
Best Sim only Deals
From £4/mth for 500MB of data, 200 mins & unltd texts
Whether you're a talker, texter or always online, we've handpicked the best Sim-only deals starting at £4/month – plus we've lots of tips including how to unlock your phone and keep your number. Millions of mobile users are out of contract and overpaying, yet it's simple to ditch pricey providers, so check how much you could save.
New. The MSE Cheap Mobile Finder
We recently launched our Cheap Mobile Finder which compares more than 50 different retailers and resellers, covering all major networks to find your top deal. So do have a play and please send feedback, suggestions and bug reports.

What is a Sim-only deal?
A Sim is the little chip that slots into your phone. A Sim-only deal covers just the mobile service, ie, it gives you a set monthly allowance of minutes, texts and data.
It's normally much cheaper than a traditional mobile contract, as Sim-only deals don't bundle in the cost of the phone itself. You'll have to have your own handset to put the Sim into already, or buy one separately.
Most deals are for new customers and providers carry out a credit check when you sign up, so if you struggle getting credit, you may want to check your credit score before applying. Although you're not paying for a phone, you'll still have to sign up to a contract – typically they're on a 12-month (remember to check the price when it ends) or a rolling 30-day basis.
Best Sim-only deals – up to 3GB of data

Up to 3GB – what we'd go for
For us, at this data level, our blagged deal for a Lebara Sim (which uses the Vodafone network) with 2GB/mth of data, unlimited minutes and texts stands out. It's £2.50 for the first three months, then £5/mth thereafter. It's still a one-month rolling contract, so you can cancel at any time.
In our most recent poll, 56% told us they use 2GB of data or less each month, so it's enough data for most.
Rarely use your mobile? A pay-as-you-go Sim might be more suitable – see our Pay-as-you-go guide for more.
PROVIDER (network it uses) | COST (1) | CONTRACT LENGTH |
DATA | MINS | TEXTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lebara* (Vodafone) | Equiv £3.49/mth over 12mths - It's £1.99/mth for the first three months, then £3.99/mth thereafter. (2) | One month | 500MB | 200 | Unltd |
Lebara* (Vodafone) MSE Blagged, via our link Top pick |
Equiv £4.38/mth over 12mths – It's £2.50/mth for the first three months, then £5/mth thereafter. (2) | One month | 2GB | Unltd | Unltd |
TalkMobile* (Vodafone) | £4.95/mth | One month | 2GB | Unltd | Unltd |
TalkMobile* (Vodafone's no-frills provider) MSE Blagged |
£5.95/mth | 12 months | 3GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Note: All data, mins and texts allowances are per month. All deals are for newbies of that provider. (1) With an equivalent price, we add up all fixed costs, deduct any promotional cash or vouchers, then average it over the contract length to help you compare. (2) It's a one-month Sim, but to help you compare, the equivalent cost is calculated over a 12-month period. |
Best Sim-only deals – 4GB to 9GB of data

4GB to 9GB Sims – what we'd go for
For us, at this data level, it's our blagged Lebara Sim with 8GB/mth data, unlimited minutes and texts on a rolling one-month contract. You pay £3.99/mth for the first three months, and then £7.99 thereafter, making it equivalent to £6.99/mth over 12 months.
Lebara uses the Vodafone network, but if this signal's not strong in your area, or you don't need that much data, there's an iD Mobile Sim (uses the Three network) with 4GB/mth of data, unlimited minutes and texts. It's a straight £6/mth on a rolling one-month contract.
PROVIDER (network it uses) | COST (1) | CONTRACT LENGTH | DATA | MINS | TEXTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
iD Mobile* (Three) Top pick |
£6/mth | One month | 4GB | Unltd |
Unltd |
Virgin Media* (EE) | £6/mth | 12 months | 4GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Vodafone Basics* (UK only, no roaming) | £6/mth | 12 months | 4GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Lebara* (Vodafone) MSE Blagged Top pick |
Equiv £6.99/mth over 12mths – It's £3.99/mth for the first three months, then £7.99/mth thereafter. (2) | One month | 8GB | Unltd | Unltd |
iD Mobile* (Three) MSE Blagged |
£7/mth | One month | 6GB | Unltd | Unltd |
O2* | £8/mth | 12 months | 9GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Note: All data, mins and texts allowances are per month. All deals are for newbies of that provider. (1) With an equivalent price, we add up all fixed costs, deduct any promotional cash or vouchers, then average it over the contract length to help you compare. (2) It's a one-month Sim, but to help you compare, the equivalent cost is calculated over a 12-month period. |
Best Sim-only deals – 10GB to unlimited data

