Is pay-as-you-go cheaper?

Pay-as-you-go costs less in the short term, as you can top up any amount of your choosing. If you don’t plan on using your phone a lot, it’s the perfect option. However, calls, texts and data are priced higher on PAYG. So if you’re expecting to use your phone a lot, a monthly plan may be cheaper.

Do I have to top up every month on pay as you go?

No, you can top up as much or as little as you want. There may be some instances where your credit has to be used within a specific time frame, but this will be a very long time. Check your network’s policy for more details.

Can you buy a SIM card without a contract?

Yes, you can get a SIM only deal without a contract. All you need is the SIM, the amount you want to top up and a phone to use it in.

What is the difference between SIM free and pay-as-you-go?

SIM free deals usually come with a certain amount of data, calls and text allowance for a set monthly price. It’s similar to a standard pay monthly deal but without a mobile phone. PAYG works on a top-up basis, so you have to keep topping up the more you use your phone.

Yes, SIM cards expire, but you can keep using them for as long as you want, provided you top up a minimum amount and use your phone at least once over six months. If you don’t use your SIM card at all, your network may lock the SIM, but this will be after a long period of time.

Can you get an unlimited data pay-as-you-go deal?

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to get unlimited data on a PAYG deal. That’s because pay-as-you-go doesn’t work in the same way as SIM only.

SIM cards can be ordered for free and then topped up with as little as £5 with no commitment or contract involved.

Pay as you go SIM deals

List of SIM Only deals

Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
15GB5G data
£2.78for 3 months £6.95 after
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
5GB5G data
£1.98for 3 months £4.95 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
3GB5G data
£1.50for 3 months £3.90 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
6GB5G data
£1.95for 3 months £4.90 after
See deal
SMARTY SIM deal
Uses Three's network
Uses Three's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
40GB5G data
£8.00per month
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
30GB5G data
£3.57for 3 months £8.95 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
15GB5G data
£2.75for 3 months £6.90 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
30GB5G data
£3.50for 3 months £8.90 after
See deal
SMARTY SIM deal
Uses Three's network
Uses Three's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Unlimited5G data
£16.00per month
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
21GB5G data
£3.18for 3 months £7.95 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
21GB5G data
£2.99for 3 months £7.45 after
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
Unlimited5G data
£9.97for 3 months £24.95 after
See deal
Lyca Mobile SIM deal
Uses EE's network
Uses EE's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
Unlimited5G data
£8.98for 3 months £24.45 after
See deal
giffgaff SIM deal
Uses O2's network
Uses O2's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
Fixed prices for 2023
No 2023 price rise
20GB5G data
£10.00per month
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
1GB5G data
£1.58for 3 months £3.95 after
See deal
VOXI SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
50% off the first month using code AFFUSWITCH
30GB5G data
£10.00per month
See deal
Lebara Mobile SIM deal
Uses Vodafone's network
Uses Vodafone's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
Uswitch exclusive
3GB5G data
£1.78for 3 months £4.45 after
See deal
giffgaff SIM deal
Uses O2's network
Uses O2's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
Fixed prices for 2023
No 2023 price rise
2GB5G data
£6.00per month
See deal
SMARTY SIM deal
Uses Three's network
Uses Three's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
100GB5G data
£12.00per month
See deal
SMARTY SIM deal
Uses Three's network
Uses Three's network
Contract length
No contract
Contract length
No contract
EU roaming included
No 2023 price rise
5GB5G data
£6.00per month
See deal

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.

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Pay as you go SIM card deals

How do I switch and keep my number?

Networks

Monthly cost

Data

5G

Minutes

Contract length

Texts

List of SIM Only deals

How does a pay-as-you-go SIM work?

Are there any other charges?

What are the pros and cons of a pay as you go SIM deal?

More SIM Only deals

What network providers offer pay-as-you-go and no-contract deals?

Tesco

O2

How to choose the best pay-as-you-go deals for you

Can you get roaming with a pay-as-you-go SIM?