You can get an eSIM plan from just £1.29/month in the UK. We compare eSIM-compatible SIM-only deals.
If you have a mobile phone that supports eSIM technology, you can now get an eSIM-ready SIM only deal from just £1.29/month. This will allow you to use the eSIM capability on your mobile phone, including dual-SIM functionality on the iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.
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 an eSIM on your phone as it will sometimes require an additional step to move your plan onto eSIM.
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Best eSIM Ready Plan
In the UK, it can be useful having an eSIM for your mobile phone. For instance, having an eSIM will allow you to use dual-SIM functionality on newer iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones. This will allow you to have two phone numbers and two plans on your phone at the same time (e.g. 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 plan may give you cheaper international roaming than on your regular SIM card.
At present, Lyca Mobile and Vodafone are our recommended networks if you’re looking for an eSIM plan in the UK:
Lyca Mobile
Lyca Mobile is the UK’s first Pay As You Go network to offer a fully-featured eSIM with no contract and no credit check required. You’ll pay as little as £1.29 per month for a Lyca Mobile eSIM, with instant online delivery when you choose the ‘eSIM’ option at checkout. As a special offer for March 2024, you can get 5GB data for £1.29 per month on a Lyca Mobile eSIM. This special price is valid for valid for the first 3 months, after which you’ll pay £5.90 per month if you continue using the plan. If you’re looking for more data, there’s 10GB data for £1.49 per month for 3 months (then £5.90 per month) and 20GB data for £2.39 per month for 3 months (then £7.90 per month). Heavy data users can get 200GB data for £9.99 per month for 12 months (then £20 per month) or unlimited data for £9.99 per month for 6 months (then £25 per month). All of Lyca Mobile’s plans work on a Pay As You Go basis so you can pause, change or cancel your plan at any time. |
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Vodafone
If you’re looking for a Pay Monthly eSIM with instant online delivery, we’d currently recommend ordering an eSIM from Vodafone. You can choose any of Vodafone’s SIM cards online. Just choose the “eSIM” option at checkout and you’ll be sent an eSIM that you can start using the same day. You can get an eSIM plan from just £7/month on Vodafone with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts & an allowance of data (with up to 4G speeds). For faster download speeds, 5G-ready eSIM plans are available from £15 per month. Vodafone’s unlimited data plans are available from £30 per month. Vodafone also offers business eSIM plans if you’re planning to use the eSIM for work. Unlike the other major networks, there’s no need to get a physical SIM card first before you can convert it into an eSIM on Vodafone. |
Unfortunately, eSIM support is still fairly limited on other UK mobile networks. Many networks require you to get a physical SIM card first, before you’re able to convert it for an eSIM at a later date. In addition, eSIM functionality may be restricted to only certain types of plan (e.g. to Pay Monthly contracts).
Compare SIM Only Deals with eSIM
At present, you can buy an eSIM-ready plan from the following UK mobile networks:
- EE: From £18 per month (SIM swap required)
- giffgaff: From £6 per month (SIM swap required)
- Lyca Mobile: From £1.29 per month (instant eSIM delivery)
- O2: From £15 per month (SIM swap required)
- Sky: From £10 per month (SIM swap required)
- Three: From £5 per month (SIM swap required)
- Vodafone: From £7 per month (instant eSIM delivery)
The following table shows a list of eSIM-ready plans. You can use the filters to narrow down the list of available options.
If you choose a plan from EE, giffgaff, O2, Sky Mobile or Three, 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
If you’re joining Lyca Mobile or Vodafone, you’ll be able to order an eSIM online to start using straight away. Simply choose the “eSIM” option during checkout.
On the other mobile networks (EE, giffgaff, O2, Sky Mobile and Three), you won’t be able to order an eSIM straight away. This is mostly due to how their internal systems are set up, but also partly for security (so they can verify your address when the plastic SIM card is sent to you in the post).
If you’re sent a plastic SIM card to begin with, you can exchange it for an eSIM as soon as you get it. Just follow the steps below to do this:
- Start by ordering your new SIM-only deal. Make sure it’s an eSIM-ready plan before you order.
- A plastic SIM card will be sent to you in the post. Put the SIM card inside your mobile phone to activate the plan.
- You can now transfer your plan onto 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.
- 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 that you can scan on your mobile phone. Alternatively, you might be able to download the eSIM through an app. This will install the eSIM onto your phone.
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 when switching to another network.
More Information
For more information, see our in-depth guide to eSIM on UK mobile networks. You can also see our full list of eSIM compatible devices.
Peter Frost said:
Hi Ken, just letting you know that this information has saved me hours of time and more importantly probably hundreds of pounds. I’m looking to buy a phone and my preference is dual sim (work and home) but the best phone I could find – resonably priced, has nano sim and esim.
I went to three mobile operators shops – EE, Three and O2 to get their best offering for an esim after buying the phone outright. The cheapest for what I needed was £29 per month on a 2 year contract. I’m currently with Giffgaff on a pay monthly £10 per month – but they don’t do esims.
Your information was invaluable, I’m considering Lyca Mobile that is the same cost on a monthly contract for a much better package. Thanks so much for putting this info out there.
Kevin Anderson said:
Hi Ken,
Thanks for the clear article. Do you know if any of the esims allow free roaming – as it was before full Brexit? I currently have an EE esim which I got before the roaming was reintroduced. It is expensive (~£25 for 100Gb/month) but they have maintained the free roaming on the contract.
Many thanks.
Kevin
Ken replied:
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your comment, and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes, O2 and Lyca Mobile still offer inclusive EU roaming – see my guide to European roaming costs for more information 🙂
Hope this helps,
Ken
Kenny said:
Hi Ken
It looks like esims will eventually supercede their physical cousins. This sounds like bad news if you are a light user as you will effectively be forced into paying a monthly cost, which at the moment looks like £7 or 8 minimum. I say this on the assumption that you would upgrade your phone every now and again
For instance, an iPhone 13 user with a 3 data reward sim or an O2 classic PAYG sim, would only be able to use any newer iPhone with an esim, so to retain their phone number they would have to surrender their data reward or classic sim for an esim and pay a monthly charge
Ken replied:
Hi Kenny,
Thanks for your comment. This shouldn’t be a problem for a light users, as I expect that all plans will eventually become available on an eSIM. In fact, you can now get Pay As You Go eSIMs in the UK (e.g. from Lyca Mobile) with no need to pay a monthly fee for it.
Ken