Get a 12 month Wi-Fi contract

12 month broadband contracts are a great compromise if you want long-term stability and you’re not a fan of tying yourself into one contract for an extended period of time.

Compare 12 month broadband plans from trusted providers to see if you can find the right year-long contract for you.

Key points

  • 12 month broadband contracts offer you a year-long agreement for your home internet
  • What you can get depends on factors like your property's connection type and the infrastructure of your local area
  • If you’re planning to move soon or are living somewhere temporarily, for example, if you’re a student who needs broadband - 12 month broadband plans could work out cheaper than longer-term tariffs
  • Consider short-term or no contract broadband for greater flexibility if 12 month broadband plans are just that bit too long

What are 12 month broadband contracts?

A 12 month broadband plan is a broadband contract that lasts for one year.

A year sounds like a nice and even length of time when looking for broadband options. Many providers prefer it when you sign up for much longer contract lengths of 18 or 24 months, though. So you might be able to get better offers if you consider signing up for a longer contract.

There’s still 12 month broadband packages out there if you know where to look.

What are the pros and cons of 12 month broadband?

If you're not sure if 12 month broadband is right for you, take a look at the pros and cons to help make your decision easier.

Pros Cons
No long-term commitments and increased flexibility Tend to have higher monthly payments than a longer contract of 18 or 24 months
Ideal if you’re a student or renting and are likely to move in a year’s time You’ll have to compare deals and switch more often to avoid paying more when your contract ends
You compare options more often, so you could switch and save money with a cheaper broadband plan It can mean slightly more admin
Exit fees could be cheaper if you need to cancel early, as these are often based on the number of months you have remaining on your contract You’re less likely to find broadband bundles that include TV packages with 12 month contracts

What types of 12 month broadband packages can you get?

Depending on what's available at your property, you should be able to get 12 month broadband for at least one of the following connection types:

Fibre

Fibre broadband is typically delivered in one of two ways:

  • Part fibre - Sometimes called fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), this type of connection brings ‘superfast’ internet to your home through a combination of fibre cables and copper wires from your nearest telephone cabinet
  • Full fibre - Also known as fibre to the premises (FTTP), this type of connection brings ‘ultrafast’ internet to your home exclusively through fibre cables, which run directly from the provider’s exchange to your property

Ofcom defines superfast broadband as offering speeds of 30 megabits per second (Mbps) or more. Over 300Mbps qualifies as ultrafast.

Compare fibre broadband to see if there are 12 month contracts available for your connection type.

ADSL

Suitable for smaller households, ADSL broadband, sometimes called standard broadband, works best if it's just one or two of you surfing the web at the same time.

Offering average download speeds of around 11.7Mbps, according to Ofcom, ADSL broadband is fine for things like:

  • Checking emails
  • Browsing websites
  • Scrolling through social media

You might have trouble streaming or playing online games with this type of connection.

As ADSL connections are now less common than fibre technology, you could end up paying more over the course of 12 months than you would for a superfast fibre connection.

Mobile

12 month mobile broadband might also be an option for you, available from providers including:

It’s usually more expensive than fixed wired connections, so compare your options carefully.

Satellite

If you can’t get reliable mobile or fixed internet signals where you live, satellite broadband is another good alternative because it's accessible pretty much anywhere.

Satellite broadband also lends itself to 12 month contracts, as it's ideal for getting connected in more remote areas.

But satellite broadband does have its drawbacks including sudden speed drops, higher running costs and setup fees.

Compare the best 12-month broadband contracts

Compare 12 month broadband plans across providers like:

What 12 month broadband contracts with no landline are available?

Broadband without a landline doesn’t require copper telephone lines to work. Options include:

  • Full fibre broadband
  • Mobile broadband
  • Satellite broadband

This means that you won’t need a landline to get online. But if you’re moving from FTTC broadband to a full fibre deal, an engineer will need to install new cables to connect your property.

You can find full fibre deals from providers like:

What other broadband contract lengths are available?

The other most common extended broadband contract lengths available are 18 or 24 months.

These are fine as long as you're happy staying with your existing provider for longer.

If flexibility is your top priority, though, a one-month rolling contract could be the answer. Usually, these contracts allow you to leave at any time, without paying an early exit fee.

You could end up with higher upfront costs and monthly fees than if you were paying for a longer-term deal.

Are 12 month broadband contracts right for me?

12 month broadband plans are a good option for those who want the stability of a longer-term contract without being tied in for too long.

With 12 month broadband, you can switch providers if your financial circumstances change.

They’re also a great stop gap if your future plans are uncertain, like if you're planning on moving properties but nothing has been finalised.

Decide what broadband speed you need

Before you compare the 12 month deals available, work out what internet speed you need.

Our free bandwidth calculator takes a couple of seconds to suggest the speed category that works best for your household.

After all, although it may be tempting to choose the plan with the fastest speeds available to you, our data shows that a third of UK customers are overpaying for faster broadband than they need.

How can I switch to a 12 month Wi-Fi contract?

It’s really simple with the help of One Touch Switch. All you need to do is:

  1. Shop around to find the best 12 month broadband contract for you. Make sure you look at all the associated costs and customer reviews for an informed decision
  2. Fill in your details with your chosen provider
  3. Select a start date for when you want to switch to your new deal. You might need to arrange for an engineer visit if cables need to be installed

That’s all there is to it. You don’t even have to speak to your current provider to cancel your existing contract. Remember that if you’re leaving before your minimum contract term ends, you’ll usually have to pay an exit fee. Weigh up whether or not the amount you’ll save with the new deal cancels this out.

Frequently asked questions

What happens when 12 month broadband contracts end?

Once your 12 month broadband plan ends, you're technically out of contract.

This often means your provider will raise the price of your tariff, although this varies by company.

Once your contract term has ended, you'll then be free to switch providers straight away without having to pay any early exit fees.

Note down when your contract date ends and start comparing broadband providers a few months in advance to make sure you're switching to the best broadband plan for you at the time.

Can you leave 12 month broadband contracts early?

If you want to cancel your 12 month broadband contract early, you'll probably have to pay an exit fee.

This applies to cancelling your contract any time before the minimum term ends.

The amount you have to pay is usually the total cost of however many months you have left on your contract.

For example, if you leave with only three months to go, the exit fee will be way less than if you left with nine months before the end of your contract.

Some providers waive the exit fee if you cancel your contract after they raise their prices during your contract term.

Double-check the contract terms and conditions to see if this applies to your tariff.

Can I get 12 month broadband in London?

Yes, it’s possible to get 12 month broadband in London, as well as the rest of the UK.

The providers and connection types available will depend on the region you live in. By comparing the broadband options in your area , you can make sure you’re getting the best option for your home.

Are 12 month broadband plans good for students?

If you're looking for student broadband that covers you through your studies, 12 month broadband could be a good option, as they'll last your entire academic year.

12 month broadband plans are only good value if you plan on staying in student accommodation for the bulk of the year, though.

What are the best 12-month broadband and TV deals?

It’s not always possible to find a 12 month broadband contract with TV included. You’ll get a much bigger choice of broadband and TV packages if you’re prepared to commit for 18 or 24 months.

If you don’t want to commit beyond 12 months, you might be better off getting your TV separately from your broadband.

Last updated 25 September 2025

Catherine Hiley

Catherine Hiley

Managing Editor for Broadband and Mobile

[1] As of 11th March 2026, there are active broadband providers on the panel at Go.Compare