SIM-ONLY deals are your ticket to serious savings, especially if you’re happy with your current phone and feel no urgency to upgrade.
Ready to check out the best SIM-only deals available this month? Now’s the perfect time to shop, with several providers slashing prices.
There are tons of options out there, and all for way less than you’re probably paying for your phone and SIM bundle.
Switching providers is a breeze and could help reduce your monthly costs, especially if you snap up a cheap SIM-only deal, but before you make the leap, make sure to check that your phone’s unlocked and ready to work with a new SIM.
With a SIM-only plan, you’re paying your monthly fee for data, texts, and minutes – a new device is not included.
Alongside our round-up of this month’s best SIM-only offers, we’ve also compiled a list of excellent eSIM offers, so make sure to check them out.
If you’re also on the hunt for phone deals, make sure to take a closer look at our iPhone 16 Black Friday deals page.
We’re hoping to see plenty of price drops when the November sale arrives.
For now, read on for our roundup of this month’s best SIM-only offers.
STAR DEAL: Unlimited Data from iD Mobile, £15 p/m (save £120 cashback)
Mobiles.co.uk is treating shoppers to several impressive cashback deals on SIM-only plans.
One standout offer is the Unlimited data plan, which is listed at £15 per month.
Thanks to the current cashback offer, you’ll save £120 over the 24-month contract.
This means that your average line rental over the contract period drops to just £10 per month.
Best SIM-only deals UK at a glance
- Best SIM-only deal with roaming: Unlimited Ultimate plan, £21.24 p/m from O2 – buy here
- Best data boost SIM deal: 80GB of data, £10 p/m from Smarty – buy here
- Best 12-month SIM-only deal: 250GB of data from iD Mobile, £14 p/m (save £72 cashback) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
- Best SIM-only deal unlimited data: Unlimited Data from iD Mobile, £15 p/m (save £120 cashback) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
- Best 4G SIM-only deal: 150GB SIM, £21 p/m from EE – buy here
- Best 5G SIM-only deal: Unlimited All Rounder, £31 p/m (was £42) includes EU Roaming and Netflix Standard from EE – buy here
- Best budget SIM-only deal: 100GB of data from iD Mobile, £10 p/m (save £120 cashback) from Mobiles.co.uk – buy here
- Best family SIM-only deal: Get 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible Pay Monthly connection that you add to your account, from O2 – buy here
- Best SIM-only business deal: Unlimited data, £20 p/m with Clubcard from Tesco Mobile – buy here
Best SIM-only deals UK
Best SIM-only deal with roaming: Unlimited Ultimate plan, £21.24 p/m
Unlimited Ultimate plan, £21.24 p/m
| Deal: | Get Unlimited data from O2 |
| How much per month? | £21.24 p/m |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Shoppers who are searching for a SIM-only deal that delivers impressive roaming perks. |
In the market for a SIM that’s strong on the move? You can get 12 months half price when you choose O2’s Unlimited Ultimate plan.
You’ll enjoy unlimited UK data, minutes, and texts, and you can roam freely at no extra cost with O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate in 123 destinations worldwide.
Best data boost SIM-only deal: 80GB of data, £10 p/m
80GB of data, £10 p/m
| Deal: | Get 80GB of data from Smarty |
| How much per month? | £10 p/m |
| Contract term: | Rolling Monthly |
| Best for: | Budget-conscious customers who are shopping with data in mind. It’s also ideal for those who desire flexibility, with Smarty offering the option to cancel or change at any time. |
Smarty often offers data boosts on its plans, sometimes doubling or even tripling the amount of allocated data.
With Smarty’s latest offer, you can get a massive 80GB of data for just £10 – it’s usually just 40GB.
This SIM-only deal is perfect for anyone who needs plenty of data on the go without being tied into a long-term contract.
Best 12-month SIM-only deal: 250GB of data from iD Mobile, £14 p/m (save £72 cashback)
250GB of data from iD Mobile, £14 p/m (save £72 cashback)
| Deal: | Get 250GB of data from iD Mobile and save £72 cashback |
| How much per month? | £8 p/m after cashback |
| Contract term: | 12 months |
| Best for: | Individuals looking for a 12-month SIM-only plan that offers sufficient data, unlimited texts and minutes, plus extra savings. |
Mobiles.co.uk shoppers are racing to snap up cashback offers on a selection of SIM-only plans.
