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UK SIM Card Advice

Our reputation as the UK’s leading supplier of foreign SIM cards has meant that we receive hundreds of requests from our customers asking; “What’s the best UK prepaid SIM card?

This guide has been written in order to cut out the confusion that surrounds buying a UK prepaid SIM card.

When deciding what prepaid UK SIM card to buy it is very important to consider the following:

  • Are you planning to use the SIM for daily use or just emergencies?

  • What networks are your friends and family connected to?

  • What is your main reason for getting a SIM?

Best SIM card for daily use = Virgin Prepaid SIM Card.

Calls are just 15p a minute for the first 5 minutes of calls each day, then just 5p a minute after that. That's for all standard UK calls and call to other Virgin Mobile phones.

Text messages are just 3p to other Virgin Mobile customers in the UK and 10p to other networks.

With the Virgin Mobile tariff you can:

  • Pay the same - day or night. If you don't use your phone, you don't pay.

  • Get free airtime. Virgin have some fantastic airtime rewards.

  • Listen to your voicemail for free.

 

 

Cost

Call Type

Peak

Off-Peak

Standard Call & Calls to Virgin Mobiles.

First 5 mins of the day @ 15p/min, 5p/min there after.

Calls to other networks

35p/min

SMS Virgin Mobiles

3p

3p

SMS other networks

12p

12p

Voicemail

Free

Free

 

Best SIM card for emergencies = Vodafone Prepaid SIM Card.

The last thing you want to worry about in an emergency is coverage. Vodafone offers the greatest coverage in the UK it also offers calls to any network from just 10p per minute. Now you don't have to worry about who you are calling, as all UK networks are included in our Any net great value simple rates.

With the Vodafone prepaid SIM Tariff you can;

  • Make calls during daytime for 30p/min

  • Make evening & weekend calls for 10p/min

  • Get FREE Weekend calls and SMS to any network. Must spend £5 of your top-up balance Monday – Friday to qualify.

 

 

Cost

Call Type

Peak

Off-Peak

Standard Call & Calls to Vodafone Mobiles.

30p

10p

Calls to other networks

30p

10p

SMS Vodafone Mobiles

10p

10p

SMS other networks

10p

10p

Voicemail

10p

10p

Best SIM card for cross network calls = Orange prepaid SIM card.

Orange offers FREE evening calls to any Orange mobile, Monday to Sunday, 7pm to 11.59pm just as long as you top-up with more than £10 a month. So if your friends and family are on Orange and you like to talk in the evenings this is the SIM for you  

 

With the Orange prepaid SIM Tariff:

  • Call Orange mobiles at anytime for 10p

  • Receive free evening calls

  • Send an SMS to any network for 10p

 

Cost

Call Type

Peak

Off-Peak

Calls to Orange Mobiles.

10p

Calls to other networks

35p

Calls  to Landlines

25p

SMS Orange Mobiles

10p

SMS other networks

10p

Voicemail

10p

Best SIM card for International Calls = Mobile World prepaid SIM card.

The Mobile World SIM card allows you to make international calls from as little as 5p/min and send SMS anywhere in the world for 15p. You can also make calls to any UK mobile or landline for 15p/min

 

With the Mobile World prepaid SIM Tariff you can:

  • Call the USA and Canada for 5p/min

  • Call India for 8p/min

  • Call China for 5p/min

 
Costs

Call Type

Peak

Off-Peak

Calls to Mobiles.

15p

Calls  to Landlines

15p

International Calls

From 5p/min!!

SMS Orange Mobiles

15p

SMS other networks

15p

Voicemail

10p

For further information about the Mobile World SIM please click here

Best SIM card for sending SMS = O2 prepaid SIM card.

O2 Pay & Go is simple and flexible. There are no bills, no contracts, just competitive call rates and easy top up options.  But their Bolt Ons™ are when you can really save money on SMS.  By purchasing an SMS bolt of for £10.00 you can purchase 200 messages. You can add them onto your call plan at any time and pay for them from your call time balance.

With the O2 prepaid SIM Tariff you can:

  • Send SMS from 5p/min

  • Call other O2 users for 10p/min

 

Cost

Call Type

Peak

Off-Peak

Standard Calls

35p

10p

Calls to O2 Mobiles

20p

10p

Calls to other networks

50p

30p

SMS O2 Mobiles

12p or 5p*

12p or 12p*

SMS other networks

12p or 5p*

12p or 12p*

Voicemail

10p

10p

 

 

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Disclaimer
Please note the above prices are a guideline based on current information from network tariffs. Networks can change pricing at short notice so please refer to their web site or retail outlets to confirm latest pricing prior to purchase.