which is particularly useful if you’re on a year-long tenancy agreement. Not all providers offer 12-month deals, but there’s still a decent amount of choice. Check out Sky, NOW Broadband, BT, Hyperoptic and Plusnet. Compare 12-month broadband contracts here.

One-month rolling contracts are the most flexible of all, as you’re not tied to a contract. If you know you’re moving house in a few months’ time, you just need to give your provider 30 days’ notice – and you won’t have to pay any exit fees. However, they usually come with a higher monthly cost, as well as pricier upfront costs – and you won’t get much choice over providers. They’re currently offered by NOW Broadband, Hyperoptic, and various mobile broadband networks. Compare no-contract broadband here.

Lots of choice - many providers offer 18-month contracts
Good value - a longer term means you can lock prices down for a while
Can bundle your broadband with TV and home phone
Not as good value as 24-month contracts
Not as flexible as 12-month or one-month contracts - you're stuck in the deal for a year and a half
Could be a bit of a pain later if you're renting on a one-year lease

Are you still within your contract?

If you're still in your minimum term, you'd be subject to an early repayment charge if you ended your contract early.
If you're out of contract or approaching the end, you can switch without penality.
Can you get a better deal for the same price?

A tariff may offer everything you're looking for, but does it come to the right monthly price and offer good value for money? Shop around to find the right tariff at the best possible price.
Can you get any bundles, freebies, or cashback?

Many providers offer tempting incentives, such as cashback or gift cards to new customers. These may help bring down the cost of an expensive broadband deal, although you should also consider whether these gifts are as important as factors such as speed and cost.

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