Bills · October 2026
Save money on your mobile bill in the UK
Important: This guide gives general information, not a recommendation of any network or tariff. Prices and terms change often, so check the details with the provider before you sign up.
Last updated: .
Mobile bills are easy to set and forget. Many people keep paying the same amount long after their phone is paid off, or for far more data than they use.
In this guide we’ll show you how to work out what you need, check where you stand with your contract, and understand the rules that protect you. We won’t name networks or list deals. Instead, we’ll help you ask the right questions.
Quick answer
- Check how much data, calls and texts you actually use over three months.
- Find out when your contract ends. Your provider should tell you before it does.
- If your phone is paid off, a SIM-only plan could cost less.
- New contracts since 17 January 2025 must show any mid-contract price rises in pounds and pence.
- Check coverage where you live and work before you switch.
- If you get certain benefits, you may qualify for a social tariff.
- Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme covers fixed broadband and landlines, not mobile.
Who this guide is for
It’s for anyone in the UK paying for a mobile phone contract or SIM-only plan. It’s also useful if you manage several phones for a family.
You don’t need to be a tech expert. Most of what follows is about checking a few details and making a call or two.
Check what you actually use
Start with your usage. Most networks show your data, calls and texts in their app or online account.
Look at the last three months rather than one. A single month might include a holiday or a busy patch.
Then ask yourself:
- Do you use most of your data, or have a lot left each month?
- Are you mostly on Wi-Fi at home and work?
- Do you still make many calls or send texts?
- Do you use your phone abroad?
If you’re regularly using much less than you pay for, a smaller plan could save money.
Know where you stand with your contract
When your contract ends
Ofcom rules say your provider must send you an end-of-contract notice. It should tell you when your contract ends, what you pay now, what you’ll pay afterwards, how to leave, and its other deals that might suit you.
If you’re already out of contract, your provider should remind you once a year of better deals it offers. If you haven’t had one, check your account or ask.
Phone and airtime
Many contracts bundle the cost of the phone with your airtime. Once you’ve paid off the phone, check whether your bill drops. If it doesn’t, you could be paying for a handset you already own.
Check your contract or bill to see what you pay for the phone and what you pay for the service.
Mid-contract price rises
Price rises during a contract are one of the most common surprises. The rules changed in early 2025.
New contracts from 17 January 2025. Ofcom banned inflation-linked and percentage price rises in new contracts. Any rise must be set out upfront in pounds and pence, along with when it happens.
Older contracts. If you signed before 17 January 2025, your contract may still allow rises linked to inflation or a set percentage. Check your terms.
Unspecified rises. If your contract allows the provider to raise prices in ways not set out in the contract, it must give you about 30 days’ notice. You can then leave without paying a penalty.
Ofcom’s page on telecoms price rises explains the rules in full.
SIM-only and keeping your phone
If your phone works well and is paid off, a SIM-only plan could be a cheaper option. You keep your handset and pay only for calls, texts and data.
Since December 2021, mobile companies in the UK haven’t been allowed to sell locked phones. If you bought your phone before then, it might still be locked to one network.
Check with the seller or network before you switch. Ofcom has more on locked handsets.
When you do need a new phone, compare the total cost of a contract with buying the phone outright and getting a SIM-only plan. The cheapest monthly price isn’t always the cheapest overall.
Check coverage before you switch
A cheaper plan isn’t a saving if you can’t get a signal at home. Use the network’s coverage checker, and ask friends or neighbours which networks work in your area.
Many smaller providers use one of the big networks’ infrastructure. Find out which network a provider uses, as coverage will usually match that network.
Family plans and multiple SIMs
If several people in your household have phones, some networks offer discounts for adding SIMs to one account. Work out the total cost once a year to check it still adds up.
Also agree who’s responsible for each line. Shared plans can make it harder to spot who’s using what.
Roaming and travel
Roaming charges and allowances vary between networks and can change. Before you travel, check your network’s current roaming list and charges.
If you travel only occasionally, some people buy a travel eSIM or a short-term add-on for the trip. That can be cheaper than paying for a bigger plan all year. Make sure your phone supports eSIM first.
Insurance and add-ons
Mobile phone insurance is often offered when you sign up. Before you agree, check whether you’re already covered. Some packaged bank accounts and home insurance policies include gadget cover.
Also check your bill for other add-ons, such as extra data bundles or entertainment subscriptions, that you no longer use.
Keeping your number
You can usually keep your mobile number when you switch network. Ask your new provider how to move it across.
Don’t cancel your old contract until your number has moved, or you could lose it. Check whether you’ll owe anything for leaving early before you go.
Talking to your provider
If you’re out of contract or near the end, it’s worth asking your current provider what it can offer. Have your usage figures to hand, and know what plans elsewhere would cost for the same allowance.
You don’t have to accept the first offer. If it doesn’t work for you, it’s fine to say you’ll think about it.
Accessibility and extra support
If you have a disability or need extra help, tell your provider. Many offer support such as accessible bills or priority fault repair. You can ask them to note this on your account.
A note on automatic compensation
Ofcom runs an automatic compensation scheme for some problems with home broadband and landlines. It covers residential fixed broadband and landline services only. It doesn’t apply to mobile phones.
If you have home broadband, our budget broadband guide explains how the scheme works.
Cashback when you switch
Some cashback sites list mobile networks and SIM-only providers. Rates change and conditions apply, so check the listing before you sign up. Our guides to cashback sites and household cashback explain how they work.
Treat cashback as a small extra, not the reason to choose a plan.
Watch out for scam texts
Scammers sometimes send texts pretending to be from your network, often about a bill or an upgrade. Don’t click links in unexpected messages.
Log in through the network’s app or website instead. Our guide to money scams in 2026 has more warning signs.
The catch
The catch: the cheapest plan on paper isn’t always the cheapest for you. Coverage, contract length and early exit fees all affect the real cost.
Older contracts may also still allow inflation-linked price rises. Check your terms before assuming the newer rules apply to you.
Key takeaways
- Check three months of usage before choosing a plan.
- Know your contract end date, and look out for your provider’s notice.
- Consider SIM-only once your phone is paid off.
- New contracts from 17 January 2025 must show price rises in pounds and pence.
- Check coverage before you switch.
- See whether you qualify for a social tariff.
FAQ
Can I leave my mobile contract if the price goes up?
It depends on your contract. If it allows rises not set out in the contract, your provider must give notice and let you leave without a penalty. Rises written into your contract in pounds and pence, or older inflation-linked terms, usually don’t give you that right.
Does Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme cover mobile phones?
No. Ofcom’s automatic compensation scheme covers residential fixed broadband and landline services only. It doesn’t apply to mobile.
Can I take my phone number with me to a new network?
Yes, usually. Ask your new provider how to move your number across, and don’t cancel your old contract until the number has moved.
Could I get a cheaper mobile tariff because I’m on benefits?
Possibly. Social tariffs are available to people receiving benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA, JSA or Income Support. You generally need to be the main contract holder, and Ofcom keeps a list of current tariffs.
Will going SIM-only work out cheaper than a phone contract?
Not always. SIM-only plans often cost less once your phone is paid off, but if you need a new handset, compare the total cost over the whole contract.
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Social tariffs
A social tariff is a cheaper phone or broadband package for people on certain benefits. According to Ofcom, they’re available to people receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support. Some providers accept other benefits too.
The person receiving the benefit generally needs to be the main contract holder. Ofcom says prices on these tariffs won’t rise mid-contract.
If your current provider offers a social tariff, you can usually move to it without an early exit fee. Ofcom keeps a list of social tariffs, including mobile options. Check it for current prices and eligibility.