New in the city and feeling like settling in is as exciting as it is overwhelming? I felt the same when I moved to London for university exactly 3 years ago!
My name is Diogo and I am here to help you organise yourself before you start your course and to prevent you from getting scammed into an over-paying contract! There are a variety of mobile phone deals to choose from and I gathered some that have no contracts and lots of different prices and amounts of data. In my case, I was lucky finding a sim deal because I had a friend that had come to study in the Uk before me, so she just told me which one to use! But until I spoke to her, it was a messy process, so I wish I could’ve read this article at the time.
In 2021, the best deals for you, based on price, amount of data, minutes, texts, and if contract is required, are from the following providers (If you click on the link it will take you to all their offers): GiffGaff, Voxi, SMARTY; Plusnet and EE.
Remember that the sim cards themselves are for free, so you usually order them online to your address and once you get it you activate your sim card with your chosen plan, all online. Another reminder: Movido has partnerships with some of these providers already, so be sure to check out the deals available there!
Contents
- List of all the providers and their best deals
- Smarty
- Plusnet
- Voxi
- GiffGaff
- Can I use my mobile phone in the UK?
- Can I use my mobile phone in the UK if I come from Asia?
- Are there any roaming charges in the UK?
Below you can find a list of the best deals for 2021:
Phone Providers | Data (Txt/Mnts) | Texts and Call minutes | Contract Length | Monthly costs | International calls |
6GB | Unlimited | No Contract | £6 | Check prices for each country HERE. | |
8GB | Unlimited | No Contract | £7 | Check prices for each country HERE. | |
10GB | Unlimited | No Contract | £8 | Check prices for each country HERE. | |
15GB | Unlimited | No contract | £15 | +£3 for 100 minutes per month | |
100GB | Unlimited | No Contract | £20 | Check prices for each country HERE. | |
200GB | Unlimited | 24 Months | £23 | ||
Unlimited | Unlimited | No contract | £35 | +£3 for 100 minutes per month |
Looking for a phone plan? With Movido, you get a GiffGaff SIM Card for £1, a £5 discount on your first top up and we can deliver the SIM card to your home, before your arrive. Pretty cool, no?
Can I use my mobile phone in the UK?
The answer is probably yes! There are two types of networks that exist around the world: GSM band and the CDMA band. Most of the world, including the UK, operates on the GSM band. If this applies to you, then there shouldn’t be an issue connecting to the local UK networks when you arrive.
Below you can find a list of countries and the band in which they operate the most:
CDMA Band – United States, Japan, China, Myanmar, South Korea
GSM Band – European Union, Canada, Russia, India, Pakistan and most of South America such as Brazil and Colombia.
Which mobile network is best in my area?
The best way to check which mobile network has the best signal where you live, is on the Ofcom website. Remember that in the UK, different providers sometimes operate in the same networks. I prepared this information for you below:
EE Network: Plusnet Mobile, BT Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Utility Warehouse.
O2: GiffGaff, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile.
Vodafone: Voxi, Asda Mobile.
Three: Smarty, ID Mobile.
Can I use my mobile phone in the UK if I come from Asia?
Probably not, as from what you can see on the table above most Asian and the US operate in a CDMA band. In this case, you should consider getting a new phone contract and a new phone, as it won’t probably work in the UK. Additionally, if your phone does work and you do not get a new SIM card for your stay in the UK, it will be very expensive to call home or even call local numbers.
Are there any roaming charges in the UK?
If you are from Europe, there are currently no extra roaming fees for using minutes, texts and data when travelling into the UK with your personal phone. This means that you can use your mobile phone plan as you would back home. After Brexit, the UK’s trade deal with the EU does not stay that the ban on additional roaming charges will continue. However, it says that both the UK and the EU will encourage operators to have transparent and reasonable rates for roaming, meaning that mobile operators can implement roaming charges if they want to.
If you are from outside the EU, roaming charges will be applied.
Hope I was able to help you choose a deal that fits your needs! Remember that Movido also has special offers on mobile phone deals and they allow you to compare and select them. You can also take care of all the other services you may need – such as wifi, housing and bank!
Hope I was able to help you choose a deal that fits your needs! If you have any questions, just post a comment, and we’ll get back to you ASAP. Also, remember that you can get a GiffGaff for £1 with Movido! Find more information here.