A SIM-ONLY contract is something you should consider if you’ve finished paying for your phone or your initial contract is ending shortly.
It’s ideal if you’re happy with your current model and not looking to upgrade it – and the best sim-only deals can save you a lot of money.
They vary in what they offer between providers but there are lots of options available, such as unlimited data, which is great if you’re a heavy user, or lower data levels but unlimited calls if you tend to use your phone for speaking to people. Some packages even include international calls.
If you’re considering changing or upgrading your broadband at the same time then check to see if any companies offer linked packages – so broadband and SIM-only in one contract. These offer savings on signing up to individual plans, often come with free set-up and are definitely worth considering if you’re looking for superfast broadband or ultrafast broadband deals.
Pay as you go is another option; this is especially useful if you know you’re going to replace your phone with a new model but there’s a few months to go before it’s launched. With pay as you go you’re not tied into a contract and while it will likely cost you more in the short term it may well be the best value overall for the freedom it provides.
Remember, before changing provider you should make sure your phone is unlocked and will work with a new SIM card – check out Apple, Samsung and Google for their advice on unlocking your phone for use with a different network provider.
- Voxi – 300GB, unlimited social, music and video, £20p/m – buy here
- Smarty – 50GB data, £8p/m – buy here
- Voxi – 60GB data, unlimited social, music and video, £12p/m – buy here
- Smarty – Unlimited data £20p/m – buy here
- GiffGaff – Unlimited data, £25p/m – buy here
- Lebara – Unlimited data, unlimited UK and international minutes £30p/m – buy here
Best SIM-only deals UK: Editor’s picks
Best EE SIM-only deals
- 200GB data, unlimited minutes and texts, £14.50 with three months half price (rises to £29 after three months) – buy here
- Unlimited data, minutes and texts, £17.50 with six months half price (rises to £35 after six months) – buy here
- Unlimited data, minutes and texts, and one extra chosen from a selection including Netflix and Apple Music, £21.50 with six months half price (rises to £43 after six months) – buy here
EE has tons of SIM-only deals available, including a bunch of massive data offers.
Some of the premium extras include mobile subscriptions to Apple Music, TNT Sports and Apple Arcade.
Best Smarty SIM-only deals
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- 50GB data, unlimited UK calls and texts, £8p/m – buy here
- 60GB data, unlimited UK calls and texts, £10p/m – buy here
- 200GB data, unlimited UK calls and texts, £17p/m – buy here
Smarty is a piggyback network that runs on Three’s mobile network and has some of the best plans on the market.
Three boasts some of the best value short-term SIM-only deals around, and the company also offers data discount plans that give money back for unused data.
You will also find some great offers that will give you a short-term discount or extra data, so it’s a good option to get an extra bang for your buck.
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Best Voxi SIM-only deals
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- 15GB data, unlimited social, £10p/m – buy here
- 60GB data, unlimited social and music, £12p/m – buy here
- 300GB data, unlimited social, music and video, £20p/m – buy here
Voxi runs on Vodafone’s network so it’s another great option for guaranteed coverage and is perfect for students and users who are big social media users.
It offers unlimited social data, which means you can use Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp without eating into your monthly data allowance.
You will also find some packages now include an unlimited streaming option, so other big data eaters like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime won’t catch you out.
All the above packages include unlimited UK calls and texts.
Best Lebara SIM-only deals
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- 30GB data, unlimited UK minutes and text, unlimited international minutes £20p/m – buy here
- Unlimited data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, unlimited international minutes £30p/m – buy here
- 5GB data, 1000 UK minutes and texts, 100 international minutes, £5p/m – buy here
Lebara specialises in short-term contracts with bundles, including international minutes to 44 countries. Most bundles include 100 international minutes as standard, but some include more, with many also offering unlimited UK minutes and texts.
Lebara is also a piggyback network meaning it uses existing coverage from another major provider. Lebara uses Vodafone’s network, so there’s great coverage, and if you have used them in the past and been pleased, you’ll be sure Lebara is just as impressive.
You can get plans from as little as 3GB if you aren’t a heavy data user up to its super affordable Unlimited data plan.
Best Three SIM-only deals
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- 120GB data, unlimited calls and texts, £16p/m and three months free – buy here
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls and texts, 12 months Paramount + and 28 one-day roaming passes, £30p/m and three months free – buy here
- 25GB data, unlimited calls and texts, £14p/m and three months free – buy here
Three has a very customisable set of SIM-only packages, meaning you can choose between rolling monthly contracts and 12-month and 24-month deals.
You can pair that with the amount of data you get, too, so you only pay for what you need.
Best Vodafone SIM-only deals
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- Unlimited data, minutes and texts, £16.50p/m with six months half price, (rises to £33 after six months) – buy here
- Unlimited data, minutes, texts, picture messages and inclusive roaming in 83 countries, £21.50 with six months half price (rises to £43p/m after six months) – buy here
- Unlimited data, minutes, texts, 500 international minutes and either Spotify Premium, Amazon Prime or YouTube Premium, £20.50 with six months half price (rises to £41p/m after six months) – buy here
Vodafone offers a range of pay-as-you-go and pay-monthly SIM-only deals.
