Best SIM-only deals 2024 UK: Save on six-month half-price SIM plans from Three and Vodafone
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IF you’re no longer tied to a phone contract, then it’s worth considering a SIM-only deal to save money.
The best SIM-only deals will save you a packet and they’re especially useful if you’re happy with your current phone and you're not ready to upgrade just yet.
- Three SIM-only deals -
- Vodafone SIM-only deals -
You’ll find masses of different options, including unlimited calls, unlimited data, and even international calls for much less per month than your combined phone and SIM fee.
Some companies also offer linked broadband and SIM packages, which is handy if your broadband is coming up for renewal as well.
These savings when compared to separate plans, often come with free set-up and are worth considering if you’re also shopping for superfast broadband.
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Pay-as-you-go is another option, especially if you know you’re going to replace your phone with a new model but there are a few months to go before you do so.
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.
Switching providers doesn't take long and it could save you a fortune.
However, before changing providers, you should make sure your phone is unlocked and will work with a new SIM card.
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Ready to save on a SIM-only deal? We've got a ton of early Black Friday offers for you to explore.
Best SIM-only deals UK
Best Three SIM-only deals
Three SIM-only deals
Three shoppers can currently pick up a SIM-only plan and score the first six months for half the price.
Here are some of the best six-month savings available at three:
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls and texts, £13 per month for six months (then £26 p/m) -
- 250 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £10 per month for six months (then £20 p/m) -
- 120 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £8 per month for six months (then £16 p/m) -
- 25 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £7 per month for six months (then £14 p/m) -
- 12 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £6 per month for six months (then £12 p/m) -
- 4 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £5.50 per month for six months (then £11 p/m) -
Best Vodafone SIM-only deals
Vodafone SIM-only deals
Vodafone offers a range of SIM-only deals.
The deals include extras such as inclusive roaming, unlimited picture messages, and your choice of either YouTube Premium or Amazon Prime for 24 months.
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls and texts, £18 per month for six months (then £36 p/m) -
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls, and texts, plus inclusive roaming in 83 worldwide destinations, £23 per month for six months (then £43 p/m) -
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls and texts, inclusive roaming in 83 worldwide destinations, plus YouTube Premium or Amazon Prime for 24 months, £27 per month for six months (then £54 p/m) -
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Best Giffgaff SIM-only deals
Giffgaff SIM-only deals
has many budget-friendly SIM-only deals to browse through, with prices starting from as little as £8 per month.
If you stream and play on the go, you'll probably want to take a look at higher plans that offer 120GB of data for just £15 per month or go unlimited for just £25.
With an unlimited data plan, you'll never have to worry about how much internet you're using or whether or not you're connected to the internet.
- 60 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £10 per month -
- 120 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £15 per month -
- 200 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £20 per month -
Best Voxi SIM-only deals
Voxi SIM-only deals
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 fans.
It offers unlimited social data, which means you can use Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp without eating into your monthly data allowance.
- 75 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, plus unlimited social, music, and video, £12 per month -
- 300 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, plus unlimited social, music, and video, £20 per month -
Best Smarty SIM-only deals
Smarty SIM-only deals
is a piggyback network that runs on Three's mobile network and has some of the best plans on the market.
You'll 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.
- 80 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £10 per month -
- 15 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £7 per month -
Best iD Mobile SIM-only deals
iD Mobile SIM-only deals
Black Friday has arrived early at , with shoppers able to secure extra data on selected SIM-only plans.
Here are just a few deals you can score today:
- Unlimited data, unlimited calls and texts, £15 per month -
- 90 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £10 per month -
- 20 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, £7 per month -
Best Lebara SIM-only deals
Lebara SIM-only deals
is also a piggyback network meaning it uses existing coverage from another major provider.
Lebara uses Vodafone’s network, so there’s great coverage.
You can get plans from as little as £5 for 5GB if you aren't a heavy data.
- 50GB data, unlimited UK minutes and text, unlimited international minutes, £20 per month -
- Unlimited data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, unlimited international minutes, £30 per month -
- 5GB data, 1000 UK minutes and texts, 100 international minutes, £5 per month -
Best EE SIM-only deals
EE SIM-only deals
Shoppers can also head over to EE if they're on the hunt for SIM-only savings.
You can currently save on , which includes unlimited data, calls, and texts for £27 per month.
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-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 one of the latest devices.
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 updated iPhone, 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 , 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 , GiffGaff, , and , together with Smarty, which uses Three's 4G network.
In terms of 5G coverage, Vodafone and EE are at the forefront of the technological race 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.
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 , 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 , 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.
To find out how to change yours, head to the brand's official website.
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You'll find instructions on how to change your SIM when visiting retailers such as Apple, Google, Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and more.
Find Vodafone offer codes with The Sun Vouchers