If you're looking for a SIM-only deal, O2 is a great choice. By grabbing one of its SIM plans, you can keep your phone (or buy a snazzy new one outright), and still get all the benefits of an O2 deal. Plus, you're able to change your plan more often, so you always have the best possible SIM.
O2 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.
Is O2 a good network?
O2 has a lot going for it, and there are some excellent benefits to choosing one of its SIM plans.
Coverage is very good, with O2’s 4G reaching almost all UK residents. 5G is slowly being rolled out too – and connection to the 5G network is included in O2 plans for free, if your phone allows for it.
There’s also plenty of choice, even within its SIM-only plans. You can choose from a wide variety of options for data allowance, contract length, and extras.
O2 customers have access to a wealth of extra benefits too, especially if you pick a longer term plan. Not least of which is O2 Priority, for early access tickets and exclusive discounts.
The downside of O2 is that it isn’t the cheapest network. And if coverage is an issue (or if you’re particularly keen to connect to 5G), you may have better luck with EE – which has the best coverage in the country.
What SIM-only deals can I get from O2?
You have a lot of choice. Data allowances on O2 SIM-only deals range from 1GB per month to unlimited data, and you can pick between 30-day, 12-month, or 24-month plans.
All have unlimited calls and texts, and access to O2 Priority.
30-day plans are super handy if you want to try O2 out for size, or if you only want a plan for a few months.
But if you can commit to a longer-term contract, it’s well worth it. They give you lower monthly bills (even for the same allowance) as well as more extras and benefits.
What benefits does O2 offer?
Well, the biggie is that all O2 customers get O2 Priority. This gives you a whole host of benefits. You can enjoy early access tickets to concerts, save money with exclusive offers, get free or discounted tickets to events and outings for the whole family, and take advantage of money-saving deals and offers at high street stores.
Some plans – long-term ones in particular – also include O2 Extra. With Extra, you can choose a subscription to a service, with choices including Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Audible, and Calm.
On top of all that, a number of (again, long-term) SIM plans give you a few months of free Apple Music too.
And let’s not forget: 5G connectivity is included at no extra cost too, provided your phone is compatible.
Best O2 SIM-only deals this week
-
O2 sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £7.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £7.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £7.99 per month
12 month contract From O2
Cheapest O2 SIM-only deals this week
-
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2
The cheapest SIM deals 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 O2 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.
O2 SIM-only deals with unlimited data
You can get an O2 SIM-only deal with unlimited data, or with a high allowance (which costs a little less. Just sort the comparison grid by data allowance to see the heaviest plans at the top - or choose a minimum monthly allowance in the filters.
See our guide to unlimited data deals for more info on how to find a deal.
How does O2 SIM-only compare against other networks?
For coverage and connectivity, O2 is good, with 4G reaching most of us. It isn’t quite as wide-reaching as EE’s network, but has similar coverage to Vodafone and Three.
O2’s 5G network is growing, but again it still lags behind EE.
The cost of O2 SIM deals is on the more expensive side, on par with other big networks like EE and Vodafone. Of course, by paying more, you get all those extra benefits. If you know you’ll make use of O2 Priority, it’s certainly worth the extra couple of quid a month.
Alternative SIM-only networks to O2
Take a look at the different SIM-only packages and extras offered by mobile networks:
- EE - Six months of Apple Music for free and the best UK network coverage.
- Vodafone - Enjoy entertainment subscriptions to Spotify, Prime Video and Sky Sports through Vodafone's Red Entertainment packages.
- Giffgaff - Great value-for-money 30-day rolling SIM deals
- Three - Reasonably-priced SIM deals with excellent roaming perks
- Smarty - Excellent value SIM-only plans with rewards each month for unused data
How to choose an O2 SIM-only deal
Finding the right O2 SIM deal for you couldn't be easier. Have a look at the deals in our comparison table, and pick the one you like best.
You can adjust the filters at the side to only show the SIMs that fit what you need, and can even compare O2 plans with those from other networks too. When you spot one you like, simply select it, and we'll take you straight to O2's website so you can order it.
When you're comparing, think about what's most important from your deal:
Data allowance - How much do you use 4G mobile internet? If you only use your phone to scroll through Facebook, browse the web a bit, and use WhatsApp, you'll be fine with a small allowance. On the other hand, hungrier users who stream on the go, use their phone for work, or download large files may want 10GB or so per month. Most of us, however, will find a data allowance between 2-5GB suits us perfectly.
Calls and texts allowance - Think about how much you make calls on your mobile, and how many SMS texts (not WhatsApp or Facebook messages) you send in a month. Very high allowances are available from O2 for quite low prices, so getting enough for your use should be easy.
Contract length - With O2 SIM plans, you have a choice between 30-day,12-month, or 24-month contracts. Longer contracts generally have lower monthly costs, while a 30-day one can be changed at any time. It's worth going for a one- or two-year deal if you're happy to commit - though if you want a bit of flexibility, so you can change your monthly allowance or switch networks entirely whenever you like, go for a one-month SIM instead.
Price - On a budget? Set a maximum monthly price using the filter at the side, or sort all the deals by cost to see the lowest-priced ones first. See the section below if you need a bit of help finding the cheapest possible deal.
SIM card type - Make sure you get the right size SIM card for your phone. Most networks these days offer 'combi-SIMs' that can fit any device, so go for one of those if you're not sure.
Are O2 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 mobile 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 an O2 SIM-only deal?
Yep, 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 O2 once you have your SIM, and the number should port across within a matter of days.
Do I need an unlocked phone to use an O2 SIM?
Yes, your phone needs to be unlocked - or locked to O2 - in order to use an O2 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.
What size SIM card do I need?
There are four kinds of SIM card, sized to fit different devices:
- Standard SIM - A classic full-size SIM, and the biggest of all. Generally only used in older phones, including old feature phones.
- Micro SIM - A mid-size SIM, smaller than a standard one. Various phones from last few years take this size, including the Samsung Galaxy S5 and iPhone 4.
- Nano SIM - The smallest SIM of all, and usually the SIM of choice for modern smartphones. This is the one you need for an iPhone 5 or newer, Samsung Galaxy S6 or newer, or a Google Pixel, for instance.
- Combi-SIM - A clever three-in-one SIM. You can change the size of this SIM to make it fit in any phone. The majority of networks offer these as standard.
To find out what size SIM you need to get, take a look at your device's manual, or check the manufacturer's website.
If you're still not sure, don't worry - most networks send out combi-SIMs to make life easier.
