5G lets you do more, faster. It's better for streaming. Better for online gaming. And better all round. We've sought out the very best 5G SIM only deals right here.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile network. As the next generation after 4G, it gives you faster speeds, lower latency (lag), and all-round greater reliability.
In other words, it’s just better mobile internet – much, much better. It’s the best you can currently get on mobile networks.
And if you get a mobile plan with 5G included, you can connect to it whenever you’re in range.
5G is still in the process of rolling out, so not everywhere has it just yet. And not all phones are compatible with it just yet either. But if you’re in a town or city and taking out a new plan, you could be in luck.
What are 5G SIMs?
In most cases, a 5G SIM is a physical SIM card that you insert in your phone and which gets you a 5G mobile internet connection.
All you have to do is put it in a 5G-compatible smartphone and you’re good to go, with 5G speeds that are up to 20 times faster than 4G.
5G SIMs are also available as e-SIMs. With 5G e-SIMs, there’s no physical SIM card that you have to insert. Instead an e-SIM is a small chip that comes embedded in your handset when you buy it.
Which networks offer 5G SIMs?
Nearly all UK networks offer 5G SIMs these days – they’re super easy to find. Networks with 5G include:
Best 5G EE SIM only deals
At the time of writing (November 2022), EE is the UK’s widest-ranging 5G network and offers the fastest median 5G speed - 66Mbps. Plans aren’t cheap, but get you impressive speeds and some genuinely noteworthy extras.
Not least among them are Swappable Benefits, that allow you to switch between different customer incentives, such as a Now TV subscription or a data boost, from month to month.
Best 5G BT SIM only deals
BT Mobile uses the same infrastructure as EE and is available in the same wide range of locations.
Other benefits include a BT Sport and reduced rates for BT broadband customers.
Best Sky Mobile 5G SIM only deals
Based on O2’s network, Sky Mobile's 5G speeds and coverage are impressive, with a service that’s available in 200+ locations across the UK.
There’s also the Roll scheme that allows customers to stash unused data for up to three years, as well as data-free viewing of Sky TV.
Sky VIP customers get 5G for no extra charge.
Best Vodafone 5G SIM only deals
A Vodafone 5G service is available in at least 157 locations (information correct as of November 2022), as well as in select destinations overseas.
Vodafone 5G SIM only deals also include membership of its Very Me customer rewards scheme.
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Vodafone sim only
4G- 4GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £6.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 20GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 20GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone
Best Three 5G SIM only deals
At the time of writing, Three’s 5G service takes in 480 UK locations (though without complete coverage) and is the fastest of major, household-name networks.
Select Three 5G SIM only contracts also include membership of its Go Binge scheme, which gets you zero-data streaming on select video and music streaming services.
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Three sim only
5G- Unlimited 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £24.00 per month
1 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- Unlimited 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £24.00 per month
1 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- Unlimited 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £24.00 per month
1 month contract From Three Mobile
Best Tesco Mobile 5G SIM only deals
5G SIMs from Tesco Mobile allow you to access a 5G service in 100+ towns and cities across the UK.
Customers also benefit from free Clubcard points for paying their monthly bills.
Best VOXI 5G SIM only deals
VOXI 5G SIM only contracts offer unlimited use of social media without eating into your data allowance and inclusive roaming in 48 locations.
5G coverage on VOXI extends to 157 UK towns and cities.
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VOXI sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 6 month music pass
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 6 month music pass
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 100GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 6 month music pass
- £20.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI
Best O2 5G SIM only deals
O2 offers 5G overage in 200 towns and cites (as of November 2022) and stands out for its highly rated customer loyalty schemes and customisable plans.
-
O2 sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 3 months free Disney+
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 3 months free Disney+
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 3 months free Disney+
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2
Will my current SIM support 5G?
Your current SIM may not be compatible with 5G, depending on when you got it.
To get 5G, you’ll need to sign up for a 5G SIM only plan from your provider and use it with a 5G-compatible phone.
Can I upgrade my 4G SIM to a 5G SIM?
Not quite. But you can take out a new plan.
