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A SIM-only deal means you don’t get a new phone – you only pay for your minutes, texts and data allowance (also known as airtime).
They’re a great option if you just need an airtime plan and want to keep your current phone. They can also come in handy if you want to get a new handset and a SIM-only plan separately.
If you’re sticking with the same network provider, you should be able to get a SIM-only deal with the SIM card already in your phone.
If you’re switching to a new provider, you’ll either get a new physical SIM card, or you might be able to use an eSIM, depending on your device. This is a digital SIM already installed in the phone, letting you activate your airtime plan through an app in a matter of minutes.
SIM-only deals tend to be more flexible than mobile phone contracts, usually available on:
30-day rolling plans
12-24-month contracts
A pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis.
Generally cheaper – since you’re not paying for a handset, SIM-only deals tend to be cheaper than mobile phone contracts
Save money – you could save up to 50% with a SIM-only plan alongside a handset contract, according to Ofcom
Keep your existing phone – if you don’t need a new phone, you can keep your existing one and just refresh your airtime plan
Flexibility – short and rolling SIM-only contracts make it easier to change your plan or provider when you like
More chances to upgrade – short contracts mean you can get a new phone sooner
Easier credit check – monthly rolling SIM-only plans may involve fewer checks than longer contracts, but some providers might still run a credit check
Eco-friendly – making your phone last longer can cut your carbon footprint. And if your phone is eSIM-compatible, that’s a much greener option than a physical SIM card.
Switching can take longer – if your phone doesn’t support eSIM, you may need to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive before you can start using your new plan
Can be expensive initially – if you don’t already have one, you’ll need to buy a phone to use with your SIM-only plan, which can be a costly one-off expenditure
Limited airtime – some SIM-only contracts have restrictive data allowances and call caps. Check the small print carefully and keep an eye on your usage to avoid extra charges
You could miss out on perks – some phone contracts come with extras like discounted app subscriptions and device upgrade schemes, which you could miss out on with a SIM-only plan.
Most modern phones (usually from 2015) use Nano SIMs, the smallest physical SIM card. Some of the latest phones support both Nano and eSIMs.
If your phone came out before 2015, you might need a micro SIM, or a standard SIM if it came out before 2009.
Don’t worry too much if you’re not sure which SIM card you need. Most network providers will send you a 3-in-1 SIM card, sometimes called a Multi, Combi or Trio SIM. You can check them all and simply pop out the one that fits your phone.
Watch out
Some providers raise their prices every year, meaning your monthly bill could go up during your contract.
When you compare with us, we’ll show you which deals include mid-contract price rises to help you make the right choice for you.
There are four main mobile network operators in the UK: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three.
Some smaller providers are known as mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), and they use the same signal as one of the major providers.
What this means for you is that you have more deals to choose from and you could get the same great coverage at a potentially lower price.
Here are some of the most popular MVNOs and the networks they run on:
Network | MVNO |
|---|---|
EE | BT Mobile, Lyca Mobile, Spusu, Mozillion |
O2 | Virgin Media, Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile |
Vodafone | VOXI, Talk Mobile, Lebara, ASDA Mobile |
Three | iD Mobile, Smarty, Superdrug Mobile |
Yes, if your phone is 5G-ready, which should be most of the latest devices.
5G SIM-only plans are available from all four of the UK’s major mobile networks (EE, O2, Vodafone and Three), as well as several MVNOs, including BT, Voxi, Sky and Tesco.
Bear in mind that to get 5G, you’ll also need to be within the coverage area, which currently covers 64-89% of the UK.
Use the 5G coverage map checker to see if your address is covered.
First, check if you’re still in contract. You may need to pay an exit fee if you want to switch early.
If you're unsure, simply text INFO to 85075 for free to find out.
We’ll show you all our SIM-only deals in just 1 minute1.
Filter deals by network, monthly cost, data, contract length and more to find a deal that works for you.
Once you’ve found a plan you like, simply click ‘Go to site’ to continue to the provider’s website and sign up. Don’t forget to share your email with us to get your Meerkat Rewards*.
Make sure your phone is unlocked
Whether you’re using a physical or digital SIM card, check that your phone is unlocked before switching to a new provider.
Phones sold in the UK after December 2021 should be unlocked. If you bought your phone before this date, it may still be locked to a network.
Explore guides on phone upgrades, packages, roaming and data costs
Your number should stay the same if you’re changing to a SIM-only deal with your current provider.
But if you’re switching to a new provider, you’ll need a PAC code to keep your number.
