Standard SIM only deals

Last Update September 6th, 2016

What is a SIM only deal?

SIM only deals are a mobile package that offers an unlimited or a specified amount of minutes, data and texts which you can pop into any unlocked handset. A SIM only deal is a great way to keep your beloved old handset or to save money each month as you pay a lower monthly cost than a deal with a mobile handset.

Most mobile phone deals and offers are a combination of the perfect handset and the perfect tariff. For some people, the call and text package is the only important part of the mobile phone deal.

For those of us who already have the perfect handset and are simply looking for a great deal on calls and texts, the best mobile phone deal is a SIM-only deal or pay as you go SIM. A SIM-only mobile phone deal does exactly what is says on the tin, giving you a mobile phone SIM card without the handset.

SIM-only mobile deals are great if you already have a handset you love. Most UK mobile phone networks offer at least one pay as you go SIM phone deal.

Perhaps you have just come to the end of your contract and you are looking to get a new mobile phone deal. If you are happy with handset you have, then you can get a SIM card for the existing handset and carry on using it as before, only with your new number.

back to top

I’ve found a good SIM only deal with my existing network. What happens now?

So you’ve chosen the SIM only deal you want and you’re certain you’ve fulfilled your contractual obligations. Good news.

All you need to do to now is phone up your network and tell them you’d like to switch to the SIM only deal you’ve selected.

You’ll then be transferred to your new SIM only deal 30 days after your current contract was due to end. It’s that simple.

back to top

I want a SIM only deal with another network. What do I do?

The very first step is to check that you’re free to switch. The best way to do this to ring your network.

Once you’ve established that you are, pick a SIM only deal and network that suits you using the uSwitch comparison tables above and sign up for it. Your SIM card should arrive within two days.

In the meantime, ring or email your network to tell them you’d like to leave and ask them to unlock your phone.

You may find you're encouraged to stay by their customer retentions department. If you are it's important that you're firm with them and insist that you're determined to switch.

A charge may apply for unlocking your phone. But this will only be between £15-£20. Once the phone is unlocked you can insert your new SIM and you're all set.

If you want to keep your number, make sure you also ask your current network for a PAC code (Porting Authorisation Code) when you notify them you’d like to leave. We’ll look at how you use your PAC code more closely in the section below.

back to top

How do I keep my number?

If you want to keep your number when you change networks, you'll need to ask for a PAC code from your current provider.

A PAC code is made up of three letters and six numbers and is provided free by your network.

To get your PAC code you can either phone or email your network or use a PAC code request form that you can fill on your network's website.

To begin the number transfter you need to ring or email the network you're joining and supply them with your PAC code. You must do this within 30 days of the PAC code being issued.

The transfer of the number is normally complete the next working day.

In the meantime, leave your old SIM in your phone. This means that apart from a very brief period when the transfer is actually underway, you’ll still be able to receive calls and texts on your phone.

To check if the transfer is complete, just insert your new SIM in your handset and see if your new number is registered on your new network. If you are, everything's gone according to plan.

back to top

What do I do with my old SIM?

If you're worried that your SIM and the contacts, text messages and other personal information you've stored on it could fall into the wrong hands, you'll need to dispose of it carefully.

Just as you would with an old credit card, the safest thing to do is take the SIM and use scissors to cut it up.

While you're doing so, ensure you damage the gold foil so you make absolutely certain there's no way anyone can retrieve your personal information.

You're then free to throw the old SIM away.

back to top

Will there be a credit check? What happens if I fail?

Whether you want to sign up for one-month rolling SIM only contact or 12-month SIM only contract with a new network, you'll have to pass credit check.

For pay monthly, rolling contracts, the credit check isn't as stringent as for 12 months. So if you've been rejected for a 12-month contract before, there's no reason to believe you won't be accepted.

But if you fail your credit check, that doesn't mean you can't get a good SIM only deal.

Pay as you go deals with some networks now offer monthly allowances that aren't much less generous than SIM only contracts.

The only major difference is that you'll have to remember to top up to ensure you've got credit.

back to top

Can I trust smaller, less well known networks? Is the service as good?

