Best Pay as you go SIM cards – Compare prices, features and value

We take a comprehensive look at the Best SIM Only deals available in the UK to help you to save money. Here is a list providers we are featuring that are giving the best SIM only deals and prices in the UK.

1. Three

Overview of Three Pay as you go

Three has a Pay as you go SIM, that has no contract. You simply get your SIM card and load up a data pack.

With Three, you get 99% of UK coverage. You can check the coverage, here: Check coverage.

What is available from Three PAYG

Here are some of the data packs that you can purchase from Three PAYG.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£108GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1525GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£2050GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£35UnlimitedUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

If you auto-renew your Pack, then you will get some additional data. For instance, if you auto-renew the £10 pack, then you will get 10GB of data rather than 8GB.

The SIMs are 5G Ready. And, for roaming, there is a charge. Check information, here: Roaming.

Three allows tethering.

How to top-up

There are a number of ways you can top up including E Vouchers and by credit card. Get more information, here. How to Top UP.

Get your Three PAYG SIM card, here: Three Pay as you go SIM card.

2. Lebara

Overview of Lebara Free Pay As You Go SIM

If you are looking for UK and free international minutes included with your plan, then Lebara is an excellent option. Even with their cheapest plan, not only do you get good UK minutes, you get some international minutes as well.

Lebara uses the Vodafone network for its mobile delivery. It has 98% of UK population coverage. It now has 5G at no extra cost. Check out the reception in your area, here: Vodafone coverage checker.

What is available from Lebara PAYG

Here are some plans that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£52GB1000 UK Mins
100 Int. Mins
1000 UK texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1010GBUnlimited UK Mins
100 Int. Minus
Unlimited UK texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1515GBUnlimited UK Mins
Unlimited Int. Mins
Unlimited UK texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£25UnlimitedUnlimited UK Mins
100 Int. Mins
Unlimited UK texts
No contract

Features

With Lebara Pay as you go SIM, there is no fixed contract, only a 30 days rolling contract that you can cancel at anytime.

There is a discount for new customers for the initial 3 months. There is also no credit check. You can roam in Europe on domestic rates. Check information, here: Roaming.

Lebara allows tethering.

How to top-up

You can top up online, in My Lebara (if you have registered) or by using a voucher. Get more information, here: How to Top UP.

Get your Lebara PAYG SIM card, here: Lebara Pay as you go SIM card.

3. Vodafone

With Vodafone Pay as you go, you get a SIM and then buy a Bundle. You can either get a free SIM without any Bundles or get a SIM, loaded with a Bungle. There is no contract and no credit check.

The Vodafone network covers 98% of the UK’s population. Check it the coverage, here: Vodafone Status Checker.

What is available from Vodafone PAYG

Here are some Bundles that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£1025GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1550GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£30100GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£40UnlimitedUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

Vodafone Pay as you go Bundles last for 30 days. Any unused data automatically gets rolled over to the next month. You can top up a Bundle anytime.

To get information on roaming on your Vodafone, go here: Vodafone roaming.

Vodafone allows you to tether you data on their Pay as you go.

How to top-up

You can top up by logging into My Vodafone, buying a E Voucher, through the My Vodafone app or by calling 4354 from you Vodafone phone. Get more information, here: Vodafone Top Up.

Get your Vodafone PAYG SIM card, here: Vodafone Pay as you go SIM card.

4. VOXI

VOXI is like Pay as you go, you can pause, stop or cancel anytime. So, you don’t have to Top UP if you don’t want to.

VOXI uses the Vodafone network for its mobile delivery. It has 98% of UK population coverage. Check out the reception in your area, here: Vodafone coverage checker.

What is available from VOXI

Here are some plans that are available from VOXI.

Get SIM CardPriceDataWhat you getContract
Get SIM Card£1015GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
Endless Social Media
Pause or cancel anytime
Get SIM Card£1530GB
Unlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
Endless Social Media and Video
Pause or cancel anytime
Get SIM Card£2060GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
Endless Social Media and Video
Pause or cancel anytime
Get SIM Card£35UnlimitedUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
Endless Social Media and Video
Pause or cancel anytime

Features

With all VOXI plans, you get endless Social Media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And on some plans you get both endless Social Media and endless Video such as YouTube and Netflix on apps.

You can use your plan to roam in Europe (20GB fair usage policy applies).

With VOXI you can tether your data on another device. The endless social data still applies.

How to top-up

To top up with VOXI, you create an account and top up. Get more information, here: VOXI Top UP.

Get your VOXI SIM card, here: VOXI SIM card.

5. EE

With EE you can get a free Pay as you go SIM on its own or a Pay as you go SIM, packed with data.

Once you have your Pay as you go SIM, you can buy a Pack, anytime. And, if you pay by direct debit, you get 10% off any pack. Your pack last for 30 days, with data rollover and there is no contract.

