You can get an eSIM plan from £6/month in the UK. We compare eSIM-compatible SIM-only deals.

If you have a mobile phone that supports eSIM technology, you can get an eSIM-ready SIM only deal from just £6/month. This will allow you to use the eSIM functionality on your phone, including the dual-SIM capabilities of an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel smartphone.

In this article, we’ll compare the eSIM-ready SIM Only deals currently available in the UK. We’ll also look at how to set up the eSIM on your phone as this will sometimes require an extra step to move your plan onto eSIM.

Best eSIM Ready Plan

In the UK, it can be useful having an eSIM for your mobile phone. Having an eSIM will allow you to access the dual-SIM functionality on newer iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones. For instance, you might be able to have two phone numbers and two plans on your phone at the same time (e.g. having both your work phone number and your personal phone number on the same device).

With eSIM, you can also benefit from greater flexibility and lower prices when you travel abroad. This is because the eSIM may give you cheaper international roaming than on your regular SIM card.

At present, Vodafone is our recommended network if you’re looking for an eSIM plan in the UK:

Vodafone

  • Get your eSIM straight away. Just choose the “eSIM” option at checkout.
  • Get an eSIM plan with unlimited minutes from £6/month: Plus unlimited data from £23.
  • 5G coverage in 100+ towns & cities. Available on 5G plans from £11/month. Learn more.
  • Compatible with iPhone, iPad, Galaxy & Pixel. See all Vodafone eSIM compatible devices.

If you’re looking to get an eSIM plan with the least amount of hassle, we’d recommend ordering an eSIM from Vodafone. You can choose any of Vodafone’s SIM cards online. Just choose the “eSIM” option during checkout and you’ll be sent an eSIM that you can start using the same day.

You can get an eSIM plan from just £6/month on Vodafone with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts & an allowance of data. For faster speeds, you can choose a 5G-ready eSIM from £11 per month. Vodafone’s unlimited data plans are available from £23 per month.

Unlike on the other major networks, there’s no need to get a physical SIM card first before you can convert it into an eSIM.

Get a Vodafone eSIM online →

Unfortunately, eSIM support is still very limited on other UK mobile networks. Many networks are still yet to offer eSIM functionality and those that have it may only offer eSIM on a selection of plans.

Compare SIM Only Deals with eSIM

At present, you can buy an eSIM-ready plan from EE, O2, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone.

The following table shows a list of these eSIM-ready plans. You can use the filters to narrow down the list of available options.

How much data do you want on your plan each month?

How long are you willing to commit for on a contract?

Which networks would you be happy to take a plan from?

Showing 78 of 78 price plans that match your criteria

NetworkMinutesTextsDataMonthly
Cost
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£6.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited4GB£6.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited12GB£7.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited20GB£8.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited20GB£9.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited30GB£10.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited25GB£10.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited10GB£10.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited36GB£11.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited5GB£11.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£11.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited10GB£12.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited1GB£12.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£12.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited45GB£13.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited250MB£13.00
12 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited60GB£14.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£14.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited35GB£15.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited30GB£15.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited25GB£15.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited5GB£15.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£15.00
24 months
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£16.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£16.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited20GB£18.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited2GB£18.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited250MB£18.00
1 month
EEUnlimitedUnlimited3GB£19.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited160GB£20.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited160GB£20.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited120GB£20.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£20.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited100GB£20.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£20.00
12 months
O21,000Unlimited1GB£20.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited20GB£21.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£21.00
1 month
O2UnlimitedUnlimited150GB£22.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
2Mbps max		£23.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited200GB£23.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited200GB£23.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited5GB£23.00
1 month
O2UnlimitedUnlimited150GB£24.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited3GB£24.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£24.00
1 month
Virgin MobileUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£25.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
2Mbps max		£25.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited160GB£25.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited40GB£25.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited20GB£26.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
10Mbps max		£27.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited10GB£27.00
1 month
O2UnlimitedUnlimited250GB£28.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited200GB£28.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£28.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
10Mbps max		£29.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£29.00
12 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£30.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited250GB£30.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimited50GB£30.00
1 month
EEUnlimitedUnlimited40GB£30.00
1 month
O2UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£32.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£32.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£32.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimited20GB£33.00
1 month
O2UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£34.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£34.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£35.00
12 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£35.00
24 months
O2UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£36.00
1 month
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£37.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
2Mbps max		£37.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£38.00
12 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£39.00
24 months
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£41.00
24 months
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
10Mbps max		£41.00
1 month
VodafoneUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£47.00
1 month

If you choose a plan from EE, O2 or Virgin Mobile, you’ll initially be sent a plastic SIM card in the post. You’ll then need to exchange your plastic SIM card for an eSIM.

