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Low-cost SIM only plans for light users
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| SIM / plan | Data | Monthly | Contract | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky Mobile | 1GB | £1.00 | 24 months | 22 October 2026 |
| Lycamobile | 5GB | £3.50 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| RWG Mobile | 2GB | £3.50 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| Talkmobile | 100GB | £4.98 | 12 months | 22 October 2026 |
| Lebara | 5GB | £5.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| 1pMobile | 5GB | £5.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| Lycamobile | 30GB | £5.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| ASDA Mobile | 3GB | £5.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| Talkmobile | 10GB | £5.95 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| Talkmobile | 150GB | £5.97 | 12 months | 22 October 2026 |
| SMARTY | 5GB | £6.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| giffgaff | 2GB | £6.00 | 30-day rolling | 22 October 2026 |
| iD Mobile | 12GB | £6.00 | 12 months | 22 October 2026 |
| Sky Mobile | 5GB | £6.00 | 24 months | 22 October 2026 |
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.
Social tariffs: cheaper mobile plans if you get certain benefits
EE Basics — £12 a month: 5GB data, unlimited calls and texts, speeds up to 25Mbps, 30-day rolling with no early exit fees. EE lists Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker's Allowance among the qualifying benefits, with eligibility rules in its terms. Checked on EE's own page, 30 October 2026.
SMARTY Social Tariff — £12 a month: unlimited data with unlimited UK calls and texts, no credit check, and you keep it while you remain eligible. SMARTY says people on Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance qualify. Checked on SMARTY's own page, 30 October 2026.
Other networks also offer social tariffs, but we only list prices we have checked on the network's own website. Ask your current network directly — you can usually move to its social tariff without an exit fee.
How much data does a light user need?
Calls and texts use no data. Occasional WhatsApp messages, email and checking the news usually use well under 1GB a month, and video calls on Wi-Fi at home use none of your allowance.
Your phone shows last month's mobile data under Settings (Mobile data on iPhone, Connections or Network on Android). If it is under 2GB, one of the cheapest plans in the table above is likely to be plenty.
Switching without losing your number
Text PAC to 65075 from your phone. It is free, and you receive a code by text straight away. Give the code to your new network when you order the SIM, and your number usually moves within one working day.
If you are paying a lot on an old pay-as-you-go plan, check for auto top-ups or bolt-ons you no longer need. A family member can help you order online, but the plan should be in the name of the person who uses it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a special SIM only deal for pensioners?
There is no plan just for pensioners, but if you get Pension Credit you can usually get a social tariff, such as EE Basics or SMARTY's Social Tariff at £12 a month. Without benefits, the cheapest ordinary SIM only plans cost only a few pounds a month.
Do I need a credit check for a cheap SIM?
Rolling monthly plans usually need no credit check, and SMARTY says its social tariff needs none. CompareDirect is not a credit broker and runs no credit checks.
Will a cheap SIM work in my old phone?
Usually, if the phone is unlocked. Phones bought outright since December 2021 must be sold unlocked, and older ones can normally be unlocked free by the original network.
Can I leave if I don't like it?
On a 30-day rolling plan you can leave with notice and take your number with a PAC code. EE says no early exit fees apply to Basics.
How do I prove I qualify for a social tariff?
Each network runs its own check, usually with your consent through the Department for Work and Pensions or by asking for a benefit letter. Have your National Insurance number ready when you apply.
Official sources
Keep comparing
- Cheap SIM only deals under £6
- Compare all SIM only deals
- Broadband for pensioners and social tariffs
- How to switch to a broadband social tariff
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.