Finding the best SIM-only deal can be tricky. At one point in time, mobile network operators offered up only a thin selection of SIM-only contracts, since many people were happy with expensive two-year contracts that included a phone. These days, however, people are holding onto their handsets for longer or even buying cheaper models outright.
Due to this shift in consumer behaviour, more network operators are offering up SIM-only deals meaning there’s more to choose from than ever before. That’s why we’re here to help you sift through the nonsense and pick up a SIM-only deal that works best for you. Be you a world traveller, a cost-conscious consumer or an avid WhatsApper, there’s the perfect SIM for you out there – and we’ll help you find it.
The 6 best SIM-only deals in 2016
The best SIM-only deal for budgets: iD @ £5/mth
Data: 1.5GB
Minutes: 250
Texts: 5,000
Carphone Warehouse’s in-house mobile network, iD, offers up an incredibly tasty 4G-enabled SIM-only deal for just £5 per month on a rolling one-month contract. This means you can cut it off after just 30 days and, if you can’t wait that long, you’ve only thrown a fiver down the drain. If you’re worried about going over your 1.5GB data allowance and 250 minutes of talk time, iD offers up “shockproof” plans to ensure it automatically caps your usage so you don’t end up spending so much.
The best SIM for data lovers: Three @ £24/mth (first three months free)
Data: Unlimited
Minutes: 200
Texts: Unlimited
Need data more than anything else in your life? This plan from Three is your perfect fit. At £24 per month, it may be a little on the costly side, but it also comes with the first three months free, a 30GB allowance for tethering and Three’s fantastic Feel at Home perk, which offers free roaming across 42 different countries. The 12-month contract means you can switch it up again within the year if it’s not your thing – or you discover you’re using less data than you thought. This deal is only available for a short period of time, so get it quick!
Buy Three SIM-only deal here now
The best SIM for superfast 4G: EE @ £19.99/mth
Data: 10GB
Minutes: Unlimited
Texts: Unlimited
Not only is this a killer budget SIM-only deal with a generous data package, but it also benefits from EE’s Superfast 4G tier – meaning you’ll be getting speeds of up to 60Mbits/s. As this is a limited-time offer (available until 19 December), you’ll also get six months of Apple Music for free and 500MB of EU roaming data. Not bad for a 12-month contract for less than £20.
The best SIM for messaging addicts: Virgin Media @ £15/mth
Data: 4GB
Minutes: 2,500
Texts: Unlimited
4GB of data for £15 per month may not sound all that much – especially when EE offers more than twice that amount of data for just £5 more. However, Virgin Media’s contract has the glorious bonus of not counting any WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger use towards your monthly data allowance. It’s also a rolling 30-day plan, meaning you can jump out with just a month’s notice. That’s good news for you messaging addicts.
Buy Virgin Media SIM-only deal here now
The best big all-rounder SIM: Talkmobile @ £15/m
Data: 15GB
Minutes: 2,500
Texts: 5,000
Talkmobile may be one of the lesser-known mobile networks in the UK but, thanks to a partnership with Vodafone, it has a huge signal coverage across the country. This deal is by far the best all-rounder, SIM-only deal available right now. Originally offering up 4GB per month for £15, Talkmobile has now upped its data offering to 15GB per month as a Christmas treat for customers. Combined with a 30-day rolling contract, you couldn’t do much better than this.
Buy Talkmobile SIM-only deal here now
The best cheap all-rounder SIM deal: Plusnet @ £10/m
Data: 4GB
Minutes: 1,500
Texts: Unlimited
If you’re looking for an affordable and generous SIM-only deal, Plusnet’s £10 tariff is an absolute steal. Not only does it come with 4GB of data and unlimited texts, it also caps your usage so you don’t get charged when you go over. It uses EE’s 4G network so it’s reliable and speedy. And if it’s not your thing, you can kill it after just a month, as it’s a rolling 30-day contract. Not bad.