00WHAT OFCOM'S ADVICE SAYS

Pay for the plan
you actually use.

A hand holding a smartphone with a blank screen over a kitchen table with a notebook and a cup of tea in morning light — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Most of us guess at our phone plan.

Ofcom suggests three steps before you sign: check the data and coverage you really need, pick the right type of package, and compare the full cost over the contract, not just the monthly price.

CHECK FIRSTthen compareUpdated 17 October 2026

Pick a plan type

01Principles

Know your data
Match the package
Read the price rises
Three checks before you sign

02THE SHORT ANSWER

Size it, type it,
then cost it.

Ofcom's three tips for choosing a mobile package.
Each one can save money on its own.

DATA

Check your real use

Your provider's app or website usually shows how much data you use each month. Ofcom says packages generally start at 1GB to 10GB, and HD video uses data quickly.

Pick a plan type

PHONE

You might not need a new one

If your phone works well, a SIM-only deal is usually cheaper than a contract with a phone included. A refurbished phone can also be good value.

Before you sign

PRICE

Rises in pounds and pence

Since 17 January 2025, price rises written into new contracts must be set out in pounds and pence at the point of sale, not linked to inflation.

See the numbers

03A QUICK PLAN CHECK

Which kind of plan
fits you?

Pick a package type to see how it works. The bar shows how long it typically ties you in.

Based on Ofcom's consumer guide to choosing a mobile package. General information, not financial advice; check each deal's own terms.

Plan check

Choose a package typePay as you goSIM-only, rolling monthlySIM-only, 12 or 24 monthsPay monthly with a phone

Pay as you goNo contract

You only pay for what you use, with no credit check. It suits light users, though each call, text or gigabyte can cost more.

SIM-only, rolling monthlyOne month

A SIM with an allowance of minutes, texts and data and no phone. Rolling contracts run one month at a time.

SIM-only, 12 or 24 months12–24 months

Usually cheaper than a contract with a phone, and the best value if you already have a phone or buy one separately.

Pay monthly with a phone12–24+ months

Spreads the cost of a phone, usually over 12, 18 or 24 months, sometimes longer. Leaving early can mean paying off the phone plus charges.

Source: Ofcom, Choosing the right mobile package (25 August 2026).

04TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

We use more data,
so plans matter more.

One figure on how much data a mobile uses,
one on how fast national use is growing.

3.4 → 9.8 GB

Average monthly mobile data use

Ofcom figures show average monthly mobile data use rose from 3.4 GB in 2018 to 9.8 GB in 2023, while the average monthly mobile price excluding handsets fell from £17.12 to £11.51 (2023 prices).

DATA PER MOBILE · OFCOM

18%

Rise in UK mobile data use in a year

Ofcom's Connected Nations report found the UK used 18 percent more mobile data in 2025 than the year before, over 1.2 billion GB each month.

GROWTH · OFCOM 2025

Ofcom found in 2023 that only 12 percent of mobile customers on inflation-linked contracts were both aware of their price rise and could tell it was linked to inflation plus an extra percentage.

05FOUR CHECKS BEFORE YOU SIGN

A few minutes now,
fewer surprises later.

These come straight from Ofcom's consumer advice and rules.

Check coverage where you are
Ofcom's Map Your Mobile postcode checker compares network coverage and performance at home, work and places you go.
Add up the total cost
Include any upfront cost, monthly payments and extras over the full contract, not just the monthly price.
Find the price rises
Rises written into the contract must be shown in pounds and pence. If an unspecified rise comes, you can leave within 30 days of being told, at no cost.
Ask for a bill limit
Since 1 October 2018, providers must offer new and renewing customers the option to cap their bill for calls, texts and data.

Plain SIM cards and a SIM eject tool beside an older smartphone lying face down on a wooden desk — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

06UNLIMITED AND EXTRAS

Unlimited is not
always the answer.

A person by a train window holding a phone, with green countryside passing outside — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Ofcom notes that unlimited data contracts cost more than deals with a set allowance and could be more than you need. Check for fair usage limits, speed limits and limits on use abroad.

Add-ons can help if you know you will need them: calls to numbers outside your package, roaming abroad or extra data. If you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain other benefits, you may qualify for a cheaper social tariff with no mid-contract price rises.

07Questions

Questions people ask

How much mobile data do I need?

Check your actual use in your provider's app or website. Ofcom says packages generally start at 1GB to 10GB a month, which may suit light users; higher allowances suit people who use a lot away from Wi-Fi, especially for HD video.

Is SIM-only cheaper?

Ofcom says SIM-only deals are usually cheaper than contracts that include a phone, and usually the best value if you already have a phone or buy a new or refurbished one separately.

Can my price go up mid-contract?

Only as set out when you sign. Since 17 January 2025 any rise written into a new contract must be in pounds and pence. If a rise was not specified, you can exit within 30 days of being told, at no cost.

What is a bill limit?

A cap on the cost of your mobile services. Since 1 October 2018 providers must offer one to new customers and to those who renew or take a new contract. It covers calls, texts and data from your provider.

Do I need 5G?

Not always. Ofcom says 5G is generally faster than 4G; if your connection is slow, check your package includes 5G and your phone supports it before upgrading.

08Sources

Pay for the plan
you actually use.