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Cheap mobilesWhether your phone's super-glued to your ear or just used for the odd call, the chances are you're massively over-paying for the minutes and texts you use.

With 1,000s of deals up for grabs, picking the right one may seem like a lottery. This guide will show you how to speedily get the cheapest contract tariff, then check for added discounts.

Looking for the latest smartphone? Use our Cheap iPhone Tool and Cheap Samsung Galaxy Tool to find the best deal for your usage.

Quick tips before you start

Would pay-as-you-go be cheaper?

The days where PAYG tariffs were only cheaper for lower users are long gone; PAYG phones are now far more competitive with contract-style bundles available when you top up by a minimum amount.

The main reason for choosing a contract is wanting a new handset, as they're heavily subsidised on contracts. But be careful you're not paying for it with a higher monthly premium.

Contract

Pay a monthly fee and get an inclusive bundle varying in minutes, texts and mobile data.

  • Smartphones cheaper with a contract
  • Often better for heavy texters/callers
  • More likely to get free mobile data
  • No risk of running out of credit
Read on for the best contract deals

Pay As You Go

No fixed contract, pay for what you use via top-up vouchers, online or on the phone.

  • No credit check
  • Can be cheaper for light users
  • No contract commitment
  • Easier to budget
Click to go to the full Pay as You Go Guide

How to get the cheapest contract

First work out what you need, then get the cheapest tariff, only after that should you find the deals. It's a simple three-step plan:

How to get the cheapest contract

Step 1. Pinpoint your exact usage

Knowing how much you use your phone and what you do with it the most is crucial to getting the best plan.

Match free mins/texts closely to your usage. If you don't, go over and you'll overpay for calls, go under and you'll overpay on the package.

The easiest way to check usage is to simply dust off your last 3-6 months' bills, jot down what you use every month and then work out the average. Or if you ring your provider, it'll usually tell you. Once you've got the info, check the following:

Step 2. Find the perfect tariff

Once you know your usage, you need to find the cheapest tariff to match it.

Give yourself some leeway, as a slightly higher monthly fee will be cheaper than paying extra call costs.

Are you happy with your existing handset?

If you already have a decent handset in good nick, you'll get a far cheaper deal if you opt for Sim-only. Here you simply get the Sim card with the tariff, no handset.

If you want a new handset, first think about what features you want and will use. A useful site that allows you to compare up to three handsets at a time is Esato. It lists full specifications for each model so you can see at a glance if it has what you need.

last Audited:
08 Jan 2012

The top Comparisons

Click the button which best suits your needs below

Best for finding Sim-only deals

Billmonitor* Offers most accurate results

For accurate results, Billmonitor* finds the best tariff by accessing your online bills (it doesn't include Virgin Mobile).

Provide it with log-in details for your online account and it calculates average usage over the last three months to find the best contract.

It assumes your habits won't change, but to ensure you don't go over your tariff minutes (which is expensive) it'll pick a tariff very slightly above your needs.

Is it safe to give your log-in details?

Billmonitor says it follows a robust data security policy which it's outlined to the telecoms regulator Ofcom, and encrypts all users' passwords.

CompareMobileDeals.com For extra coverage

CompareMobileDeals.com includes some smaller retailers and networks so sometimes trumps Billmonitor on price.

However the site is slightly clunky and we have no user feedback on it.

Best for any decent handset

Billmonitor* Offers most accurate results

For accurate results, Billmonitor* finds the best tariff by accessing your online bills (it doesn't include Virgin Mobile).

Give it log-in details for your online account and it calculates average usage over the last three months to find the best contract.

It assumes your habits won't change, but to ensure you don't go over your tariff minutes (which is expensive) it'll pick a tariff very slightly above your needs.

Once you receive the bill analysis you can narrow your search to a particular handset.

Is it safe to give your log-in details?

Billmonitor says it follows a robust data security policy which it's outlined to Ofcom, and encrypts all users' passwords.

MobilePhoneChecker* For Extra Coverage

MobilePhoneChecker* covers some smaller networks and retailers that the others don't, so it's worth checking too.

It also has an excellent filtering system so you can clearly pick and choose what you want.

It was built by a site user who has since become part of the MSE team. It's still operated independently by him, in his spare time.

MoneySupermarket* For belt and braces

For ease of use and if you want a quick hit, MoneySupermarket* and Omio* come top. Simply pick monthly cost, minutes and texts for the cheapest tariffs.

Crucially, you can tell both what handset you want and they'll find cheap deals for it.

MoneySupermarket just pips Omio to the post as it lets you filter deals including data. Also, Omio doesn't automatically sort by cheapest price, so make sure you change the dropdown.

Omio does, however, let you sort tariffs further, by phone features and operating system (eg, Android, iPhone or Symbian). You can also sort by network (useful if your coverage is hit and miss), brands and style of phone.

