SIM & Internet
Everything you need to get online in the UK when you arrive
Before you buy a SIM
Tap to open - everything you need to know about where and when to grab one.
Convert your current SIM to an eSIM before you travel (if your phone supports it). This makes it easy to use a UK SIM while keeping your existing number.
Travel eSIM apps
Want internet the moment you step off the plane? Grab a travel eSIM from any of these apps before flying — all four work in the UK.
Regional and country eSIMs, activated in-app.
Simple UK data eSIMs.
Unlimited-data eSIM plans.
Global data eSIMs from a mobile operator.
Tip: every UK airport also has free WiFi, so an eSIM is optional — but it removes the "where do I connect?" stress on day one.
Types of SIM
Tap any card to see matching providers and details — nothing hidden away in another page.
A digital SIM you activate by scanning a QR code — no plastic card.
Top up whenever you want. Pay only for what you use.
A monthly plan that keeps your existing phone. Usually a 1-month rolling contract.
A longer-term contract, sometimes bundled with a new phone.
Use your Indian SIM in the UK on a roaming pack from your Indian provider.
Best SIM-only deals right now
Filter by what actually matters to you, then tap a plan for the full allowances and a link straight to the network. No sideways scrolling on your phone.
Every deal, cheapest first · 9 plans
Plans as listed in Save the Student's SIM-only round-up (last updated August 2025) and checked against each network's own site. Prices and allowances change often — always confirm on the provider's website before you buy. Most cheap plans are new-customer only, and 12/24-month deals usually involve a credit check.
Start on a 1-month rolling plan for your first term. With WiFi in halls, on campus and in most cafés, around 5GB of mobile data is enough for many students — and because you use WhatsApp and FaceTime, you rarely need big minute bundles. You can always switch or upsize next month.
Four things to check before you commit
Straightforward checks that stop you overpaying in your first month.
If you're bringing your phone from India, SIM-only is almost always the cheapest option. Only compare pay-monthly handset contracts if you need a new phone — and compare the lifetime cost (monthly price × months) against SIM-only plus buying the phone outright.
Your phone must be unlocked to use a UK network. Phones sold in the UK since December 2021 are unlocked by law, but a phone bought earlier or on an Indian carrier plan may need unlocking — usually free from the original network.
Unlimited everything sounds good but you'll pay for allowances you don't use. With WiFi in halls, on campus and at work, roughly 5GB is enough for many students. WhatsApp, iMessage and FaceTime mean you rarely need big text or minute bundles either.
Cheaper brands 'piggyback' on one of the four real UK networks — EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone. Check the host network's coverage at your accommodation and around campus using Ofcom's free coverage checker before you sign up.
All UK SIM providers
Every major network and virtual network, listed neutrally with a link to its official site — including ones without a headline deal above, like EE and Sky Mobile.
Flexible monthly goodybags on the O2 network. Free SIM by post.
UK network with wide 4G/5G coverage. Offers all plan types.
Major UK network with rewards programme (VeryMe) and broad coverage.
Data-focused plans and Go Roam abroad options in many countries.
Nationwide network with Priority rewards for customers.
International calling plans; runs on the Vodafone network.
PAYG and monthly plans with international calling bundles.
Supermarket-backed provider on the O2 network. PAYG widely available in Tesco stores.
Vodafone-backed brand aimed at under-30s. Endless data on selected social apps.
Runs on Three. Large data allowances on 1-month rolling plans.
Runs on Three. Spend caps and data rollover on every plan.
Runs on Vodafone. Cheap monthly PAYG bundles with data add-ons.
Runs on O2. Rolls unused data into a 'piggybank' you can spend later.
Documents & requirements
Tap to expand. Only relevant when you're actually signing up.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the things students ask most.
Next up: Banking
A UK bank account is the next unlock — for rent, wages, and every direct debit that runs your life here.
Continue to Banking