4G SIMs can only connect to 4G (as well as 3G, 2G, and 1G mobile networks, of course). And if your current plan doesn’t include 5G connectivity, you’ll probably need to wait until you’re out of contract to upgrade to 5G.
As long as you aren’t tied to a contract, however, upgrading to 5G is easy-peasy. Just choose a new 5G-ready SIM deal you like the look of – whether it’s from your current network or a different one – and sign up. You’ll be sent a brand-new SIM card that can connect to 5G.
Just bear in mind that you’ll need a 5G-enabled phone as well.
How do I know if I have 5G in my area?
The best way to find out if you can get 5G is to use networks’ 5G availability checkers.
- O2 5G postcode checker
- Three 5G postcode checker
- Vodafone 5G postcode checker
- EE 5G postcode checker
- BT 5G postcode checker
- Sky Mobile 5G postcode checker
- Tesco Mobile 5G postcode checker
- VOXI 5G postcode checker
Which network's best for 5G? Take a look at our guide where we've put them to the test.
When is 5G coming to my area?
At the time of writing (November 2022), 5G is available in 115+ towns and cities in the UK. More than half of the population can connect to it through at least one network. Not every town is entirely covered by 5G from a single network, though.
If you’re in a decent-sized town, there’s a good chance that a network or two may have rolled out 5G nearby already. But if there’s nothing yet, rest assured it will arrive soon – probably within the next couple of years.
You can check individual coverage maps from the main UK networks – EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone – to see which ones offer 5G where you are.
Is 5G available in the UK?
You can get 5G in the UK, but availability is still largely restricted to certain towns and cities. In the event that you buy a 5G SIM and you’re in a location where 5G is not available, you’ll be connected via 4G.
Is 5G worth it?
5G is much faster and more reliable than 4G, and you can connect to it even in some surprisingly remote locations. The difference may not be mind-blowing most of the time, but if you have the opportunity to upgrade, it’s worth taking it.
If 4G is adequate where you are and you don’t struggle to get online, you may not see a big difference between 4G and 5G most of the time. Especially if you just use mobile internet to scroll through social media or listen to Spotify.
But if you rely on fast mobile internet, or could really benefit from better latency or speeds – if you use mobile broadband for work, or like to FaceTime people, for instance – it’s definitely worth considering a 5G upgrade.
Is 5G faster than Wi-Fi?
That depends on the Wi-Fi, and the 5G!
5G in the UK can reach average speeds of somewhere around an incredible 200Mbps. EE has clocked the fastest recorded speed with a whopping 753Mbps in one location.
To put that in perspective… Wi-Fi on basic ADSL broadband is around 10Mbps, standard fibre optic broadband is about 30-100Mbps, and ultrafast gigabit broadband goes up to 1,000Mbps.
So, yes – if you have standard fibre broadband, 5G can reach speeds up to ten times your Wi-Fi.
But speeds vary a lot across networks and locations. While it’s amazingly fast in some areas, other places have much slower speeds.
Will a 5G SIM card work in a 4G phone?
Yes. But the service you’ll get will only be 4G. If you want to enjoy 5G, you’ll need a 5G-compatible smartphone.
Are 5G SIMs more expensive than 4G?
You might assume they would be. But in fact, when you buy a 5G SIM only deal from most networks, you’ll pay no more than you would have done for a 4G service with the same data allowance.
Is there a 5G iPhone?
At the time of writing, the iPhones that support 5G SIMs are:
What happens when I'm not in a 5G area?
When you leave a location covered by 5G, you’ll automatically and seamlessly be transferred to 4G. Conversely, when you return to a 5G area you’ll automatically transition to a 5G service.
What’s the cheapest 5G SIM deal?
Shop around and you can get a 5G SIM deal for not much more than £5 (or sometimes even less) per month. Networks that offer low-price 5G SIMs include Lebara, Talkmobile, SMARTY, and iD Mobile.
Can I get a 5G SIM card with unlimited data?
Yes, you can. EE, giffgaff, O2, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and VOXI all offer 5G deals with unlimited data.
Expect to pay around £20 per month for budget unlimited data deals, rising to £35-ish for more premium plans.
