By O2 is offering unlimited data plans from £20/month with inclusive EU roaming and 3 months of Disney+.
In the UK, O2 is now offering an unlimited data SIM card for just £20 per month. Available on a 24-month contract, it includes an O2 Extra such Disney+ or Amazon Prime for the first 3 months.
In this article, we’ll review O2’s unlimited data plans. We’ll start by looking at the unlimited data SIM cards available from O2 and what you’ll get included in terms of free music and entertainment. We’ll also look at the download speeds available and at O2’s fair usage policy for unlimited data in the UK. Finally, we’ll compare O2’s unlimited data plan to what is available on other networks and how you can keep your current phone number when joining O2.
| Prices From: | £20 per month |
|---|---|
| Contract Length: | 12 month or 24 month contract |
| Inclusive Features: |
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| Fair Usage: |
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| Coverage: | 4G & 5G coverage |
Contents
O2 Unlimited Data Plans
In the UK, O2 currently offers unlimited data SIM cards from £20 per month. You’ll get unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data on your SIM card. You’ll also get the following benefits:
- Roam at no extra cost in the EU (up to 25GB per month).
- Inclusive Extras like Disney+ or Amazon Prime. You’ll also get an O2 Extra such as Disney+ or Amazon Prime included. The duration of this depends on the type of plan you choose. You’ll get 3 months included on Classic plans, 6 months on Plus plans, and 24 months on Ultimate plans.
- Access to O2 Priority. You’ll have access to the O2 Priority app for the duration of your plan. This gives you access to exclusive offers, discounts and early-access tickets.
The following table shows O2’s unlimited data plans:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost (will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9%) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £24.99 per month 24 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £33.00 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £36.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £44.49 per month 24 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £46.49 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
Although there are cheaper plans available with unlimited data on other networks, the inclusion of benefits like Disney+ and Amazon Prime are fairly unique to O2.
You can also get unlimited data on a range of smartphones from O2 including the latest devices from Apple and Samsung.
Download Speeds
On all of O2’s unlimited data SIM cards, you’ll get access to 5G at no extra cost. Simply tell them you have a 5G-ready device when ordering your SIM card online.
On O2’s 5G network, you can expect an average download speed of around 150Mbps (with peak download speeds of up to 1,000Mbps). This is around six times faster than their 4G network which has average download speeds of around 25Mbps.
There are no speed restrictions on O2’s unlimited data SIM cards.
Fair Usage Policy
On O2’s unlimited data plan, there are three important fair usage limits worth being aware of:
- There’s a 650GB monthly fair usage limit. O2 has a monthly fair usage limit of 650GB on their unlimited data plan. They won’t actually stop you from going over this limit, but they say they reserve the right to “investigate your usage further” and to “transfer you to a more suitable plan” if you use more than 650GB twice within a six-month period.
- You can only tether to a maximum of 12 devices. Although it’s possible to use tethering or personal hotspot to share your data with other devices, this is limited to a maximum of 12 devices by O2’s terms and conditions for unlimited data.
- You can only use the SIM card inside a battery-powered mobile device. O2 says their unlimited data SIM card “must only be used in mobile devices that do not require to be plugged in order to work”. This is intended to prevent you from using the SIM card inside a router for 4G home broadband or 5G home broadband. However, you can still use it in a tablet or mobile broadband device.
In addition, a fair usage policy applies when you’re travelling outside the UK. This will allow you to use up to 25GB of data abroad in Europe each month.
Comparison to Alternatives
At present, O2’s unlimited data plan is available from £20 per month. If you’d like an alternative plan with unlimited data and the same coverage from O2, you can also consider the unlimited data plans from giffgaff and Tesco Mobile. This is because both giffgaff and Tesco also use coverage from O2’s network.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of unlimited data plans using coverage from O2:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £24.99 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £25.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by CPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £25.00 per month 18 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £30.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by CPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £33.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £35.00 per month 1 month rolling | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £36.00 per month 1 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £44.49 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £46.49 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
giffgaff’s £25 plan with Always-On data gives you 4G speeds on the first 80GB per month. This is followed by a maximum speed of 384kbps for the rest of the month between 8am and midnight each day (equivalent to a basic 3G connection). You’ll need giffgaff’s £35 plan for unlimited data with uncapped download speeds on 5G.
On Tesco Mobile, uncapped 5G download speeds are available on all unlimited data plans from £25 per month.
Other Mobile Networks
If you’re also willing to consider other mobile networks for your unlimited data plan, the following table shows a side-by-side comparison of your alternative options:
| Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited data | £15.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £16.00 per month 1 month rolling | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.50 | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by RPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £22.50 per month 12 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data 100Mbps max speed | £23.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.80 | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £25.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by CPI inflation plus 3.9% | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £25.00 per month 18 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data 10Mbps max speed | £27.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each March by £1.50 | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £30.00 per month 1 month rolling | See deal |
For more information, see our full guide to unlimited data plans in the UK.
Network & Coverage
4G & 5G Coverage
In the UK, O2 offers 99% population coverage on their 4G network. In addition, you’ll have access to their 5G network in selected locations, as long as you have a 5G-ready phone.
Before you sign up to their unlimited data plan, it’s worth double-checking to make sure you can get coverage where you live.
To find out what O2’s coverage is like where you live, enter your postcode on O2’s online coverage map:
Check O2 Coverage (o2.co.uk) →
Customers with a compatible device can also access 4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling on O2’s unlimited data plan.
For more information, see our guide to O2’s coverage in the UK.
