The UK’s Best Value SIM-Only Tariffs (1 month and 12 month contracts)
August 26th, 2010
If you’ve completed your mobile phone contract or you’re looking to switch from Pay As You Go, you can save hundreds of pounds per year by switching to a SIM-only contract.
More and more people are deciding that they’re happy with their existing phone and opting to switch to a cheaper SIM-only calling plan. These SIM-only tariffs, ideal for those who have completed a contract or are currently on Pay As You Go, offer shed loads of minutes and unlimited texts starting at just £5/month. SIM-only tariffs are different from traditional Pay Monthly contracts in that they do not provide a new phone. For this reason, they tend to be about £180/year cheaper than traditional contracts.
In this guide, we’ve compared all of the SIM-only tariffs from the big networks in the UK (3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone). For each price point, we’ve searched through all the tariffs to find the one offering the most minutes and texts. Any of the products listed below should work in your existing phone, providing that it’s unlocked.
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Do you have a smartphone?
If you have a smartphone (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Palm, etc.) then you’ll need an inclusive internet allowance. You should instead refer to our smartphone SIM-only tariff guide. |
Is your phone locked?
Firstly, you should check whether your phone is locked. Depending on who you bought your phone from, there is a good chance that it could be locked to your current network. If you’re switching to another network, you’ll need to unlock your phone first. We’ve got a guide on how to tell whether your phone is locked. Typically unlocking your phone involves calling up your current network. There may also be a small fee involved.
Can I take my number with me if I switch network?
Yes. You’ll need to obtain a PAC code for this purpose. Our detailed guide to PAC codes outlines your rights to a PAC code, how to obtain one and how to use it.
£5/month – Giffgaff’s “Unlimited Texts” Goodybag
For a flat rate of a fiver a month, O2 subsidiary Giffgaff offers an “unlimited texts” goodybag (see our review). Unfortunately there is no call time allowance included with this tariff so you’ll have to pay 8p/minute for calls. Order a free SIM card from Giffgaff to get started.
If you need some call time, Tesco offer 100 minutes as well as unlimited texts for an extra quid a month. See the next deal for more information…
| Minutes: | None; 8p/minute |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 1 month |
Get this deal from Giffgaff (£5/month) »
£10/month – Vodafone
Most of the networks offer around 100 minutes at the £10/month price range. Hence the clear winner in terms of the number of minutes is Vodafone’s tariff which offering 300 minutes and unlimited texts for £10/month. The tariff comes on a 12-month contract.
| Minutes: | 300 minutes |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 12 months |
Get this deal from Vodafone (£10/month) »
If you want to opt for a shorter 1-month rolling contract, Tesco Mobile offer the best deal with 250 minutes and unlimited texts for £10/month.
| Minutes: | 250 minutes |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 1 month |
Get this deal from Tesco Mobile (£10/month) »
£15/month – O2 or Vodafone
At £15/month, competition really hots up. Both O2 and Vodafone offer 600 minutes and unlimited texts. On top of that, O2 offers the choice of unlimited calls to either O2 customers or to landlines. Whereas the Vodafone deal comes with unlimited calls to other Vodafone customers. The best package really depends on whether you have more friends on O2 or on Vodafone.
Both tariffs come with a 12-month contract.
| Minutes: | 600 minutes AND either unlimited O2, landline or Vodafone calls |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 12 months |
Get this deal from O2 (£15/month) » (with either unlimited O2 or unlimited landline calls)
Get this deal from Vodafone (£15/month) » (with unlimited Vodafone calls)
If you want to opt for a shorter 1-month rolling contract, Tesco Mobile offer the best deal with 500 minutes and unlimited texts for £15/month.
| Minutes: | 500 minutes |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 1 month |
Get this deal from Tesco Mobile (£15/month) »
£20/month – O2
The best value tariff at the £20/month price point is offered by O2. They’re offering 900 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited calls to either other O2 customers or landlines for £20 month. It’s a 12-month contract.
| Minutes: | 900 minutes AND unlimited O2 or landline calls |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 12 months |
Get this deal from O2 (£20/month) »
If you want to opt for a shorter 1-month rolling contract, Tesco Mobile offer the best deal with 750 minutes and unlimited texts for £20/month.
| Minutes: | 250 minutes |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 1 month |
Get this deal from Tesco Mobile (£20/month) »
£25/month or above – Three’s “The One Plan”
Unlike the rest of our top picks, Three’s “The One Plan” (reviewed here) is suitable for use with smartphones too. It’s essentially an “unlimited calls, texts and internet” package (albeit with some limits). For £25/month, you’ll get 2000 cross-network minutes, 5000 3-to-3 minutes, 5000 texts, 1GB internet and free voicemail. You’re going to struggle to use this all up… it equates to making 67 minutes of calls and sending 167 texts every single day.
| Minutes: | 2000 cross-network minutes & 5000 3-to-3 minutes |
|---|---|
| Texts: | 5000 texts |
| Internet: | 1GB |
| Contract: | 12 months |
Get this deal from Three (£25/month) »
If you need more than 900 minutes per month, this is the tariff to go for. There are no other “best deals” above this price point… “The One Plan” offers a larger allowance of minutes than any of the pricier SIM-only tariffs offered on other networks.
If you want to opt for a shorter 1-month rolling contract, Tesco Mobile offer a similar deal for £30/month. You’ll get unlimited calls, texts and internet.
| Minutes: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Texts: | Unlimited |
| Internet: | Unlimited |
| Contract: | 1 month |
Get this deal from Tesco Mobile (£30/month) »
| About Ken | |
 | My mission is to demystify the world of mobile technology for general audiences and to communicate how mobile technology can enhance our 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 at various trade shows and events. If you'd like to get in touch, please drop me an e-mail. |
Nice site Ken. You don't give details for Virgin mobile, but if you have another Virgin service then they offer SIM only at £5 a month, 100 mins, free texts. Better value than any here.