Before we start, please don’t blind me with science – I’m not very technical, but any help expressed in layman's terms would be appreciated.
I’ve always had a contract with EE (well, for years now) that includes a handset. Before Brexit there was no problem taking your minutes and data allowances when you went to the EU. Then we got a flat £10 charge to do that for up to a month; I paid that. Then it went up to £25; I sucked that up. Before going to Cyprus for Christmas last year I discovered that they had dropped even that and were now charging £2.50 per day if you used ANY minutes, text or data.
I had to take the charge on a few days because there were calls I needed to make, but some days I just left the phone in flight mode and used hotel WiFi. I had done the same thing in Morocco in October; I just told people not to call me, but to use messenger, email or WhatsApp. But I still ended up with a chunky bill from the trip to Cyprus.
A couple of days ago I went into EE and had a chat with a guy who told me that when my contract expires in July I can keep the handset (effectively a two year old iPhone 12 that serves my needs) and go onto a SIM only plan, which will include being able to export my allowances when I go to the EU.
Does anyone use this? Advantages or pitfalls? Thanks in advance.
SIM only phone plans in UK?
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Amor Vincit Omnia
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SIM only phone plans in UK?
Steve
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Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I can’t speak for EE, I was with Virgin for years before they sold out to O2 who I now have my contract with.
How my contract works is that it is split into two parts. The phone itself, and the contract. I pay two direct debits each month, one that pays the phone off, and one that pays my monthly contract.
Once the phone is paid off I can either take out a new ‘loan’/contract to upgrade my handset or just keep what I have. The contract stays the same unless I chose to add more data or minutes and this just keeps on going until I choose to stop.
The only rules are I can’t cancel my contract until the phone is paid off. But this is similar to the old style contracts which bundled everything together.
I would expect that going SIM only for you will be the same. You should have exactly the same deal you have had before but without paying for a new phone.
It might be worth looking around though. My O2 phone deal allows me to use my allowances abroad, including data so it’s exactly like at home. I’m happy to share details of my contract via PM if you like.
How my contract works is that it is split into two parts. The phone itself, and the contract. I pay two direct debits each month, one that pays the phone off, and one that pays my monthly contract.
Once the phone is paid off I can either take out a new ‘loan’/contract to upgrade my handset or just keep what I have. The contract stays the same unless I chose to add more data or minutes and this just keeps on going until I choose to stop.
The only rules are I can’t cancel my contract until the phone is paid off. But this is similar to the old style contracts which bundled everything together.
I would expect that going SIM only for you will be the same. You should have exactly the same deal you have had before but without paying for a new phone.
It might be worth looking around though. My O2 phone deal allows me to use my allowances abroad, including data so it’s exactly like at home. I’m happy to share details of my contract via PM if you like.
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
@iain
Thanks. The plan I was looking at seems to have unlimited minutes and data, and is fully exportable to the EU and a few other countries.
I’m not a massive user; I make maybe a dozen calls per month and receive similar; SMS is pretty much dead in the water as my friends all use WhatsApp. I’m not glued to my phone like some people are when I’m out and about. However, I do find that Apple CarPlay eats data, so having a higher allowance would be useful.
Thanks. The plan I was looking at seems to have unlimited minutes and data, and is fully exportable to the EU and a few other countries.
I’m not a massive user; I make maybe a dozen calls per month and receive similar; SMS is pretty much dead in the water as my friends all use WhatsApp. I’m not glued to my phone like some people are when I’m out and about. However, I do find that Apple CarPlay eats data, so having a higher allowance would be useful.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I’ve checked my account online and I’m classed as having a SIM only contract for my phone. The phone itself is classed as a loan.
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I use GiffGaff sim only. Uses O2’s network, but is much cheaper!
Haven’t had any problems with them, although I think you have to pay extra when abroad for some things
Haven’t had any problems with them, although I think you have to pay extra when abroad for some things
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
SIM only deals for me all day long!
If you already have the handset you're happy with then a SIM only deal works out normally MUCH cheaper. (I bought a second hand phone through backmarket.co.uk - £100 refurbished Samsung instead of £495 new! - when I broke my old phone and just put the SIM in that and was good to go.)
I've done the contracts where you have the phone as well. Good to get you started maybe I think but otherwise just far too expensive and I'm not interested in the newest latest phone.
