Who are 1-month/30-day sim only deals for?
When you’re switching to a SIM only deal or just moving to a different network it can sometimes be confusing when you’re confronted with the choice between a 12-month and 1-month contract (or even a 24-month contract from Three).
For most, the idea behind a longer sim contract is simple. You stay with the same deal and don’t need to change anything until you reach the end. What can seem confusing is why you might want to go for a 1-month “rolling” contract instead.
What is a “Rolling” SIM contract?
It seems confusing (at least to us anyway) that a contract can somehow be “rolling” but for a SIM contract this is a fantastic way of handling your monthly phone use! A “Rolling” SIM contract simply means that unless you choose to change or cancel it, the contract you had for the previous month rolls over to the next.
Happy with your Voxi 8GB deal? Great! You get the same thing next month.
Want to pay for less data because you know you’re going to be within reach of wifi for most of the month? Great! You can speak to Voxi and switch to a different tariff where you only pay for 1GB.
Tired of overpaying for your data on one of the bigger networks and want to get Unlimited data from Three? Just close down your current deal and switch to a rolling contract with Three!
Flexibility is the key reason that customers will grab a 1-month SIM deal. Being able to swap to a different contract to lower costs or increase your data allowance means customers have much more control over their monthly spending than with 12-month or 24-month contract.
Can I Get A SIM Contract With Bad Credit?
Customers with poor or bad credit (or even no credit history at all) can sometimes find it difficult to get access to services if they require a credit check. SIM only deals can sometimes be difficult to get also since networks are providing you with a services that costs them money.
Luckily there are options for customers with bad credit - No credit check SIM plans are one. Smarty, Voxi and giffgaff all provide SIM deals to customers and do not require a credit check.
If you think your credit is good enough to get a standard 12 month contract then there are still good options that will save you money in the long run and provide you with a relationship and reputation with a network meaning you could at some point transition to a mobile contract. We recommend Three Mobile as a great network for SIM contracts if you have poor credit. They have affordable plans from 500MB to Unlimited data (their 100GB SIM is our favourite and is great value).
What is a No Credit Check SIM?
While most SIM only contract do require customers to pass a credit check there are some networks who do not - These no credit check SIMs are usually rolling contracts you can cancel at any time.
Voxi, Smarty and giffgaff all offer customers a 1 month/30 day SIM that the customer only pays for on a rolling contract. If the customer wants to stop using the SIM, they can at any point.
No credit Check SIMs are great if you want the flexibility to change you allowance at any time or switch to a different network whenever you like - You can reuse your number anywhere.
Does a 1 month SIM have a credit check?
This is mostly overlooked by customers but most UK networks DO credit check even for a 1 month or 30 day SIM.
Customers should remember that although there is a credit check, the ones done for 1 month SIMs are usually a lot less strict than for 12 month contracts.
So if you like a certain network and have found a great 1 month plan you should pass the credit check no problem.
Take a look at our selection of 1 month SIM deals
I have a bad credit rating, how can I get an affordable contract?
If you have bad credit or no credit history at all the good news is that there are options for you.
If you already have a phone or can borrow or purchase one, you can get a rolling contract and use it in your phone once it's unlocked to the network.
If you feel like your credit is just below average then a 1 month SIM is a good idea, this gives you access to more UK networks and their perks, as well as providing more affordable plans
The good thing about joining a network with a 1 month SIM is that you could transfer to an even better 12 month contract later down the line once you have built a reputation with them.
What is an Unlimited Data SIM Plan?
On the face of it, an Unlimited data SIM plan is a mobile sim contract that allows you to use an unlimited amount of data each month (this could be a 1-month SIM or longer contract). However when you compare Unlimited data plans available right now you can see that:
a) Not all "unlimited" data sim plans offer the same experience to the user.
b) Aren't available for all customers to apply for.
There are quite a few unlimited data plans provided by UK networks and we'll go over the differences in this guide.
Which Networks Provide Unlimited Data SIM Plans?
Three - Three have offered customers unlimited data on some of their SIM contracts for a while and are one of the few networks which offer fully unlimited data with no caps or throttling involved. Three do monitor for usage over 1000GB per month but this would only be hit if a SIM was being used in an improper way and is extremely unlikely for a normal customer. Three offer unlimited data with 1-month, 12-month or 24-month contracts.
giffgaff - giffgaff are another UK network that have offered unlimited data in their "Always-On" plans. There is, however, terms and conditions attached whereby customers do have their speeds restricted once they use 20GB of data. From then on data speeds are reduced to 384kbps from 8am to midnight. For comparison, normal 4g speed is 14.61 Mbps so customers would see ~97% speed reduction from the average level.