The pay-as-you-go packages allow you to roll over your unused calls, texts and data, which is a useful feature.
The pay monthly deals can include things like Spotify Premium, YouTube Premium and Amazon Prime, so it’s worth shopping the deals to see if they’ll save you money when you combine them with your other subscriptions.
Best O2 SIM-only deals
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- 100GB data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, three months Disney+, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, McAfee, £20p/m – buy here
- 150GB data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, six months Disney+, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, McAfee, £23.99p/m – buy here
- Unlimited data, UK minutes and texts, three months Disney+, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, McAfee, £28p/m – buy here
O2 allows customers to customise their SIM-only package to suit them.
You can choose between a range of contract lengths, including pay-monthly.
Some of the packages include premium extras, including subscriptions to Amazon Music, as well as free roaming in the EU or worldwide.
Best GiffGaff SIM-only deals
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- Unlimited data, UK minutes and texts, £25p/m – buy here
- 40GB data, unlimited UK calls and texts on a monthly rolling plan, £10p/m with 20GB extra data for first six months (20GB data after six months) – buy here
- 120GB data, unlimited UK calls and texts, £20p/m – buy here
GiffGaff has many budget-friendly SIM-only deals to browse through, with plans starting at as little as £10 a month for 25GB of data. Ample for those with medium to sparse screen time usage.
If you stream and play on the go, you’ll probably want to take a look at the higher plans that offer 120GB of data for just £20 or go unlimited for just £25, so you never have to worry about how much internet you’re using or whether or not you’re connected to the internet.
No matter what your usage levels, you’re extremely likely to find the perfect plan for your device with GiffGaff.
What is a SIM-only deal?
SIM-only means you’re purchasing a SIM card without a handset, which can be paired with an unlocked phone. The SIM card carries your phone number, contacts list, and text messages, making it easy to swap to a new phone.
There are a huge number of cheap SIM-only deals on the market from all of the biggest carriers, and the key is finding the deal that most closely suits your needs.
The best SIM-only deals will match your level of usage in minutes, text messages and data. SIM-only plans vary in what they offer and for what price, so it’s worth shopping around to find a good deal for your requirements.
Many also offer additional perks and extras to lure new customers in, or have exclusive deals for existing customers.
While many SIM-only deals are available on a rolling monthly plan, which you can cancel at any time, others are 12-month or longer contracts, which you are tied to, unless you want to pay cancellation fees to switch.
To help you compare the best SIM-only deals from all major networks, we’ve included a wide variety of price plans and data limits, so it’s simple to see what’s available.
*Prices in this article are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change. Shop around before you buy a SIM-only contract to ensure you’re getting the best price.
Is it better to pay monthly or pay as you go?
If you are on a budget or are not looking to upgrade your current device, then SIM-only and pay-as-you-go (or PAYG) plans are your best option.
Not only are they more cost-effective, but they also don’t tie you into lengthy contracts, meaning you have more control.
A PAYG plan means you only pay for what you use and no more, so if you don’t need much data or use your device infrequently, then this is the best bet for you.
You’ll want to opt for a pay monthly plan if you know you need a certain amount of data each month and don’t want to have to top up when you run out, these plans also vary in length from as little as 30 days to 12 months, and some providers like O2 allow you to change your tariff during your contract.
What should I look out for when buying a SIM-only deal?
The most important things to consider when browsing SIM-only deals are data allowance, monthly cost, and plan duration. If you can balance these right, then you’ve got the best deal for you.
You want to make sure you aren’t paying over the odds for a small allowance when you could get more for less elsewhere, so be sure to shop around.
You also need to consider how long you want to be tied to a plan. While they are shorter than a new contract, you don’t want to sign up for a 12-month plan when you only need it for a couple of months.
What are the benefits of SIM-only deals?
The main benefit of getting a SIM-only contract is flexibility. Instead of being locked into a two-year contract like you are with most phone providers, you can easily snap up a rolling one-month deal that’s easy to walk away from (although longer contracts are available too and often offer a discount).
SIM-only deals are particularly useful if you’re buying second-hand and refurbished phones; the combination of a cheap handset and a good value SIM-only contract means you can pay much less for the same package than you’ll ever be offered in a store.
What are the drawbacks of SIM-only deals?
If you don’t already own a good smartphone, a SIM-only deal could end up being frustrating, as you won’t have a proper device to make the most out of your data deal, for example.
In cases like this, you could end up saving some money by getting a phone contract, particularly if you’re in the market for the latest phones.
In addition, before getting a SIM-only deal, make sure your phone is unlocked if it isn’t, you won’t be able to use your new SIM card with it.
How can I tell if my phone is unlocked?