I even added my Mum's SIM to my SIM only contract for £4 per month with unlimited calls and so much data she never uses it all.
For me SIM only (Vodafone in my case but I imagine they are pretty much all the same), and keeping the existing handset if you're happy with it, or sourcing your own handset, is the way to go without hesitation.
If you already have the handset you're happy with then a SIM only deal works out normally MUCH cheaper. (I bought a second hand phone through backmarket.co.uk - £100 refurbished Samsung instead of £495 new! - when I broke my old phone and just put the SIM in that and was good to go.)
I've done the contracts where you have the phone as well. Good to get you started maybe I think but otherwise just far too expensive and I'm not interested in the newest latest phone.
I even added my Mum's SIM to my SIM only contract for £4 per month with unlimited calls and so much data she never uses it all.
For me SIM only (Vodafone in my case but I imagine they are pretty much all the same), and keeping the existing handset if you're happy with it, or sourcing your own handset, is the way to go without hesitation.
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
Another vote for GiffGaff Sim Only.
Was with O2 since the year dot but moved over to GiffGaff (who, as jbm90 correctly says, use the O2 network) around a year ago.
I'm paying (I think) £10 for something like 50-60GB Data. It's a 12month contract, but if you don't want to be tied down, I think they offer it on a rolling basis for maybe £5 per month more.
Definitely worth checking out.
Was with O2 since the year dot but moved over to GiffGaff (who, as jbm90 correctly says, use the O2 network) around a year ago.
I'm paying (I think) £10 for something like 50-60GB Data. It's a 12month contract, but if you don't want to be tied down, I think they offer it on a rolling basis for maybe £5 per month more.
Definitely worth checking out.
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Neil
Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I use ID mobile (who piggyback off the 3 network) and they offer data and calls abroad as part of their offering, to any of 50 countries I think. So I can use my UK mins and data here or in most of Europe without worrying. I am switching to a sim-only plan myself (my wife already on one) and for £5 a month I get 5gbs and unlimited calls and messages.
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exHowfener
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I'm not a big user, PAYG does everything I need.
My wife has a SIM only deal with Vodafone which she is happy with and pays £7.40 a month. We don't go abroad so I can't comment on that aspect. U.K. coverage is pretty good though. The cost had previously bee £6.86, so that gives an idea of potential price rises.
My wife has a SIM only deal with Vodafone which she is happy with and pays £7.40 a month. We don't go abroad so I can't comment on that aspect. U.K. coverage is pretty good though. The cost had previously bee £6.86, so that gives an idea of potential price rises.
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
I buy my handset and just use Sim Only. (EE)
I think EE probably charge me more than necessary, and I will look at this at me next renewal, but I pay for 3 phones, at about £12 each, with unlimited calls and texts and enough data.
I don't use much data and I'm happy with my charges. More importantly I really like my Motorola Edge 30. My wife and I paid £280 each for one in Jan 23. They are now 2 years old, full of photos, but otherwise working very well, so the phone costs would work out at about an extra £10/month.
You might not have to use your phone to make calls abroad.*
*I presume Whatsapp works abroad, so if you make calls on wifi with Whatsapp there's no call charges.
I think EE probably charge me more than necessary, and I will look at this at me next renewal, but I pay for 3 phones, at about £12 each, with unlimited calls and texts and enough data.
I don't use much data and I'm happy with my charges. More importantly I really like my Motorola Edge 30. My wife and I paid £280 each for one in Jan 23. They are now 2 years old, full of photos, but otherwise working very well, so the phone costs would work out at about an extra £10/month.
You might not have to use your phone to make calls abroad.*
*I presume Whatsapp works abroad, so if you make calls on wifi with Whatsapp there's no call charges.
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josbrownlie
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
Yup I do exactly this currently using a pixel android handset as I don't see that the newer versions are worth the increased cost. They're not significantly bigger, although I don't want bigger anyway, better quality, faster, greater storage or display quality to warrant the increase monthly costs in comparison. This is my second year of SIM only and I'm saving at least £50 per month compared to what I would usually do. Pitfalls are battery performance which does admittedly need charging more frequently but to have a cable or power pack on hand is a small price to pay and usually quite easy to do.Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 8:38 am Before we start, please don’t blind me with science – I’m not very technical, but any help expressed in layman's terms would be appreciated.
