Steeped in rich history and vibrant culture, the United Kingdom is easily one of the most-visited countries in the world. Culture vultures will have the time of their lives at the British Museum or Tate Modern. Those who want to escape the turbulence of life will find peace and quiet in the likes of Somerset or the Scottish Highlands.[1]
As you explore the country, you clearly still need to stay connected with your loved ones back home. Fortunately, there are a handful of telecommunications companies in the UK offering a British SIM card.
Check out your options below:
An Overview of British SIM Cards for Your Visit in the UK
Generally, British SIM cards are classified into three, fitting different data requirements and budgets:
- Prepaid – Prepaid plans will require you to pay first for a specific amount or type of services to be used within a particular period.
- Pay as You Go (PAYG) – PAYG plans will only charge you for what you’ll use. No contract is required.
- Monthly contract – This plan binds you in a contract and requires you to pay a fixed amount monthly to use the carrier’s services.
British SIM Card for Your Travel: Your Best Options
So what’s the best British SIM card for your UK vacay? Here are your options plus their features and prices.
Vodafone
Vodafone[2] is one of the leading telecommunications companies in the UK. The company offers three plans for visitors to the UK, giving them the flexibility to choose based on their budget. Moreover, their UK SIM card is compatible with both mobile and tablet devices.
Check out their services:
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SIM-Only Plans (30-Day Contract Option; Also Available in 12 and 24 Months) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
|
3GB Red |
£26 per month or ₱1,915.54 at the time of writing |
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8GB Red |
£29 per month or ₱2,136.56 at the time of writing |
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20GB Red |
£34 per month or ₱2,504.93 at the time of writing |
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Unlimited |
£42 per month or ₱3,094.33 at the time of writing |
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Unlimited Plus |
£45 per month or ₱3,315.35 at the time of writing |
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Unlimited Max |
£48 per month or ₱3,536.38 at the time of writing |
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Data-Only SIM Plans (30-Day Contract Option; Also Available in 12 and 24 Months) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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Red 4GB |
£17 per month or ₱1,252.47 at the time of writing |
4GB data |
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Red 25GB |
£24 per month or ₱1,768.19 at the time of writing |
25GB data |
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Unlimited Max |
£37 per month or ₱2,725.96 at the time of writing |
Unlimited data |
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Pay As You Go Plans (Offers End on January 5, 2025) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£30 |
£30 or ₱2,210.24 at the time of writing |
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£40 |
£40 or ₱2,946.98 at the time of writing |
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Free SIM |
Free |
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VOXI
Owned by Vodafone,[3] VOXI is a mobile network perfect for travelers who use or check their social media regularly. That’s because the company’s data bundles come with unlimited social media access.
If you’re looking for a British SIM card, consider VOXI’s SIM-only deals:
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
|
£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
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£12 |
£12 or ₱884.09 at the time of writing |
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£35 (£30 at the company’s Winter Sale) |
£30 or ₱2,210.24 at the time of writing |
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Free SIM |
Free |
Get just the SIM, activate it later, and pick the plan you want. |
Three UK
Launched in 2003, Three UK is a mobile network that reaches 99% of the UK population.[4] This just shows how broad and extensive their network is. This telco also boasts they offer the UK’s fastest 5G network (as named by Ookla).
Three UK has two tiers of plan: Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go. Their Pay Monthly plans are perfect for those staying in the UK for quite some time, as the contract is locked for 24 months. Nevertheless, the company allows users to customize their plans and choose a contract length.
Three UK’s Pay As You Go plans, meanwhile, are great for those who are on a budget and want flexibility.
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SIM-Only Plans (24-Month Plans) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£10 |
Starts at £10.00 or ₱ 736.75 at the time of writing |
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£15 |
Starts at £15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
Starts at £20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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Pay As You Go Plans (One-Month Plans) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£10 |
£10.00 or ₱ 736.75 at the time of writing |
|
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£35 |
£35 or ₱2,578.61 at the time of writing |
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SMARTY
Operated by Three UK, SMARTY[5] offers affordable plans that are perfect for budget travelers. It’s also ideal for those staying in the UK for a short time, as the company doesn’t have contracts for their services.
The company has three tiers of plans:
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Voice Plans (One-Month Plans) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£6 |
£6 or ₱442.05 at the time of writing |
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£7 |
£7 or ₱515.72 at the time of writing |
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£8 |
£8 or ₱589.40 at the time of writing |
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
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£12 |
£12 or ₱884.09 at the time of writing |
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£17 |
£17 or ₱1,252.47 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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Data Only Plans (One-Month Plans) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£5 |
£5 or ₱368.37 at the time of writing |
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£9 |
£9 or ₱663.07 at the time of writing |
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£13 |
£13 or ₱957.77 at the time of writing |
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£17 |
£17 or ₱1,252.47 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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Data Discount Plans (One-Month Plan; Lets You Get Money Back for Unused Data) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£6 |
£6 or ₱442.05 at the time of writing |
|
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£7 |
£7 or ₱515.72 at the time of writing |
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£8 |
£8 or ₱589.40 at the time of writing |
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O2
Also known as Telefonica UK Limited, O2[6] is your other bet when it comes to SIM cards in the UK. The company offers Pay As You Go and Pay Monthly plans, addressing the needs of both short-term and long-term visitors to the UK.
