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Best SIM Cards For Students In UK

November 21, 2023 4 Mins Read
Updated On: January 29, 2025
Best SIM Cards for Students In UK

Table of Contents

  • What are the types of sim card in UK?
  • Simcard sizes in UK
  • Who are the best mobile operators in the UK?
  • How much is the cost of sim card in UK for students?
  • What are the top 3 Best eSim in UK?
  • Are there affordable sim cards in the UK for International Students?
  • How to get a sim card in UK as a student ?
  • Things to consider to get the best SIM card in UK for international students:

Going to the United Kingdom for your studies can be exciting, but at the same time, you need to remember to stay connected with your friends and family. A sim card is essential for you as a student and can help you stay connected with your loved ones in the UK. This guide covers everything you need to know about SIM cards in the UK for students.

What are the types of sim card in UK?

Prepaid or PAYG: Prepaid plans are also called pay-as-you-go (PAYG), where you must top up your phone once the data or validity date has expired. You can cancel anytime, change your plans and need to be recharged with a debit/credit card. It is purchased with a phone.

Postpaid or Monthly Contracts: Monthly contracts, also called postpaid, are another type of sim card available in the UK; this is paid monthly. You need to pay a cancellation fee if you want to switch plans. It is purchased with a phone.

Sim Card Deals: Unlike postpaid and prepaid sim cards in the UK, the sim card deals sell only sim cards that can be installed in your phone.

Simcard sizes in UK

The phones come in various sizes, and SIM cards are made to fit in these phones. There are three types of physical UK sim cards, namely:

  • Standard sim card, which is the most commonly available at 15 x 25mm
  • Micro sim card, which comes in 12 x 15mm
  • Nano sim card in the UK which comes 8.8 x 12.3 mm
  • e-sim card in the UK for students, a digital sim card that can be embedded in your phone.

Who are the best mobile operators in the UK?

There are four mobile networks in the UK, such as O2, Vodafone, EE and Three.

O2: It is one of the most common types of SIM cards in the UK for international students. It offers more than just monthly bundles but contracts to save more money. You can get Airtime Rewards using the Mv O2 app and save more than 100 GBP. You get flexible plans and customize them as per your needs. Students in the UK use it as affordable, and you get a complimentary 5G, which can be used in many regions of the United Kingdom. 

Vodafone: Vodafone is one of the most reliable mobile providers in the UK. It offers a wide range of data for students. There are plans for various needs; the special one is the entertainment plan, where you get free services. Vodafone offers roaming in 48 EU countries, too. 

EE: EE is now part of BT Group, which was associated with T-Mobile and Orange. It provides the best network coverage in 99 % of the country. EE offers plans for PAYG, Monthly contracts, and SIM card Deals, which only deals with reasonable data plans. You can opt for entertainment plans that offers Apple Tv, Xbox Gaming, and many others. 

Three: Three is another mobile network that offers students affordable and best sim cards in the UK. This network provider offers good 5G covers in most of the states in the UK. You can opt for unlimited plans through PAYG, Contract, or Sim Card Deals; they come with the best package. A GOBinge feature allows you to download videos from Netflix without taking much data.

There are other mobile network providers besides the 4 top mobile providers in the UK. You can also look into them: Sky Mobile, Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile, iD Mobile, Smarty, etc.

How much is the cost of sim card in UK for students?

                         Compare Mobile Plans and Sim Card in UK 

Provider NamePlan PricesLength of the PlanFree Services
O2£10-£40 per month12-24 monthsUnlimited texts and minutes, data rollover
Vodaphone£11-£35 per month12-24 monthsUnlimited texts and minutes, data rollover
EE£10-£60 per month12-24 monthsUnlimited texts and minutes, data rollover
Three£10-£30 per month12-24 monthsUnlimited texts and minutes

What are the top 3 Best eSim in UK?

There are many eSim available in the UK, but if you want to find a whole deal of unique benefits and packages, look at some of these top eSim in the UK for students:

Holafly: It is used in 90 destinations and is easy to get and activate by scanning QR codes. You can get it by mail, and it is compatible with iOS. Their unique feature is the unlimited data plan, which doesn’t allow cellular calls.

Ubigi: The Ubigi e-Sim in the UK is available through the website or by downloading the eSIM app. For 20 years, they’ve been known for having internet connections globally. They offer one-off, monthly, annual, and 5G networks in 37 destinations.

Truephone: It can be purchased through their website or download the app. It provides coverage in 113 destinations all over the world. The packages vary in different countries; in the UK, it starts from 4GBP for 1 GB of data /day to 90GBP for a month. It is also available in many languages.

Are there affordable sim cards in the UK for International Students?

With Sim Only Plans, you can get a free sim card in  UK for students. It comes with a condition where you must have an unlocked phone from your home country. You can go to any mobile network provider and get a free sim card for your phone.

How to get a sim card in UK as a student ?

It is easy to buy a SIM card in the UK as a student; if you need a prepaid sim card in the UK, you can purchase it from any mobile store or supermarket. While getting monthly contact or post paid sim card connection in UK, you will have to submit some documents:

  • Identity Card: You can get a sim card with your student identity card
  • Address Proof: You can show your utility bills
  • Finance Proof: You can show your bank statement

Things to consider to get the best SIM card in UK for international students:

  • Cost of the SIM card
  • Size of the SIM card
  • Storage capacity of the SIM card
  • Offers 5G coverage
  • Data plans
  • Sim card generations
  • Compatible with the phone
  • Replaceable Sim card
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Explore Harvard University: A Legacy of Excellence Best 7 Free Online Courses by Harvard University Top 7 Universities as Per World University Rankings 7 Top Fast Food Restaurants in UK 7 Benefits of Studying at Nighttime for Students
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