Order a Free SIM Card in the UK

No Cost. Free Delivery.

Compare free SIM cards and the best SIM only deals from every major UK network — Vodafone, O2, Three, EE, Lebara and more.

  • 14 trusted UK networks compared

Best Free SIM Cards & SIM Only Deals UK 2026

Ranked & rated by our editors — updated weekly.

We may earn a commission when you order through our links.

Free SIM vs SIM only — which is right for you?

Both get you on a UK network — the difference is commitment, cost, and how much data you actually need.

Free SIM card SIM only deal
Cost £0 — pay only when you top up Set monthly fee (from £1/mo)
Contract None — pay-as-you-go 1, 12 or 24 months
Data What you top up for Fixed allowance (5GB to unlimited data)
Delivery Free delivery Free delivery
Best for Backup line, light use, no commitment Regular smartphone users who want value

How we compare free UK SIM cards?

Independent, regularly refreshed and based on the things that actually matter when you order a SIM.

Value for money

We scour every network’s PAYG and 30-day bundles each month.

Exclusive Deals

We negotiate exclusive deals with the mobile networks to save you even more money

Real user feedback

Trustpilot, Reddit and our own readers feed into the ratings.

Why are these SIM cards free?

Most UK mobile networks send free SIMs to attract new customers. There’s no obligation to top up or take a contract — you simply receive the SIM in the post and activate it whenever you’re ready. It’s a risk-free way to try a new network, get a backup line, or keep your old number alive.

100% Free

No charges for the SIM or delivery.

No Contract

Use it once, top up later, or never.

Keep Your Number

Free PAC code transfers your old number.

What you’ll need to order a free SIM

UK delivery address

Free Royal Mail delivery to your door (for most networks).

An unlocked phone

Most modern handsets are unlocked. If yours isn’t, ask your old network for a free unlock.

About 2 minutes

That’s all it takes to fill in your details and order your free sim card.

Traveling Soon?

Get a free roaming eSIM — save up to £200 per trip

Skip £6/MB roaming charges from EE, Vodafone, Three & O2. Compare the best free travel eSIMs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — most UK mobile networks send free SIM cards with no charge for the SIM or delivery. You normally only pay if and when you choose to top up or pick a bundle.

No. All the SIMs we list are pay-as-you-go or 30-day rolling, so there’s no long-term commitment. You can cancel or switch at any time.

Most UK networks deliver a free SIM within 1–3 working days. Some offer next-day delivery if you order before the cut-off.

Yes. Request a free PAC code from your current provider and give it to your new network — your number transfers within one working day.

Free SIMs are usually ‘triple SIMs’ that fit standard, micro and nano slots, so they work in virtually all unlocked phones.

A free SIM is a standalone SIM card sent to you with no commitment — you only pay if you choose to top up or pick a bundle. A SIM only deal is a paid monthly contract (1, 12 or 24 months) with a set data, minutes and texts allowance, usually at a lower per-GB cost.

Yes — typically much cheaper. SIM-only plans only cover the airtime, so you avoid paying for the handset over 24 months. If you already own a phone, SIM only is almost always the better-value choice.

Most 12 and 24-month SIM only contracts run a soft credit check. If you want to skip the credit check entirely, choose a 1-month rolling plan from networks like giffgaff, Smarty or Lebara — or stick with a free pay-as-you-go SIM.