SIM only plans can be a great and affordable option for some users. Finding a plan should be pretty easy, and aside from a couple of concerns like SIM card size, there is no difference between SIM only shopping and contract phone shopping. You might find that SIM only plans save you cash, and that's pretty important these days.

Do SIM Only Deals Require a Credit Check?

Yes, most SIM only deals will require you to pass a credit check. However, there are some no credit check options available with several networks offer deals that don’t require credit checks. What’s more, they’re actually very good value. You can check out some no credit check SIM-only deals right here. These tend to be short-term with the option to cancel or upgrade/downgrade at short notice.

Should you get a SIM only deal?

SIM-only deals are great if you already have a handset you love and don't want to change it. Or perhaps you have snagged a bargain on eBay for a handset outright and needed a SIM card for it.

SIM only plans are also perfect for customers who have bad credit and want to rebuild their credit rating. This is because there is no phone included and this reduces the risk for the phone retailer or network provider. If you take out a SIM only deal and make repayments on time, you begin to rebuild your credit rating. This makes getting a phone contract much easier later down the line.

Many of our customers choose a SIM only deal when they have several phones for different purposes. If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors or work on a building site then a SIM only deal means you can keep an inexpensive handset for when you're out and about. Rather than risk having your iPhone getting covered in dust or dropped down a cliff you can just take a cheaper model out with you.

Is SIM only cheaper than a phone contract?

In most cases, yes, a SIM only deal combined with a handset bought outright will come in cheaper than a contract. However, this isn't always the case especially on smartph0nes that are a year or two old or less desirable than the latest flagships from Apple and Samsung. Our SIM Only vs. Contract calculator will quickly work out which is cheaper over 12, 24 or even 36 months.

What's the difference between pay as you go and SIM Only?

The difference between PAYG and SIM only is that a sim only contract includes an allowance for calls, texts and data which you'll be billed for every 30 days. A?Pay as you go SIM card requires you to top up in advance and each call, text or megabyte of data is charged from your balance. However, most pay as you go sim offerings now come with bundles, where you can prepay for a set amount of data, texts and minutes which lasts you 30 days these are known as prepaid sim only or rolling 30-day sim only contracts.

Why would you buy a SIM free phone? Isn't a free phone with a contract better?

When you take out a contract, the phone isn't free. The cost of the handset is factored into your monthly bill. So the reason you'd buy a SIM free phone is a financial one. In most cases buying a sim free handset outright and pairing it with a SIM only deal will work out cheaper than a traditional phone contract. There are of course exceptions to the rule but make sure you run the numbers to see which works out cheaper over the course of 24 months.

What Size of SIM Card Do I Need for My Phone?

There are three sizes of SIM card available for mobile phones these days, though the largest of these are being phased out and won't be used on a newer phone model. Which size of SIM you need depends on the phone you have. Looking in your phone's user manual (or checking online with the manufacturer's website) will tell you which size you need.

There are two pieces of good news though. The first is that most operators have what's known as “triple SIM” cards, meaning they provide you with a SIM card of the largest size which has “pop outs” of the two smaller sizes. You just press out the card size that you need. Should your operator not provide you with one of these you can contact them to get a free replacement SIM in the size that you need.

Is a 30 Day or 12 Month SIM Only Contract Best for Me?

That really depends on you. A 30-day contract is great if you don't like commitment since you can cancel or change your plan at any time. Plus, in some cases, you won't need to undergo a credit check. However, 12-month contracts tend to be slightly cheaper, so if you can commit it could be worth signing up for a longer period. You will find that whilst some operators offer both kinds of contracts, others only offer one or the other, so depending on your preferred network you might be forced into a contract length.

Which Network Has The Best SIM Only Deals?

The standard prices of mobile operators tend to be very similar, however, many offer special deals which change all the time. This means that it's impossible to say that one operator or another will give you the best deals. If you want to find the cheapest deal that fits your needs your best bet will be to use our comparison tool that allows you to see which operators offer the kind of plans you need for the budget you had in mind. We update it daily so the latest offers are always available.