Here are the key points to understand when looking for a 5G Sim-only contract.
A 5G Sim is a physical Sim card that offers access to the fifth generation of mobile technology — it's much faster and more reliable than 4G Sims. You must also have a phone that supports 5G and be in an area with 5G signal to benefit from 5G speeds. If you're not, it'll still use 3G or 4G as normal.
Just like any other Sim card, pop it into the back of your 5G-compatible phone and you're good to go. The only thing worth bearing in mind is that you'll need to be on a 5G mobile contract for it to actually work. Once you're in an area that has 5G signal, you'll be able to benefit from the faster speeds 5G offers.
All the major mobile providers in the UK now offer 5G Sims, including many smaller Sim providers that piggyback off the main UK networks. Though some smaller networks, such as Plusnet (which uses EE's signal), don't yet offer 5G.
There are plenty of Sim-only deals that are 5G-ready. Try our Cheap Sim finder and select 'Only show 5G deals' in the filters.
The easiest way to find out if you can access 5G is to enter your postcode into your network provider's availability checker:
Social tariffs
We'll include special social tariffs in your results that are offered to those on certain benefits - do check eligibility criteria with the provider as it varies by firm.