A SIM-only plan is a mobile service where you pay a fixed monthly fee covering data, calls, and texts, without any additional cost for a handset.
Since the largest chunk of a phone contract's price typically goes toward paying off the device, it's no wonder that SIM-free deals come at a much lower cost. According to HandsetExpert.com, the average Brit pays about £92.06 more annually than necessary on an overpriced phone plan.
If you already own a decent phone and are content with it, we've gathered the finest SIM-only offers available this January 2018 to help you cut costs further.
The beauty of SIM-only plans lies in the wide range of choices, from Tesco's £5 monthly contracts to Three's unlimited data packages and Carphone Warehouse's assortment of bonuses.
Top SIM-Only Deals in the UK: January 2018 Offers
Best SIM-Only Offer We've Found This Month
A generous member of the HotUKDeals forum has alerted others to an incredible data deal launching tomorrow—and excitement is building.
On January 16th, Virgin Mobile is expected to unveil a new SIM-only plan featuring 40GB of data for just £18 per month.
This confirms the offer (Image: HotUKDeals)
Several ads promoting the deal have also been spotted, so we believe it's legitimate.
This Month's Premier SIM-Only Offers
Here are the leading SIM-only deals this month (Image: Getty)
From bonus data to the lowest monthly rates, the SIM-free market currently offers plenty of alternatives.
The Most Affordable SIM-Only Plan
£3.99 per month for 500MB of data, 5000 texts, and 500 minutes on iD Mobile via Carphone Warehouse.
iD Mobile's incredible SIM-only offer is also a 30-day contract, giving you flexibility without long-term commitment, though it lacks extra perks. Grab it here.
Best SIM-Only Plan with Ample Data
£10 per month for 5GB of data, 5000 texts, and 1000 minutes on iD Mobile.
This steal is also available on a 30-day contract. Get it here.
Top PAYG SIM-Only Deal
£5 per month for 250MB of data, 100 minutes, and 100 texts on Tesco Mobile.
Looking for a Specific Network?
Here are the best offers from each network, including any extra benefits they provide beyond standard allowances.
The Finest Carphone Warehouse SIM-Only Deal
Carphone Warehouse offers the best deals across all networks
£13.50 per month for 2GB of data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts on a 12-month Vodafone contract, plus a free £25 gift card. Get it here.
Carphone Warehouse compares rates from all networks to secure the lowest price, allowing you to easily evaluate your options against others in the market, including any freebies each network provides.
If the plan above doesn't suit you, you can explore the cheapest options from providers like EE, O2, and iD Mobile, all on one simple page.
Carphone Warehouse is also running a massive £10 million Christmas giveaway, offering a chance to win a prize with every new phone, broadband, TV contract, SIM-only deal, or purchase over £4.99.
Prizes include up to £100,000 in cash, brand-new Mini Coopers, Samsung QLED TVs, wireless JBL headphones, and a variety of vouchers from Odeon and Starbucks.
The Best Tesco SIM-Only Offer
Tesco is known for its rock-bottom prices—but you get limited value for your money (Image: www.alamy.com)
£5 per month for 250MB of data, 100 minutes, and 100 texts on a pay-as-you-go basis. Get it here.
For a 12-month contract, you can get 1GB of data, 500 minutes, and 5000 texts for £7.50 per month. Get it here.
Tesco doesn't offer many add-on extras, instead rewarding families who add multiple contracts to their account. In such cases, you can earn up to 200 bonus Clubcard points, up to £2 off your bill, or up to 500 extra minutes.
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The Best Three SIM-Only Offer
Three provides SIM-only plans with unlimited internet access (Image: Three)
£28 per month for unlimited data, unlimited texts, and unlimited minutes on a 12-month contract. Get it here.
Three's bonus features, such as Feel At Home and a 30GB personal hotspot allowance, are only available on its higher-tier packages, starting with the 4GB data plan at £12 per month.
The Best Vodafone SIM-Only Offer
Vodafone is renowned for dominating big data contracts (Image: Getty)
£41 per month for 40GB of data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts on a 12-month contract, plus a £25 Currys PC World gift card, via Carphone Warehouse.
Vodafone's SIM-only plans start at 250MB for £9.50, so if you're after a low-cost option, look elsewhere—they focus on providing substantial data at competitive rates.
If you choose to invest in lots of data, Vodafone's pay-monthly SIM-only plans all include Vodafone Global Roaming, allowing you to use your plan in over 100 destinations worldwide, just as you would at home.
The Best EE SIM-Only Offer
EE is popular for its triple-speed 4G (Image: Getty)
£21 per month for 20GB of data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts on a 12-month contract. Get it here.
EE claims to deliver triple-speed internet with all its data plans. You'll also get three months of free access to the BT Sport app.
The Best O2 SIM-Only Offer
O2 is well-liked for its generous benefits program, including daily offers through O2 Priority (Image: Getty)
£19 per month for 10GB of data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts on a 12-month contract. Get it here.
All O2 SIM-only contracts come with access to the Priority app, offering freebies and discounts. Top deals include £1 meal deals, early ticket access, free coffee, cinema tickets, and money off at high street restaurants.
The Best iD Mobile SIM-Only Offer
iD Mobile is the go-to for maximum value (Image: iD Mobile)
£5 per month for 1.5GB of 4G data, 5000 texts, and 500 minutes on a 30-day contract. Get it here.
With every iD Mobile SIM-only plan, you can pick a free feature to add to your purchase. The two options are Data Rollover (carrying unused data to the next month) or Capping (limiting spending with a preset £5 cap that can be adjusted upward).
The Best Mobile Phones Direct SIM-Only Offer
Mobile Phones Direct uses pricing plans from various networks like EE, Three, and Vodafone (Image: Ulrich Baumgarten)
£10.99 per month for 1GB of data, unlimited minutes, and unlimited texts on a 12-month EE contract. Get it here.
Mobile Phones Direct also offers up to £48 cash back for your SIM-free purchase (like the one above). Since they compare prices across multiple networks, you might also snag extra perks depending on your choice.
The Best Virgin Media SIM-Only Offer
Virgin Media is currently offering up to 2GB of extra data for free on select 4G plans (Image: Virgin)
£9 per month for 4GB of data, 300 minutes, and unlimited texts on a 30-day rolling contract. Get it here.
This deal typically includes only 300MB of data but has been temporarily boosted. Virgin Media's benefits also include free messaging on Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, plus a data rollover each month if you don't use your full allowance.
Worried about losing your number? Don't be—switching is simple, just like with any other mobile contract.
Still unsure if SIM-free is right for you? Give it a try. One advantage of SIM-free plans is the many options that allow you to cancel anytime. Numerous networks offer no-contract SIMs with a monthly fee. Not wanting a full contract doesn't mean you have to go back to traditional pay-as-you-go.