Vodafone - Vodafone are one of the latest networks to offer customers unlimited data allowances on some of their SIM contracts. They provide 3 "tiers" of plan however which is based on the speeds the customer can use their unlimited allowance.
a) Unlimited Lite: Maximum download speeds of 2mbps.
b) Unlimited: Maximum download speeds of 10mbps.
c) Unlimited Max: the fastest speed available.
Smarty - Smarty's Unlimited data plan is run by Three. The plan is essentially the same as Three except for variations in cost depending on when sales are being run.
Virgin Mobile - Unfortunately, Virgin's unlimited plan is only available to customers with Virgin TV or Broadband. Despite this, the cost of their unlimited data allowance is much more than the others.
Who Are Unlimited Data Plans For?
It used to be the case that most of us could get by on 1-2GB of data per month due to the low amounts of data being used every day. Now with more and more of our lives taking place online and more importantly over our phones, the amount of data we use is going up.
Streaming platforms, constant social media feeds, higher-res images and videos are all eating up our data every month and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Unlimited data SIM plans do away with the worry of running out of data every month and can even help by providing a wifi hotspot for when you're out and about - Some people even replace their home wifi where a great mobile signal is available.
If you're always juggling your data allowance then an unlimited sim is an affordable way of getting the most from your mobile and giving you the flexibility of putting your SIM into any new phone you get.
Which Unlimited SIM Plan Is Best?
We've already outlined how the various Unlimited plans are different for each network and you can browse the offers above to find one that suits your budget...
...but without a doubt the best combination of affordability and practicality is Three Mobile's Unlimited 24-month SIM plan.
Their current offer of 6 months at £10p/m is too good to miss out on at the moment and because they offer truly unlimited data (no caps, no throttling unlike others), it's the perfect solution if you want a contract you can buy once and never worry about again. (you can even get a 12-month and 1-month version).
What Is A SIM Only Contract?
A SIM only contract is a stand-alone mobile phone contract with a package of texts, call minutes and mobile data.
With a SIM deal you only pay for the package every month, not the phone.
How does a SIM contract work?
When you usually take out a mobile phone contract your payment covers two things: the usage of texts, minutes and data and the handset you're using.
Mobile phone networks are essentially "leasing" the handset to you for a monthly fee. At the end of your contract (usually 12 to 24 months) they hope that you've paid the full cost of the phone. The SIM is just the microchip the phone uses to access the network.
A SIM only contract is just a SIM card, this allows you to choose the phone so you're only paying for the part of the contract that covers the network usage and not the more expensive handset.
I'm at the end of my phone contract. What can I do?
Once you reach the end of your mobile phone contract you have a few options:
- Get a new contract and trade-in/sell your old phone
- Keep the handset and get a SIM contract. Compare SIM Deals here
- Buy a new handset outright and get a SIM
Mobile handsets are becoming increasingly expensive. That's why many customers keep the handset they paid good money for and find an affordable SIM deal that suits their needs - whether that's more data, a lower cost every month or for other network perks such as unlimited streaming or social media use.
How do I keep my number
If you move to a new network you can keep your old number by taking just a few simple steps.
Firstly, you'll need to ask for a PAC code from your current network - Your PAC code is provided for free and will be made up of three letters and six numbers.
You can request a PAC code by phone or email and there is sometimes a form on your networks website to request it.
Once you have your PAC code you can give it to your new network who will transfer the number to your new contract.
Is there a credit check for SIM only contracts?
There is a credit check for most SIM contracts. If you want a 12 month contract there will certainly be a credit check but for one-month rolling contracts there are some networks who do not credit check - Compare no credit check SIM only deals here
Whilst your credit is being checked it's important to know that for one-month SIMS the check is less stringent.
There are plenty of great, affordable SIM options even if you fail a credit check and many pay as you go deals have offers that make them comparable to a contract (so long as you keep them topped up with credit)
Which SIM network should I choose?
There are lots of options when choosing a network, most customers stay with a well-known networks such as EE, O2, Three or Vodafone but there are plenty of good deals to be had when you compare them to newer, smaller networks such as Smarty, Voxi or giffgaff.
Many small networks in the UK use the infrastructure of the larger networks to provide their service so things like coverage are the same - in which case it's good to compare factors such as data amounts and network perks.
