iD Mobile SIM Deal
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£6.00 a monthfor 3 months, then £12.00
12 month contract
120 GBof 5G data
Keep your mobile phone, switch to SIM Only, and you could save £352* a year. Compare our best SIM Only deals today.
Use our set of filters to adjust the data allowance, contract length, and price of our deals to ensure you find one that suits your budget and needs.
For more help with finding the right SIM Only deal, check out our guide to getting a UK SIM card and compare what you get with SIM Only vs a phone contract.
Uswitch tips
1. Choose your new deal
Select a deal below and click through to the network’s site.
2. Get your PAC code
You’ll need a special code to keep your number when you switch. It's quick and free:
Text PAC to 65075 to receive your code.
3. Give the code to your new network
Contact the new network after signing up to provide them with your PAC code, which will begin the process and will automatically cancel your previous plan. Alternatively, you can enter the PAC code when signing up on the network’s site.
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£6.00 a monthfor 3 months, then £12.00
12 month contract
120 GBof 5G data
Join Uswitch Plus for free to get our biggest savings
£7.99 a monthMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (RPI) plus 3.9%.
12 month contract
30 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£1.48 a monthfor 3 months, then £4.95
No contract
5 GBof 5G data
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£4.00 a monthfor 3 months, then £8.00
12 month contract
50 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£3.18 a monthfor 3 months, then £7.95
No contract
30 GBof 5G data
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£7.00 a month
1 month contract
33 GBof 5G data
£12.00 a monthMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.
12 month contract
120 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£4.00 a monthfor 3 months, then £8.00
12 month contract
50 GBof 5G data
£8.00 a monthMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.
12 month contract
30 GBof data
Uses O2's Network
£10.00 a month
18 month contract
60 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£10.00 a month
No contract
45 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£3.18 a monthfor 3 months, then £7.95
No contract
30 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£2.38 a monthfor 3 months, then £5.95
No contract
10 GBof 5G data
£10.00 a monthMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (RPI) plus 3.9%.
12 month contract
50 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£3.98 a monthfor 3 months, then £9.95
No contract
50 GBof 5G data
Uses EE's Network
£7.90 a monthfor 12 months, then £11.90
1 month contract
40 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£2.78 a monthfor 3 months, then £6.95
No contract
15 GBof 5G data
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£15.00 a month
1 month contract
Unlimited5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£7.95 a month
1 month contract
50 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£9.98 a monthfor 3 months, then £24.95
No contract
Unlimited5G data
Uses Three Mobile's Network
£6.00 a monthfor 3 months, then £12.00
12 month contract
120 GBof 5G data
Uses Vodafone's Network
£16.00 a month
1 month contract
Unlimited5G data
Uswitch services are provided at no cost to you, but we may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to. If a deal is "promoted" on Uswitch's tables, then it has been lent additional visibility as a result of us securing exclusivity on a great deal, or a commercial agreement to showcase what we believe to be market-leading value to consumers. Learn more about how our site works.
Please note: Mobile networks may increase monthly prices in line with the retail or consumer price index each year during the length of your contract. Please refer to individual network's terms and conditions before signing up.
A SIM only deal is ideal if you already have a phone that you're happy to carry on using, or if you'd rather just pay for a handset outright without a long-term contract commitment.
It's also worth noting that they're usually a lot cheaper per month than a handset & SIM plan, so you’ll be paying much lower monthly fees over the length of your contract.
Compare our best SIM only deals today to find the perfect plan for your personal mobile phone needs.
When you decide on a SIM only deal and click through to the network or retailer’s website to purchase it, here’s how it works:
Sign up to your SIM only plan - Confirm all the deal terms and submit your details if you need to complete a credit check
Get your PAC code - This is the code you need to keep your current phone number. Check the steps below to find out what to do
Get your SIM - Hooray! Once everything’s confirmed, you’ll get your new SIM
Start using your SIM – All you need to do is pop your new SIM into your phone and you are ready to go
If you're upgrading your contract with your current provider, it should be really straightforward to switch to a new deal and keep your number.
However, if you've found the deal via a third-party, like Uswitch or another price comparison website, you'll need to check with your network that it can switch you over.
The latest coverage figures from Opensignal* for the big four networks are:
Three: 98.5%, EE: 97.7%, O2: 96.2%, Vodafone: 96.6%
To find out what coverage you can get where you are, put your postcode into Ofcom’s coverage checker.
That means Three’s network covers more UK locations than any other provider. SMARTY and iD Mobile also operate on Three network, so they’ll offer the same coverage.
Here's a look at every network operates:
MVNO | Which network is it based on? |
---|---|
Asda Mobile | Vodafone |
Spusu | EE |
giffgaff | O2 |
iD Mobile | Three |
Lebara Mobile | Vodafone |
Lyca Mobile | EE |
Sky Mobiles | O2 |
SMARTY | Three |
Talkmobile | Vodafone |
Tesco Mobiles | O2 |
VOXI | Vodafone |
Honest Mobile | Three |
Here are some of the main reasons why a SIM only deal could be right for you.
