A few months ago, I took my mum to get a new phone only to find out that she was still paying the same monthly fee towards her contract that she was paying back when she took the contract out.

When she first took the contract out she was paying for both her SIM and the phone itself. Once her contract had ended the phone would have been paid off in full and she would have been able to reduce her monthly fee down to cover only the cost of the SIM.

This happened to me a few years ago and the other day my partner told me that he too has been paying over the odds for the last few months.

It made me realise how easy it was to fall into this trap. I’m hoping that this article will help others to not fall into the same trap we did.

What is a SIM-only deal?

A SIM-only deal is a contract between you and your network provider that doesn’t include a cost for your mobile phone device. Your network provider is the company that supplies your monthly allowance of data, texts and minutes.

For this, you may either be sent a SIM card to place inside your phone or switch to a SIM-only alternative with your current card when the contract is up. it is also quite possible that you don’t even need to change your sim and that moving over to a Sim only deal is as easy as talking to your provider and changing your plan

SIM-only contracts are an effective solution if you’re happy with your existing phone or if you wish to purchase a new one or even a second hand upgrade paid upfront. Generally, they are cheaper because they do not include a monthly cost towards your device.

Need-to-knows

Before we begin exploring the different deals, there are a few things to let you know about.

Payment options

Typically, SIM-only contracts are for a duration of 12 to 24 months. However, there are also 30 day rolling contracts available if you’re looking to avoid entering into a contract altogether. Generally, SIM only deals work out as best value for money, if you use all the texts, minutes, and data allotted.

In addition to SIM-only contracts, there are pay as you go (PAYG) options available. With a PAYG sim you’re not bound into a specific time period with your respective provider. Instead, you pay for a specific number of texts, minutes, and data, as and when you need it. If one month you need more data than you normally do, you simply top up accordingly.

PAYG plans are great if you think you’re not one to use your phone enough to consume the allotted texts, data, or minutes regularly within a month, however, be aware that if you don’t top up regularly enough, usually within 30 days, then your SIM will be deactivated.

Credit checks

Some companies may choose to run credit checks on you before entering into an agreement. If you’re concerned that you may not pass these checks, considering deals on a rolling contract or PAYG SIMs may be the solution for you.

Price rises and inflations

Your network provider may increase your monthly fee at any time, but they’re only allowed to do this if they’ve included it in their contract with you. Most providers normally include clauses to cover themselves making these changes but its always worth making sure you’ve double checked for yourself.

Generally, these increases are in line with inflation, but there is no guarantee a provider will not choose to change their own pricing structure.

If you’re concerned about these increases, it may be wise to go for a contract that doesn’t max your entire expendable income or to choose a plan that you can easily cancel, such as a rolling 30-day contract.

Considerations before buying a SIM-only?

When working out which deals to go for, there are a few things to consider before making your final decision.

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Best SIM Only Deals – Up to 5GB

Ordered from lowest to highest price, below are our top picks for up to 5GB of data.

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Best SIM Only Deals – 6GB+

Ordered from lowest to highest price, below are our top picks for 6GB of data or more.

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Best SIM Only Rolling Contract Deals

Once a contract reaches the end of its term, often it will automatically convert into a rolling contract which will continue until you cancel it. Below are some of the best short term contracts that automatically renew for you.

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Best Options For International Calls

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The package that is right for you is going to come down to more than just your required data, but also the destinations you wish to cover. Below are some links to each providers details of what is included in their roaming packages, to help you make the right choice for you.

Best PAYG Bundles

The cheapest option available is the 1pmobile and is perfect for people who only want to pay for the data, text, and minutes as and when they need it.

If you’re considering a PAYG deal because you rarely use your phone, then the 1pmobile option is likely not the option for you. This SIM will be deactivated if they’re not topped up with at least £10 every 120 days (4 months).

If you don’t think you will need to top up that regularly, it may be worth considering a bundle. Bundles provide you with an allotted amount of credit each month for a regular fee but you’re not tied into a contract and are still able to top up more if needs be.

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