giffgaff is known for low-cost SIM-only plans and customer-focused service. We take a close look at what it's got to offer.
Our giffgaff Mobile review in summary
With a range of SIM-only plans to suit every budget and excellent coverage, thanks to the backing of parent company O2, giffgaff does the simple things really well.
Its flexible 30-day plans are attractive, especially at a time when affordability tends to be tied to ever longer deals. These 30-day plans are available on a pay-as-you-go or monthly rolling basis (the latter gives you slightly more data for the same price, and you can cancel anytime).
If you're happy with giffgaff, you could consider signing up to one of its 18-month contracts. Although it requires some commitment, you get a lot more data for the monthly price you pay. Plus, you can change your plan whenever you want.
However, its phone plans, which are essentially loans for devices over a set period, are not as enticing as those from bigger networks.
Customer service is online only, with no dedicated team to speak with over the phone.
And although giffgaff still lets you roam in EU destinations for free, it has lower limits than other budget-minded networks. At the time of writing, it has an EU roaming cap of 5GB a month. So, if you go over that, you'll need to pay 10p/MB – even if your SIM plan has a higher data allowance.
giffgaff Mobile SIM-only plans
SIM-only plans are where giffgaff really stands out. Its deals are affordable and straightforward and they're all available on a 30-day rolling contract, as well as pay-as-you-go and 18-month options.
Known as goodybags, they're completely flexible, allowing you to tweak your allowance every month depending on how much data you need.
Prices are low. At the time of writing, 1GB of 5G data and unlimited calls and texts cost £6 a month (on a pay-as-you-go plan). And if you opt for a monthly rolling plan or 18-month contract, you get more data for the monthly price you pay.
At the top end, unlimited calls, texts and data comes in at £35 a month (on a monthly rolling or 18-month plan), although a fair usage policy does apply. Giffgaff's fair usage restrictions state that you shouldn't use more than 650GB of data a month, or regularly use your mobile to tether 12 or more devices.
You can also earn 'Payback' rewards, either by recommending friends and family to giffgaff or posting in their online community.
giffgaff Mobile phone contract plans
This is where giffgaff falls down compared with major networks. Its main appeal lies in its affordable SIM-only deals; in contrast, its phone contracts aren't quite so attractive.
Giffgaff's phone contracts are basically loans that you pay off over a two year period for a device on top of your monthly bill. And unlike big-name networks, it doesn't offer any free gifts or enticing deals.
Still, you can stump up for unlocked phones in full, and its monthly charges are far from sky high, even for the latest Apple and Samsung handsets.
That said, you’re likely to get greater incentives and better all-round packages on a monthly phone contract from the likes of Three, EE, Vodafone and O2.
giffgaff Mobile coverage
Giffgaff uses O2’s network, meaning users enjoy 99% coverage across the UK. That means it’s as good as the likes of Vodafone and Three, and only just behind EE.
Considering the cost of its plans, this makes it highly attractive. It's still worth using its coverage checker, though, especially if you live in a rural area, or even checking the coverage across all top network providers.
giffgaff Mobile roaming
Unlike some major networks, giffgaff roaming is included in the EU and select European destinations.
That means you can call, text and go online at no extra cost: something that the likes of EE, Vodafone and Three have all rowed back on in recent months.
There is, however, a 5GB fair use limit, even if you’re on an unlimited plan. That’s not a deal breaker, especially if you’re only abroad for a few days.
giffgaff does not have roaming in place outside Europe, meaning you’ll either pay sky high fees to use your phone or have to stick it in airplane mode and make use of Wi-Fi instead.
giffgaff Mobile customer service
Giffgaff manages to keep costs down by making use of an online user community rather than a customer support team.
While that may not seem ideal, it regularly comes out top in Ofcom's reports on mobile network customer satisfaction. For example, in Ofcom's 2023 report, it was found that giffgaff customers had higher than average satisfaction (at 95%).
Its onsite FAQ and community message boards are excellent and provide answers to even the most niche of questions.
giffgaff Mobile stores and offline experience
giffgaff does not have high street stores or offline services. Everything you need in terms of customer service can be found on its website.
giffgaff's Mobile deals and incentives
giffgaff's SIM-only plans don’t come with any great incentives to speak of. If you want free music or video streaming, this is not the network for you.
You can, however, earn 'Payback' rewards every time you recommend someone to giffgaff, or help someone on its online community forums. Twice a year, these points are added up and can be coverted to cash, credit or a donation to charity.
giffgaff Mobile pricing
giffgaff is on the lower end when it comes to pricing, and it offers a wide selection of flexible deals.
It's also great to have a choice between pay-as-you-go, monthly rolling, or a longer-term 18-month contract. That way, you can decide what suits you best: whether you prefer the flexibility of a month-long deal, or if you want to drive the price down further by locking into a contract.
Its phone contracts are broadly in line with its fellow budget rivals. However, you’re likely to find the same handset with better extras, such as free subscription services, with the major providers.
Pros and Cons of choosing giffgaff Mobile
Pros
- It’s cheap, offering SIM-only plans that rival every network when it comes to value
- 30-day rolling contracts you can tweak any time
- Great coverage via O2’s network, with 99% of the UK covered
- Roaming still free in Europe (up to 5GB limit)
Cons
- No major incentives, such as free streaming
- Limited phone contract plans
How does giffgaff mobile compare against other networks?
giffgaff stands out against other networks due to the simplicity of its plans.
Where O2, Vodafone, EE and Three offer a wealth of deals that can be confusing, giffgaff’s SIM-only plans are easy to understand.
They’re also affordable and flexible, and are among the best on the market in that regard. Coverage is also up there with the very best.
It'd be nice to have value-adding extras and customer rewards, but this is offset by low prices.
It does fall slightly behind its peers in terms of EU roaming, however. While it's good to see that it still offers roaming (most major networks have done away with this), it's capped at 5GB a month – that's a fair bit lower than what other low-cost networks provide.
What are the alternatives to giffgaff?
How does giffgaff compare against other networks?
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