What is a SIM-only deal?
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In short: A SIM-only deal is a mobile plan that gives you calls, texts and data without a handset included. You use your existing phone (or buy one separately) and pay a lower monthly price than a phone contract, typically on a 30-day rolling or 12-month term.
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Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
SIM-only plans sell airtime only — minutes, texts and mobile data — with no phone bundled in. Because the provider is not financing a handset, monthly costs are usually £8–£25 for generous data allowances, compared with £35–£55 or more on equivalent phone contracts that include device repayments.
Most UK networks offer SIM-only on either a 30-day rolling contract or a fixed 12-month term. Rolling plans can be cancelled with 30 days' notice and often skip a credit check. Twelve-month SIM-only deals tend to be slightly cheaper per month but may involve a hard credit search, similar to a standard mobile contract.
SIM-only works best if you already own a phone, have finished paying off a contract handset, or bought a device outright. You keep the same network coverage and speeds as contract customers on the same network — the SIM card is identical; only the billing structure differs.
When your phone contract ends, switching to SIM-only immediately stops you paying for a handset you already own. Request a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) from your current provider to keep your number, then activate the new SIM. Compare total cost over 24 months: a £300 phone plus £15 SIM-only often saves £200–£400 versus a bundled contract.
Primary source: ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband
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