Pay-as-you-go SIM card deals
A pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM card is ideal if you don’t want to sign up for a long-term contract, or you’re not keen on (or are concerned about) going through a credit check.
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Our guides
How does a pay as you go SIM work?
Pay-as-you-go (PAYG) SIM cards are an easy way to use your phone without any need for a long-term contract or lengthy payment plans. You simply pre-pay an amount of money which then gives you a set amount of call minutes, data, and texts. And when you run out of minutes, you just top up again with an amount of your choice.
Pay-as-you-go SIM only deals often come with a free SIM card, too. So all you need is a mobile phone you’re happy to use.
Are there any other charges?
No, you generally won’t incur any additional charges when you sign up for a pay-as-you-go SIM only deal. Since you pre-pay the amount you’re willing to spend, it’s just a case of using your phone until your money runs out. Then you’ll have to top up again to get more calls, texts and data.
What are the pros and cons of a pay as you go SIM deal?
The pros:
- Keep your current phone number, swap phones whenever you want
- Pay what you want when you want
- Avoid being tied down to a long-term contract.
- No credit check
- You can top up from as little as £5 per spend
The cons:
- You may not get the best rates for data, calls or texts
- PAYG deals will work out as more expensive than a traditional pay monthly package
- You will need to have a phone that’s unlocked
Which network providers offer pay-as-you-go and no contract deals?
Almost all UK networks will offer pay-as-you-go SIM cards as part of their product offering. Let’s take a look at some of the major brands you can get a pay as you go deal with:
Tesco
Tesco Mobile offers numerous PAYG SIM options and bundles which include calls, texts and data.
The network’s ‘Rocket Packs’ range offer:
- £10 for 5GB of data, 5000 texts and5000 minutes and
- £15 for 25GB of data, 5000 texts and 5000 minutes
- £20 for 50GB of data, 5000 texts and 5000 minutes
- £30 for 100GB of data, 5000 texts and 5000 minutes
Tesco Clubcard holders can even get a discount on £20 and £30 packs.
O2
O2 also has a selection of four PAYG SIM-only packs to choose from:
- Unlimited minutes and texts, 7GB data for £10
- Unlimited minutes and texts, 15GB data for £15
- Unlimited minutes and texts, 30GB of data for £20
- Unlimited minutes and texts, 100GB of data for £30
How to choose the best pay-as-you-go deals for you
The best pay-as-you-go deal for you comes down to your personal needs and requirements. Your best bet is to compare options across all networks until you find the ideal balance of allowance and cost.
FAQs
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.
Do SIM cards expire?
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.
Are SIM cards free?
SIM cards can be ordered for free and then topped up with as little as £5 with no commitment or contract involved.
