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SIM Only deals are mobile phone tariffs that are cheaper than normal mobile deals which include a phone. They’re a great way to reduce your mobile phone bills and save cash in these times of austerity. But how do you get the best SIM Only deal? See our comparison table below and read our SIM Only FAQs
Are you looking for our Blackberry SIM Only deals or iPhone SIM Only deals comparison?
The cheapest SIM Only deals from each mobile network:
| Operator | Inclusive Minutes | Inclusive Texts | Monthly Cost | Data | Minimum Term | Buy Now |
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3 SIM 100 1 Month |
100 | 3000 Texts | £10 | 1GB | 30 days |
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O2 Simplicity 30 Day Plan |
100 | Unlimited | £10.50 | 100MB | 30 days |
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Dolphin 10.50 SIM |
50 | Unlimited | £10.50 | 100MB | 30 days |
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T-Mobile SIM Only + Flexible Booster |
100 | Unlimited | £10.21 | Unlimited | 30 days |
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Vodafone SIM Only Plan |
50 | 3000 | £10.50 | 100MB | 30 days |
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Last updated: January 11 2011
Best SIM Only FAQs
Why are SIM Only deals cheap?
SIM Only deals have really taken off in the last few year because they offer you much better value for money than a standard mobile phone tariff. Normal mobile phone deals build the cost of the new phone into the monthly line rental. You pay a lower monthly line rental – roughly £10 to £15 lower – for the equivalent minutes and texts as a deal that includes a new mobile phone. In 12 months the cheapest SIM Only deals will save you up to £120.
Why should I go SIM Only?
With SIM Only mobile phone tariffs you get two major benefits:
- You’ll normally save £10 to £15 per month with SIM Only, when compared to a tariff with the equivalent minutes and texts that includes a phone in the deal. That’s at least £120 a year!
- You only have to sign-up for a 30 day contract which means you have the freedom to move to a SIM Only deal the day your current contract ends and then move to a standard tariff which includes a phone whenever you need or want. For example, maybe after 3 months with a SIM Only deal your current phone breaks or perhaps you’re waiting for the launch of a particuar new phone. You can immediately switch to a new deal that includes a phone. I changed my contract to SIM Only whilst awaiting the launch of the iPhone 3G which saved me £80 over 4 months!
What do I need to have in order to benefit from a SIM Only tariff?
- You must have already completed your minimum contract term with your current operator.
- You must already have a suitable mobile phone that you can use with the SIM. You may need to request the handset unlock code from your current operator.
Can I keep my number with SIM Only?
Yes! As with any other mobile phone contract you just request a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) from your current operator and then pass this on to your new one. The operators then manage the process of porting your number for you. You can even port your number after signing up for SIM Only.
To find out more about the best SIM Only deals just click on the big blue buttons above to go to the operator’s websites.
SIM Only Deals,
Hi
I already have a blackberry and want a contract now for it.
Do you cater for such deals>
Hi Pravin
I’ve had a quick check of all the operators and only T-Mobile seem to offer a Blackberry specific bolt-on with SIM Only. If you click on the T-Mobile blue button above and select the plan with the mins and texts you are after, the next page offers you Blackberry ‘Boosters’ for email and/or internet.
The other operators all offer mobile internet or data download bolt on tariffs but this may not be designed specifically for Blackberry so you should check directly with the operators if you sign up with them. Depending on how you want to use your Blackberry and how you want to download your emails you may need more support from the network too.
Let me know what you go for and how things work out.
The GadgetStylist
Hi,
My contract has come to an end and I was wanting to get a sim only deal with 02, it gives me the option to add a web bolt-on to the sim only deal but I don’t know if it will be worth it or not i.e. if I’ll use £7 worth of web browsing a month.
Can you tell me if I will be able to add the web bolt-on next month when I know if it is worth it or not or do I have to add it on when I first take out the sim only deal with them.
Any help would be much appreciated thanks.
Hi John
I’m almost certain you can switch Bolt Ons on and off each month. I would recommend checking when you call up. If you intend to use email, Facebook, footy scores, etc, I would advise signing up now and then checking how much data you’ve used on your bill. You can then figure out whether it saved you money and you won’t risk having a hefty one off bill if you use more than you expect.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
The SIM Only Stylist
Hi,
I’ve got a contract with 02 through the carphone warehouse and I phoned up looking to change to a sim only deal that 02 have on the internet, so I’d basically be cancelling my contract with them and ordering the sim only deal. I was told that I couldn’t keep the same number if I wanted to get this deal. Is this true or was the guy just telling me load of lies.
Thanks.
Hi John
Assuming you are out of your minimum term you should be able to transfer your number from any contract deal to any network’s SIM Only deal. I did just that on O2. Was it O2 you called or Carphone? Do Carphone administer your contract perhaps?
Either way I’d advise popping in to an O2 Store on this occasion and getting them to sort it for you as this guy seems to be confused or obstructive to try and earn some commission I would guess.
Let me know how it goes.
The SIM Only Stylist
Hi All,
I am from the United States but I will be moving to the UK in a few weeks. I still have a contract with AT&T in the US. As you might be able to tell, the move was a bit sudden. So I have been looking into getting a SIM card for a UK brand. I should be able to take out my AT&T SIM and give it to someone that has an AT&T phone (yes, I know that I will continue paying and am ok with this). My question is, what happens to my number? It goes with the SIM card, correct? So I will get a UK number with the UK SIM card? I would prefer to have the UK number so that I can call everyone in the UK without paying roaming or international fees. Is this how it works? Any help that anyone can give would help me very much. Thank you in advance!
Janice
Hi Janice
Congratulations on moving over here!
A nice easy question at last. Yes your US phone number will stay with your AT&T contract and SIM card. UK numbers are completely separate from US ones. Once you arrive you’ll need to get a UK SIM card, probably a pay as you go SIM card to start with as I’m not sure how easy it will be to sign up for a contract without a UK bank account. Pay as you go means you’ll buy credit for your phone/SIM card in advance of making calls.
You’ll pay nothing to receive calls from anywhere in the world although your friends and family in the US will have to pay more to make an international call to call you. You can get SIM cards that are specfically set up for international visitors that offer cheaper calls abroad for the occasions you do need to call home.
Any more questions, just let me know.
The SIM Only Stylist
P.S. Don’t forget to pack an umbrella!
great links and a great help for my blackberry sim only contract! Thanks
Regarding Pravin’s question about Blackberry SIM only, it’s not on their website but I have SIM only O2 Simplicity tarriff at £20 per month (600mins / 1200 sms) which includes a Blackberry bolt on (BIS all data charges included). Cheapest BB BIS with voice use I think.
the t mobile £10 for 350 mins and unlimited text for a sim only deal is not available on the tmobile website ?
misleading or is it a come on ?
Hi David
T-Mobile have changed their tariffs since the page was last updated. I’ve now corrected the cheapest T-Mobile tariff and added a 3 Mobile tariff too.
Hi
I’ve just stupidly bought a PAYG blackberry curve on orange…costing me a fortune.
The SIM only deals seem too good to be true…will I really be able to purchase one, pop into my phone and get all those free txts & mins on a monthly basis???????
Hi Danny
Yes you should be able to do this for Orange very easily. For another network you may need to get the phone unlocked first.
The Blackberry SIM Only deals are good because the mobile networks want to get people onto pay monthly rather than pay as you go. More loyal and therefore more lucrative customers for them, better value for you. They also don’t need to Buy and ship the phone, saving them more money and hassle.
Let me know if you have any more questions.