Plenty of UK mobile plans are called “no contract”, but they work in three different ways. Some charge you for each call and megabyte, some use up your top up credit on a monthly bundle, and some take a payment every month until you cancel.
About 22 million UK mobile subscriptions were pre pay at the end of 2025, according to Ofcom. That is around 18% of the total, so these plans are far from niche. This guide explains how each one works and what to watch for.
The three plan types
| Plan | How you pay | What renews | How you stop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go | You top up credit. Each call, text and megabyte comes out of it. | Nothing | Stop topping up |
| Pay as you go bundle | You top up credit. A 30 day bundle takes its price from your balance. | The bundle renews itself if your balance covers it | Stop the bundle in your account or app |
| 30 day rolling plan | You pay by direct debit or card each month. | The plan renews until you cancel | Give 30 days’ notice |
A rolling plan is a form of SIM only plan. Our guide to the fixed term side of SIM only covers the 12, 18 and 24 month versions.
Which one suits you
- Light use and a spare number: choose true pay as you go. You pay only when you use it.
- Regular data and calls, but no wish to be tied in: a bundle or a rolling plan works. A rolling plan is steadier if you hate topping up.
- A child’s phone: top ups put a limit on spending. See choosing a plan for a child.
- A second SIM for poor signal in one place: pay as you go keeps the cost down, but read the inactivity rules below.
- Visitors to the UK: pay as you go and bundles need no UK credit history.
If you are not sure how much data you need, start with working out how many gigabytes you use.
The rule that catches people out
A pay as you go SIM that goes unused can be switched off. The credit goes with it, and the number can be given to someone else. The time limit varies by provider. Some use around 180 days. Some smaller providers use as few as 70 to 120 days.
What counts as use differs too. On EE, for instance, staff say a chargeable call or text, a top up, or buying a pack counts, but using the minutes or data already in your pack does not. EE then gives a grace period before it recycles the number. Vodafone has said it texts a warning before it cuts off a SIM, but if you rarely look at the handset, you can miss it.
If this is a spare SIM, set a reminder and make a small top up or a chargeable call well before the limit. Check your provider’s terms for the exact number of days.
How bundles renew
Bundles take their price from your balance on the renewal date. If the balance is too low, the bundle pauses and you drop back to standard rates until you top up. Rollover rules differ. EE keeps your rollover data if the next pack starts within seven days. Vodafone only rolls data over if the bundle renews automatically on the day.
To stop paying for a bundle, end it in your account or app. After that, the SIM works at standard rates.
Standard rates can be expensive
Standard per unit rates are far higher than bundle prices, so a heavy user should avoid them.
| Provider | Network used | Calls | Texts | Data | 1GB at standard data rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1p Mobile | EE | 1p a minute | 1p each | 1p a MB | About £10 |
| giffgaff | O2 | 25p a minute | 10p each | 10p a MB | About £100 |
| Three | Three | 35p a minute | 15p each | 10p a MB | About £100 |
These are examples to show the range, taken from provider listings in 2026. Rates change, so check the provider’s page before you top up. For regular data, compare low cost brands and their bundles instead.
Leaving for another network
When you ask your old provider for a switching code, its reply must include any pay as you go credit balance, so you can use it up first. Vodafone’s terms say unused bundle allowances cannot move to another plan, and no credit comes back. Plan the last top up carefully. Our steps for moving your number to a new SIM cover the process.
Moving to a contract later
Pay as you go leaves no credit history, which can make a phone contract harder to get. If you plan to take a handset deal later, read taking a handset contract later. For plans without a hard search, see which plans skip a hard search.
eSIM, roaming and coverage
Several providers offer pay as you go eSIMs, including VOXI, Lyca Mobile and giffgaff, so you can start without waiting for a card in the post. Our guide to getting an eSIM on a pay as you go plan shows the setup.
Roaming allowances on pay as you go vary a lot, so look at using your allowance abroad before you travel. Whichever network you pick, check signal in your area, and see the main networks compared if you are not sure which to try.
Where to go next
If you decide a rolling plan suits you, you can compare rolling plans on our mobile page.
FAQs
Can I use pay as you go as a second SIM?
Yes. Keep it active by making a chargeable action every few months, as unused credit can expire when the SIM is cancelled.
How do I stop a bundle renewing?
End the active bundle in your account or app. The SIM then falls back to standard rates, so you can keep it without paying a monthly price.
Do rolling plans have yearly price rises?
Some providers say their rolling plans have no annual rise, and several advertise price freezes for 2026. Check the terms of each deal before you sign up.