Best SIM Only Contracts

Beginners’ guide to SIM only deals

To many people, buying a flashy new iPhone or one of the top of the range Samsung smartphones is a real treat. However, to many others, it’s just a phone – more a necessity than something to get excited about. This is where SIM only deals can be a real winner.

SIM only deals do exactly what they say on the tin: your chosen network pops a mobile phone SIM in a jiffy bag and pops it in the post to you. Then it’s simply a case of popping it into the handset of your choice and away you go (as long as it is ‘unlocked’ – more on that later).

What’s more, when it comes to SIM only deals, UK networks all support the idea. You’ll have no problem getting a SIM from any of the five UK networks (Three Mobile, Vodafone, T-Mobile, O2 and Orange), while MVNOs (mobile companies who use another company’s network) such as Virgin also sell SIMs this way.

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Which phones can I use?

No matter whether it’s an old Sony or Nokia handset, a businessy BlackBerry or a sparkly new HTC or Motorola smartphone, your new SIM will work in it fine – as long as the phone is unlocked.

When you get a ‘free’ handset on contract from one of the networks, they will almost always ‘lock’ the handset to said network before they give it to you. Unlocking the phone is usually as simple as making a call to the original network, or taking it to an unlocking service (many are available online or on the high street) – this process normally costs less than £20.

It doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re getting someone else’s cheap hand-me-down that may be more than the handset is worth! You can buy mobiles incredibly cheaply nowadays that work just fine, so if someone is offering you an old locked phone you may well be better off with a cheap new one that has a guarantee.

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Compare SIM only deals

With your handset choice secured, it’s time to find the best SIM only deal for you. There are loads available and the SIM itself should always be free on contract, so how do you go about using our comparison table?

• Network: This can be the most important decision, as without good connectivity your phone will be pretty useless! Each network has its own coverage checker, searchable by postcode, so make sure you check any areas you’re likely to be in often. Also, it’s worth taking a look at reviews of each network in terms of service and support.
• Contract length: As a rule of thumb, longer contracts will give you more value for money as a reward for your loyalty. However, a pay-as-you-go SIM gives you the flexibility to move to another network whenever you want to.
• SIM only deals with internet: Phones are becoming synonymous with connecting to the internet these days, so data allowance can be an important part of your decision. If you do get online on your mobile, unlimited data can sound great, but how much do you really use? It’s worth checking your bills so that you don’t pay for too much.
• Minutes and texts: As with data, be sure you’re not paying a big monthly fee for minutes and texts you’ll never use. Offers are only good if you’re going to make use of what they’re offering!
• Tariff and ‘effective cost’: These prices will tend to be the same on this comparison table, as the SIM is going to be free if you decide on a contract.

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Cheap SIM only deals

While simply looking at price is a valid tactic in some cases, the best SIM only deals aren’t always the cheapest SIM only deals. It’s all about getting the balance right.

As we mentioned above, tariff prices tend to be dictated by a combination of contract length and services offered. Going with a long contract can seem like a great idea, especially if you’re in a stable home and job situation and see no changes in the next couple of years. But will your network be as stable, or will your circumstances change?

In truth, especially in terms of simply calls and texts, you should be OK with any of the UK networks. All of them have fantastic 2G coverage as well as very good 3G networks, so you’d hope to be able to make a call most places. However, if you rely a lot on your phone for data, it’s a more important consideration.

While all the networks claim more than 90 per cent 3G coverage by population in the UK, this can be patchy at best. That might not be an issue for a call or text (as the 2G will kick in), but it’s a different matter if you’re downloading a file, using social networks or streaming audio or video.

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Need a handset?

Of course, a SIM only deal requires a handset to make it work! While most of us are used to getting a ‘free’ handset on a mobile contract deal, that’s actually an alien concept in many other countries. Simply going SIM only and just buying a new handset as and when you need it is a sensible viable alternative.

Phones, especially smartphones, can look expensive if you’ve got used to getting them free. However, you’ll notice that SIM only deals are a lot cheaper each month than contract deals – this is because those contracts build much of the cost of that ‘free’ handset into the monthly payments. Suddenly, that fancy smartphone doesn’t look so free, does it?

Cheap, efficient handsets start from £20 and, well, the sky’s the limit; top new smartphones will set you back £500 or more. But if you share that cost out over a few years of usage (as a contract does), it doesn’t sound quite so painful. To see all of the best SIM free handsets, click on the tab at the top of the page.

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What to do next

With your decision made, the next step is easy. All you have to do is click through from here to the official website of the retailer or network of your choice. There you can sign up and be up and running in no time. 

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