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The cheapest phone contracts we have costed end to end
Total over the agreement = upfront cost + handset instalments + airtime instalments, worked from the network's own advertised terms checked 27 October 2026. Handset and airtime are usually separate agreements.
| Phone | Monthly | Upfront | Data | Total over the agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 16e · 128GB | £44.00/month | £20.00 | — | £1268.00 |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro XL · 256GB | £47.50/month | £50.00 | — | £1436.00 |
| Apple iPhone 16 · 128GB | £49.00/month | £30.00 | — | £1482.00 |
| Google Pixel 11 · 256GB | £50.50/month | £40.00 | — | £1546.00 |
| Google Pixel 11 Pro XL · 512GB | £50.50/month | £60.00 | — | £1554.00 |
| Apple iPhone 17 · 256GB | £52.00/month | £30.00 | — | £1590.00 |
| Apple iPhone Air · 256GB | £52.00/month | £30.00 | — | £1590.00 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro · 256GB | £52.25/month | £40.00 | — | £1609.00 |
| Google Pixel 11 · 512GB | £54.50/month | £40.00 | — | £1690.00 |
| Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max · 256GB | £55.00/month | £50.00 | — | £1718.00 |
| Apple iPhone Air · 1TB | £55.50/month | £50.00 | — | £1784.00 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro · 256GB | £57.00/month | £50.00 | — | £1790.00 |
Prices are advertised rates from each provider's own page on the date we checked, not live quotes. Clicking a name takes you to the provider.
What makes a phone contract cheap
Add the upfront fee to every handset instalment and every airtime payment across the whole term. That total is what you pay, and it is the only fair way to compare two contracts: £30 a month over 48 months usually costs more than £45 a month over 24.
The table above does that arithmetic for you from each network's own advertised terms. Where a network publishes no fixed price for a handset, we cannot honestly quote one, so that network appears in our quote list instead.
Why the cheapest contracts are hard to compare
Every priced contract in our 27 October 2026 snapshot comes from Vodafone's own advertised terms. EE, O2, Three, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, iD Mobile and giffgaff quote phone deals handset by handset on their own sites, so we list them as places to get a quote rather than invent a price.
That means the cheapest contract for you may sit with a network we cannot price. Get a quote on the network's own page, write down the upfront fee, the monthly figure and how many months each part runs for, then compare that total against the table above.
Ways to cut the cost of a new phone
Buying the phone outright and pairing it with a cheap SIM only plan is frequently the lowest total over two years, especially with trade-in credit against your old handset. Many SIM only plans cost under £6 a month.
A refurbished or ex-display model from a recognised retailer, a previous-generation phone, or a mid-range model rather than a flagship all cost far less and still do what most people need. If your current phone is paid off, changing only the airtime is cheaper than any contract.
Check these before you sign
Since January 2025 UK networks must show any mid-contract price rise in pounds and pence when you sign up. Compare the rise as well as the starting price — a cheap contract with a large annual rise stops being cheap by month twelve.
Find the early-termination figure for the device plan: leave early and you normally owe the remaining handset balance in full. Phone contracts usually involve a credit check because the handset is financed. CompareDirect is not a credit broker or lender and runs no checks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest mobile phone contract?
It depends on the handset. In our 27 October 2026 snapshot the lowest-total contract we have costed is £1,268 over the agreement — an iPhone 16e with a £20 upfront fee. Promotions change often, so confirm the current figure on the network's own page.
Is a cheap monthly contract always cheaper?
No. A low monthly price over a 36 or 48-month device plan can cost far more overall than a higher monthly price over a shorter term. Compare the total across the whole agreement, which is what our table shows.
Can I get a cheap contract with a good phone?
Usually by choosing an older or mid-range model, or by buying outright with trade-in credit and adding a low-cost SIM only plan. Flagship phones on contract rarely cost less than the phone itself.
Do cheap phone contracts need a credit check?
Most do, because the handset is being paid for over time. CompareDirect is not a credit broker or lender and does not run credit checks; the network carries out its own.
How do I keep my number when I switch?
Text PAC to 65075 to get your switching code free and instantly, then give it to the new network. The move normally completes within one working day.
Can the price go up during the contract?
It can. Since January 2025 networks must tell you any mid-contract rise in pounds and pence when you join. Check the rise as well as the starting price before you commit.
Official sources
Keep comparing
- Compare all mobile phone deals
- Phone deals with no upfront cost
- Cheap SIM only deals under £6
- How to save money on your phone bill
- Phone contract buying guide
Listings are dated snapshots of providers' own pages, not live prices, and CompareDirect does not sell the products we list. We are not a credit broker or lender and give no financial advice.
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