How To Order & Set Up An eSIM

On Vodafone, you can order an eSIM online to start using straight away. Simply choose the “eSIM” option during checkout.

Order a Vodafone eSIM Plan →

On other mobile networks like EE, O2 and Virgin Mobile, you won’t be able to order an eSIM straight away. This is mostly due to how their internal systems are set up and partly also for security (so they can verify your address when the plastic SIM card is delivered).

If you’re sent a plastic SIM card to begin with, you can exchange it for an eSIM as soon as you receive it. Just follow the steps below to do this:

  1. Start by ordering your new SIM-only deal. Make sure it’s an eSIM-ready plan before you order it.
  2. A plastic SIM card will be sent to you in the post. Put this SIM card inside your mobile phone to activate the new plan.
  3. You can now transfer your plan onto an eSIM. You can normally request a replacement eSIM pack online, at a local store or by calling the customer services team. In some cases, you might need to wait for an eSIM to be dispatched. In addition, it can sometimes take up to 24 hours for your plan to be moved onto an eSIM.
  4. Scan the QR code for the eSIM when you get it. Once your plan has been moved to an eSIM, you’ll be given a QR code to scan on your mobile phone. This will install the eSIM on it.

In the future, when the technology improves, it should be possible to sign up for a plan on any network and to receive it on an eSIM straight away. This would make it a lot faster and more convenient switching to another network.

More Information

For more information, see our in-depth guide to eSIM on UK mobile networks. It has further information about how eSIMs work and also includes a list of eSIM-ready phones.

Your Comments 11 so far

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any questions you may have. So far, we've received 11 comments from readers. You can add your own comment here.

  • Alan said:

    As of yesterday 2nd March 22, in an online chat with a Three customer service adviser, following the eSim trial in the North (claimed as successful), there are replacement eSims for those who were in the trial, but no eSims for new customers, and no idea when they may become available.

    • Ken replied:

      Hi Gary,
      Thanks for your comment. The way that Vodafone have things set up on their website is a little bit confusing. You’ll get the full 4GB of data as you should. However, this is shown on the checkout page as a 500MB plan with a free 500MB add-on and a free 3GB add-on. This gives you a total of 0.5GB + 0.5GB + 3GB = 4GB of data in total (it’s shown below the option to choose between a SIM card and an eSIM).
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

      • gary replied:

        Well its taken over a week, but voda have finally admitted they are not going to honour the £6 deal. I think you should remove it from here as its really not worth the pain.

        • Matthew replied:

          A little confusing is putting it kindly. The page resulting from that link is completely incomprehensible. Vodafone are often quite shambolic with misleading information on their website, and poor levels of knowledge in their customer facing staff.
          However, as below, 3 also have contrary information relating to esims on their website, with both a guide on how to set it up, and an FAQ stating that they don’t offer it.

  • Angie said:

    Thank you so much for this article. I have just signed up with an eSIM deal with three. They were exceedingly helpful.

    • Angie replied:

      Three’s sales department are not in touch with the rest of three’s workings. I phoned three and told them that I had just bought an eSim phone and I need an eSim contract. they said no problem went through all the preliminaries. I was told to phone when i get the physicl sim and they would be able to send me an eSIM.

      I phoned this morning to ask for my eSim and i was told that they do not do eSims because the shops are closed but if i can wait till the shops are open, i can get an eSim then. Then 3 minutes later i was told Three are not doing eSims as it was a trial and they don’t know when they will be doing eSims again even when the shops are open.

      • Leo replied:

        Absolutely true I have had this problem. Basically, they are in breach of contract. They have no idea when they will get the esims. They want to get your business fo esim but they don’t mind if you wait for it Time wasted!

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