If you already have a mobile phone, you don’t need to sign up for a contract which includes a handset - you just need a SIM. On this page, we provide a comprehensive guide to UK SIM-only deals so you can decide if they’re right for you.
Last updated: 10 January, 2023 | Estimated Reading Time: 7 Minutes
SIM card only or SIM-only mobile plans offer variable texts, minutes and data every month for a fixed price. They’re often a cheap alternative to standard pay-monthly handset deals as you’re not paying for a new phone. You just get a SIM card, so you’ll have to make sure you’re happy with your existing mobile phone. If you’re looking to upgrade your phone, you’re better off choosing a handset deal.
A SIM-only deal also offers flexibility, with the possibility of getting a 30-day rolling plan that doesn’t bind you to a long-term mobile contract. If you want to end your plan at any point, your only obligation when switching is to see out your last 30-day period.
Getting a deal on just the SIM could also suit you if you have a rough credit history. A credit check isn’t always necessary as it is with a monthly mobile plan. To find the best deal for you, take a look at our comparison of the best SIM-only deals in the UK.
There are a few important factors to consider when choosing your SIM-only plan. Nowadays, the most important thing to consider is whether the data allowance on offer meets your needs. Extras and add-ons can also improve your mobile phone experience, so it’s important to consider these as well.
Providers offer a wide range of data allowances, so it’s not difficult to find a plan that meets your needs. SIM-only deals can offer anywhere between 1GB of data and unlimited data, so there are plenty of plans to choose from. If you want to stream, play games and download files frequently while not connected to Wi-Fi, you should consider getting a data allowance of 25GB or more.
The cost of your SIM will be based on the data plan you opt for, so you might have to adapt your data needs to your budget. Certain providers, such as Virgin, offer data rollover so that you don’t lose any unused data. Data rollover allows you to accumulate data from previous months, which might help you get a more affordable data allowance.
Many mobile providers offer unlimited minutes and texts allowances with their SIM-only contracts, allowing users to call and text as much as they want at no extra cost. Alternatively, a SIM could come with limited minutes and texts for a lower monthly price. If a plan with limited allowances is available to you, consider how many minutes and texts you’ll need and whether you’ll go over this limit. If you think you will, go for a plan with unlimited minutes and texts.
SIM-only customers can occasionally benefit from perks and extras as incentives to switch, but this will depend on how generous your provider is. Perks can include free features and discounts through the provider’s mobile app. For example, O2 offers its customers discounts on concerts and experiences via the My O2 app, as well as Priority rewards, where customers can enter prize draws and benefit from giveaways and weekly treats. Certain providers like Sky mobile even offer TV add-ons or entertainment packs with their mobile-phone plans.
In this section, you’ll find a quick and easy comparison of the best SIM-only deals in the UK. All prices are accurate at the time of publication, but providers are constantly changing their offers, so it’s always best to check our comparison tool for the latest offers.
You can get unlimited minutes and texts with any Three Mobile deal and benefit from 5G data at no extra cost if your handset supports it. You’ll also get free access to Three Wi-Fi hotspots across the UK, which is ideal for frequent travellers.
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 4GB | £19 |
| 30GB | £24 |
| Unlimited | £28 |
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 1GB | £7 |
| 30GB | £15 |
| Unlimited | £20 |
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 1GB | £6 |
| 30GB | £14 |
| Unlimited | £20 |
Three Mobile 24-month SIM-only contracts offer the lowest monthly cost. Monthly rolling contracts are the most expensive plans in the long-term but also offer the most flexibility, allowing users to cancel at any time without having to pay an early termination fee.
Virgin Media SIM-only deals include unlimited texts and minutes, data-rollover, and use of WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter will not be deducted from your data allowance. Virgin TV customers also get lots of perks, with monthly discounts on their phone plan. Virgin Media offers four SIM deals:
| Data | Cost per month | Contract length |
|---|---|---|
| 10GB | £8 | 12 months |
| 15GB | £10 | 24 months |
| 32GB | £12 | 24 months |
| 36GB | £13 | 12 months |
Unlimited data is also available with Virgin Media, but the above plans are the best Virgin Media SIM-only deals according to the provider.
