Best giffgaff SIM-only deals in October

Giffgaff has something for everyone, whatever kind of SIM-only deal you need. Compare its plans right here with our mobile comparison tool - or keep reading to find out more about how to find the deal for you.

Best giffgaff SIM-only deals this week

Is giffgaff a good network?

For simple, good value SIM-only deals, giffgaff is one of the best.

Prices are incredibly competitive, it’s easy to deal with, and has great coverage thanks to its use of O2’s network. There’s also a whole community of fellow customers to help you out with mobile issues – which is part of the reason why giffgaff boasts some of the most satisfied customers on the market.

On the downside, giffgaff plans don’t come with quite the same perks you can expect from a larger network like EE or Vodafone. It also doesn’t have the same approach to customer service as those providers – unless it’s a billing problem or a technical issue with the network itself, you’ll need to dip into the community forums to find your answer.

If none of that bothers you, however, giffgaff may be the network for you.

What SIM-only deals can I get from giffgaff?

Signing up to a giffgaff SIM is like a party, because you come away with a goodybag. This is how giffgaff SIMs operate: each month you buy a ‘goodybag’ which gives you your choice of allowance for 30 days.

You can set it to recur each month, or see how you get on with it and pick a different goodybag next time.

In other words, all giffgaff SIM-only plans are simple 30-day contracts.

Monthly data allowances range from a cheap-as-chips 1GB all the way up to unlimited data. All come with unlimited calls and texts too.

You can also grab Golden Goodybags. Set these plans to recur month to month, and you’ll get access to extra data as the months go on, at no extra cost. There’s still no contract though – you’re free to change or cancel them whenever you like. It just means you’ll lose access to the extra data if you do.

What benefits does giffgaff offer?

• 5G included on all plans
• Fixed UK prices until the end of 2023
• Earn ‘Payback’ points, by helping out on the forums or introducing friends to giffgaff, which you can redeem for real cash
• Extra data on certain plans if you set them to recur each month

Can I use my giffgaff SIM abroad?

Yes. In the EU and select European locations, you can use the allowance in your chosen goodybag with no extra charge. Fair usage applies, however – you can’t use more than 5GB in those locations in the space of a month.

You can use your giffgaff SIM outside of Europe too, but it’s expensive pay-as-you-go – and there aren’t any options to buy add-ons to lower the cost.

Cheapest giffgaff SIM-only deal this week

Cheap SIM only contracts have lower allowances, are often on longer contract terms, and may be missing some of the features and extras of a more premium SIM plan. Existing customers can sometimes snag even better deals too.

To find the cheapest giffgaff SIM option that suits you, just use our comparison table. Narrow the deals down with the filters, then use the 'sort by' toggle to order them by monthly cost. This will push the cheapest deals up to the top so you can see them first.

Can I get unlimited data with a giffgaff SIM?

Yes, you can, but it isn't always truly unlimited. There are two types of unlimited data giffgaff SIM: Unlimited, and Always On. 

Its Unlimited SIM plan gives you data with no limits whatsoever, but it's a little more expensive and you'll need to set it to recur every month. (Though you aren't required to do so for any length of time.)

Giffgaff's 'Always On' SIM plan does give you unlimited downloads… but once you've used 80GB data in a month, your speed is throttled to a super slow 384Kb between 8am and midnight.

It's suitable if you don't think you'll use 80GB per month, but want a ready-made buffer on the occasions when you do. Luckily that's an awful lot of data, and a tough limit to reach - so if you want to save a few quid, it's not a bad choice. 

Other SIM-only networks

• Asda Mobile
• BT Mobile
• EE
• iD Mobile
• Lebara
• Lyca Mobile
• O2
• Plusnet Mobile
• SMARTY
• Talkmobile
• Tesco Mobile
• Three
• Virgin Mobile
• Vodafone
• VOXI

Are giffgaff SIM-only deals cheaper than contracts?

Yes, in most cases it's cheaper to go SIM-only than to take out a handset contract - partly because it means you won't be paying any interest or extra costs on the phone itself. Buying a SIM-free phone and getting a SIM-only deal to put in it almost always works out cheaper in the long run.

As an extra price-saving bonus, SIM-only contracts usually last a much shorter length of time than ones with a phone… meaning you can switch to a new, even cheaper SIM as soon as you find one.

Can I keep my mobile number if I switch to a giffgaff SIM-only deal?

Yes, you can keep your phone number when you switch mobile networks, regardless of which network you're switching to or from. It's surprisingly hassle-free to sort out, too.

All you need to do is sign up to a new deal, then contact your current network and ask for a PAC - a porting authorisation code. Give it to giffgaff once you have your SIM, and the number should port across within a matter of days.

Do I need an unlocked phone to use a giffgaff SIM?

Yes, your phone needs to be unlocked - or locked to giffgaff - in order to use a giffgaff SIM card.

If you bought your phone outright from a retailer, it should already be unlocked and you have nothing to worry about.

However, if you're using an old phone that you got on a contract, it may be locked to your former network. In that case, you'll need to get it unlocked - but don't worry, as this is easy enough to do.

All you have to do is contact the network it's locked to, and they'll sort it out - sometimes free of charge. They may give you a code to enter, or might be able to it remotely. Your phone will be unlocked and ready for a new SIM in a few days' time.

How long do giffgaff contracts last?

30 days. You can pick a different goodybag (i.e. change your allowance) or switch network whenever you like.

But if you’re willing to stick with giffgaff long term, you can make it work for you. Golden Goodybags give you more data per month, and all you have to do is set it to automatically recur.