Tethering & Personal Hotspot
Tethering or personal hotspot refers to the process of sharing your smartphone’s internet connection with another device (e.g. with your laptop or tablet).
On O2’s unlimited data plans, tethering and personal hotspot usage is allowed. However, there’s a restriction within the terms and conditions that says you can only use it on up to 12 devices. This is stated in clause 3.5 of their terms and conditions:
3.5. Usage of Unlimited Data is subject to our Fair Usage Policy. To help us identify whether you are using your Unlimited Data in accordance with the Fair Usage Policy and these Terms , we may monitor the amount of data you are using. Where you regularly tether to 12 or more devices, have used 650GB of data twice within a 6 month period, or have connected to a device other than an eligible device as stipulated in clause 3.3 of these Terms, then we may investigate your usage further to ascertain whether your Unlimited Data usage is for the permitted use. Where following such investigation we determine or reasonably suspect that your usage is for purposes other than the permitted use then we reserve the right to transfer you to a more suitable plan.
On most other networks, there is no restriction on how many devices you can use tethering or personal hotspot with. For this reason, if you’re likely to make heavy use of this feature, you might be better off choosing unlimited data on another network.
International Roaming
You can continue using your O2 SIM card when you travel abroad, but you’ll be subject to their fair usage policy for roaming.
If you’re travelling to one of 48 destinations in O2’s Europe Zone, you’ll be able to use up to 25GB of data abroad at no extra cost each month. Above this, you’ll pay a surcharge of £3 per GB.
If you’re travelling to one of 27 destinations that are part of the O2’s Travel Inclusive Zone, there’s unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data. However, this will be capped at a maximum speed of 2Mbps.
For more information, see O2’s international roaming web page or read our in-depth guide to O2 Travel.
Keeping Your Phone Number
If you’re moving from another network to O2 to take advantage of their unlimited data plans, it’s a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
To do so, start by getting a PAC Code from your current mobile network. You can get one through your mobile network’s website or app, or by texting PAC to 65075. A PAC Code will be sent to you free of charge within 60 seconds of your request.
Once you have the PAC Code from your old network, order your new unlimited data SIM card from the O2 website. When it arrives, you can provide the PAC Code to O2 through this online form. Your phone number transfer will then be scheduled, normally for the next working day.
For a step-by-step guide on moving your phone number to O2, please select your current mobile network from the drop down menu below:
More Information
For more information about O2’s unlimited data plan, see O2’s official website. You can also read our full overview of unlimited data plans in the UK.
Mr C Harrison said:
I have the o2 sim in a tplink 4g router, it works fine, they do throttle your speeds under fair usaged even if you download 50gig in a day, so o2 is a little frustrating. I would use virgin if you can them instead
Nick said:
Hmm, this is interesting… o2 have a clause in their fair usage policy:
“Unlimited UK Data sold on handset or SIMO contracts must only be used in mobile devices that do not require to be plugged in order to work.”
So at first I thought… they can’t do that because of the OFCOM investigation. So I had a look through the OFCOM document which states (with reference to its ruling on Three):
“[Three must] withdraw restrictions on the use of handset SIMs in Dongles and MiFi”
Furthermore the document defines a Dongle or Mifi as:
“Wireless devices that enable multiple users to share a single mobile broadband connection while they are on the go.”
I cannot find anywhere on the OFCOM website where it says that a SIM may be used in *any* device. So I’m wondering if o2 have found a loophole here. Or alternatively, perhaps I am not looking hard enough for the information from OFCOM and o2 have got this wrong.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
Shelley Bourne said:
Hi
Can I use a 02 unlimited data sim in a 4g mobile router (sim slot) for use in our static caravan?
We only have a choice of 02 or vodaphone for coverage and neither myself or my husbands current pay monthly contracts are with these providers, so we have ended up having 2 separate pay as you go sims as well. Calls aren’t an issue but data is, so we thought the mobile router maybe the way to go but are unclear if it’s acceptable to use these sims in a router. Any advice greatly received.
Ken replied:
Hi Shelley,
Thanks for your comment. Since 2018, it has been possible to use a smartphone SIM card in any device, including a 4G-powered router. You can, therefore, use an O2 unlimited data SIM card in a 4G home broadband router. The caveat to this is their fair usage policy: you only get 650GB of data per month and the use of tethering/personal hotspot is limited to only 12 devices. This fair usage policy may make it impractical for you to use it in a home broadband router, so I’d personally recommend going for a Vodafone unlimited data plan instead.
Hope this helps,
Ken
Shelley Bourne replied:
Thank you so much for your detailed response it is much appreciated. It’s so nice to be able to ask a tech question and not feel silly.
Thank you decision made on provider.
Thank you again
Ken replied:
Hi Shelley,
No worries – I’m really glad to be able to help out. And it’s certainly not a silly question – lots of other people have asked me the exact same thing 🙂
Ken
David replied:
Hi Ken I am getting told by a sales agent at o2 that I can’t put a mobile SIM in a router. I am being offered router-specific deals that don’t include a limitless data allowance, unlike phone deals.
I want to put an unlimited mobile SIM into my router but I am worried it won’t work…
Any advice?
Ken replied:
Hi David,
Thanks for your comment. O2’s terms and conditions prohibit the usage of their unlimited data SIM cards in a mains-powered device (e.g. in a mains-powered 4G router). More info here. There’s still a little bit of debate over whether this restriction is actually legal (as Ofcom’s net neutrality ruling said they shouldn’t discriminate based on device) but I don’t believe this has yet been challenged.
Ken