Right now, iD Mobile’s 250GB plan is listed at £14 per month.
With the current cashback offer, you save £72 over the 12-month contract, and your average line rental over the contract period drops to just £8 per month.
Best SIM-only deal unlimited data: Unlimited data from iD Mobile, £15 p/m (save £120 cashback)
Unlimited data from iD Mobile, £15 p/m (save £120 cashback)
| Deal: | Get Unlimited data from iD Mobile and save £120 cashback |
| How much per month? | £10 p/m after cashback |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Shoppers searching for an unlimited SIM-only data plan without a high monthly fee. |
Mobiles.co.uk customers can also take advantage of a cashback deal on the iD Mobile Unlimited data plan.
It includes unlimited data, minutes, and texts, and is currently listed at £15 per month; however, there are additional ways to save.
By taking advantage of the current cashback offer, your average line rental over the contract period drops to just £10 per month.
Best 4G SIM-only deal: 150GB SIM, £21 p/m
150GB SIM, £21 p/m
| Deal: | Get 150GB of data from EE |
| How much per month? | £21 p/m |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Customers who require ample data and 4G speeds, and are comfortable with committing to a 24-month contract. |
Most plans now support 4G and 5G networks, depending on the area you’re in and the device you are using.
4G speeds typically range from 20Mbps to 100Mbps for download, which are generally sufficient for everyday activities such as browsing and streaming.
EE’s 150GB SIM offers excellent value for users seeking ample data and unlimited minutes and texts, plus speeds of up to 100Mbps.
Users may experience 5G speeds in areas with coverage.
Best 5G SIM-only deal: Unlimited All Rounder, £31 p/m (was £42) includes EU Roaming and Netflix Standard
Unlimited All Rounder, £31 p/m (was £42) includes EU Roaming and Netflix Standard
| Deal: | Get EE’s Unlimited All Rounder plan, which includes EU Roaming and Netflix Standard |
| How much per month? | £31 p/m |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Individuals seeking 5G coverage, unlimited data, texts, and minutes, plus perks like EU Roaming and Netflix Standard. |
EE’s Autumn offers have landed.
You can currently get EE’s Unlimited All Rounder plan, which includes EU Roaming and Netflix Standard for £31 per month.
You’ll get unlimited data, texts, and minutes, reliable 5G coverage, the ability to gift data to family and friends, plus EU Roaming and Netflix Standard.
Best budget SIM-only deal: 100GB of data from iD Mobile, £10 p/m (save £120 cashback)
100GB of data from iD Mobile, £10 p/m (save £120 cashback)
| Deal: | Get 100GB of data from iD Mobile |
| How much per month? | £5 p/m after cashback |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Budget-conscious shoppers searching for an affordable SIM-on that still includes a substantial amount of data, plus unlimited minutes and texts. |
Calling all bargain hunters! You can currently save £120 over a 24-month contract when you snap up the 100GB iD Mobile data plan.
This means that your average line rental over the contract period drops to just £5 per month.
Like most plans, you’ll also benefit from unlimited minutes and texts.
Best family SIM-only deal: Get 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible Pay Monthly connection added to your account, from O2
Get 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible Pay Monthly connection that you add to your account
| Deal: | Get 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible Pay Monthly connection that you add to your account |
| How much per month? | For example, if you add a new Pay Monthly connection that costs £19 a month for the device plan and £16 a month for the airtime plan, you’ll get 20% off your airtime plan. That’s a £3.20 monthly saving, bringing the airtime plan cost to £12.80 a month. |
| Contract term: | Varies by plan |
| Best for: | Families looking to save money by combining multiple connections under one account. |
For those searching for the best family SIM-only deals, O2’s Multisave is worth a closer look.
You can get 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible Pay Monthly connection that you add to your account, or add other O2 numbers to your Multisave group to share your savings.
You can add up to 20 numbers to your group.
O2 has provided the following example.
The provider writes: ”If you add a new Pay Monthly connection that costs £19 a month for the device plan and £16 a month for the airtime plan, you’ll get 20% off your airtime plan.
”That’s a £3.20 monthly saving, bringing the airtime plan cost to £12.80 a month.”
You can also save 20% on SIM-only airtime plans.
