How do pay as you go mobile tariffs work in 2021?

getmore4less

bigroundorange said:

Thanks very much for the replies, everyone. 

The pay as you go SIM card won't be for me (I am on a pay monthly SIM-only tariff), I am looking at buying one for a family member, to pair with a cheap as chips phone. The phone itself will mainly receive calls from other family members, including me. It may be needed now and again for unforeseen calls or to send a rare text to stop the SIM card from being disconnected. 

The above responses are very helpful, as they clarify that those "pay as you go" bundles definitely would not suit this situation. I will look further into traditional "light use" pay as you go plans (including whether any are hidden away on provider websites) and use some of the useful tariff suggestions above as reference points too - likely even choosing one of them! 

Although not the best option for this situation, my original question clearly shows I am out of touch with how pay as you go tariffs have evolved, mainly because they got too expensive to be considered a viable option and then I stopped looking into them. I think it would be useful to try to understand them though, as I am still a bit confused! 

There are numerous non-contract rolling SIM only deals out there, offered by various providers at very competitive prices if you shop around. Why may these "pay as you go" bundles be attractive options over those SIM only deals? And what benefits (if any) are there in picking one of these "pay as you go" bundles over a non-contract rolling SIM only plan? 

Thank you again!  

I would think the two top contenders are

O2 classic(ebay 20p delivered)  as that has very low costs  with that use case £10 should last ages no need to keep topping up


If you don't already have a phone for them the sky mobile  3 years £42   on that Nokia 105 might work out OK.

expensive for ~£15 phone  but for unlimited calls and text and a bit of data that piggy banks for up to 3 years might do the job


There is speculation that the contract will continue beyond 3 years at £0pm in the HUKD threads on this deal.




once your rolling PAYG costs hit ~£5  it is time to look at contact/rolling sim only

couriervanman

flashg67 said:

My experience is that once you have a smart phone and discover the benefits, PAYG often becomes uneconomical. My OH used to make £10 last for 12 months until she got a smart phone and started using it for everything - a cheap monthly bundle now works out better value with no faffing about topping up/running out of credit etc
In your case. you already know the use will be low, so a standard PAYG would work for you

They still have their uses we stayed in a holiday cottage in Yorkshire that only received 2g signal and both our iPhones on Vodafone & Three were no good in the cottage or most of village. Also on holiday's in Portugal great for using on beach without the worry of sand/sunscreen damaging expensive iPhone