How our calculator works

The uSwitch.com mobile calculator is a tool for working out the best mobile phone deal for you.

It calculates the monthly cost of ownership of each mobile phone plan based, using details including:

• line rental
• other fixed, monthly charges (e.g. text bundles)
• call costs
• handset costs
• connection charges
• inclusive minutes (calls)
• inclusive texts
• any other discounts

The calculator then checks through the mobile phone tariffs that are available within the budget range you selected and calculates the average monthly cost.

To work out the average call costs, we need to know how likely it is that each type of call will last a certain amount of time – worked out by a mathematical formula called a ‘probability distribution’.

Any free calls and discounts are also taken into account, as are any fixed monthly charges.

We also work out the ‘True monthly cost’ by factoring in the cost of the handset (if there is one), which we spread evenly over the duration of the pay monthly contract. The table of results is ranked by this true monthly cost.

You can also request to filter out contracts depending on whether you would like a 12 month, 18 month or longer term contract.

Any free texts and data minutes are taken into account together with any fixed monthly charges for these services.

If you want a specific handset, you can choose to filter out tariffs that don’t offer the one you want and only include those offering your chosen handset. You can also select to see results that only offer handsets made by a specific manufacturer.

Filtering your results limits your options so remember that if you choose to only see tariffs with a particular handset for example, you won’t necessarily be shown the deals that would be cheapest for you or all the features you want on your phone.

You can choose to filter your results to view plans that include gifts and offers when signing up for a mobile phone plan.

Filtering your results limits your options so remember that if you choose to only see tariffs with specific offers, you won’t necessarily be shown the deals that would be cheapest for you or all the features you want on your phone.