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What types of mobile deal are available?

Contracts

Sign up to a 12, 18, or 24-month mobile phone contract for a bundle of minutes, texts, and data, plus a brand new handset of your choice. As you’ll be paying off the cost of your handset over the course of the plan, mobile phone contracts are more expensive than SIM-only deals, but they can provide great value for money compared to buying a phone outright. Compare contracts from all the major networks in the UK, including EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, Sky Mobile, BT Mobile, and more. 

Upgrades

If you’re already signed up to a mobile contract, you’ll be eligible for an upgrade deal once your current contract’s term comes to an end. So, if you’re happy with your current network provider but want a new phone, this is probably your best option. By signing up to an upgrade deal, you’ll be sent your new handset and all you have to do is transfer your SIM over. You won’t be cut off at any point and you can keep the same number. If you’re not sure when your contract is ending, you can find out by texting INFO to 85075. And if you’re eligible for an upgrade, get in touch with your provider directly to see what handsets are available.

Pay-as-you-go (PAYG)

If you don’t want to be tied down to a lengthy contract, and you just want to pay for what you use, a pay-as-you-go deal is probably ideal for you. These deals have been declining in popularity in recent years but they are still available from most of the UK’s network providers. You buy the phone you want outright, and then get your PAYG SIM which you’ll need to top up initially to start using. You pay just for the minutes, texts, and data you want, and then when you run out, you simply top up your SIM again.

SIM-free

You also have the option to buy the handset outright as part of a SIM-free deal. You’ll pay the full cost of the phone upfront, but you won’t be provide with a SIM. Luckily, the phone will be unlocked, so all you have to do is find a SIM-only deal from a provider of your choice, insert it into your phone and you’re good to go. SIM-only deals are available on either 12 or 24-month contracts, rolling monthly plans, as well as on a PAYG basis.

Can I keep my mobile number?

Yes. No matter which network provider you’re switching to, you can transfer your current phone number over by requesting a Porting Authorisation Code, or PAC Code. To do so, text PAC to 65075 from your current SIM, and you will receive a text back with your code which will be valid for the next 30 days. You will then need to send this PAC code to your new network provider, who will get in touch with your current provider to inform them of the switch. Your number will then be switched over to the new SIM within 1 working day, and your old contract will be cancelled automatically.

What contract length should I go for?

When signing up to a new mobile contract or SIM only deal, you’ll need to decide how long you want that contract to be. 

Contracts

When switching or upgrading mobile phone contracts, 24-month plans are currently the norm, and these will usually offer the best value for money over the course of your contract. You will pay the same amount each month for the same allowance of minutes, texts, and data throughout your term, although prices could rise in line with inflation each April.

However, signing up to such a lengthy contract can have its downfalls, as you could be faced with hefty termination fees should you decide to switch networks early for any reason. If you want something more flexible, you can go for a 12-month contract, although your monthly costs will almost certainly be higher. 

On the other hand, some providers are now offering even lengthier contracts of between 30 and 36 months, but with the option to adjust your monthly allowance each month in line with your usage. 

SIM-only

If you’re buying the handset outright and looking for a SIM only deal, you should have even more options when it comes to contract length. Again, 24-month contracts will typically have the lowest monthly costs, followed by 12-month contracts.

But one of the best options, if flexibility is key for you, is to sign up to a rolling, 1-month SIM only deal. While these deals will be slightly pricier on a monthly basis, you’ll be free to switch networks whenever you choose without paying any early exit fees. Although these deals last for 1 month, you don’t have to renew every 30 days as you’ll automatically be rolled over from one month to the next until you cancel or switch.

Why are resellers cheaper than networks?

At usave, you can get mobile phone contracts directly from network providers, but we also partner with resellers Mobile Phones Direct and Mobiles.co.uk. Getting a deal through these resellers can often provide considerable savings over going direct. 

This is because resellers buy mobile phones in bulk from the networks, as well as the fact that they are online-only, meaning they can pass on their reduced overheads on to the customer.

Some customers may be concerned about going through a mobile reseller, but there’s no need to be. You will be contracted to the network provider themselves, just like you would be by going direct, and there will be no difference in the handset you receive. In fact, using resellers is a win-win situation for all parties involved - the network provider gains a customer, the reseller gets a small cut, and you get the phone and contract you wanted for cheaper.

How do I order a mobile contract?

Ordering a mobile phone contract with usave is easy. Once you’ve found the phone you want, you can then select which colour you want it in, as well as the level of storage you require. You will then be presented with a list of deals, some of them direct from a network provider, and others via a reseller. Find the deal you want, then click ‘View Deal’. You will then be transferred to the provider’s or reseller’s website to complete your purchase.

What if I change my mind after I order?

Once you’ve received your handset from your new network provider, you legally have up to 14 days in which to return it and cancel your contract should you wish to. This is known as a ‘cooling-off period’, and while 14 days is the legal minimum, some providers may give you even longer so it’s worth checking this if you’re unsure. This right to return your phone and cancel your contract is valid even if you take your device out of the packaging and use it.

However, once the initial cooling-off period has lapsed, you will officially be under contract with the new network provider, and cancelling after this point without due reason will likely incur expensive early exit fees. 

Why should I use usave.co.uk for my new mobile contract?

usave.co.uk is a completely impartial price comparison website that is dedicated to helping customers easily find the best deals on their mobile contracts. Using usave is a great way to see all the best deals available to you for any handset, from multiple providers, all in one place.

The deals you see on here will never be more expensive than going to any network provider directly, and in some cases, exclusive deals we show will even be cheaper. We also don’t have any direct partnerships with any one network provider, meaning we don’t promote certain deals over others because of increased commission - we just try to show you the best value deals that can help you to save money.

Here at usave, we strive to make sure that all of the deals we show are correct and up to date, and to do this we run off a data feed from all of the major network providers plus our reselling partners. However, instances do occur where our data feed is not updated correctly or in time, although this is rare. Therefore, we recommend that you double check any deal conditions once you’ve been redirected to the network’s website to make sure they match up to what we have advertised.

How does usave make money?

Like all price comparison websites, usave makes its money from commission whenever a customer purchases a deal via the site. However, this isn’t an added cost to you - it will be taken as a cut from the network provider themselves. 

But you may be asking, why would providers agree to pay a cut of their profits to a third party website? The main reason is that thousands, if not millions of consumers use price comparison sites to help with their purchases (according to government data, 70% of consumers have used at least one over the last 12 months). This means that sites like ours give network providers a great deal of exposure, and it helps them to gain much more customers than just those who go to them directly.

I need help - how do I contact usave?

If you have any queries about the deals you see on our website or any purchases you have made through us, don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing contact@usave.co.uk. You can ask us anything you like and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. You can also be confident that your email address will only be used for replying to you directly - we will never send your personal details on to any third party or use it for marketing purposes. 

Also, please note that usave will never contact you directly over the phone, via text, or on social media. If somebody has attempted to contact you via these methods claiming to be from usave.co.uk, please ignore them as in all likelihood it will be a scam.