And should you decide to travel to EU countries, O2’s Pay Monthly plans let you use up to 25GB data.
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Pay Monthly Plans (24-Month Plans) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£14.99 |
£14.99 or ₱1,104.38 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£24.99 |
£24.99 or ₱1,841.13 at the time of writing |
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£44.49 |
£44.49 or ₱3,277.78 at the time of writing |
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Pay As You Go Plans (Big Bundles) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
|
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£30 |
£30 or ₱2,210.24 at the time of writing |
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giffgaff
Founded in 2008, giffgaff[7] is a mobile network company known for their flexible plans. For travelers looking for a UK SIM card, this telco has Pay As You Go and Monthly Rolling plans. All these plans already come with unlimited calls and texts in the UK.
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Pay As You Go Plans |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£6 |
£6 or ₱442.05 at the time of writing |
|
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£8 |
£8 or ₱589.40 at the time of writing |
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
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£12 |
£12 or ₱884.09 at the time of writing |
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£25 |
£25 or ₱1,841.86 at the time of writing |
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£35 |
£35 or ₱2,578.61 at the time of writing |
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Monthly Rolling Plans (Renews Monthly and Allows You to Switch Your Plan Every Month) |
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£6 |
£6 or ₱442.05 at the time of writing |
|
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£8 |
£8 or ₱589.40 at the time of writing |
|
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
|
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£12 |
£12 or ₱884.09 at the time of writing |
|
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£25 |
£25 or ₱1,841.86 at the time of writing |
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£35 |
£35 or ₱2,578.61 at the time of writing |
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EE
EE,[8] one of the UK’s largest mobile network operators, is the best fit for travelers who want straightforward, no-frill data plans. With their Pay As You Go plans, you can enjoy data and unlimited calls and texts without any contract and commitment.
Here are the features of this SIM card in UK:
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Plan |
Price |
Features |
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£10 |
£10 or ₱736.75 at the time of writing |
|
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£15 |
£15 or ₱1,105.12 at the time of writing |
|
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£20 |
£20 or ₱1,473.49 at the time of writing |
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£30 |
£30 or ₱2,210.24 at the time of writing |
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£35 |
£35 or ₱2,578.61 at the time of writing |
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Standard SIM |
Free |
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British SIM Card FAQs
Still have questions on getting a SIM card in the UK? You may find the answers here:
1. What to consider when buying a British SIM card?
To make the most of your UK SIM card, consider the following when purchasing:
- Length of stay – Are you a short-term visitor? A student studying for a year or two?[3] If you’re the former, getting a Pay As You Go plan makes much more sense as it’s flexible and doesn’t require a contract. Pay Monthly plans, on the other hand, are ideal for long-term users who want to manage their costs through recurring bills and receive loyalty incentives.
- Travel itinerary – If you’re traveling to the EU, get a SIM that allows you to use roaming data. Otherwise, stick to a basic plan.
- Data purpose – To get the right amount of data, consider the situations where you’ll need it–work, navigation, social media, streaming, etc.
- Mobile compatibility – Are you buying an eSIM? Make sure that it’s compatible with your mobile unit first.
2. Where to buy a British SIM card?
Thankfully, you can get your British SIM Card in many places in the UK. You will find shops and kiosks selling SIM cards the moment you arrive at major UK airports. However, they tend to be pricier than usual.
Nevertheless, you can always go to mobile carrier shops, electronics stores, and even convenience stores and supermarkets to get a SIM card. If you want to be connected the moment you arrive in the UK, get your SIM online beforehand. Major telcos have online shops where you can compare offers and buy the best SIM.
3. I’m traveling to a European Union (EU) country. Will I incur roaming charges if I use my British SIM card there?
That will depend on your provider in the UK. Some telcos in the UK already include roaming data in their packages, letting you use their services with no extra cost. However, there’s a cap on how much data you can use while you’re outside the UK.
When picking a provider, always check if they already offer roaming data and which travel zones are already covered.
Final Thoughts
Buying a British SIM card for your trip shouldn’t be difficult, as you have many options available. The best thing about UK SIM cards is that they come in Pay As You Go plans, letting you pay for what you will only use and cancel it whenever.
Before you choose a UK SIM card, look at your travel needs first. Then, compare providers’ features and prices.
Sources:
- [1] British Countryside Attractions and Places to Visit
- [2] Vodafone Website
- [3] VOXI Website
- [4] Three UK Website
- [5] SMARTY Website
- [6] O2 Website
- [7] giffgaff Website
- [8] EE Website
- [9] Studying in the UK
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