Best Sim Only Deals UK

When you buy a mobile phone, you can buy the latest handset with a valid SIM card, or go for a SIM-only deal. SIM only deals come with a different range of free minutes, text messages and mobile data. They’re also much cheaper than combo packs, as customers don’t have to pay an extra monthly fee for a handset, making them a great option for people on a tight budget or who want a flexible mobile deal.

What happens when I choose the sim only deal?

Here’s how it goes when you’re just deciding on a SIM contract and clicking on a website or retailer’s website to buy it:

Simply register with your SIM plan – confirm all deal details and send your details if you want to complete a routine check.

Get your PAC code – this code is needed to set it to your current phone number. See the steps below to know what to do.

Get your sim – Congrats! Once everything is confirmed, you will receive your new SIM.

Start using your SIM – All you have to do is pop your new SIM into your phone and you are ready to go.

Can I use my current network for SIM only services?

If you are updating your contract with your current provider, it should be really easy to switch to the new contract and save your number.

However, if you found a deal through a price comparison website, you should contact your network provider for conversions.

Why should I choose a sim only deal?

SIM only deals typically offer bigger plans with more data, minutes and information for a fraction of the price of a contract plan.

monthly mobile phone bills rose by £9.50 following the April price hike. Going on a SIM-only deal can save you up to £360 a year. They are more affordable, more flexible, can include more data and more.

Not too bad, the only major problem is that they don’t come with a mobile phone included in the deal, so you’ll need your own handset to use the SIM card.

What are the advantages of a SIM only deal?

Flexibility: SIM only deals are also available for 30 days contracts. So, instead of being tied to a 12- to 24-month phone contract, you have the freedom to customize your plan.

Inexpensive: Recycled handset deals are expensive. As long as you don’t just fork over your SIM for one through a contract, you’ll get a significant reduction in monthly payments. The cheapest SIM only plan can be had for just £5.

Keep your existing phone or buy a new one: As you simply pay for the SIM card, you can keep your existing phone or buy a new one – contract before upgrading without having to wait until you pay your mobile phone charges.

Easier credit checks – or no credit checks at all: Since mobile phone networks don’t ‘take’ your manual work, you just might not need to take a credit check when signing up for a SIM plan – and if you do , it may be easier to accept.

What are the disadvantages of SIM-only deals?

The only disadvantage of SIM-only deals is you won’t get a phone with this contract.

Which network has the best coverage?

The latest figures for Opensignal* for the four major networks are:

Three: 98.5%, EE: 97.7%, O2: 96.2%, Vodafone: 96.6%

Enter your postcode into Ofcom’s coverage checker to see what coverage is available where you are.

That means Three’s network covers more areas of the UK than any other provider. SMARTY and iD Mobile also operate on the Three network, so they offer the same coverage.

How do I get the best results for me?

More options will be available when you choose the sim only deal that is right for you.

You need to consider the duration of your plan, how much you want to spend, monthly data allowance and whether you like extra perks or want a no-frills bundle

How much do I have to pay for a SIM-only deal?

This really depends on how much data you plan to use (because most SIM only plans these days come with unlimited calls and texts).

For example, if you use your phone to watch movies and TV shows on the go, you’ll need a bigger data bill. You should consider a plan with a generous data allowance – say, anywhere from 60GB to 200GB per month – or even an unlimited data SIM.

These cost more than a SIM contract with a smaller data allowance. You can pay over £20 a month for an unlimited data sim contract.

On the other hand, if you’re not a heavy user, or you’re mainly using the internet on your phone and connecting to Wi-Fi, you’d be better off paying a smaller data allowance The entry-level SIM plan provides 1 piece of data -4GB per month, and usually costs £5-6.

What is the contract length?

SIM only deals are available in several different contract lengths, including 1-month, 12-month and 24-month sim contracts.

If you are willing to commit, a long-term contract will be cheaper. However, a monthly SIM offers great flexibility – and you can switch to a cheaper monthly plan whenever you want.

Select the amount of data

According to Ofcom, in 2022 the average mobile user used around 5.6GB per month when subscribing to mobile data on their smartphone. That includes surfing the web, checking email and accessing social media.

So you might think you need unlimited data, but really a small package will be more than enough. The less data you need, the more money you can save, as smaller bundles are generally cheaper than larger data plans.

To see how much data you’re using, simply check your network app on your phone. That’s where you should see the details of exactly how much data you use each month.

How easy is it to switch networks?

Website changes are quick and easy. In fact, thanks to Ofcom’s Text to Switch regulations, you can access your PAC code instantly. Just text PAC to 65075 to receive your code.

Once you exit your current contract period, start shopping around to get the best deals.

If you want to keep your number, you’ll need to contact your current provider to get what’s called a porting authorization code (or PAC code). Once you have the code, give it to your new provider to begin the conversion process.

If I switch to another network, will I lose service?

Changing your network is a nearly effortless process, and you are not expected to be out of work for significant lengths of time in the process. You can still receive calls and receive texts after assigning your PAC code to your new network.

If you have actual changes to your new network, you may temporarily lose service. This can usually be just a few minutes. Once the transfer is done, just insert your new SIM into your phone and turn it on. If the phone works and you can call, you’ve got service and you’re all set.

