Contract or prepaid internet?

Australia
May 17, 2009 12:40am CST
Which do you prefer? I prefer both I guess you could say...depending on what plan you're on, contract can sometimes be better because you can get unlimitied uploads & downloads...I currently have prepaid wireless so I can take it with me no matter where I go. I also don't have to worry about bills or being disconnected - it just means that if I can't afford to recharge my account when it expires, I just can't get on the net until I can afford to buy more credit. I also get 1gig for $30 to use in a month which isn't too bad for prepaid.
3 people like this
15 responses
@gcorp09 (940)
• Singapore
17 May 09
I will say that I had always been signing contract for my wireless internet connections. Not only we get unlimited uploads and downloads, we do also get free gifts when signing up for a contract. For example, they had given free computers, free laptops, free game consoles, etc upon signing up for a 2 / 3 years plan.
2 people like this
• Australia
17 May 09
That's a pretty good deal, I think a company here in Australia does something like that too.
1 person likes this
• Australia
18 May 09
I too look for the better deals every so often
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@gcorp09 (940)
• Singapore
17 May 09
Yes, I will agree so as well. I will say that usually when our internet contract are expiring soon, a lot of people check out the different Internet Service providers (ISPs) for the best deals and offers available. It's no exception for me as well. I do look at the promotion deals as well.
2 people like this
@technoobs (406)
• Philippines
18 May 09
It depends on what connection I would prefer. Contract seems much advantageous if you have good flowing cash in which you always need it to use. Prepaid might be good for budget conscious whom can only have a little time using internet.
2 people like this
• Australia
18 May 09
Good point...For what I do on the net, I should be on contract but with having a tight budget for now, I'm on prepaid.
1 person likes this
@flagella08 (5065)
• Philippines
17 May 09
i have my unlimited access to the internet. im not that really contented with ISP since i often get connected and lost all i've done for the moments. i'm enduring it since i don't have a choice. i had signed the contract already.sometimes,i regret of having it. i have plans of shifting to other ISP next year.hopefully.
2 people like this
• Australia
18 May 09
Sometimes it's better to research to see what other people think of a particular isp huh? I have been in the same boat too...I remember years ago, I joined up to an isp & about 6 months later, they went into recievership :(
2 people like this
@Minesky (245)
• Philippines
17 May 09
Our business here in the Philippines is an internet cafe, so that has a dsl broadband access. I also access internet at home, but since I myself am not much of a download person, I prefer to use dial up at home, first, no need to double my expenses, second, I can just go to the shop if I need to download big files, and third, the prepaid dial up that I have gives me free access from 12 midnight up to 12 noon. I do believe that what type of internet connection is really based on how you use it. If you are a download type of person, you would prefer to have a contract that would entail you to have unlimited access. Cheers!
2 people like this
• Australia
18 May 09
You definately have a good set up!! I wish I could afford to have a business like yours - there will always be people that need the internet :)
1 person likes this
@dianmelydia (2269)
• Indonesia
17 May 09
I use prepaid broadband internet service. I think choosing contract or prepaid internet service should depends on the internet service provider's performance. If they have good and stable speed performance with affordable price, i think it doesn't a matter to use their contract service. But if we doubting their performance, then i think using prepaid is the best option because we have full control on our own hands about which isp we want to use if the previous one is bad. Have a nice day and happy mylotting.
2 people like this
• Australia
17 May 09
I agree with you there but if you like to upload & download alot, contracts with unlimited up/downloads are probably the best but I have no problem with my prepaid wireless broadband.
1 person likes this
@willjosh (50)
• Philippines
17 May 09
If you're short on the income, I'd prefer prepaid, because you pay before you use it. It would prevent you from over-using the service. But I agree that postpaid plans do allow unlimited use, depending on the contract. So I'd say go for prepaid if you're on a budget, but use postpaid if you're a power user.
2 people like this
• Australia
18 May 09
Yeah, that's true, I'm on prepaid at the moment due to being on a budget but I'm also waiting for my broadband to be hooked up as I have found a good deal which includes internet & home phone.