There aren't many downsides, with the only real downside being they don't come with a mobile phone included in the deal, so you will need a handset of your own to use the SIM card.
You don’t get a mobile phone with the deal and the price of a brand new one without a contract can be a lot to pay upfront.
Several factors will come into play when choosing the right SIM only deal for you.
You should consider the length of your deal, how much you want to spend, your monthly data allowance and whether you’re interested in additional perks or prefer a no-frills bundle.
SIM details | Lebara Mobile SIM card |
Monthly price | £2.78 p/m |
Data allowance | 15GB |
Contract length | No contract |
Extras | EU roaming included |
You can currently get a SIM only deal for as little as £1.58, which comes with 1GB of data. It’s not a huge amount but it’s certainly enough for many UK consumers. You don’t have to pay a lot more to increase your data, either. This iD Mobile deal offers 80GB for just £10 a month. And there are plenty of similar deals, too.
While SIM only deals can change, it’s an indication of how much you can save, compared to a pay monthly mobile phone contract.
According to Ofcom, the average mobile phone user in 2023 used about 8.1GB per month while connected to mobile data on their smartphone. That covers browsing the web, checking emails and scrolling through social media.
So you may think you need unlimited data, but in reality, a much smaller package would be more than enough. The less data you need, the more money you can save, as smaller bundles are usually cheaper than big data plans.
If you want to see how much data you're using, all you have to do is take a look at your network's app on your phone. There, you should find a detailed breakdown of exactly how much data you use on a monthly basis.
The length of contract you choose comes down to your personal preference. You can usually choose from:
30-day deals: These short-term plans are perfect for people who want a no-commitment SIM deal. You can keep the plan rolling for as long as you like, but you can also cancel and switch to a new plan at any point after the initial 30 days. You’re more likely to get a cheap 30-day deal on a smaller network like Lebara, giffgaff or SMARTY.
12-month deals: Opt for this type of deal and you’ll be committed to using it for a year. After that, you can keep using it or switch over to a new plan at any time.
18/24-month deals: This is ideal if you just want to sign up for a SIM only deal you’re happy with and not worry about finding a new one anytime soon. Longer deals are common with larger networks like Vodafone and O2.
If you want to switch networks to find a better deal, you first need to work out how long is left on your existing contract. To find this out, you can log into your network's app or website, contact their customer service team or text INFO to 85075.
However, if you’re still in the middle of your contract, you’ll have to wait for the plan to end before you switch over to SIM only, unless you’re willing to pay an early cancellation fee.
When you're approaching the end of your contract, your network is now obliged to send you an end-of-contract notification.
Once you're out of contract, switching networks is as simple as sending a text, thanks to the introduction of the text-to-switch legislation.
Moving networks is usually a near-seamless process, and you're not expected to be out of service for a noticeable period of time during the process. You'll still be able to take calls and receive texts after you've given your new network your PAC code.
When the actual switch to your new network happens, you may lose service for a very short while, but this is often only a matter of minutes.
When the transfer is done, just put your new SIM into your phone and switch it on. If the phone works and you can make calls, you've got service and you're all set.
Your new SIM only contract will usually start when your SIM card has been dispatched. If it’s a physical SIM card, just pop it in your smartphone and you’ll be good to go.
If it’s an eSIM, you’ll need to follow your network’s set-up instructions, but it will usually be a straightforward procedure of activating the eSIM in your phone’s settings.
Since December 2021, networks aren't allowed to sell locked phones, so if you got your phone after this date, it should already be unlocked.
A locked phone can only be used on the network you bought it on, but this can differ depending on which network, handset and plan you have. However, there's a simple way to see if your phone is unlocked.
If you’re on an iPhone, go to: Settings > General > About and scroll down until you see Network Provider Lock. Your phone will be unlocked if it says, ‘No SIM restrictions’. But if there’s a network’s name there, it is locked.
If you use an Android device, the method is very similar. Go to: Settings > Connections > Network and internet > Mobile network > Choose network. If you can now see several networks, your phone is unlocked. But if only one is showing, your phone is locked to that provider.
Check out our guide to unlocking your mobile phone for more details.
Once you’ve confirmed that your phone is unlocked, you're now free to get a new SIM. The next thing to do is find a SIM only deal that suits your needs.
We offer deals from most major UK mobile networks. You can compare SIM only contracts from Vodafone, O2, SMARTY, VOXI, Three, giffgaff and more.
Although the likes of giffgaff and VOXI may not be as instantly recognisable as high-street names like Three and O2, they're certainly brands you can trust. That's because their service is based on the larger providers' networks, which they pay a fee to use.
For instance, VOXI operates through Vodafone. So despite having a different name, different plans and different prices, VOXI’s coverage, speed and quality will be the same as Vodafone.