Although the likes of giffgaff and the people's operator aren't as instantly recognisable as high-street names such as Three, EE and Tesco, they're brands you can trust.

giffgaff, for instance, has won a slew of consumer awards, including Best Value for Money Pay Monthly from uSwitch.

In fact, many smaller networks offer market-leading call rates, so can work out cheaper.

You'll also find that there's no difference in call quality and mobile internet coverage with smaller providers.

That's because their service is based on larger providers' network infrastructure, which these smaller networks pay a fee to use.

Where you may find a difference compared with the larger networks is in customer support, however. In order to keep prices low, some smaller networks don't operate a call centre and offer online support only.

If you choose smaller networks you also shouldn't expect enticing customer incentives, such as O2's Freebies or movie downloads with EE.

But you may decide that you don't want or need those and that a good service and cheap rates are your priority.

back to top

MicroSIM? NanoSIM? How can I be sure I'm getting the right SIM for my phone?

Not all SIMs work in all phones. Micro SIM are generally compatible with older phones, while newer models use Nano SIM.

The only sure way to tell them apart is size.

A microSIM measures around 0.6” long by 0.5” wide.

A NanoSIM is a little bit smaller at 0.5” long by 0.3” wide.

We haven't got the space to give you a definitive list of which handsets are compatible with which phones.

Smartphones that are compatible with Micro SIM include:

• Apple iPhone 4/4S and Apple iPad
• HTC One series (excluding the M8)
• Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 & S5 and Galaxy Note 2, 3 and 4
• Sony Xperia S & Z and Z2 series

Smartphones that are compatible with Nano SIM include:

• Apple iPhone 5/5s/5c and iPhone 6 series
• Samsung Galaxy Alpha
• Sony Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact
• HTC One M8, Desire 610 and Desire 816
• Nokia Lumia 1520, Lumia 1320, Lumia 930
• Motorola Moto X

back to top

Will I lose service if I switch to a SIM only deal with another network?

The process of moving network has been designed to keep the time you're without a service down to a minimum.

Even after you've given the network you're joining your PAC code (see above for a more detailed explanation of PAC codes), so you'll still be able to take calls and receive texts during this time.

When the transfer to your new network is actually happening, your service will be down for a very short period.

To test when the transfer has been done, simply insert your new SIM in the phone and restart it. If you're got a service, you're good to go.

back to top

What is a SIM card?

A SIM card is a microchip around the size of a postage stamp holding all of a mobile phone's configuration information, for example the mobile phone number and call plan. Without a SIM card, a mobile phone will not work. SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module. Once a SIM card has been activated it is permanently locked to the particular network, though not locked to a particular phone. That means you can easily change mobile phone handsets but keep your phone number, your friends’ phone numbers and any saved messages or photos.

back to top

Why choose a SIM-only mobile phone deal?

Maybe you want to keep a couple of different mobile phones for different purposes? Perhaps you spend a lot of time outside hiking or playing extreme sports? With SIM only plans you can keep an inexpensive basic handset for when you're off on your adventures, and a nice top-of-the range handset to pull out of your pocket in business meetings.

back to top

Which networks offer SIM-only deals?

SIM-only plans are available from all the major mobile phone networks and companies including:

• O2 SIM only
• Three SIM only
• Virgin SIM only
• Vodafone SIM only
• EE SIM only
• Tesco SIM only
• ID Mobile SIM only
• giffgaff SIM only
• The People's Operator SIM only
• Talkmobile SIM only

back to top

SIM-only pay as you go (PAYG) deals

If you already have a handset you can get a PAYG SIM package (pay as you go) from one of the mobile phone networks and convert your old contract phone into a pay as you go phone.

Three also offers a PAYG SIM-only mobile deal, from as little as £10 you can get a 3G pay as you go SIM card to put into any 3G phone.

Virgin offer a pay as you go SIM-only deal from as little as £5. They also offer the Liberty SIM, a deal offering SIM-only pay as you go customers the best of both worlds.

There are also competitive pay as you go, EE SIM only, Vodafone SIM only, and Tesco SIM only plans.

back to top

Looking for a data only SIM deal for your iPad or tablet? Take a look at our data only SIM page or our iPad SIM card page to find the best deals.