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
17 May 09
I think prepaid internet connections are better than postpaid internet connections. I am using unlimited internet connection with the speed of 96 kbps. It cost me about 10 dollars a month. I am looking forward to have a more faster internet connection when I am able to afford it. I am also having a limited internet connection, which cost me around 5 dollars and with the speed of around 256 kbps and with 250 mb download limit. I think the good thing about prepaid internet connection is that one will not get huge bills.
• Australia
18 May 09
I agree, when you don't have an unlimited download contract, prepaid is better so you don't get any nast bills.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 May 09
Right now we are on AT&T prepaid DSL for $20 monthly. It's not a very reliable connection and goes out about once an hour. I make it work since it's saving us money. I don't mind too much.
1 person likes this
• Australia
18 May 09
I am keeping mine for the same reason - saving money. My connection drops out too but that's because we live in a valley (I have wireless dsl) & our service is shocking - even for cell phones :(
1 person likes this
@vicky30 (4766)
• India
27 Jun 09
I too have a prepaid connection now,but if i go beyond the limit i am charged for it.i have not heard about contract internet.In my plan i can too get unlimited downloads but i need to pay more money every month.When i go beyond the limit i will try to surf minimum so that the bill doesn't come high.I never watch videos online as it takes most of the limit.
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
12 Feb 12
Here also people get high bills if they chose limited internet and go more than limit.
• India
17 May 09
well i have got unlimited usage in my desktop. it is a contract based , i have to pay 100$ for full year , but despite this low amount the speed is also good. well i have a laptop too and it has wireless prepaid internet too , and both the internet connections are great. i generally use the wireless net for browsing and the desktop for downloading my stuff.the wireless also costs less despite it gives me unlimited usage. it cost something around 20$ for unlimited usage.
1 person likes this
• Australia
17 May 09
That is SOOOOO cheap!! When I was on contract at my last house, it was $99 a month for unlimited unternet data & unlimited home phone calls nationwide in Australia.
1 person likes this
@ajithlal (14716)
• India
17 Sep 10
I also wish the cost of the internet gets more cheaper so that I can have more speeder internet. I have currently having an unlimited one, but the speed is on the slower side.
@user_786 (1338)
17 May 09
Which ever is providing reasonable service, good rates, bandwidth and overall service, i would go for that. Nowadays, i think contract internet are very cheap and pay as you go service is rarely purchased. It is worth buying a monthly contract , which wont be expensive and you will get good enough service - at least 256 Kb
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• Australia
18 May 09
That's true but plans/contract don't suit everyone.
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@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
18 May 09
I pay a monthly fee for internet. I am charged a certain amout for my internet usage each month. the fee is based upon the conectvity speed of the service. I do not have prepaid at all. I belive I do indeed have a contract account and it gets charged to my bank accont each month so I stayed payed up. that works best for me.
1 person likes this
• Australia
19 May 09
That seems like a fair plan you have there.
1 person likes this
• Australia
19 May 09
That's great that you've found a plan that works well for you.
• United States
19 May 09
Yes it is the most basci plan they offer.
@chiepao (714)
• Philippines
19 May 09
Here in our country, internet providers have their own promos. Most of them have $20/month for unlimited access on the internet. I'm not always on the go and sometimes the coffee shop close where I work has a free wifi access. :) I would prefer having a contract or postpaid internet connection rather than prepaid :)
• Australia
19 May 09
Hey, that is definately cheap - $20 a month!! I wish we had that here for unlimited access.
• Philippines
25 May 09
contract is cheaper rather than prepaid,try to have a computation on this if you are a heavy user
• Australia
9 Aug 09
This is very true...I can't wait to get on a contract again & have better service.
• United States
18 May 09
I didn't even realized you could get prepaid internet. I have a contract and I think I would rather stay with a contract than have a prepaid internet service.
• Australia
19 May 09
Yeah, here in Australia you can but I think it's only for wireless broadband...You have to pay for the modem up front & it normally gives you some crdit to start off with.