10GB to unlimited data Sims – what we'd go for
Right now there's a bevy of top Sims for data gobblers. TalkMobile (which uses Vodafone's network) is offering 12GB/mth of data and unlimited minutes and texts for £8/mth. It's a one-month contract, so you can cancel any time.
If you don't want to worry about scoffing your whole allowance, you'll want an unlimited data Sim. Our top pick is this iD Mobile unlimited Sim. You pay £16/mth over the 12-month contract.
PROVIDER (network it uses) | COST (1) | CONTRACT LENGTH | DATA | MINS | TEXTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lebara* (Vodafone) MSE Blagged |
Equiv £7.87/mth over 12mths – It's £4.49/mth for the first three months, then £8.99/mth thereafter. (2) | One month | 10GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Smarty* (Three's no-frills provider) | £8/mth | One month | 14GB (3) | Unltd | Unltd |
iD Mobile* (Three) | £8/mth | One month | 12GB | Unltd | Unltd |
TalkMobile* (Vodafone's no-frills provider) MSE Blagged Top pick |
£8/mth | One month | 12GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Three* |
£8/mth | 12 months | 12GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Virgin Mobile* (EE) | £8/mth | 12 months | 10GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Smarty* (Three's no-frills provider) |
£10/mth | One month | 30GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Voxi* (Vodafone) | £10/mth | One month | 12GB | Unltd | Unltd |
O2* | £10/mth | 12 months | 12GB | Unltd | Unltd |
TalkMobile* (Vodafone's no-frills provider) | £12/mth | One month | 24GB | Unltd | Unltd |
iD Mobile* (Three) | £13/mth | One month | 50GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Lebara* (Vodafone) MSE Blagged, via our link |
Equiv £13.12/mth over 12mths – It's £7.49/mth for the first three months, then £14.99/mth thereafter. (2) | One month | 15GB | Unltd | Unltd |
Vodafone Basics* (UK only, no roaming) MSE Blagged, via our link |
Equiv to £13.75/mth – you pay £15/mth, but you get £15 cashback within 3mths. |
12 months | 30GB | Unltd | Unltd |
O2* MSE Blagged |
£15/mth | 12 months | 30GB | Unltd | Unltd |
iD Mobile* (Three) Top pick |
£16/mth | 12 months | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd |
Note: All data, mins and texts allowances are per month. All deals are for newbies of that provider. (1) With an equivalent price, we add up all fixed costs, deduct any promotional cash or vouchers, then average it over the contract length to help you compare. (2) Available until 11.59pm Tue 26 Jan. |
How to complain about your network
The mobile industry doesn't have the best customer service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others. Common problems include limited network coverage, slow data speeds, unexpected charges and more. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but if not then...

Free tool to help you complain
This tool helps you draft and manage your complaint. It's totally free to use, and it's offered by Resolver, a firm we work with to help people get complaints justice.
If the complaint isn't resolved, Resolver can escalate it to the free Ombudsman Services (or CISAS if you're complaining about Virgin Mobile).
Important: if your issue is about a voucher or incentive that was part of an MSE Blagged deal, then instead just let us know by emailing voucherhelp@moneysavingexpert.com as that's usually quicker.

Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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