Free Mobile Sim Cards

In this day and age, mobile phones have become such an important  part of our lives that most of us feel like we are missing a limb when we leave the house without one. Mobile phone companies recognise this need and increase service and phone prices, probably because they know we will pay. 

Luckily, there are a few ways to get free SIM cards in the UK. Pay-as-you-go SIM cards are only sometimes free and require topping up when you run out of calls and messages. These sims are great, but monthly top-up fees can reach a high figure, sometimes even higher than monthly payment plan deals. 

SIM cards that come with a monthly payment plan are almost always free, but are tied down with yearly contracts and other agreements. This isn’t always the case and a lot of the time, if you know where to look, you will find great pay monthly deals that are contract free.

We have done a lot of the research for you and have fantastic free SIM card offers on our site. There are a collection of SIM deals for you to choose from, some come with a free balance, while others even triple your money when you top the card up. 

Sounds good right? Is there a catch? Let’s take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring free SIM cards. 

Advantages of Free SIM Cards

The biggest advantage of getting a free SIM card is that it’s just that… free. No one is going to complain too much when they are saving a lot of money on something so useful. 

Most of the top mobile phone networks have made free SIM cards and SIM deals readily available to their clients. These deals require a bit of rooting around as they aren’t always advertised, but when you find a SIM with a deal that is right for you they are worth the hard work. 

Disadvantages of Free SIM Cards

You can’t always find the deal you are looking for and offers to expire after a certain amount of time. There are only ever a specific amount of SIM cards for each offer, so, if you miss the opportunity, it isn’t likely to come about again for a while.

Most of the SIM cards are capped at 3 or 4 SIM cards per household. So, if you are looking for SIM cards for all the family and there are quite a few of you, you will probably need to go with a couple of different data providers. 

Some network providers do not have great signal in every area of the country. City folk won’t be too bothered about this, however, people living in the country will struggle to find a free SIM card that will work in their area. That is not to say that it’s impossible, but less choice is available for rural areas. 

The same issue is apparent when it comes to overseas services. Free SIM cards usually have less to offer clients when they are traveling abroad and add-on data fees can get out of hand. 

SIM Card FAQ

Hopefully, the above information cleaned up a lot of the confusion surrounding free SIM cards. If you still have a few unanswered questions that you are curious about, the below frequently asked questions section should make things a whole lot clearer.

Q: How much does a SIM card cost in the UK?

A: SIM cards start at about £10 per month, however, this price is for a very basic plan and isn’t suitable for anyone that needs a lot of internets or to make a lot of calls. 

Q: How Can I get a free EE SIM card in the UK?

A: You can order a free EE sim card directly from shop.ee.co.uk.

Q: Can I get a free O2 SIM card?

A: Yes, there are plenty of O2 SIM cards up for grabs, just search free O2 cards and you will be directed to a number of sites that offer free O2 sims and deals. 

Q: Can I get a free SIM card from AT&T

A: AT&T have free prepaid and universal SIM cards with no annual contract necessary. Monthly payment of  £60 or so is necessary for calls and data. 

Q: Which SIM card is the best in the UK?

A: The best UK SIM card is the one that has the most deals and offers for its customers. Vodafone O2 and 3 mobile. Vodafone PAYG SIM cards are free and have the lowest call rates. 

Q: Can you just put your SIM card into a new phone?

A: SIM cards can be used in different phones. The only thing is, some SIM cards are larger than others, and smaller SIM cards can be made larger, but large cards can’t be made smaller. This isn’t usually an issue when you swap SIM cards that are of an appropriate size for smartphones. 

Q: Can you activate an old SIM card?

A: SIM cards that have been deactivated due to missed payments can usually be reactivated as soon as the money has been paid. If a SIM card is deactivated simply because you don’t need it anymore, your service provider should be able to reactivate it easily. 

Q: How often should I replace an old SIM card?

A: Sim cards don’t need replacing unless they don’t fit your new phone or if they just aren’t providing you with the right service. 

Q: Do SIM cards expire if they aren’t used? 

A: SIM cards stay active between 60 to 120 days. If the SIM isn’t topped-up within this time frame, it expires and becomes inactive.

Q: How do I know if my sim card is deactivated?

A: It is very easy to find out if your SIM card is deactivated. All you need to do is put the SIM into a cell phone and turn it on. If the signal sign comes on, it means that the SIM is active and ready to be used, even if it hasn’t got any available balance just yet. If your mobile phone doesn’t pick up a signal, then it is deactivated. 

Q: How can I stop my SIM card being deactivated?

A: SIM cards need to be topped-up regularly in order to stay active. SIM cards on a monthly plan must be paid on time every month to continue service. Recently, some network providers have stated that users must keep their account topped up with a minimum balance to prevent deactivation. 

Conclusion

SIM cards are essential and necessities for our jobs and to keep in touch with friends and families. There is absolutely no need to spend hundreds of pounds on mobile phones and SIM cards when there are deals and gifts readily available at your fingertips. 

Free sims are just as reliable as any other, so getting your hands on one will only benefit you in the long run. Enjoy your mobile device, and more importantly, enjoy saving money!