Buying extra data from a third party source

soolin

I'm not techie and this is probably a really daft question and I don't know even how to phrase it, so please stick with me.

Short version of story (longer story at end)

I am likely to run out of my included data at some point and wondered if there was a way of buying extra on a one off basis as needed. I am with Vodafone and if I want to buy extra data as a one off from them it is £10.45 for 1Gb and £15.65 for 2 GB. 

I know if I  go abroad I can use a site like Saily to buy extra data and wonder if I can do something similar (easily) in the UK?

Long version of story

I recently changed my Vodafone data plan as I was at the end of my contract, I had been paying about £25 for 25gb data and was using around 2GB a month on average. When I came to change the sales man said I was paying for too much data, the most I'd ever used (and that was when my internet at home went down and I had to tether my phone) was around 6GB - my average being 2-3 GB a month. So I took out a new plan at 10GB a month.

Literally the day it changed my data started being eaten up - it's the same phone, I changed nothing _ I haven't tethered my phone, I don't stream anything, and use wi fi whenever I can. The first month on my new plan I used 9.5 GB in 3 weeks and basically turned it onto airplane mode just to stop me going over my allowance.

I've tried looking online to see if I can change anything in my settings, I've even been to the Vodafone shop and they showed me how to check my usage but said everything looks fine. My husband has an identical phone on an identical plan and mine currently shows 8.1 GB left (after a week with phone being turned off a lot) and his shows 9.8Gb left and we used his with Waze on some recent journeys. last night for instance it looks like my home internet went down - and my phone, unused lost 0.4gb of data . 

If I could find a way of buying extra data when I run out rather than upgrade my data plan at some massive cost per month it would stop me stressing about running up bills.

DullGreyGuy

soolin said:

I'm not techie and this is probably a really daft question and I don't know even how to phrase it, so please stick with me.

Short version of story (longer story at end)

I am likely to run out of my included data at some point and wondered if there was a way of buying extra on a one off basis as needed. I am with Vodafone and if I want to buy extra data as a one off from them it is £10.45 for 1Gb and £15.65 for 2 GB. 

I know if I  go abroad I can use a site like Saily to buy extra data and wonder if I can do something similar (easily) in the UK?

Saily installs an eSim on your phone and you buy data onto that eSim

You can do the same in the UK but can use normal network providers, just add a PAYG eSim and either buy a 1 month package or just add credit. 

For example you could use an ID Mobile eSim and get 40GB of data for £7 and just remember to cancel it before it renews. If you'd rather avoid the Three network, which some complain about coverage, then I am sure others have a simple eSim activation process and similar deals (esp if you go with a MVNO rather than traditional carrier)

soolin

DullGreyGuy said:

soolin said:

I'm not techie and this is probably a really daft question and I don't know even how to phrase it, so please stick with me.

Short version of story (longer story at end)

I am likely to run out of my included data at some point and wondered if there was a way of buying extra on a one off basis as needed. I am with Vodafone and if I want to buy extra data as a one off from them it is £10.45 for 1Gb and £15.65 for 2 GB. 

I know if I  go abroad I can use a site like Saily to buy extra data and wonder if I can do something similar (easily) in the UK?

Saily installs an eSim on your phone and you buy data onto that eSim

You can do the same in the UK but can use normal network providers, just add a PAYG eSim and either buy a 1 month package or just add credit. 

For example you could use an ID Mobile eSim and get 40GB of data for £7 and just remember to cancel it before it renews. If you'd rather avoid the Three network, which some complain about coverage, then I am sure others have a simple eSim activation process and similar deals (esp if you go with a MVNO rather than traditional carrier)

That would give me a different number though wouldn’t it? Or can I add an e sim and use my phone as normal but the sim for data if I use the internet ? sorry , I did warn you I’m not techie.

I have an iPhone 14 if that makes a difference. 

teaselMay

It sounds as though what you need to do is figure out what's eating data. 

If it's an android phone click on mobile network, and then app data usage and it will show you which apps are using data. If that doesn't work search in settings for data and find something that does the same.

Edit just seen it's an iphone. Settings and then mobile will take you to something similar I think

molerat

On an iphone Settings / cellular should show how much data is being used by each app. It sounds as if you are using data in preference to wifi.  In answer to the original question though, no you cannot buy third party data to use with your vodafone account / number.

flaneurs_lobster

molerat said:

On an iphone Settings / cellular should show how much data is being used by each app.  In answer to the original question though, no you cannot buy third party data to use with your vodafone account / number.

...but you can use a second SIM (e- or otherwise) for mobile data while using your Vodafone SIM just for calls/SMS.

But as others say, try and find that data sink first.

Frozen_up_north

Turn on “low data mode”, it is found under settings, mobile service, mobile data options, data mode.

Low data mode stops app and system updates using mobile data, only uses WiFi

sdduk

OP If your phone has dual sim then why not buy a Lebara sim you can leave anytime that's if you Voda signal is ok because Lebara runs off of Vodafone.
Have a look at the link and scroll down all different prices....you can get a sim from £1mth for 7mths and by the time it runs out just buy another one if needed.
https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/get-100gb-lebara-5g-data-100-international-minutes-for-ps110pm-for-7-months-ps1190-after-get-50gb-for-ps1-for-8-months-then-ps990-4595560

Update: i Ment also to say use the Lebara sim Just has data which you wanted extra, don't need to use it for phone calls/text if you don't want to.

soolin

Thank you everyone, I’ve put low data mode on and will read through the other replies as well.