Free texts on your Pay As You Go mobile
December 26th, 2008
photo: fazen
Most networks offer tariffs with free text allowances. You just need to opt in.
Many people are not aware, but all of the major UK mobile phone networks offer tariffs with free texts or calls for a whole month, every time you top up. These are almost always opt in so you don’t get it unless you ask for it. But it costs nothing to switch except from a few minutes of your time and the potential cost savings are hundreds of pounds a year.
So without further delay, here is my guide to getting free texts for your pay as you go tariff on your network. If you have any feedback on your mobile tariff or know of alternative tariffs or networks, please let me know and I’ll gladly update the page.
Updated: December 2009
Three: 3Pay
| Top up | Number of free texts |
|---|---|
| £5 | 25 free texts for 3 months |
| £10 | 300 free texts (600 if you top up online) for 3 months |
| £15 | 500 free texts (1,000 if you top up online) for 3 months |
| £20 | 1,000 free texts (2,000 if you top up online) for 3 months |
| £25+ | Unlimited free texts for 3 months |
Unlike other networks, 3 allows you to top up again within your 3 month period and to get a new package of freebies.
See our guide on th3 3Pay tariff.
O2: Text & Web
| Monthly Topup | Number of free texts |
|---|---|
| £10 | 300 texts for a month |
| £15 | 500 texts & unlimited internet access for a month |
| £30 | Unlimited texts and internet access for a month |
Text TEXTANYTIME to 21300 free or opt in in O2′s website.
Orange: Dolphin
| Monthly Topup | Number of free texts |
|---|---|
| £10 | 300 texts for a month |
| £20 | 600 texts for a month |
| £30 | Unlimited texts for a month |
You also get free Facebook, 2for1 on Cinema, etc. More info on Orange PAYG freebies.
Not sure if existing customers can switch to this tariff; it’s worth a check with Orange customer services. Let us know how successful it is. Otherwise, get yourself a brand new SIM card.
T-Mobile: Monthly Text and Internet Reward
| Monthly Topup | Number of free texts |
|---|---|
| £10 | Unlimited texts and internet access for a month |
See our guide to T-Mobile’s Monthly Text and Internet Reward tariff.
Virgin Mobile: Unlimited texts all weekend
Virgin offer you unlimited free texts at the weekend when you top up £10. You also get 5 free texts once you’ve sent 5 texts in one day. Opt in by joining the “Daily Bonus” programme by texting Bonus to 789050.
Vodafone: Text Unlimited
| Monthly Topup | Number of free texts |
|---|---|
| £5 | Unlimited texts for a month, weekday evenings |
| £10 | Unlimited texts for a month, weekday evenings and weekends |
| £30 | Unlimited texts for a month |
Call 2345 free from your Vodafone PAYG phone.
| About Ken | |
 | My mission is to demystify the world of mobile technology for general audiences and to communicate how mobile technology can enhance every aspect of our daily lives. I've been maintaining the Ken's Tech Tips website since 2004. I have experience communicating mobile technology and presenting new mobile products both online and offline, including at various trade shows and events. You can check out my profile or drop me an e-mail. |
- Credit Crunch , Mobile , O2 , Orange , Pay As You Go , T-Mobile , Three , UK , Vodafone
- Comments(12)
[...] google_ad_height = 280; If you are on Orange, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile or Vodafone, please see my updated guide on free texts on your pay as you go [...]
hi are there any good deals for £5 a month? that will last for more than a month?
[...] you will probably find it worthwhile to shop around amongst the mainstream networks and sign up for free text allowances there. You’ll have to pay for your texts and calls but it could be a much less frustrating [...]
does 3 nt have any free texts
How long does it take to get the reply message for Virgin mobiles i topped up £10 at 5 o clock and it is now 7.50pm and i still havent recieved the message confirming the free texts :S. Email me the reply at alexandra217@hotmail.co.uk
Thank you .
xx
Hi there is a deal on vodafone, top up £10 and get £50 of texts and calls.
[...] "4841035901"; google_ad_width = 336; google_ad_height = 280; A few weeks ago I told you how to get free texts on your existing phone and network simply by ensuring you’ve opted in to the freebies. Many UK mobile operators also [...]
[...] much advocated them as my best buy over the last few years as their Text Anytime package provides free texts which save a lot of money. But for anybody on Pay As You Go, I think Three’s new package is [...]
[...] you are on the Text Anytime tariff which I previously discussed, you would have got just 300 text messages for topping up £10. By [...]
I am on Three and my mobile says it has a ton of free texts but I’m not sure how to access that?
i want unlimited as my friends have buht its not leeting me get texts at all
xxxx
vodafone do a freedom pack for 10 pounds and you get 50 pounds of calls and texts to use in a month.