In fact, many smaller networks offer market-leading call rates and data deals, so they can often work out cheaper than more well-known networks.
However, the larger networks tend to offer more in the way of benefits and customer support.
To keep prices low, some smaller networks don't operate a call centre and offer online support only. With a big-name network, you’ll usually always be able to speak to a person if you need help with your account.
And don’t think benefits like O2 Priority Tickets and Vodafone’s VeryMe app are reserved for the major providers. Smaller networks offer incentives too, like VOXI’s data-free social media, iD's data rollover and Tesco Mobile’s Clubcard points.
For more information on each network’s perks and features, check out our dedicated network pages for Lebara Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile O2, Sky Mobile, iD Mobile, Asda Mobile and Lyca Mobile.
Want to know which network is doing the most for its customers?
Each year, we highlight mobile networks in our Uswitch Telecoms Awards, recognising the best in the market customer service, coverage, roaming and more.
Determined by consumer research as well as the decisions of a panel of judges, comprised of technology journalists and industry experts, these awards represent a seal of quality.
Take a look at the 2024 winners to see how the networks did in a selection of different categories.
Best SIM only networks | Winner | Highly commended |
---|---|---|
Network of the Year | Tesco Mobiles | giffgaff |
Best SIM Only Network | SMARTY | giffgaff |
Best Network for Customer Service | Tesco Mobile | Sky Mobile |
Best Network for Data | iD Mobile | giffgaff |
Best Network for Roaming | O2 | Lebara Mobile |
Best Network for Perks | Sky Mobile | O2 |
Most Popular Mobile Network | Lebara Mobile | O2 |
Best Handset Contract Network | Tesco Mobile | iD Mobile |
Best PAYG Network | giffgaff | Vodafone |
Here at Uswitch, we’ve been helping consumers lower their household bills since 2000. As we became one of the UK’s top home services comparison sites, we’ve helped people switch to cheaper SIM only, mobiles, broadband and insurance deals, saving consumers over £2.5 billion off their bills in the process.
If you still have some questions, help is at hand, Take a look at our mobile phone guides, where we cover the big topics in-depth:
How to transfer your mobile number to a new phone: In this guide, we help you switch to your new provider.
How much mobile data do you need? Read our guide on internet data allowances.
How to switch mobile networks: Switching mobile phone providers can seem daunting, but this guide makes it easier: find out more about how to switch your mobile network.
Can I use my mobile phone abroad? Take a deep dive into every UK network’s current roaming policy.
Which mobile network offers the best perks? From freebies to early-access tickets, there are all sorts of perks on offer when you sign up for a new mobile phone deal.
Ernest Doku, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, comments:
“If you’re nearing the end of your contract, you could reduce your bill dramatically by switching to a SIM Only plan as you’ll no longer pay extra for a handset.”
“If you’re happy with your current phone or bought a device outright, SIM Only offerings give you more opportunity to tailor your package - whether you’re a data guzzler or prefer to keep things minimal. “
“Plenty of SIM Only offers have no contract, allowing consumers to hang on to their handset for as long as they like and choose the right time to upgrade.”
Mobile phone networks must now notify their customers when their phone contracts are coming to an end.
This lets consumers avoid spending more than they need to, as well as giving them a heads up that they are free to find a better deal with them or a new network should they wish to shop around.
Yes, passing a credit check for a for 12-month SIM only deal is good for your credit rating. That's because you're committing to paying a set fee for your plan every month on time.
By paying every month on time, you show lenders you can be trusted with larger, regular payments.
Be careful though, because if you miss monthly payments, you can risk affecting your credit score. If you're worried about making monthly payments you could choose a rolling one-month plan, but they might be best so you can cancel or downgrade should you need to with no issues.
When signing up for 12, 18 or 24-month SIM only contracts with a brand new network, you will often need to pass a credit check.
For 30-day plans the credit check isn't as stringent as for longer contracts. So even if you haven't been accepted for a 12-month contract in the past, you can still pass the check.
Compare SIM only deals that don't require a credit check.
Yes, you can get 5G in a range of towns and cities around the United Kingdom, if you get a 5G SIM card and have a 5G-compatible phone.
UK locations where 5G is available include: Aberdeen, Barnsley, Basildon, Bath, Bedford, Belfast City, Birmingham, Blackburn, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bradford, Brighton, Birmington, Bristol, Cardiff, Carlisle, Colchester, Coventry, Derby, Doncaster, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Luton, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Northampton, Nottingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, Slough, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Sunderland, Swindon, Wigan, York.
As with other mobile contracts, SIM only deals can include incentives and perks to give customers even more for their money often come with many features and incentives.
For instance, Vodafone and O2 both offer various freebies to their customers via their apps.
SIM only deals can vary in price. You can pay as little as £6 a month, but the price usually depends on how much data you need.
The more data that's included in the deal, the more you'll often have to pay. You also shouldn't have to pay more for a 5G deal, as most major networks now include 5G as standard at no extra cost.