SIM-only deals: the easiest mobile saving
Why handset contracts cost more, how to keep your number with a PAC code, mid-contract rises of £1.80 to £2.50 and social tariffs
If your phone contract ended more than a few months ago and you are still paying the same amount, you are paying for a handset you already own. Moving to SIM-only is the simplest mobile saving there is. This guide covers how to check, how to move without losing your number, and what to watch for when picking a new deal.
Handset contract or SIM-only?
A handset contract bundles the cost of the phone with your airtime over 24 or 36 months. The monthly price is designed to cover both. When the term ends, most providers keep charging the same amount, though some now reduce it automatically. Either way, your handset is paid off and you are free.
SIM-only means you bring your own phone and pay only for calls, texts and data. Contracts run from 30 days to 24 months. Because there is no handset cost, monthly prices are far lower. If you want a new phone, buying it outright or on a separate interest-free plan and pairing it with SIM-only is often cheaper than a bundled contract. Check a comparison site for today's rates.
Check where you stand
Log in to your provider's app or account and look for your contract end date. If it has passed, or is within 30 days, you can move now. If you are still within the minimum term, note the date and set a reminder. Your provider must send you an end-of-contract notification with its best available deal, which gives you a starting point for haggling.
Mid-contract rises
Since January 2025, Ofcom rules require any mid-contract price rise to be shown in pounds and pence at sign-up. For mobile, typical 2026 rises are £1.80 to £2.50 a month. A two-year contract will usually include two of them. When comparing deals, add the scheduled rises to the starting price to see what you will really pay.
If a provider raises prices by more than the contract stated, you have 30 days from the notice to leave without penalty.
Keeping your number
You do not need to speak to your old provider to leave. Two free text codes handle it:
| Text | To | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PAC | 65075 | Gives you a code to move your number to a new provider |
| STAC | 75075 | Gives you a code to close your account without moving the number |
| INFO | 85075 | Tells you your contract end date and any exit fee |
The code is valid for 30 days. Give the PAC to your new provider and the switch usually completes the next working day. Your old contract ends automatically. If you are still within a minimum term, you will be charged the remaining months, so check with the INFO text first.
Social tariffs
If you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits, some providers offer mobile social tariffs at roughly £12 to £25 a month with a decent data allowance and no mid-contract rises. Fewer mobile providers offer them than broadband providers, so you may need to switch. Ofcom keeps a list.
Picking a SIM-only deal
- Match the data allowance to what you actually use. Your account shows monthly usage. Most people overbuy.
- Check network coverage at home and work using the provider's coverage checker.
- Prefer shorter contracts unless a long one is clearly cheaper after adding scheduled rises.
- Check whether EU roaming is included if you travel.
- Smaller providers use the big networks' masts, so coverage is usually the same as the parent network.
Watch out for
- Staying on a handset contract after it ends. This is the biggest single overspend.
- Deals that look cheap for six months then jump.
- Using STAC when you meant PAC. STAC loses your number permanently.
- Exit fees if you switch before the minimum term ends. Text INFO to 85075 to confirm.