giffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£14.00 a month
18 month contract
Unlimited5G data
eSIM compatible
Look for
No price rise
in your resultsgiffgaff 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.
List of SIM Only deals
giffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£20.00 a month
No contract
Unlimited5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£10.00 a month
No contract
20 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£6.00 a month
No contract
2 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£8.00 a month
No contract
5 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£12.00 a month
18 month contract
50 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£10.00 a month
18 month contract
25 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£15.00 a month
No contract
50 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£12.00 a month
No contract
26 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatiblegiffgaff SIM Deal
Uses O2's Network
£20.00 a month
18 month contract
200 GBof 5G data
eSIM compatible
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TrustScore 4.7 | 40,348 reviewsHow to choose the best giffgaff SIM only plan
Before you take out a giffgaff SIM only plan, think about what’s important to you. While all deals include unlimited UK calls and texts, there’s a lot of choice when it comes to data plans and contract lengths.
You'll need lots of data if you like to stream videos when out and about, or use social media apps like WhatsApp or Snapchat. The same goes for VOIP apps, which make calls over the internet and use data when you do.
Think about how much you want to spend as well. giffgaff has some affordable SIM only plans, 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 a great option if you often stream videos on the go, particularly in high resolutions like HD or 4K. It’s also ideal for anyone who works remotely and needs to tether a laptop or tablet to their phone - especially when handling large file uploads or downloads. You can currently save up to £15 a month on unlimited deals for 18 months if you sign up before 2 October 2026.
- 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.
- Tethering
giffgaff allow tethering on all its plans, meaning you can connect another device to your data plan.
- 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.
- 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 1GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts.
Is giffgaff a good network?
giffgaff has performed excellently in recent times, winning the top prize at the Uswitch Awards 2025, taking the Mobile Network of the Year award.
They also offer perks, with up to £15 off Unlimited plans for new customers joining before 2 October 2026 and the ability to change or cancel your plan anytime.
giffgaff is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). This means it doesn’t have its own mobile network but piggybacks off one of the leading networks (in this case, O2). O2’s network gives giffgaff 99% UK coverage. This also gives it an average 4G connection speed of 18.2 Mbps and an average 5G speed of 80.1 Mbps (according to 5G.co.uk).
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.
Is it easy to switch to giffgaff?
Switching to giffgaff is no different to switching to any other network. All you need to do is call your existing provider to get a PAC code (Porting Authorisation Code), which they are legally obliged to send you within 1 minute 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 also need your credit/debit card or PayPal details 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 37 EU destinations just as you would at home. They have a roaming cap, but it only kicks in once you’ve used 5GB and there’s always the option to get a data add-on via the giffgaff app.
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
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 “Payback points”. These can be cashed in twice a year either as cash, credit on your account, or a charity donation.
giffgaff claims that its team of members allows you to get help at any time, day or night, unlike big mobile networks' call centres, which are only open at certain times. This should mean there's no need to wait in long call centre queues, either.
While giffgaff has this community of members, agents are also 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:
Written by Archie Burkinshaw, Content Editor
FAQ
Which network does giffgaff use?
giffgaff uses O2’s mobile network. This gives it 99% UK coverage, with an average 4G connection speed of 18.2 Mbps and a 5G average of 80.1Mbps.
Where can I get a giffgaff SIM card?
You can compare giffgaff SIM card deals on Uswitch to find the right deal for you.
Does giffgaff do a data only SIM?
It doesn’t, but it does offer plenty of SIM only plans with unlimited data.
Can you put a giffgaff SIM in any phone?
You can, as long as the phone isn’t locked to any particular network. Because giffgaff’s deals are SIM only, you’re only paying for the SIM card and the data, minutes and texts it enables, so you’ll have to supply your own phone.
How long does it take to transfer an old number to a new SIM giffgaff?
Activating your new giffgaff SIM with your existing number usually takes around 30 minutes, but in some cases it can take up to 24 hours.