Best if you know exactly what you want

MoneySupermarket* For ease and speed

For ease of use and if you want a quick hit, MoneySupermarket* comes top. Simply pick monthly cost, minutes and texts for the cheapest tariffs.

Crucially you can tell it what handset you want and it'll find cheap deals for it.

MoneySupermarket just pips Omio to the post as it lets you filter deals including data. Also, Omio doesn't automatically sort by cheapest price so make sure you change the dropdown.

Omio does, however, let you sort tariffs further, by phone features and operating system (eg, Android, iPhone or Symbian). You can also sort by network (useful if your coverage is hit and miss), brands and style of phone.

MobilePhoneChecker* For Extra Coverage

MobilePhoneChecker* covers some smaller networks and retailers that the others don't so it's worth checking too.

It also has an excellent filtering system so you can clearly pick and choose what you want.

It was built by a site user who has since become part of the MSE team, though it is still operated independently by him, in his spare time.

CompareMobileDeals.com is also worth checking as it includes some smaller retailers and networks, so sometimes trumps Billmonitor on price.

However the site's slightly clunky and we have no user feedback on it.

Before you sign up - check coverage

Before committing, check signal strength in the place you use your phone most. No coverage isn't sufficient grounds to return your phone (outside normal consumer rights), so it's your responsibility to check.

Providers all have maps to indicate what 2G coverage is (for basic calls and texts) and some have 3G coverage too (for web use), although providers tend to be generous and over-estimate signals. Ofcom also has a PDF map detailing 3G coverage.

The providers make it clear these maps do not guarantee coverage. There are two ways to check before you buy. One is to borrow a friend's phone if they're on the right network. Alternatively most providers offer free PAYG Sims. Nab one and test it in all the places you use your mobile most:

  • Orange
  • Vodafone
  • O2
  • T-Mobile
  • Tmobile

T-Mobile and Orange now give free access to each other's networks, so if you're on either, cross-check the maps.

Step 3: Get the right discount

Now you know the correct tariff; the aim is to re-use the comparison services, this time finding out which will give you the biggest discount on your chosen tariff. Don't be tempted to switch to a different tariff to get a top cashback/freebie deal - let the tariff rule.

Always pick the right tariff first. Then even if your promo falls through, as many have, you're still on the cheapest package.

Omio & MobilePhoneChecker win

MobilePhoneChecker* and Omio* both allow you to find the right tariff and then search for specific deals for that tarriff.

On MobilePhoneChecker, simply click on the "view offers" dropdown and it will show you which retailer offers cashback or gifts with that specific tariff.

On Omio, to find deals click on the tariff for more details and then "see all deals for this tariff".

The mobile market is rife with a variety of discount packages, meaning the same tariff on the same network can cost vastly different amounts. Discounts include free gifts, but it's most important to understand the difference between these:

  • Redemption cashback. The big discounts come in the form of a 'cashback redemption' that has to be claimed from the retailer, yet they're notoriously unreliable (see beating the cashback trap below).
  • Automatic cashback. These are cashback deals where you're sent a cheque automatically without claiming. They usually don't offer as big a discount as manual cashback.

    Some deals can also be part manual, part automatic cashback; if that's the case, only count on receiving the automatic amount.
  • Cashback via cashback sites. It's possible to sometimes beat the deals above with some powerhouse cashback offers, most commonly for Sim-only deals. However, don't think of this type of cashback as guaranteed, there can be and are problems. Read the full Top Cashback Sites guide for info.

Cheap PAYG handsets

If you're looking for an ultra cheap handset to use in emergencies, you can't go wrong with these deals:

Nokia 100 £5 'granny in the glovebox' mobile (needs £10 credit)

Nokia 100 Update: 1 May 2013, 12.30pm. If you're coming from the weekly email, the Alcatel OT 228 phone went up in price to £12.95 (plus £10 top-up). So we've updated it below with the next cheapest.

You can get a basic PAYG Nokia 100 from Carphone Warehouse* for £4.95 delivered when you top it up with £10 credit. It's on the Virgin Mobile network. Note: the phone is £7.95 with £10 credit when you buy in-store.

This phone is a perfect 'granny in a glovebox' model, ie, stash it away in your car as a spare, for those that just want to the do the occasional talking and texting, or for kids. If you’re after something with more bells and whistles, or want the convenience of a contract, use the tips above.

Calls are charged at 26p/min, and texts are 12p/text. If you're not planning to use the phone often though, make sure you send a text or make at least one call every six months, otherwise the credit will expire.

Quick Q&As

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Cheap Mobiles

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You shouldn’t notice any difference and the link will never negatively impact the product. Plus the editorial line (the things we write) is NEVER impacted by these links. We aim to look at all available products. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the top deal, it is still included in exactly the same way, just with a non-paying link. For more details, read How This Site Is Financed.

Duplicate links of the * links above for the sake of transparency, but this version doesn't help MoneySavingExpert.com: BillMonitor, Mobilephonechecker, Moneysupermarket, Omio

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