What are the advantages of 30-day SIM only deals?
Fixed monthly payments
Budgeting is easier with a set monthly price. A 30-day rolling contract gives you fewer surprises. But remember, not all services are covered by your allowance. For example, if you’re calling premium-rate numbers, sending picture messages or using your phone abroad. You also have to factor in the one-off cost of a new handset if you haven’t got one.
Wide choice of tariffs
There are plenty of 30-day SIM only contracts to choose from. As well as making it easier to find the right deal, this makes prices more competitive.
Freedom to upgrade – or downgrade
You can easily switch your 30-day SIM contract if you need more or less data or if you’re not using all the features.
5G included
Many 30-day SIM only deals offer 5G – as long as your phone is 5G-enabled and you have coverage in your area. Find out by putting your postcode into Ofcom’s coverage checker.
The chance to find the best provider
You can easily move to a new deal or try out a different network provider with no commitment. You might do this if you see a better offer or your coverage isn’t up to scratch,
Flexibility
A monthly rolling contract gives you freedom to switch contracts if you need to. This works well if you’re staying somewhere on a temporary basis, you’re looking for a stop-gap solution, or can only plan for the short term,
Fewer credit checks
Got a poor credit rating? With 30-day SIM only deals, credit checks are often less stringent or not required at all. This is often the case with smaller, budget-friendly providers like SMARTY.
Added value
Although longer contracts are more likely to include special offers, 30-day SIM only deals also come with discounts and incentives. These may include EU roaming, the promise of no price hikes in 2024, data rolling or three months’ free access to Apple TV+.
What are the disadvantages of 30-day SIM only deals?
A higher monthly tariff
A longer term contract tends to be cheaper. However, 30-day SIM only deals start at around £5 a month for 16GB, so it depends what you’re looking for.
Fewer incentives
The best customer benefits tend to come with longer term SIM only contracts.
You could miss out on better deals
Although it’s easy to switch to a new plan or provider, constantly looking out for better deals can be a hassle. If you’re not making the most of the flexibility, a 12-month SIM only deal or unlimited data SIM only plan might give you more benefits.
Smaller allowances
Monthly SIM only deals may come with less data, although it’s not hard to find deals with unlimited calls and minutes.
Handset not included
You need to buy a new smartphone if you don’t have one. That can be pricey, particularly if you want the latest model.
If you want the handset included in your contract, compare contract mobile phone deals.
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