If you have an iPhone updated to iOS 14, it is very easy to check if your device is unlocked. Simply go to ‘Settings’, then ‘General,’ and finally, tap ‘About.’ You will see a ‘Carrier Lock’ setting there.
If it shows ‘No SIM Restrictions’, your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, there will be the name of a network service provider there, showing that your iPhone is locked to that particular carrier.
With Android phones, the situation is a little trickier, as there’s no way of checking if the device is locked via the settings.
Instead, what you can do is simply try a SIM card from a different carrier. If you’re able to make phone calls and access the mobile network after the switch, your phone is unlocked. If you can’t, it is locked.
Which mobile network is best?
According to uSwitch, EE offers the UK’s widest and fastest 4G coverage, with a whopping 99% of the UK covered. O2 is a close second, with its 3G/4G connection covering 99% of the country, though speeds are generally a little bit slower than EE’s. Three, Vodafone, and iD Mobile are also valid options, all with coverage rates above 90% nationwide and in many parts of the UK, at fast speeds.
Additional mobile networks with solid coverage are Tesco Mobile, GiffGaff, Talkmobile, and Sky Mobile, together with Smarty, which uses Three’s 4G network.
In terms of 5G coverage, the technology is still patchy across the UK, but Vodafone and EE are at the forefront of the technological race here, with speeds faster than any other mobile network provider.
Can you cancel a SIM-only contract?
Yes, but check what type of contract you have.
On some SIM-only deals, you’re locked in for 12 or 24 months, in which case you may be charged an early termination fee.
As a rule of thumb, the early termination fee amounts to the total monthly fees left on your contract at the time of cancellation. So, for example, if there are ten months left in your £10-a-month contract and you want to cancel now, you will have to pay £100.
Is it easy to switch mobile phone networks?
Yes, it is. All you have to do is wait until your current contract expires (to avoid paying cancellation fees), then switch providers.
To do that, just go to the website of your chosen provider and complete the registration process. A SIM card will then be posted to your address, ready to be activated.
I’ve found a SIM-only deal with a different network, what do I do now?
Generally speaking, it is convenient to wait for your current contract to end before starting a new one to avoid cancellation fees.
However, if you find an unmissable deal (or you don’t mind paying the cancellation fee), you can simply start a new contract with them and cancel your current one.
How do I keep my phone number when I switch networks?
If you’re ending your existing contract and want to keep your number while moving onto another network’s SIM-only deal, you can.
You’ll need to contact your existing provider and request a PAC code. A PAC code will be used by your new network to register your number on their service.
However, if you’re moving to a SIM-only deal on the same network, you may have to change your number unless you do something called double porting, where you switch your number to another provider and then switch back.
What do I do with my old SIM?
If you migrate your old number to a new SIM card, you can destroy the old one, as it will be deactivated the moment the number is transferred.
If you start a new contract with a new phone number, however, your old SIM will stay active for a while. In that case, you may want to keep your old SIM if you intend to use it again.
Just a heads-up, if you have any credit left in your old SIM card, you may want to use it, as if left unused, it may expire after six or 12 months.
Will a SIM-only deal improve my credit rating?
Potentially, yes.
Whether or not the provider will run a credit check on you, a SIM-only contract will involve a credit agreement. Because of this, you could build up your credit rating by keeping up with your monthly SIM-only contract payments.
Will there be a credit check when I apply for a SIM-only deal?
Legally speaking, there’s no minimum credit score needed to get a phone contract, but some companies will run a check anyway. Different network operators will also score you differently, so if you can’t get a contract with one, you could try checking with others.
For context, 30-day rolling SIM-only contracts do not usually require credit checks since they are extremely low-risk to the company. However, if you’re signing up for a 12 or 24-month SIM-only contract, it is more likely that they will check your credit score.
Which network has the best SIM-only deals?
Here’s a selection of mobile phone networks which have great SIM-only deals:
How much data should I look for in a SIM-only deal?
To find out how much data you use each month, simply log into your account with your provider, check how much data you use each month, and buy a SIM-only plan accordingly.
Some SIM-only providers, such as Voxi, offer unlimited social media data too, which means you might get through a little less data than normal. If you burn through data very quickly, some providers, such as Smarty, offer unlimited data packages for as little as £20 a month.
Should I get a 30-day or 12-month SIM-only contract?
You’d think companies would try and lure customers in by giving them lower prices on 12-month SIM-only contracts, but that’s not necessarily the case.
The decision to get a short-term or a long-term SIM-only contract should be made on a case-by-case basis.
What size SIM card do I need?
There are three sizes of SIM cards available: standard, micro, and nano. The size you’ll need depends on your phone and should be made clear in your handset’s instruction manual.
As a rule of thumb, iPhones tend to take nano SIMs, Samsung Galaxys take micro SIMs, and standard SIM cards have been relegated from the mainstream altogether.
How do I change my SIM card?
Each phone will have a different method for changing the SIM card. Head to the brand’s website to find out how to swap yours:
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