With the cost of living rising, more and more people are thinking about ways to cut down on their spending.
Getting sucked into a long phone contract could come with a pretty hefty price tag, so it may be worth searching for a better deal, or ditching the contract for a SIM-only deal.
According to a study carried out by mobile operator, iD mobile, it’s said that a third of consumers could save an average of £156 a year by switching providers.
Most mobile phone providers out there on the market offer unlimited calls and texts on sim only deals with some even starting from as little as £5 a month - yes, you heard that right.
With so many deals and providers out there, we’ve made your search a little easier by picking out the best deals from EE, O2, Sky and more to help you save those extra pennies.
Best SIM only deals:
iD Mobile
iD Mobile is one of the best options when it comes to affordable SIM-only deals. The phone provider promises new customers a range of benefits such as data rollover, roaming in 50 destinations and the UK’s fastest 5G, powered by Three.
You can grab a one month or 12 month SIM only contract with iD Mobile for just £6, and it comes with 4GB of data along with unlimited calls and texts. If you’re after a slightly increased data allowance, opt for the 24 month 5GB plan, again with unlimited texts and calls also for £6.
Check out all SIM only iD Mobile deals here.
EE
UK’s number 1 network, EE, also offers impressive SIM only packages with super-fast 4G and 5G options (depending on which phone you have).
Customers can get packages of one, 12 and 24 months with unlimited texts and calls to keep connected with loved ones.
The packages vary in price depending on the amount of data you need, with the cheapest being £14 for 1GB of data, and the most expensive being £35 for unlimited data.
Check out all SIM only EE deals here.
O2
02 is a great option, especially as many of their SIM only deals come with added benefits. The cheapest deal they offer is £5 for 5GB of data, with the additional offer of free Disney+ for one month. For an extra £4 a month, customers can get 15GB of data and three months of free Disney+ for £15.
Much like other providers, the twelve month and one month deals aren't as good value for money, with the cheapest monthly deal being £20 for 1GB and the cheapest yearly deal being £12 for 1GB.
Check out all SIM only O2 deals here.
Vodafone
Vodafone’s SIM only deals range from £11 for just 1GB of data and unlimited minutes and texts, and up £39 for unlimited data, texts and minutes, plus your choice of entertainment for 24 months and 5G at no extra cost.
The best deal we’ve spotted when looking at a 24 month contract will set you back just £20 for 160GB data including 40GB of additional data, unlimited minutes and texts and 5G at no extra cost.
Check out all SIM only Vodafone deals here.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile offers some of the most affordable SIM only deals out there. For just £11 a month with a Clubcard, or £12.50 a month without, customers are able to get their hands on a whopping 30GB of data, as well as unlimited calls and texts and EU roaming for 24 months.
If that’s not enough data for you, why not opt for their amazing unlimited data deal, costing just £17.50 a month for Clubcard members.
Check out all SIM only Tesco Mobile deals here.
Sky
Sky has some incredible SIM only deals to help their customers save big this May. Prices range from £25 being the highest for 50GB data, to as low as £6 per month for 2GB data.
There’s a tonne of added benefits with Sky too such as allowing customers to roll any spare data over to the next month for up to three years. As well as this, the My Sky app allows you to tailor the price and data usage of your SIM whenever you like to suit your needs.
Check out all SIM only Sky deals here.
Giffgaff
Not only is Giffgaff one of the cheapest mobile providers on the market, but it’s also offering fixed UK prices for 2022 which means they won’t raise pay as you go, goodybag or UK call rates this year.
The mobile network which is known for being ‘the mobile network run by you’, sells recurring SIM card plans with the freedom of no contracts.
Their website highlights their 'Golden Goodybags’, which include more data than their regular packages, and they are priced at: £10 for 15GB, £15 for 30GB, £20 for 100GB and £35 for unlimited data.
Check out all SIM only Giffgaff deals here.
Other providers to consider:
What is a SIM only deal?
A SIM only deal offers a package of minutes, texts and mobile data for a monthly cost, much the same as a traditional mobile phone contract. The difference, however, is that you don't get a new phone included in your contract – you get the SIM, and just the SIM.