Just text ‘PAC’ to 65075. Your current provider will send you your PAC code, which is valid for 30 days. You then give your PAC code to your new provider, and they’ll switch your new number with your old one.
Since the competition between networks is fierce, some will offer gifts or incentives with a SIM-only deal.
Potential bonuses could include discounted rates for an introductory period, subscriptions to streaming services or vouchers to spend on the high street.
Any disruption to your service will hopefully be minimal when switching to a SIM-only deal. If you’re switching providers and transferring your number, there may be a short period without service.
This can happen after you’ve sent your new network your PAC code. If this lasts more than a few minutes, contact the customer service team.
If you experience loss of service for more than one day, you could be entitled to compensation. If you’re sticking with your current network, the process is usually seamless.
Smaller mobile networks tend to rent access from one of the big networks – O2, EE, Three and Vodafone. This is known as ‘piggybacking’. For example, Giffgaff uses the O2 network and iD Mobile uses Three’s.
This means a lesser-known network could give you the same standard of call coverage and data, and the service can be just as reliable. You might well find that the best SIM-only deal for you is with a smaller network.
Phones sold after December 2021 are unlocked and can use SIM cards from any network. But you can check this quickly in your phone settings.
Go to: Settings > General > About. Here, you should see ‘Carrier Lock’ or ‘Network Provider Lock’, and it’ll say something like ‘No SIM restrictions’ if unlocked. The process may be slightly different depending on which phone you have.
Before you do anything, be aware that your SIM card contains a lot of personal information, including contact info of your friends and family. With that in mind, you have three options:
Destroy it – if you’re sure you’ll never need that SIM card again, cut the chip in half and recycle the plastic shell.
Recycle it – if you find a company that recycles old SIM cards, make sure you erase all personal information from the card before you hand it over
Keep it – you can keep your SIM in a secure place if you think it might come in handy again. For instance, if you lose your new SIM card. You can even convert old contract SIMs into pay-as-you-go SIM cards by contacting your network provider.
SIM-only deals are ideal for people with a poor credit score. The credit requirements are much more relaxed than for contracts with a handset.
If you pay for your SIM-only plan by direct debit each month and make your payments on time every month, it can signal to other lenders that you’re reliable with your finances and help improve your credit score.
But if you miss any payments, your credit score could go down and you may find it harder to get credit in the future.
Yes, you can get data-only SIM deals without any minutes or texts. These are ideal for tablets and laptops.
Many providers offer data-only SIMs, including O2, Three, Vodafone, Sky Mobile and Giffgaff.
An end-of-contract notification – or ECN – is a letter telling you that your contract is ending. It should spell out:
When your contract ends
How much you’ve been paying – and what you’ll pay after your contract ends
New deals you could switch to
Any notice period you might have before you can switch
All phone, broadband and pay-TV companies must, by law, send end-of-contract notifications. You must receive these between 10 and 40 days before your deal ends.
End-of-contract notifications are a useful reminder to start comparing SIM only deals.
When you sign up for a SIM only contract on a rolling monthly basis, you may not need to pass a credit check, depending on the provider. But you’ll likely need to pass a credit check to sign up to a longer SIM only contract. For example, if you’re wanting a 12 or 24-month deal.
It’s possible to find SIM only contracts that include unlimited data. You can read more about these in our guide to unlimited data SIM deals. These are good for people without access to WiFi, or who travel regularly.
In terms of flexibility, the best SIM only deals include unlimited data, minutes and texts. This means you can text, call and browse as much as you like but you may pay more for this deal versus others.
A long-term SIM only plan allows you to better plan your spending. It may be priced more cheaply or include extra perks to tempt you to sign up for a longer term. But there’s always the risk that you may be missing out on cheaper SIM only deals if you fix for a longer period.
SIM only deals can be as short as 30 days. These are ideal if you’re always hunting for the best SIM only deals and want maximum flexibility. Plus, with a rolling contract, you can normally stay on the same deal until you give your 30 days’ notice to leave.
Ultimately, finding the best mobile phone SIM only deal for you depends on how you use your phone and like to manage your money.
With the UK racing towards gigabit speeds and our phones more integral to our lives, Matt wants to make sure you have great packages that can keep up. And with more than 10 years' experience working with digital brands, he’s shaping our broadband, TV and phone comparison journeys.
1 Correct as of June 2026.
What our expert says...
“Many people stay on expensive phone contracts long after they’ve paid off their handset. If your phone’s still doing the job and you’re happy to keep it, switching to a SIM-only deal could be a great way to lower your monthly costs.
“The trick is to compare more than just the price – things like contract length and data allowances matter too to help you find a plan that actually suits your needs.”