Best SIM-only business deal: Unlimited data, £20 p/m with Clubcard
Unlimited data, £20 p/m with Clubcard
| Deal: | Get unlimited data from Tesco Mobile. Clubcard holders benefit from exclusive pricing |
| How much per month? | £20 per month (frozen for your contract) for Clubcard holders |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Businesses that are seeking reliable SIM-only plans at an affordable price. |
If you’re on the lookout for a SIM-only business deal and you’re a Clubcard holder, we’ve found an offer you won’t want to miss.
Tesco Mobile’s Unlimited data plan costs £20 per month for Clubcard holders.
For those without a Clubcard, the SIM-only plan is priced at £25 per month.
You’ll also get unlimited minutes and texts, reliable 4G and 5G coverage, and you won’t have to worry about roaming fees.
Best eSIM deals
Unlimited data from Lycamobile, £9 for six months
| Deal: | Get unlimited data from Lycamobile |
| How much per month? | £9 per month for six months |
| Contract term: | 24 months |
| Best for: | Shoppers who are in the market for an affordable eSIM that offers unlimited data, minutes and texts. |
On the hunt for an affordable eSIM? 4g.co.uk has you covered.
Right now, there are several eSIM options available, including the Unlimited 5G data deal, which is priced at just £9 for six months (then £18 p/m).
For that price, you’ll get an eSIM that uses EE’s network and provides unlimited 5G data, plus free roaming.
You’ll also get unlimited minutes and texts, along with 100 international minutes.
Best SIM-only deals UK FAQs
What are the best family SIM-only deals?
A family SIM-only deal allows multiple SIM cards to be managed under a single account.
Not only does this make it easier to stay connected and manage your accounts, but you can also save money.
You can check out O2’s Multisave, which offers 20% off the airtime plan of every new eligible pay monthly connection that you add to your account.
EE also offers a multi-line discount, where if you add other family members to your account, you’ll get up to £10 a month on additional SIM and airtime plans, plus 10% off connected tablets and laptops.
Tesco Mobile and Three are just a few more providers that offer family SIM-only deals.
What are the best SIM-only business deals?
A business SIM-only deal is a contract that provides a monthly allowance of data, minutes, and texts for a business.
They are a great option if a business already has handsets for its employees, but wants to upgrade its plans.
Some of the cheapest business SIM-only deals can be found on mobile phone networks such as Tesco Mobile, Three, O2, and Vodafone.
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.
There are plenty of SIM-only deals available from all the biggest carriers, and the key is finding the saving that best 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, 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 feature 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.
Is it better to pay monthly or pay as you go?
If you are on a budget or 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, 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, such as O2, allow you to change your tariff during your contract.
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 offer could end up being frustrating, as you won’t have a proper device to make the most out of your deal.
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.
For those considering a contract, make sure to shop around to find the best phone contract deals.
And for those thinking about 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.
How can I tell if my phone is unlocked?
If you have an updated iPhone, it’s 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, the name of a network service provider will appear, indicating 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, you can 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.
How do I keep my current phone number when I switch networks?
If you’re ending your existing contract and want to keep your current phone 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.
The 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.
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, check how much data you use, and buy a SIM-only plan accordingly.
Some SIM-only providers, such as Voxi, offer unlimited social media data too, which means you might get through a little less data than normal.
What is an eSIM?
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a mobile plan without needing a physical SIM card.
They essentially perform the same functions as a traditional SIM, allowing you to make calls, send texts, and use data.
You can also transfer eSIMs between phones and convert physical SIM cards to eSIM cards, too.
Check out our What is an eSIM? explainer to find out more, including how to convert a physical SIM to eSIM on an iPhone.
How do eSIMs work abroad?
eSIMs offer a convenient way to stay connected on holiday.
To use an eSIM abroad, follow the simple steps below:
- It’s important to confirm that your device supports eSIM technology before purchasing.
- You can purchase an eSIM from your existing mobile provider or a third-party provider. You’ll find eSIMs for various countries and regions, often with data-only options or bundled with calls and texts.
- Once you’ve purchased your eSIM, you will receive instructions on how to activate it. This typically involves scanning a QR code.
- After activation, choose your eSIM as your preferred data line in your phone’s settings. This allows you to use the data provided by the eSIM abroad, while keeping your physical SIM card active for calls and texts from your home network.
