Mobile Contract Ending? Save £180/yr. by switching to SIM-only deals
December 6th, 2009
If you are approaching the end of your mobile contract and you are happy with your phone, you can save a huge amount by switching to a SIM-only tariff. Typically, you could save £180/yr. and you’d get more minutes and texts too.
What are SIM-only tariffs?
photo: NightRPStar
Traditionally, mobile phone contracts give you a free mobile phone and a certain amount of airtime every month to use. Typically, you might be on an 18 month contract. You get a “free” phone but in fact the phone is paid for out of a surcharge on your monthly charge.
In contrast, SIM-only contracts don’t provide a phone – they only provide airtime. This makes them fantastic deals for anybody who doesn’t want a new phone.
The people who can most easily benefit from these tariffs are people who are currently on a contract but have completed the original 12/18/24 months of the contract. Once you have completed this initial period, you can switch to a different tariff and stop paying the additional surcharge for the phone.
How do prices compare?
On O2, a standard mobile tariff offering 600 minutes, 1,000 texts and a free phone will set you back £35/mo.
With an equivalent O2 Simplicity (SIM-only) deal, you can get 800 minutes and 1,600 texts for just £20/mo. This equates to a cost saving of £180/yr and you get more minutes and texts too!
What changes will I experience?
Typically, you’ll get a lot more minutes & texts and you’ll notice a huge cut in your monthly fee. Your mobile phone number stays the same and you can keep the same account with your operator. Essentially, nothing changes except from what you pay and how much you get for it!
Which networks offer SIM-only deals?
photo: doug88888
All of the major networks offer SIM-only deals:
- 3: SIM-only tariffs
- O2: Simplicity
- Orange: SIM-only tariffs
- T-Mobile: Solo
- Vodafone: SIM-only tariffs
The easiest thing to do is to stay on your current network but switch to their SIM-only tariff. You can do this by calling customer services.
You might find a better deal at another network. You can switch network using our guide but be aware this will involve a lot more effort: your phone needs to be unlocked, you’ll have to ask for a PAC code to transfer your number and then set up your phone for a new network. I do actively encourage doing this but the main aim of this guide is to inform readers on saving money with minimal effort.
Can I do this with an iPhone?
Yes. O2 iPhone customers can switch to the Simplicity for iPhone deal once their iPhone contract expires. For £20/mo. it is possible to get 600 minutes, 1200 texts and unlimited data.
What are the alternatives to switching to SIM-only?
photo: E01
If you decide not to switch to a SIM-only deal, you can usually get a new phone for free by renewing your contract for another 18 months. Be aware that you pay for the free phone in the form of a more expensive tariff and if you don’t want the upgrade, you’re much better off with a SIM-only deal.
How about Pay As You Go deals?
If you don’t make many calls – if you mainly text and use the internet then you could find it even cheaper to switch to Pay As You Go. Have a look at our guide on the Pay As You Go tariffs offering free internet access (most of these offer free texts as well as free internet).
Your thoughts on SIM-only tariffs
We’d love to hear your experiences of SIM-only tariffs of switching to a SIM-only tariff. Let us know how much money you’ve saved too! You can drop us a comment below.
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About the Author: Hi! I'm Ken. I've been using mobiles for over 10 years and technology for a lot longer! I'd love to hear from you.
