SIM Only for International Calls: What to Check Before You Choose

If you call family abroad, the cheapest SIM only plan is not the one with the lowest monthly price. It is the one whose international minutes cover the countries you actually call, on terms you can live with. Here is what to check.

What a SIM only plan is

A SIM with data, calls and texts, and no handset. You keep the phone you already own, which is why these plans usually cost less than a contract that includes a device. For someone newly arrived in the UK, that flexibility matters.

International minutes

Not every plan includes calls abroad. Some charge per minute, some include a fixed number of international minutes, and some include unlimited calls to a list of countries. Check whether the minutes are included in the monthly price or bought as an add on, and whether they cover landlines, mobiles or both.

Which countries count

An international allowance always applies to a specific list of countries, and the list differs by provider. If you call Nigeria, India, Pakistan or Ghana, check each destination by name rather than assuming a plan marked international includes it.

Fair use limits

Unlimited rarely means unlimited. Most plans set a fair use limit on international calling, and some reduce the allowance after a promotional period. The limit is in the provider terms, not usually on the headline.

Roaming is not international calling

Roaming is using your UK SIM while you are abroad. International calling is calling abroad from the UK. They are priced separately, and a plan generous with one may charge heavily for the other. Decide which one you need, or both.

Data, term and price

• Data. Most people buy more than they use. Your current bill or your phone settings will tell you what you actually get through in a month.
• Contract length. Rolling or one month plans usually give you more flexibility, while 12 month contracts keep you committed for longer and may be priced differently.
• Monthly price. Some plans include a stated price increase during the term. Check the starting price and any future price shown before you commit.
• Promotional periods. An introductory price can end after a few months. Note what the plan costs afterwards.

Providers

EE, O2, Vodafone and Three run the four UK networks. Smaller providers run on them, and some, such as Lebara and Lycamobile, build their plans around international calling. Wisemium lists SIM plans from a number of providers, including giffgaff and WorldSIM, and shows data, monthly price and contract length for each. It does not yet compare international-call inclusions, so for the countries you call, check the provider terms directly before you choose.