7 Reasons Why SIM Only Deals Are Growing in Popularity 

SIM only deals used to be a novelty, but now an increasing number of people are considering the option. According to data from YouGov, only 5% of mobile phone consumers had a SIM only deal in 2010. This number jumped to 27% in 2017. By the same time, the number of people who had long term fixed deals dropped from 80% to 67%. SIM only deals have eclipsed pay-as-you-go options and it’s easy to understand why when you see all the benefits they have to offer. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why SIM only deals are growing in popularity. 

People Tend to Hold On to their Mobiles Longer 

UK shoppers are getting savvy and are growing wiser to the tricks major manufacturers use to lure them into buying overpriced new models. As a result, more people than ever are keeping their old handsets instead of getting locked into multi-year deals just so they can get a brand new phone.  

In 2010, it was estimated that 38% of people had a handset they owned for six months or under. This number dropped by 10% by 2015. Over the same time, the proportion of people who owned their handset for over 18 months went from 14% to 23%.  

There’s also the fact that smartphones have lost a lot of their novelty over the years. They aren’t the hot new thing anymore, and there’s a perceived lack of innovation. Then there’s the advent of budget phones. Most manufacturers these days have models that can rival flagship models in terms of performance, but use cheaper components. This means that network providers have a harder time locking people into long term deals when they can have a great phone on the cheap and the freedom a SIM only deal offers. 

You Can Upgrade More Easily 

SIM only deals do, however, make it easier to get a brand new phone if that’s what you want. You don’t have to be stuck with an outdated phone, or one you regret buying. You are free to sell your phone or do whatever you want with it, and you won’t be limited to certain models either.  

Another thing you can do on a SIM only plan is get yourself a refurbished unit and save even more. Some refurbished models have only minor imperfections that are impossible to see with the naked eye and you could get a very powerful phone for a fraction of the price. 

We’ve all had handsets lying around because we switched to a new provider and couldn’t get enough for it on the after-market or from recyclers. This doesn’t have to be an issue when you use a SIM only provider. 

Affordability and Flexibility 

The best thing about SIM only deals, and one of the reasons why they’re so popular these days, is that they’re affordable and flexible. Services like Lebara have some of the best SIM only deals and accommodate virtually any type of user. If you want to learn more about and compare SIM only deals, you can compare their SIM plans at lebara.co.uk. They have deals starting at just £5 that will give you 2GB of data, 1000 UK minutes and 1000 UK texts, and unlimited data and minute deals for £35. You can opt-in and out of any deal at any time free of charge. 

This is what attracts so many people to these plans. Not only that, but these deals allow you to do everything you would with any other service. They offer things like tethering and free international minutes to a whole host of countries. So, there’s little incentive for people to commit for so long when they can get a comparable deal and switch at will. 

Then there’s the fact that your needs may change very quickly. People who go from remote working to office work might not need as much data, for instance. With a SIM only deal, the switch can be done in minutes free of charge. 

Easily Accessible 

Another thing that makes SIM only plans so convenient is how accessible they are. Anyone can go in and get a SIM only deal as long as they have the money. This means that there will be no credit check. Lots of people unfortunately don’t have the credit necessary to get a phone, but still need to have one. For them, this might be the only option. 

More Decision Power 

Another reason why so many people love SIM only deals so much is because they give them the chance to shop around. You can go with one supplier one day, another one the other, and back to the first one the next if you want to. You don’t need to be tied to a supplier, and there will usually be no fees to change.  

They Can be Multi-Purpose 

Another point in favour of SIM only deals is that they could be a great option for people who need to have two separate phones; people who have a home office or those who want to keep their personal and work phones separated, for example. You can get a dual-sim phone that will allow you to switch between both easily. 

No Bill Shock 

Another thing that people complain about with fixed long term deals is excessive fees. And, even while more providers are trying to reduce those, they are still an issue and one that can make a big difference to your budget. 

The worst is when these are by error, like when you enable automatic updates or forget that you aren’t connected to WIFI. These can ramp up your bills to ridiculous amounts, enough for some people to cancel their deals. 

Most SIM only deals will have a cap on the amount of minutes/data you consume which will prevent you from going overboard. This could be what makes the biggest difference to some.  

Is there Anybody for Whom SIM Only Deals Wouldn’t Work? 

While SIM only deals can be great for some, if not most people, they aren’t perfect. It also greatly depends on the type of SIM only deal you pick and the provider. 

For one, it’s very important that you don’t pick one that has terms that are too restrictive. This is why it’s always recommended that you go for a 30-day deal instead of a 12-month deal. It’s also important to know how and if you can get out of the deal and if there are any penalties for doing so. 

Then there are those who’d rather have a brand new top of the line phone. In this case, it might make more sense for them to look around and see if they can get a deal on the phone they want. They still run the risk of being outdated at some point in time, however.  

Also, while SIM only deals are usually a great choice for people who have their own handset, it might be a hassle to switch from your old provider if you are on a fixed deal. You might have to unlock your phone, which will cost you extra. 

Conclusion 

As you can see, there are tons of reasons why SIM only deals seem to be a great option. If you are on the market for a new deal or just bought a new phone and are contemplating your options, we strongly suggest you give SIM only deals a closer look.