When does my new sim only contract start?

Your new SIM only contract usually starts when your SIM card is shipped. If it’s a physical SIM card, just pop it into your smartphone and you’re good to go.

If it’s an eSIM, you’ll need to follow your network’s setup instructions, but there will usually be a shortcut to enable the eSIM in your phone’s settings.

Will I need to unlock my phone to use my phone with the new SIM only contract?

Until December 2021, networks are not allowed to sell locked phones, so if you got your phone after this date, it should be unlocked soon.

A locked phone can only be used on the network you bought it from, but this can vary depending on the network, handset and configuration you have. However, there is a simple way to find out if your phone has been unlocked.

For IOS (iPhone) users open settings and go to general and then About and go down until you see Network Provider Lock. If your phone says ‘No SIM restrictions’ they will unlock. But if there is a network name, it is locked.

If you have an android smartphone, the process is kind of similar. Go to: Settings > Connectivity > Network and Internet > Mobile Network > Select Network. If you can now access multiple web pages, your phone is unlocked. But if only one comes up, your phone is locked out of that provider. Once you confirm that your phone is unlocked, you are free to get a new SIM. The next step is to find a sim only deal that suits your needs.

In fact, many smaller networks offer market-leading call rates and data connections, so they can often operate more cheaply than the better-known networks. But larger networks often offer more in terms of benefits and customer support.

To keep prices down, some smaller networks don’t have a call centre and only offer online support. With big network providers, you can almost always talk to someone if you need help with your account.

And don’t think that benefits like O2 Priority Tickets and Vodafone’s VeryMe app are reserved for major providers. Smaller deals also offer incentives, such as VOXI’s data-free social media, iD’s data rollover and Tesco Mobile’s Clubcard points.

Which network should I join?

You can easily check SIM only deals from Vodafone, EE, O2, Smarty, VOXI, Three, giffgaff.

While giffgaff and VOXI aren’t as instantly recognizable as high street names like Three and O2, they’re definitely brands you can trust. This is because their service depends on a large provider network, which they pay to use.

For example, VOXI operates through Vodafone. So despite the different name, plans and prices, VOXI will have the same coverage, speed and quality as Vodafone.

Cheapest sim only deals UK

Cheapest sim only deals in the UK include unlimited calls & texts on each deal. Check them out here:

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 15GB
• Price 1.49 pounds for 3 months

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 15GB
• Price 2.78 pounds for 4 months

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 16GB
• Price 4 pounds for 3 months

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 15GB
• Price 6.95 pounds per month

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 15GB
• Price 7.99 pounds per month

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 25GB
• Price 8 pounds per month

• Unlimited Calls & texts
• Data 30GB
• Price 1.49 pounds for 3 months

Sim only deals unlimited data

Check out these sim only deals with unlimited data:

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 8.99 pounds for 3 months

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 9.98 pounds for 4 months

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 11.25 pounds for 3 months

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 15 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 15 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 16 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 20 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 20 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 30 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 30 pounds per month

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 31 pounds per month
• 12 months contract

• Unlimited data, calls & texts
• Price 35 pounds per month

Only Vodafone SIM customers are enrolled in its VeryMe Rewards program. Incentives include advance ticket sales for events, as well as cash partnerships with Asos, Costa Coffee and Greggs. Depending on the SIM you choose, you can also enjoy inclusive roaming to destinations 48 or 77. One of the selected contracts you can choose from for 12 months of subscriptions in NowTV, Amazon Video, Spotify or Sky Sports Mobile.

1. 30GB of 4G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit, VeryMe Rewards.

£8.00 per month, 12 month contract from Vodafone.

2. 150GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit, VeryMe Rewards.

£23.00 per month, 24 month contract from Vodafone.

Check out these sim only deals from Tesco:

1. 30GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£15.00 per month, 12 month contract from Tesco.

2. 100GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£20.00 per month, 12 month contract from Tesco.

In terms of coverage, EE has one of the most extensive networks in the UK, and the fastest mobile network in general. Some of its more expensive SIM plans come with Inclusive Extras, and give you free licences on Apple Music, Netflix and BT Sport.

1. 25GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£22.00 per month, 12 month contract from EE.

2. 125GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£24.00 per month, 12 month contract from EE.

Depending on the SIM plan you choose, O2 offers a host of useful extras, such as a few months of subscriptions to Apple Music, as well as subscriptions to Disney+, Amazon Prime or Audible. Its O2 Priority rewards program is perhaps the best on the market, giving you exclusive deals from shops and restaurants, as well as advance ticket sales. Not to mention, it remains the only major network to offer inclusive EU roaming

1. 6GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit, EU roaming included.

£6.99 per month, 12 month contract from O2.

2. 100GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit, 3 months of Disney+.

£15.00 per month, 12 month contract from O2.

Some exclusive sim only offers from Lebara:

1. 6GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£2.38 for 4 months, later on £5.95 from Lebara.

2. 30GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£3.58 per month, later on £8.95 from Lebara.

1. 6GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£5.95 per month, one month contract from Talkmobile.

2. 60GB of 5G data, Unlimited minutes & texts, download speed limit.

£4.98 per month, later £9.95 from Talkmobile. 12 months contract.

FAQs – Best Sim Only Deals UK