A good alternative to Giffgaff PAYG?

shiraz99

I'm a very low mobile user, the odd voice call and texts and will search out free wifi rather than use mobile data so Giffgaff PAYG suits me fine as my credit will just rollover and get used as an when. Occasionally I'll buy a monthly data plan if I'm going to be away from home for any period.

Unfortunately the O2 coverage is pretty dire at my new address so I'm looking for a good and cheap alternative with similar services. EE is quite strong, followed by Three, I've not tried Vodafone. I did get a 1pmobile SIM which uses the EE network but just noticed that you have to buy new credit every 60 days and any leftover will  automatically be taken toward that, which isn't what I want. Any recommendations?

jbrassy

Talk Home uses the EE network. They offer a 1 month rolling contract for £3.15 a month which includes unlimited mins and texts and 5gb of data. They also allow you to roam for free in the EU. Ideal for low users like yourself.

https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/offer/mse/290?utm_source=aw&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=157118&awc=49827_1741356271_e461d30b305d21858a4098d9126168b5

flaneurs_lobster

jbrassy said:

Talk Home uses the EE network. They offer a 1 month rolling contract for £3.15 a month which includes unlimited mins and texts and 5gb of data. They also allow you to roam for free in the EU. Ideal for low users like yourself.

https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/offer/mse/290?utm_source=aw&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=157118&awc=49827_1741356271_e461d30b305d21858a4098d9126168b5

Good price but TalkHome does not support VoLTE or Wi-Fi calling so all voice calls are via 2G (unlike 1p). 

Monthly rolling so will only cost £3.15 and a bit to see if this is OK.

shiraz99

flaneurs_lobster said:

jbrassy said:

Talk Home uses the EE network. They offer a 1 month rolling contract for £3.15 a month which includes unlimited mins and texts and 5gb of data. They also allow you to roam for free in the EU. Ideal for low users like yourself.

https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/offer/mse/290?utm_source=aw&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=157118&awc=49827_1741356271_e461d30b305d21858a4098d9126168b5

Good price but TalkHome does not support VoLTE or Wi-Fi calling so all voice calls are via 2G (unlike 1p). 

Monthly rolling so will only cost £3.15 and a bit to see if this is OK.

Still not true PAYG though. As mentioned I don't want any type of rolling SIM, just looking for a traditional top up PAYG.

flaneurs_lobster

Three will send you a free PAYG SIM, min top-up £10, 35/15/10p for call/SMS/MB. Must make chargeable event every 180 days to keep alive.

EE will sell you a £10 monthly SIM that can be converted to PAYG by turning off auto updates. 40p/20p calls/SMS.

If I've read the T&C right, data is only available if purchased as an add-on?

jbrassy

shiraz99 said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

jbrassy said:

Talk Home uses the EE network. They offer a 1 month rolling contract for £3.15 a month which includes unlimited mins and texts and 5gb of data. They also allow you to roam for free in the EU. Ideal for low users like yourself.

https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/offer/mse/290?utm_source=aw&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=157118&awc=49827_1741356271_e461d30b305d21858a4098d9126168b5

Good price but TalkHome does not support VoLTE or Wi-Fi calling so all voice calls are via 2G (unlike 1p). 

Monthly rolling so will only cost £3.15 and a bit to see if this is OK.

Still not true PAYG though. As mentioned I don't want any type of rolling SIM, just looking for a traditional top up PAYG.

I think there are very few "true" PAYG options these days. Most providers offer one month rolling contracts or PAYG which you need to top up every month.

£3.15 a month works out at £37.80 a year which is not that much. Also, since it has unlimited calls, you can save money by using that and ditching your landline (if you have one).

shiraz99

I've decided to go for someone on the EE network  and erring toward Talk Home (although disappointed that they don't do wifi calling). How does Talk Home compare, for example, with Lycamobile?

savergrant

shiraz99 said:

I've decided to go for someone on the EE network  and erring toward Talk Home (although disappointed that they don't do wifi calling). How does Talk Home compare, for example, with Lycamobile?

There have been many horror stories about lyca, talk home less so.
If you are a really low user it is worth considering RWG, 5ppm/5p per text and one chargeable event every 90 days to keep active. You can order a sim for £1.
Not perfect but the cheapest deal.for low users.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/order-a-sim/

shiraz99

savergrant said:

shiraz99 said:

I've decided to go for someone on the EE network  and erring toward Talk Home (although disappointed that they don't do wifi calling). How does Talk Home compare, for example, with Lycamobile?

There have been many horror stories about lyca, talk home less so.
If you are a really low user it is worth considering RWG, 5ppm/5p per text and one chargeable event every 90 days to keep active. You can order a sim for £1.
Not perfect but the cheapest deal.for low users.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/order-a-sim/

I was looking at RWG but when I went on their site it says they are powered by the Three network, rather than EE.

savergrant

shiraz99 said:

savergrant said:

shiraz99 said:

I've decided to go for someone on the EE network  and erring toward Talk Home (although disappointed that they don't do wifi calling). How does Talk Home compare, for example, with Lycamobile?

There have been many horror stories about lyca, talk home less so.
If you are a really low user it is worth considering RWG, 5ppm/5p per text and one chargeable event every 90 days to keep active. You can order a sim for £1.
Not perfect but the cheapest deal.for low users.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/order-a-sim/

I was looking at RWG but when I went on their site it says they are powered by the Three network, rather than EE.

Some of their packages are run through three, but the majority (including the basic payg) are run through nowmobile on ee.

Racxie

savergrant said:

shiraz99 said:

I've decided to go for someone on the EE network  and erring toward Talk Home (although disappointed that they don't do wifi calling). How does Talk Home compare, for example, with Lycamobile?

There have been many horror stories about lyca, talk home less so.
If you are a really low user it is worth considering RWG, 5ppm/5p per text and one chargeable event every 90 days to keep active. You can order a sim for £1.
Not perfect but the cheapest deal.for low users.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/order-a-sim/

I’m honestly in the same boat as OP and am having the same difficulty in finding a decent true PAYG SIM (seems like every provider these days wants that consistent subscription money coming in like every other industry).

I ended up ordering a RWG SIM on Sunday which said it should be sent out the following working day (Monday) but still nothing and not even had a confirmation that it’s been posted.

I had briefly found a couple of old MSE forums saying that the customer service isn’t great and they’re a bit slow but thought I’ll make do, however I’ve only just properly read through some of the recent TrustPilot reviews and it’s really not looking good. Doesn’t help that my Lebara contract just expired on Monday too so doubt I can pick up their latest offer for a few months either.

Edit: My RWG SIM had arrived yesterday or just today after all! But no one told me. Might give it a go after all before risking porting my number over.