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Save money with a SIM only plan

SIM only means you keep your phone and pay just for calls, texts and data. Without a handset bundled in, monthly prices are usually far lower.

Hand holding a SIM card over a smartphone on a kitchen table

3 quick wins

  • Check your phone is unlocked and free of any remaining handset finance before switching.
  • Text INFO to 85075 (free) to confirm your contract end date and any exit fee.
  • Compare plans using your last three months of data use, not the biggest advertised number.

Why SIM only usually costs less

  • A bundled contract pays for your handset across the term. Once the phone is paid off, SIM-only keeps you from paying for it again.
  • Illustrative example, not an offer: a £28 bundled plan that drops to £10 SIM-only saves £216 over 12 months before any exit fee. Your actual prices will differ.
  • Savings are not guaranteed: coverage, customer service and small-print price rises matter as much as the headline monthly price.

Choose a data allowance that matches real use

  • Check usage in your phone settings or provider account over a typical month. Most people use far less than unlimited.
  • Home and workplace Wi-Fi cover a large share of use for many households, so a mid-size allowance can be enough.
  • If you tether a laptop or stream outside the home regularly, add that use up honestly; overage charges and speed caps can erase a small saving.

Switch using the official text-to-switch process

  • Ofcom rules let you switch by text: text PAC to 65050 from your current phone to keep your number, or STAC to 75075 to leave without it.
  • The code must be issued within one minute by text. Use it with your new provider by the date shown, or the request expires.
  • Never cancel your old contract before your new SIM is confirmed; follow the text-to-switch process instead, or you could lose service and still owe charges.

Check the small print before you sign

  • Look for annual price rises written into the contract and work out the amount in pounds, not percentages.
  • Check coverage at your home, workplace and regular routes with the provider’s own checker, not just a postcode screenshot.
  • Confirm roaming terms if you travel abroad, and whether the plan includes eSIM, hotspot use and any fair-use limits.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Paying off a bundled contract early just to save on SIM-only before the saving outweighs the exit fee.
  • Assuming every phone is unlocked; check before ordering a new SIM.
  • Choosing a plan only for its free gift or headline price.

Compare SIM only deals →

More helpful guides

These are general tips, not financial advice. Always check prices and terms with the provider before you buy.

Sources and review

Written by CompareDirect. Worked examples are illustrative, not live deals or guaranteed savings. Check the relevant supplier, council or adviser for your circumstances.

Content reviewed: . Linked guidance checked; provider prices and personal eligibility are not verified by these examples.