I’ve always had a contract with EE (well, for years now) that includes a handset. Before Brexit there was no problem taking your minutes and data allowances when you went to the EU. Then we got a flat £10 charge to do that for up to a month; I paid that. Then it went up to £25; I sucked that up. Before going to Cyprus for Christmas last year I discovered that they had dropped even that and were now charging £2.50 per day if you used ANY minutes, text or data.
I had to take the charge on a few days because there were calls I needed to make, but some days I just left the phone in flight mode and used hotel WiFi. I had done the same thing in Morocco in October; I just told people not to call me, but to use messenger, email or WhatsApp. But I still ended up with a chunky bill from the trip to Cyprus.
A couple of days ago I went into EE and had a chat with a guy who told me that when my contract expires in July I can keep the handset (effectively a two year old iPhone 12 that serves my needs) and go onto a SIM only plan, which will include being able to export my allowances when I go to the EU.
Does anyone use this? Advantages or pitfalls? Thanks in advance.
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Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
Thanks for all the replies – I actually understood all of them! 
I do think we have become a bit afraid of being “out of contact” now when we go abroad, especially with so much everyday “business” being conducted online.
I remember before I had a mobile phone and, of course, before the Internet. I used to go abroad a lot, let friends and family know I was away, and maybe find a payphone to check in on my mother a couple of times. And that was it. No one really knew where I was.
When I’m away now I have the phone with me, but outside of the hotel it’s usually in my bag and stays there unless I’m taking pictures. Sometimes though, other people I’m with have to start checking their social media as soon as they sit down in a bar or café. Conversation killer.
I do think we have become a bit afraid of being “out of contact” now when we go abroad, especially with so much everyday “business” being conducted online.
I remember before I had a mobile phone and, of course, before the Internet. I used to go abroad a lot, let friends and family know I was away, and maybe find a payphone to check in on my mother a couple of times. And that was it. No one really knew where I was.
When I’m away now I have the phone with me, but outside of the hotel it’s usually in my bag and stays there unless I’m taking pictures. Sometimes though, other people I’m with have to start checking their social media as soon as they sit down in a bar or café. Conversation killer.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
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tikkathree
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
SIM only for me too. I'm with Tesco which give me unlimited everything which I never come close to draining.
I pay £22.50/ month.
I pay £22.50/ month.
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
Switching out the SIM card is super easy, so definitely worth looking into - it's also incredibly easy to keep your number and all providers will give instructions with a new SIM on how to do it.
If I was you Steve I'd have a look on USwitch to compare deals - these days most providers will include unlimited calls and texts in the UK, so really it's down to your data usage (your provider can give you a summary of usage!), and then finding a provider that'll include EU roaming (if you're a ClubCard holder then Tesco Mobile definitely do, as well as guaranteeing no price rises within your contract period - I think O2 also have roaming included as that's who I purchased my wife's SIM through).
Unless you're a massive data hog then if you're going SIM only you should be able to get something decent for £10-£12 a month (@tikkathree you're overpaying! I'm paying £12 a month with Tesco for 60GB of data, and I never get close to that, even sharing my connection with the kids for streaming video when in the car!)
If I was you Steve I'd have a look on USwitch to compare deals - these days most providers will include unlimited calls and texts in the UK, so really it's down to your data usage (your provider can give you a summary of usage!), and then finding a provider that'll include EU roaming (if you're a ClubCard holder then Tesco Mobile definitely do, as well as guaranteeing no price rises within your contract period - I think O2 also have roaming included as that's who I purchased my wife's SIM through).
Unless you're a massive data hog then if you're going SIM only you should be able to get something decent for £10-£12 a month (@tikkathree you're overpaying! I'm paying £12 a month with Tesco for 60GB of data, and I never get close to that, even sharing my connection with the kids for streaming video when in the car!)
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josbrownlie
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Re: SIM only phone plans in UK?
Ah, maybe another thing to consider when thinking about switching networks is that the handset may be locked to the original service provider and therefore need unlocking to get it to work with the new SIM. Not hugely expensive but something to consider all the same. Another thing is whether it's 4 or 5g both SIM and handset wise. I've got a couple of slab Nokia's which no longer work as they're 4g and most Sims nowadays are 5g and therefore aren't compatible.
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