Vodafone SIM card only deals offer the choice to combine entertainment with a SIM. Vodafone SIM-only deals come as 12-month, 24-month, or 30-day contracts. Vodafone Entertainment packages offer unlimited access to YouTube Premium, Spotify Premium and Amazon Prime Video. The best Vodafone SIM-card deals are 24-month contracts:
| Data plan | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 160GB | £20 |
| 160GB + Entertainment | £27 |
| Unlimited | £26 |
| Unlimited + Entertainment | £33 |
There’s a speed limit of 10Mbps with the Vodafone SIM-only deals included above. To get the fastest internet speeds possible, you’ll need to upgrade to a Vodafone MAX plan.
O2 customers benefit from unlimited texts and minutes with any O2 tariff and can choose from a 12-month contract, a 24-month contract or a one-month rolling deal. There are plenty of O2 deals with no data limit, but there are three main SIM plans. They have a contract length of 24 months and offer inclusive streaming of popular TV or music apps:
| Data | Cost per month | Perks and extras |
|---|---|---|
| 20GB | £15 | Three months of Disney+, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible or McAfee |
| 60GB | £18 | Six months of Apple Music |
| 160GB | £20 | Six months of Disney+, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Audible or McAfee |
Virgin Media broadband customers also get double data with any O2 SIM plan. Combining O2 mobile with Virgin Broadband can save you money if you’re interested in a broadband and phone plan. Before signing up to a broadband deal, check the available broadband in your area.
Plusnet offers 30-day rolling contracts with lower data allowances than its competitors, with 50GB being the highest data allowance. Plusnet features three main deals:
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 4GB | £6 |
| 20GB | £9 |
| 50GB | £15 |
Plusnet offers less extras than some of its competitors, but makes up for it with low prices and flexible contracts. Plusnet also offers award-winning customer service and has been named Best Broadband Provider of the Year by Uswitch.
Giffgaff SIM plans come with unlimited texts and minutes and can be cancelled at any time. Giffgaff’s best SIM-only contracts are always changing thanks to its generous short-term offers. The provider’s standard deals range from:
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 1GB | £6 |
| 12GB | £10 |
| 80GB | £20 |
Lebara SIM-only plans are contract-free and come with unlimited texts and minutes. Lebara has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot and is recognised for offering cheap tariffs on a reliable network:
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 2GB | £5 |
| 10GB | £10 |
| 15GB | £15 |
| Unlimited | £25 |
Talkmobile offers cheap SIM-only deals with unlimited texts and minutes on 12-month contracts:
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 3GB | £7 |
| 9GB | £9 |
| 30GB | £10 |
| 100GB | £20 |
SIM-only deals with VOXI are contract-free and offer unlimited texts and minutes. Customers also benefit from unlimited usage on WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Pinterest.
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 15GB | £10 |
| 30GB | £15 |
| 60GB | £20 |
| Unlimited | £35 |
SMARTY offers six simple one-month SIM-only plans. All plans come with unlimited texts and minutes and offer unrestricted tethering in the UK. SMARTY SIM plans are perfect if you have a bad credit rating because they don’t do credit checks. Here are the best SMARTY SIM contracts:
| Data | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| 4GB | £6 |
| 8GB | £7 |
| 12GB | £8 |
| 30GB | £10 |
| 50GB | £15 |
| Unlimited | £20 |
If you run out of data, you won’t have to worry. SMARTY only charges £1 for every GB of data you use outside your monthly plan.
The best iD Mobile SIM deals include unlimited texts, minutes and data for £16 a month on a 24-month contract. The provider also offers 12-month plans and one-month rolling deals. One-month plans start at £6 per month and offer 4GB of data with unlimited minutes and texts. iD mobile is perfect if you’re on a budget.
With a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM, you only pay for the minutes, texts, and data you use. You simply choose the provider you want, order a SIM, and pay for your allowances based on the provider’s rates. A PAYG SIM offers users the flexibility to cancel whenever they want, and doesn’t require a credit check.
A pay-as-you-go deal is convenient, but bear in mind that it will be more expensive than a standard SIM-only deal, if your usage is regularly high. Pay-as-you-go rates are expensive and you pay for every call, text and MB of data you use.
SIM-only deals are best suited to those who already have an unlocked phone and want a flexible phone plan with data, minutes and texts every month.
Each provider has a different activation process. In most cases, you’ll need to activate your new SIM on the provider’s website and then it’s ready to go. You’ll receive instructions with your SIM card.
First, you’ll need to find out how long you have left on your current contract. If you’re ending your contract early, you might need to pay an early termination fee. Once you’ve cancelled your contract, you’ll need to ‘text-to-switch’ following three simple steps:
Yes, 5G is available with many SIM-only deals. If the provider has gone live with 5G, they’ll usually offer it at no extra cost.
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