Written by SIM Only Finder Team · Last updated October 2026
Reviewed by Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. Phil previously worked in UK mobile retail at Three UK, advising customers on SIM plans, contracts and network choices. He has spent over a decade running consumer comparison platforms and reviews networks and SIM-only deals based on that hands-on industry background. About the author
Compare every network at a glance
Filter by the network that powers a provider, or narrow to eSIM and no credit check. Where a network has no live deal for a contract length, the cell shows n/a.
| Network | Powered by | eSIM | Credit check | Live deals | 1 month | 12 month | Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1pMobile | EE | Yes | No | 9 | £5.00 | n/a | £25.00 |
| Asda Mobile | Vodafone | Yes | No | 24 | £4.00 | £5.00 | £19.00 |
| Chattr | O2 | Yes | No | 4 | £10.00 | n/a | £15.00 |
| EcoTalk | EE | Yes | No | 6 | £6.00 | n/a | £22.00 |
| Giffgaff | O2 | Yes | No | 20 | £6.00 | n/a | £25.00 |
| Grade Mobile | EE | No | No | 11 | £11.00 | £10.00 | £24.00 |
| Honest Mobile | Three | Yes | No | 16 | £8.40 | £7.56 | £22.50 |
| iD Mobile | Three | Yes | Yes | 59 | £6.00 | £6.00 | £14.00 Lowest |
| Lebara | Vodafone | Limited | No | 15 | £4.50 | £9.00 | £22.50 |
| Lycamobile | EE | Yes | No | 22 | £5.00 | £4.50 | £20.00 |
| Mozillion | EE | Yes | No | 33 | £2.80 Lowest | £2.75 Lowest | £22.00 |
| O2 | O2 | Yes | Yes | 47 | £7.00 | £7.00 | £23.00 |
| ParentShield | EE | Yes | No | 5 | £5.99 | n/a | £39.99 |
| Rewild Mobile | Three | Yes | No | 9 | £7.95 | £7.95 | £14.00 Lowest |
| Sky Mobile | O2 | Yes | Yes | 11 | £11.00 | n/a | £20.00 |
| Smarty | Three | Yes | No | 13 | £5.00 | n/a | £17.00 |
| Spusu | EE | Yes | No | 9 | £2.90 | n/a | n/a |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone | Yes | No | 15 | £4.95 | £9.95 | £16.00 |
| Tesco Mobile | O2 | Yes | Yes | 24 | £10.00 | £6.00 | £17.00 |
| Three | Three | Yes | Yes | 18 | £31.50 | £8.00 | £19.00 |
| Vodafone | Vodafone | Yes | Yes | 132 | £27.00 | £7.00 | £26.00 |
| Voxi | Vodafone | Yes | No | 17 | £10.00 | n/a | £35.00 |
No networks match these filters.
Showing 22 of 22 networks. Prices are the lowest monthly price we currently list and link to that network's deals.
The cheapest networks right now
Prices change often, so confirm the current deal before you switch.
How the UK networks fit together
Most of the providers on this page do not own a mobile network. They are virtual operators, often called MVNOs, that buy access to one of the four main networks and sell their own plans on top of it. The network that powers a provider determines the coverage and the underlying signal you receive, while the provider sets the price, the data allowances and the customer service.
The UK has four networks that own their own infrastructure: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. A provider that runs on EE gives you EE coverage, a provider on O2 gives you O2 coverage, and so on. If coverage is your priority, check which of the four powers a provider first, then compare the providers that sit on it. RootMetrics and Ofcom Connected Nations both publish independent reliability data you can use to compare the four directly.
One change is worth knowing about. Vodafone and Three completed a merger in May 2025 to form VodafoneThree. The two continue to operate as separate networks and brands for now, and the smaller brands they own, such as Smarty, Voxi and Talkmobile, carry on in their own right, so the grouping below still holds. We explain what the deal means for customers in our Vodafone and Three merger explainer.
Networks grouped by the network that powers them
If coverage matters most to you, start with the network that powers a provider and then compare the providers that run on it.
Powered by EE · 7 networks
Which networks use EE?
Powered by O2 · 5 networks
Which networks use O2?
Powered by Vodafone · 5 networks
Which networks use Vodafone?
