Articles
UK SIM Card Advice
Page undergoing update July 2010, please email for specific updated 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:
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Are you planning to use the SIM for daily use or just emergencies?
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What networks are your friends and family connected to?
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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:
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Pay the same - day or night. If you don't use your phone, you don't pay.
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Get free airtime. Virgin have some fantastic airtime rewards.
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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;
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Make calls during daytime for 30p/min
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Make evening & weekend calls for 10p/min
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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:
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Call Orange mobiles at anytime for 10p
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Receive free evening calls
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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 = Talkmobile prepaid SIM card.
The Talkmobile SIM card allows you to make international calls from as little as 4p/min and send SMS (text) anywhere in the world for 15p. You can also make calls to any UK mobile or landline for 15p/min
With the Talkmobile prepaid SIM Tariff you can:
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Call the USA and Canada for 4p/min
-
Call India for 5p/min
-
Call China for 4p/min
Costs |
||
Call Type |
Peak |
Off-Peak |
Calls to Mobiles. |
15p |
|
Calls to Landlines |
15p |
|
International Calls |
From 4p/min!! |
|
SMS Orange Mobiles |
15p |
|
SMS other networks |
15p |
|
Voicemail |
15p/min |
|
For further information about the Talkmobile 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:
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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 |
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.