Please advise me how to use EE & another Esim provider the best way possible on the same phone

FrankFalcon

Hi all

Firstly, please allow me to say that I am not being lazy and asking you guys to do the work for me. I am aware of the popular sites that do SIM only deals and I am aware of the site that does deals that are hot. I am looking for exact advice taking into account my unique circumstances. Here's hoping you can help me, given my UNIQUE circumstances. I'm certain that there will be peeps here who know 'hints, tips and hacks' better than me.

So, I own my own iPhone 17 Pro and have been on SIM only contracts for 10 years with previous iPhones.

Here goes…I don't want to go with O2 because they are my wifes provider and we spend a lot of time together in remote areas of the country (camping), so we want different networks to maximise our signals for emergencies.

I am currently with Vodafone and am paying £15pm for unlimited minutes and texts. My last 12 months data usage has been between 10gb and 20gb. Today, Vodafone told me that they are putting my bill up by a big amount. Taking into account that Vodafone has not been the best provider/signal I have ever had I will probably leave them ASAP. So, what I am looking for is this:

1: A 12 Month SIM only deal that has Unlimited Mins, Unlimited Texts, at least 30gb of Data per month and preferably free roaming (if that's possible)? As cheap as poss.

2: An Esim (for the same phone) that I will be using VERY, VERY occasionally (for backup when we're in Countryside)…I guess I'll use the Esim probably not even use a couple of times a week…if that. Obviously, I don't want the ESIM to be on O2 because the wife is on O2 and I don't want it on a network that piggy backs onto my new contract.

When we went camping in France last year we took a 2nd phone with us with a Lebara SIM that costs less than £2. That would suit me this time but Lebara don't do Esims for my iPhone.

I apologise that I am among this more confusing than it should be…I'll try and simplify what I want for 2 SIM only deals.

1. Main phone SIM for this iPhone 17 Pro. (Preferably) EE SIM only. Unlimited Mins, Texts and at least 30GB data for as cheap as possible.
2. Esim for this iPhone 17 Pro (prefer not O2 because the wife is on O2) that will be used hardly ever (when there's no signal on the main one above) Naturally, I don't want this Esim to be the same as SIM above or O2. For very cheap.

If Lebara did ESIMS then I'd go for 12 month Sim Only on EE (as my main line) and an Esim on Lebara but as I said, Lebara don't do Esims for this iPhone 17 Pro.

Sorry to make it such a long post guys. I'm hoping somebody with more knowledge than me will suggest a method that is relatively cheap.

Thanks in advance…If you are still awake.

flaneurs_lobster

Who's your broadband supplier, sometimes there are deals to be had with them?

There are no cheap deals that I know of that have EE directly as your network supplier, looking at the MVNOs that use EE then the one I'd choose would be 1p Mobile on a rolling 30-day PAYG deal that has 50GB of data/unlimited calls/texts and EU roaming for £10/month. eSIM or physical SIM.

https://1pmobile.com/siminfo?prodid=SB50

You don't want O2 for your second SIM and Vodafone/Three have merged so the network picks itself.

For low usage it used to be easy to find a straight PAYG, now not so much. Go to the MSE Cheap Mobile finder and just select Vodafone/Three and see who's doing deals.

Don't worry about having a physical SIM as your 'main' number, eSIMs work just as well.

Troytempest

If you do need an ESIM you could look at ROAMLESS.

You can set up a global ESIM on PAYG. It never expires and you can easily flip between physical sim and the ESIM.

tinker411

Here's a selection:

1. 1p Mobile (runs on EE) - 50GB data per month, unlimited calls and texts, £10 a month, 30 day term.
2. I would've said iD Mobile payg here but it could be a little long winded for the usage plan given in the OP, so if not fussed about the number here Lebara (runs on Vodafone/Three) is probably the way to go.

eSIMs and physical sims available for both (Lebara claim iPhone Air only, but as I understand it that's not entirely true).

FrankFalcon

Wow! I never took this lot into account. I knew you’d come up with goods.

jimjames

Use the eSIM for your main number and Lebara for the backup. There isn't any rule that says which way round. You can have a fixed contract or PAYG if not using often and top up when needed.