The EE network covers 99% of the UK’s population. Check the coverage, here: EE Status Checker.

What is available from EE PAYG

These are some plans that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£1010GB500 Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1530GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£2060GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£30100GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

If you keep buying packs, you will get a free Boost to your minutes, text for data, every three months.

With EE, when you buy a pack you can use your pack allowances to roam in 48 countries in Europe. Get more detail, here: EE Roaming.

EE allows tethering on your Pay as you go SIM.

How to top-up

You can top up from EE by calling 150 from your device, online and by a E Voucher. Get more information, here: EE Top UP.

Get your EE PAYG SIM card, here: EE SIM card.

6. 1pmobile

With 1pmobile Pay as you go, you simply pay 1p per minute, 1p per text and 1p per MB of data. There is no contract or monthly fee.

1pmobile uses the EE network and it covers 99% of the UK’s population. Check the coverage, here: 1pmobile coverage checker.

What is available from 1pmobile PAYG

Here are some plans that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceMinutesContract
Get SIM Card 1p1 Min (UK)No contract
Get SIM CardPriceDataContract
Get SIM Card 1p1MBNo contract

Features

With 1pmobile you are able to buy additional Boosters such as unlimited calls and texts for £3. or 2GB of data for £6.

For roaming with 1pmobile and using your data abroad, there are different rates. Get more information, here: 1pmobile Roaming.

1pmobile allows you to tether your data.

How to top-up

There are different ways you can top up. You can add credit by logging into your 1pmobile account.

You can top up by sending a text to 07950014111 from your 1pmobile phone. Get more information on how to top up, here: 1pmobile Top UP.

Get your 1pmobile PAYG SIM card, here: 1pmobile SIM Card.

7. ID Mobile

With a ID Mobile Pay as you go, there is no contract or minimum term. Just get a Pay as you go SIM, and insert it into your current device.

You can then top up your SIM card. Top up start from £5. In addition to a top up, you can add a Bundle for extra minutes, text and data.

ID Mobile use the Three network for its mobile delivery, so you get 99% of UK coverage. You can check the coverage, here: Check coverage.

What is available from ID Mobile PAYG

Here are some plans that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£61GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£106GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1520GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£20UnlimitedUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

If you don’t use your device regularly, you can just top up every 2 months. You don’t have to do monthly top ups.

When you are in the EU, you can roam with your data like you are in the UK.

With ID Mobile, you have unlimited tethering.

How to top-up

You can top up, on the ID Mobile app or online in My Account. Get more information on top up, here: ID Mobile Top UP.

Get your ID Mobile PAYG SIM card, here: ID Mobile SIM Card.

8. O2

If you get an O2 Pay as you go SIM, you can get cashback when you top up with O2 Rewards.

With O2 network you have 99% coverage. Check coverage in your local area, here: O2 Coverage Status.

What is available from O2 PAYG

Here are some plans that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£1010GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1520GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£2030GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£30100GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

In addition, to getting cashback when you top up, you also get access to Priority, but without having a contract.

With Priority you can win prizes and moments. You can get invite only access to gigs and events.

For roaming in the EU, you can get more information, here: O2 Mobile Roaming.

With your Pay as you go SIM, you can tether on up to 5 devices.

How to top-up

You can top up your O2 SIM on the web or go on auto-top up. Get more information, here: O2 Mobile Top UP.

Get your O2 Mobile PAYG SIM card, here: O2 Mobile SIM Card.

9. Giffgaff

Get a free Giffgaff Pay as you go SIM and then top up with a plan (Goodybag).

All the plans come with Unlimited UK call and texts.

Giffgaff uses the O2 network, so you have 99% coverage. Check coverage in your local area, here: Giffgaff Coverage Status.

What is available from Giffgaff PAYG

These are some Goodybags that are available.

Get SIM CardPriceDataMinutes /TextsContract
Get SIM Card£1015GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£1530GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£20100GBUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract
Get SIM Card£35UnlimitedUnlimited Mins
Unlimited texts
No contract

Features

With Giffgaff you have flexible plans that you can cancel at anytime.

With Giffgaff, you can roam in the EU and selected countries like you do in the UK. Get more information, here: EU Roaming.

You can also tethering your data with Giffgaff.

How to top-up

You can top up by using a payment card or PayPal, on their site. Or you can buy a Giffgaff Voucher in certain shops and supermarkets and redeem it online or by telephone by calling 43430. Get more information, here: Giffgaff Top UP.

Get your Giffgaff Mobile PAYG SIM card, here: Giffgaff Mobile SIM Card.

Conclusion

This are what we think are the best Pay as you go SIM cards available. Find the SIM card that meets your individual need.

Additional Information

If you would like to read our review on VOXI Mobile, go here: VOXI Review: SIM Card Plans with Endless Social Media and Video.

If you are looking for home insurance, read our article: Home Insurance – Compare Cheap Quotes.

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