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giffgaff SIM only deals

giffgaff’s SIM only deals mean you only pay for your network usage, not the handset, resulting in a low monthly cost.

Uswitch tips

How do I switch and keep my number?
Thumbnail, graphic - SIM cards from different networks. Uswitch compares deals from Lebara Mobile, O2, iD Mobile, Three, Vodafone and others.

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.

List of SIM Only deals

  1. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £10.00 a month

    18 month contract

    60 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  2. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £10.00 a month

    No contract

    20 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  3. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £6.00 a month

    No contract

    2 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  4. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £25.00 a month

    18 month contract

    Unlimited5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  5. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £15.00 a month

    18 month contract

    120 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  6. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £8.00 a month

    No contract

    5 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  7. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £8.00 a month

    18 month contract

    6 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  8. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £20.00 a month

    18 month contract

    200 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  9. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £35.00 a month

    No contract

    Unlimited5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
  10. giffgaff SIM Deal

    Uses O2's Network

    giffgaff

    £12.00 a month

    No contract

    26 GBof 5G data

    • No price rise in 2024
    • EU roaming included
Can't find what you're looking for?

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.

Author: Joe Svetlik | Last updated: 28 August 2024

How to choose the best giffgaff SIM only plan

Before you take out a giffgaff SIM only plan, think about what’s important to you. Do you need tonnes of data each month? Lots of minutes for talking on the phone? Maybe you’re message-mad and need hundreds of monthly texts to stay in touch.

If you stream videos a lot when out and about, you’ll need lots of data. Apps like WhatsApp can save your text message allowance, as they send messages over the internet instead of your cellular connection. The same goes for VOIP apps, which make calls over the internet. But both use data, and they’re not always convenient to use.

Think about how much you want to spend as well. giffgaff has some of the most affordable SIM only plans around, so you should be able to find one that suits you for a reasonable monthly cost.

What SIM only deals does giffgaff offer?

  • Unlimited data

This is very handy if you stream videos a lot when out and about, especially if you prefer to watch in a higher resolution like HD or 4K. But it could also suit anyone working away from home who needs to tether their laptop or tablet to their mobile, especially if they’re downloading or uploading big files.

  • Pay as you go

You can choose pay as you go if you prefer to keep a tighter rein on what you spend. PAYG only lets you use your phone if you have credit in your account, so when the credit runs out, you can’t spend any more without topping up first. This makes it harder to overspend by, say, live streaming a big sports event on your mobile without thinking about the cost.

giffgaff’s pay as you go prices are 25p/min for calls, 10p/text and 10p/MB of data. If you only use your phone occasionally – if you’re at home a lot on your Wi-Fi connection, say – or you want to make sure you don’t overspend, it might be a wise option.

  • 5G

All giffgaff plans support 5G, so as long as you have a 5G-compatible phone, and you’re in an area with 5G coverage, you can enjoy the faster speeds that 5G brings.

  • Cheap deals

giffgaff SIM only deals start at just £6 per month, making it one of the cheapest SIM only offers around. That plan gets you 2GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts.

Is giffgaff a good network?

giffgaff has performed well in terms of customer satisfaction in recent years, winning the Uswitch Awards Network of the Year 2023, Best Pay As You Go Network 2023 and Best SIM Only Network 2023. Perks include an extra 1GB of data with your third goodybag purchase (it calls its monthly packages ‘goodybags’) and the ability to change or cancel your plan anytime, with no contract locking you in.

giffgaff is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). This means it doesn’t have its own mobile network but piggybacks off one of the main networks (in this case, O2). O2’s network gives giffgaff 99 percent UK coverage. This also gives it an average 4G connection speed of 17.1Mbps and 5G speeds between 110-140Mbps (according to OpenSignal’s 2021 survey).

giffgaff’s customer service operators are supported by its army of customers (referred to as ‘members’), who are on hand to answer questions day and night. If they can’t help, an ‘agent’ (which is what giffgaff calls its customer service operators) should step in.

Find out more on our giffgaff mobile phone network page

Is it easy to switch to giffgaff?

Switching to giffgaff is no different to switching to any other network. All you do is call your existing provider to get a PAC code (Porting Authorisation Code), which they are legally obliged to send you within two hours of your request.

Don’t fancy calling them? No problem. Just text PAC to 65075, and you’ll be texted your PAC code. Give this PAC code to giffgaff, and they’ll start the switch. Make sure you supply them with the PAC code within 30 days, or it will expire, and you’ll need to get a new one.

Can I change to giffgaff and keep my number?

Yes, you can. As outlined above, you just need to get your PAC code from your existing mobile provider, then give it to giffgaff. There’s more info in our guide to transferring your number to a new phone.

If you don’t want to keep your number, contact giffgaff and tell them you want a new number, then end your contract with your old network.

You can also do this by text—to complete your old contract and get your Service Termination Authorisation Code (STAC), just text STAC to 75075.

How to activate a giffgaff SIM card

Before you can use your giffgaff SIM card, you’ll need to activate it. Head to giffgaff.com/activate and enter the six- or 13-digit activation code printed on the SIM. You’ll need your credit or debit card too, for billing purposes. Then you’ll be up and running in no time.

Do giffgaff SIM only plans include roaming?

They do. You can use your giffgaff SIM only deal in the EU and some other locations just as you would at home. They have a roaming cap, but it only kicks in once you’ve used 5GB. Anyone on pay as you go will have data, calls and texts charged at the usual UK PAYG rates while roaming in the EU. If you’re travelling outside the EU and these other included locations, you’ll need to add credit to your account to use data roaming. Find out giffgaff’s roaming costs on giffgaff.com/roaming-charges.

giffgaff customer service

In keeping with its strapline: ‘the mobile network run by you’ giffgaff's customer service is operated by its support team agents as well as its own customers, dubbed members, who answer your queries and help you out when you’re stuck. Anyone can sign up to be a member. And for their efforts, they'll be rewarded with giffgaff points, not to mention the satisfaction of helping others.

giffgaff claims that its team of members allow you can get help at any time, day or night, unlike big mobile networks' call centres that are only open between certain times. And it should mean there's no need to wait in long call centre queues either.

Whilst giffgaff has this community of members, there are also agents on hand to help with questions related to your account.

Other networks

giffgaff not right for you? There are many UK networks with a range of products available. No matter your budget, data requirements, or handset preference, you’ll be able to find the ideal package: 

FAQ

Read more...

giffgaff international roaming FAQ

If you're with giffgaff and you're travelling abroad, find out about any roaming charges or packages you could select with the network.

Learn more
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