Compare Mobile Phone Deals

How mobile phone deals work

A pay-monthly phone deal bundles two things into one bill: the handset, paid off over the contract, and your airtime (the calls, texts and data). You usually choose a contract length, a data allowance, and how much to pay upfront. A bigger upfront payment lowers the monthly price, and a smaller one raises it, so the headline monthly figure only tells half the story.

The alternative is to buy a phone outright, or keep the one you have, and add a SIM-only plan. That splits the handset from the airtime and is often cheaper overall, especially once a phone is a year or two old.

How to choose the right deal

Compare deals on their total cost across the whole contract, not just the monthly price. Add the upfront fee to the monthly payments over the full term to see what you will really pay. Then match the data allowance to how you actually use your phone rather than the largest bundle on offer, since most people pay for far more data than they use.

Pick a contract length you are comfortable keeping, and check that your chosen network has good coverage where you live and work. You can see how the networks perform near you on our UK mobile coverage map or with the Ofcom signal checker before you commit.

Networks and the brands that run on them

The UK has four networks that own their infrastructure: EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. Many other brands, often called MVNOs, run on top of those networks, so a smaller brand can offer the same coverage as a big one for less. When you compare, remember that a brand's coverage matches whichever network it runs on, not its size.

Switching and keeping your number

Keeping your number is simple. Text the word PAC to 65075, your current provider sends you a code, and you give it to your new provider when you order. Your number moves across, usually within one working day, with no gap in service.