Reading time: 7 minutes | Updated: 18th November 2025
Staying connected with a SIM-Only plan has become one of the most popular ways for people in the UK. With no long-term commitment and no monthly fees tied to handset contracts, SIM-Only is a great option to choose. This way, users only pay for their minutes, texts, and data, rather than having to pay for the phone itself. This option of financing is appealing to many consumers due to the flexibility, lower costs, and freedom it gives. Contracts vary, with some rolling on a 30-day basis and others locking in for 12 or 24 months, depending on the deal chosen.
In recent years, however, an increasing number of mobile networks have started introducing mid-contract price rises. This means that the monthly payments can increase while the customer is within their minimum term. SIM-Only customers select these plans for their price stability and predictability, so this increase has raised many concerns. A sudden increase, especially during a fixed contract, can feel unfair and leave customers paying more than they originally agreed to.
This article explores which UK networks apply mid-contract price rises to their SIM-Only deals, which ones don’t, and what that means for you as a customer.
What Are Mid-Contract Price Rises and Why Do They Happen?
So, what is a mid-contract price rise? This is when your mobile network increases the cost of your monthly plan before your agreed minimum term contract comes to an end. Basically, even if you signed up for a 12- or 24-month SIM-Only contract at a set price, your bill could still go up.
Often, these price rises have been justified by networks by pointing the blame at things like inflation, operating costs, or regulatory allowances that permit them to adjust prices annually. Thanks to an Ofcom ruling in January 2025, all price increases for new and upgrading customers must be told in pounds and pence. These increases should also be promentetnly displayed/explained when signing up for a contract.
This issue is especially significant for SIM-Only customers because one of the main reasons people choose these plans is to lock in a lower, predictable monthly cost. It’s so important as a customer to understand how your network handles price changes, so that you aren’t caught off guard if your contract price rises mid-term.
Networks That Don’t Raise SIM-Only Prices Mid-Contract
- 1pMobile: mostly offer 30 day contracts or Pay As You Go deals, so whilst they don't have traditional mid-contract price increases if they did you would be able to switch.
- Asda Mobile: They do not have price increases built into their price plans but also do not rule them out. Whilst this means a mid-contract price increase is possible, you'll be given 30 days notice of the change.
- Giffgaff: Whilst Giffgaff offer a mix of 30 day and 18 month contracts, they guarantee not to increase prices on their 18 month contracts during the initial term for those signed up by the end of 2025.
- Honest Mobile: actually go the other way with price increases and they make your price plan cheaper by as much as 5% each year to a maximum of 30% if you continue to have a plan from them.
- iD Mobile: Whether you decide on a 30-day rolling, 12-month, or 24-month deal, iD Mobile currently promises no annual price rises on its SIM-Only plans. The catch? The guarantee only applies to the SIM-Only part of the offer.
- Lebara: Lebara offers both rolling (30-day) and 12-month SIM-Only contracts, and the 12-month plans will not be subject to price increases during the minimum term. The advantage of this is the predictability in knowing exactly what you’ll pay for the duration of the contract. The disadvantage is that after your 12 months have ended, if you choose to stay on the plan, the network may apply a charge increase then. You’ll get stability for one year, but less certainty after that.
- Lycamobile: has promised no mid-contract price increases until 2026.
- Mozillion: offer a range of 30 day, 12 month and 24 month SIM Only deals whilst stating no mid-contract price increases.
- ParentShield: offer 30 day sim only plan, so whilst they don't have traditional mid-contract price increases if they did you would be able to switch.
- Sky: states no mid contract price increases for new customers.
- Smarty: offer 30 day sim only plan, so whilst they don't have traditional mid-contract price increases if they did you would be able to switch.
- Spusu: no mid-contract rises with price freezes committed until 2026.
- Talkmobile: Talkmobile is another provider offering 30-day and 12-month SIM-Only deals, and at the time of writing, promises no annual price increases in 2025. The benefit here is that you can avoid unexpected bill increases while on a short-term contract.
- Voxi: offer 30 day sim only plan, so whilst they don't have traditional mid-contract price increases if they did you would be able to switch.
Networks That Do Raise Prices Mid-Contract
Several major UK mobile networks (and some broadband bundling plans) still apply mid-contract price rises even while you’re within your minimum term. Thanks to Ofcoms change in January 2025 these increases for new and upgrading customers need to be spelt out to customers upfront in pounds and pence, for example, an extra £2 or £3 per month each April.
Examples from specific networks:
O2: announced that many of its customers will face monthly increases of up to £2.50 from April 2026, which is a significantly higher rise than the roughly £1.80 increase announced earlier, and has gone against the spirit of Ofcoms ruling.
Vodafone: Increase the monthly rental by £1.50 per month each April on a Basics SIM Only Plan, where other mobile phone SIM Only deals increase by £2.50 a month each April. This is for customers who joined or upgraded on or after 12th November.
Tesco Mobile: Only non-clubcard offers increase each April, this is by 6% a month each April, however is displayed in pounds and pence as part of the sign up journey.
Three: have also recently announced that the amount they increase monthly rental each April by would be increased, however this is just for new and upgrading customers signing up after 9th November. This is based on the amount of data on your tariff, and ranges from £1.80 to £2.30 per month each April.
How the Timing Works
The terms of your contract determine when any annual price increases take effect. For example, your contract may say something like ‘’your monthly charge will increase on 1 April each year by £2.50’’ or ‘’on 1 April each year by CPI + 3.9 %”. Because of this, if you signed up after the specified “cut-off” date, you may be on one type of contract (fixed amount). In contrast, customers who joined earlier may still be on the inflation-linked one. Additionally, because the rise happens while you’re still within a minimum term, you have less flexibility to switch without paying exit fees if your contract still binds you.
FAQs
What counts as a “mid-contract” price rise?
A mid-contract price rise happens when you’re still within your agreed minimum term (for example, 12 months or 24 months) and your monthly charge goes up even though you haven’t upgraded or changed your plan. It’s essentially a price increase during your fixed commitment period.
Does a price rise mean I can cancel without penalty?
Not necessarily. Although a price rise can feel unfair, it doesn’t automatically give you the right to leave the contract for free unless your provider’s terms specifically allow for that. In many cases, you would still owe any early termination fees or remaining monthly payments.
If I’m on a 30-day rolling SIM-Only plan, am I safe?
Being on a 30-day rolling plan often means you’re not tied into a long minimum term, so the concept of a “mid-contract” rise doesn’t apply in the same way. However, you are still subject to changes in the monthly cost. Your provider can increase your monthly charge, often with shorter notice (for example, 30 days). So, you do have more flexibility, but you’re not automatically immune to price rises.
Conclusion
Mid-contract price rises are very common in today’s mobile market. Every network is different, so it’s important you understand the terms of the contract you’re signing. Being proactive and really understanding your contract will help you to avoid any unexpected price increases.
