Pay monthly phones: All you need to know
Signing up for a pay monthly phone deal is the best way to snag a brand new smartphone and spread the cost, meaning you won’t be left out of pocket.
You can pick up all kinds of phones on a pay monthly deal, from the very best new devices from Apple and Samsung to more affordable handsets that get the basics done with no fuss.
Read on and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about pay monthly phones.
Best pay monthly phone contracts this week
The best pay monthly phone contracts this week have been picked based on a number of key factors.
This includes how recently they’ve been released, the best available data allowance packages and how much you have to pay up front and then every month.
At the moment, there are brilliant deals on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, with heaps of data and a monthly cost that won’t break the bank.
What is a pay monthly contract?
A pay monthly phone contract is the easiest and best way to get a new phone without having to pay outright for the device you want. Monthly bills include the cost of the device and your allowance of calls, texts and data.
In general, pay monthly contracts run for 24 months, although increasingly networks allow you to opt for 36 months so you can spread the cost further.
Using our comparison tool you can filter deals to get exactly what you want. You can choose to pay nothing upfront, although this means your monthly bills will be higher.
Calls and texts are almost always unlimited, but you can tweak how much data you want depending on your needs.
If you want 5G or a hefty monthly allowance, then expect to pay more. Low data allowances and 4G are cheaper.
What is the difference between pay monthly and SIM-only?
Pay monthly contracts include a phone, meaning you get a brand new handset when you sign up. SIM-only contracts don’t come with a device and offer a new SIM for you to insert into your current phone.
You can, of course, buy a new phone outright and pair it with a SIM-only plan. This is a smart way to save money in the long run, but only works if you have plenty of cash to spare to buy a pricey new device in the first place.
SIM-only contracts are always cheaper than pay monthly contracts, so if you’re happy with your phone and your existing deal is up, then this is a good option.
What are the pros and cons of pay monthly contracts?
Pros
- Great way to spread cost
- Chance to pick up the best new smartphones without having to pay outright for one
- Excellent deals from all networks available
Cons
- Long contracts often mean missing out on upgrades
- More expensive than SIM-only contracts
Which networks offer pay monthly phones?
All major networks offer pay monthly phones. Using CompareMyMobile.com you can find great pay monthly deals from the following:
Tesco pay monthly phones
You can find some of the best smartphones around on the supermarket’s ace network. Get the cutting edge iPhone 13 Pro Max with unlimited calls and texts and 25GB of 4G data for £57.49 per month for 24 months.
If you’re more of a Samsung fan, you can score the Galaxy S22 5G for £120 up front and £45.99 with 6GB of data and unlimited calls and texts.
EE pay monthly phones
EE has the excellent iPhone 13 Mini for £80 up front and £47 per month for 4GB of data and unlimited calls and texts. Check out all EE pay monthly deals now.
Which phone plans include 5G?
Search for pay monthly contracts and use our filter to pick 5G deals only. You’ll then see contracts with access to the best networks. Most new phones come with 5G as standard.
Pay monthly iPhones
Want an iPhone on a pay monthly contract? Head to our iPhone deals page and find the Apple device of your dreams now