If you're happy with your current phone, a SIM only deal is the way to go. Better yet, they're a great way to save money. We've picked out some of our cheapest SIM contracts here.
Our cheapest SIM deals this week
-
O2 sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Special offers with O2 Priority
- £9.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
Three sim only
5G- 120GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £12.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile -
Virgin sim only
5G- Exclusive
- 12GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Includes a £15 Amazon Gift Card
- £7.00 per month
1 month contract From Virgin Mobile -
VOXI sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media
- £12.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
GiffGaff sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From giffgaff -
Three sim only
5G- 120GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £12.00 per month
24 month contract From Three Mobile
In the table above you’ll find our cheapest SIMs collated from a wide range of networks. We’ve scoured the market to find our best deals and are confident that these are among the cheapest SIM only deals on offer right now.
What is a cheap SIM only deal?
A cheap SIM only deal is a contract that gets you an allowance of data, calls and texts for a low-monthly charge – typically between £5- £10.
The difference from traditional pay-monthly phone deals is that with SIM only deals, you don’t get a new phone. You’re paying for the SIM and its allowances only.
How do cheap SIMS work?
Cheap SIMS work the same as any other SIM. Once you’ve picked the right package of minutes, texts and data for your needs, the SIM card will be sent to you. You’ll just need to insert your new SIM card into your phone.
Which networks offer cheap SIMS?
All leading networks provide cheap SIM options. Here's a selection of networks that offer cheap SIMs and a glimpse of what they've got to offer:
Cheap SIM only deals from O2
-
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Special offers with O2 Priority
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Special offers with O2 Priority
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Special offers with O2 Priority
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2
Included on all SIM only deals, O2's Rewards scheme gets you discounts at high-street stores and restaurants. O2’s Priority scheme is also free with all O2 SIMs and entitles you to priority booking at O2 venues – great if you’re a music fan!
Cheap SIM only deals from Vodafone
-
Vodafone sim only
4G- 20GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £9.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 20GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £9.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 100GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £21.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone
All Vodafone SIM-only customers are enrolled in its VeryMe Rewards scheme. Incentives include discounts and freebies from the likes of Costa Coffee, Hotel Chocolat and Millie's Cookies, as well as regular prize draws and competitions.
Cheap SIM only deals from EE
EE is consistently cited as having the best speeds and coverage of any network. It’s also got some pretty good incentives like free BT Sports app or Apple music, and free data boosts. If you choose a Smart SIM, you’ll get swappable benefits meaning you can choose a different customer benefit from month to month.
Cheap SIM only deals from BT Mobile
If you want a lot of people on one plan, BT Mobile is the place to be. If you take out a 12-month SIM-only plan you can get a second, 30-day SIM for your partner or kids. Deals for second, third or fourth SIMs are cheaper than the main SIM, so great for group savings.
Cheap SIM only deals from VOXI
-
VOXI sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming on Netflix and other apps
- £20.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI
If you’re a social butterfly, VOXI plans allows you to spend unlimited time on social media including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram without having to use your data allowance. Recommend a friend to VOXI and you get a £10 Amazon voucher.
What to look for in an affordable SIM plan
You can check out all the SIM deals in our mobile comparison table.
From there, you can apply all kinds of filters in the sidebar, so you can see every deal that fits what you need. You can sort by cost to find the best value ones and even set a maximum budget, so you only see the deals below a certain price. Here are a few things to look out for:
Data allowance
When choosing a cheap SIM only plan, you will need to consider the data allowance. Cheap SIMS tend to offer less data, so if you use your phone a lot for the internet, streaming video, or gaming, you may need to pay a bit more. You can still get great deals with a decent data allowance though. You could also consider looking into data only SIMs if calls and texts are less important to you.
Unlimited social data
If you’re constantly Tweeting, uploading snaps to Instagram, or watching the latest TikTok trends, you should consider an unlimited social data plan. Some providers like Voxi and Virgin Mobile offer the unlimited use of social apps and websites such as Snapchat, Whatsapp, Facebook and Pinterest, without eating your data.
Contract length
Typically, the longer your contract, the more you’ll get for your money. We can show you contract options of any length, from one month to 48 months, just use our comparison table above to compare.
Freebies
Cheap SIM only deals often come with customer incentives and reward scheme memberships and these are something to look out for when comparing deals.
Vodafone, for example, gives all its customers a VeryMe membership. It’s a customer loyalty programme with weekly treats, giveaways and prize draws personalised to you.
Pros and cons of cheap SIMS
If you’re not sure whether a cheap SIM deal is for you, check out our pros and cons list:
Pros
- You're less likely to end up paying for allowances you don't need or use
- Most 'value networks’ offer cheap SIM only deals
- Cheap SIMs often include many of the same customer incentives as pricier contracts
Cons
- Depending on your phone use, you may find the data allowances restrictive
- You’ll have to be more aware of your phone use
Alternative sim only plans
- Pay as you go SIM only deals
- 5G SIM only deals
- Unlimited data SIM only deals
- 30-day SIM only deals
- 12-month SIM only deals
- Bad credit SIM only deals
Can I switch my SIM only deal with my existing network?
If you're on a 30-day rolling contract SIM only deal, you can switch to another deal with your network whenever you like. You'll just need to give 30 days' notice.
If you're on a 12-month or 18-month SIM only contract, your network will almost certainly allow you to upgrade to a more expensive plan with bigger allowances. If you wanted to downgrade to a cheaper plan, you would need to speak to your network and explain your circumstances.
Will there be a credit check on my SIM only plan?
There is no credit check to pass on 30-day SIMs but there will be for longer SIM contracts.
Is it cheaper to get a SIM only plan?
Yes, it’s almost always cheaper to buy a SIM only plan than a phone-and-tariff contract. That’s because with the SIM only deal, you are only paying your monthly allowances and not the cost of the new phone.
Is pay as you go cheaper than pay monthly?
No, pay monthly is usually cheaper in terms of what you get for your money. Pay as you go is super flexible though, meaning you can easily adjust the way you use your phone usage to save money on your phone bill.
Can I keep my number when I get a new SIM?
Yes, you just need a PAC (porting authorisation code). The easiest way to get one is use your networks' text to switch scheme, which simply requires you to text 'PAC' to 65075. You'll then receive the code you need to hand over to the network you want to join.