Powered by Three · 5 networks
Which networks use Three?
Networks with no credit check
Most virtual operators do not run a credit check, because you pay in advance or on a rolling monthly basis. These networks currently do run one: iD Mobile, O2, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Three and Vodafone. Check the credit check column above for each provider's status. See our no credit check SIM only deals.
Networks that offer an eSIM
An eSIM lets you activate a plan digitally without waiting for a physical SIM to arrive in the post. Most networks on this page support it. You can also browse eSIM only deals across all networks.
Grade Mobile supplies a physical SIM only. Lebara, shown as “Limited” in the table, launched eSIM in October 2025 and is rolling it out in stages: new customers can currently only order a Lebara eSIM with an iPhone Air, while existing customers can request a switch through customer support.
How to choose a network
Start with coverage. The network that powers a provider sets the signal you receive, so check how EE, O2, Vodafone and Three perform where you live and work before you look at price. RootMetrics and Ofcom Connected Nations both publish reliability data, and most networks let you check coverage by postcode.
Weigh contract length against price stability. A rolling 30 day SIM only deal gives you the freedom to leave at any time, while a twelve month deal usually costs less per month but locks you in. Many networks apply an annual in contract price rise, so it is worth reading the terms before you commit. Our guide to mid contract price rises explains how each network handles this.
Match the plan to how you use your phone. Heavy data users should compare unlimited plans, light users can save with a small allowance, and anyone who wants to avoid a credit check or activate instantly should filter for those features. When you are ready to switch, you can keep your existing number using a PAC code.
How we compile this list
To compile this list, we track every network shown below and check which network powers it, eSIM availability, credit check policy and lowest advertised prices directly against each provider's published terms. Deal prices update automatically from our live comparison data, so the figures in the table reflect the cheapest deals we currently list rather than a fixed snapshot. Coverage reliability comparisons reference the most recent RootMetrics UK RootScore Report and Ofcom Connected Nations data.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a mobile network and an MVNO?
A mobile network operator owns the physical infrastructure, the masts and the spectrum. The UK has four networks that own their infrastructure: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Vodafone and Three are now part of VodafoneThree following their 2025 merger, but continue to operate as separate networks for now. An MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator, does not own infrastructure. It buys access to one of these networks and sells its own plans, which is how providers such as Giffgaff, Smarty and Lebara operate.
Which network does each provider use?
The network that powers every provider is shown in the comparison table above. As a quick guide, providers running on EE include 1pMobile, Lycamobile and Spusu. Providers on O2 include Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile. Providers on Vodafone include Asda Mobile, Talkmobile and Voxi, and providers on Three include Honest Mobile, iD Mobile and Smarty.
Which networks do not require a credit check?
Most virtual operators do not. The networks that currently run one are iD Mobile, O2, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Three and Vodafone. Use the “No credit check” filter above, or see our no credit check SIM only deals page.
Can I keep my phone number when I switch network?
Yes. Text PAC to 65075 to get your PAC code from your current provider, then give it to your new network when you order. Your number usually moves within one working day. Our PAC code guide explains the full process.
Do all these networks offer an eSIM?
Most do. Grade Mobile supplies a physical SIM only. Lebara launched eSIM in October 2025 and is rolling it out in stages: new customers can currently only order a Lebara eSIM with an iPhone Air, while existing customers can request a switch through customer support.
Which is the cheapest network?
It depends on what you need. Right now the cheapest 1 month deal we list is Mozillion at £2.80, the cheapest 12 month deal is Mozillion at £2.75 and the cheapest unlimited data deal is iD Mobile and Rewild Mobile at £14.00. Prices change often, so check the table for the current figure.
Are MVNO speeds slower than the network they run on?
They can be. Some virtual operators apply a speed cap or are deprioritised at busy times compared with the network operator's own customers. The coverage footprint is the same as the network it runs on, but peak speeds may differ. Check the individual network's terms if maximum speed matters to you.
Editorial policy
This page is produced by the SIM Only Finder editorial team to help readers compare SIM only networks across the UK. Network terms, pricing, credit check policies and eSIM availability are checked regularly and updated to reflect current offers. Always confirm current terms directly with the network before signing up.
