Best pay monthly phone contract deals

Pay Monthly Phone Deals

Check out the best monthly phone deals from leading networks, including O2, Vodafone, Three and more. Compare offers today!

What are the benefits of choosing a pay monthly phone deal?

Monthly phone deals are a great way to get the best handsets and tariffs, as you can spread the cost over 12, 24 or 36 months. In this contract, you get everything you need from your phone, including call minutes, text allowance and data – all on your chosen network. Compared to other phone deals, there are numerous benefits of choosing a pay monthly mobile. So let’s take a look at why it’s a great choice.

Affordable handsets

When you’re searching for the latest devices, paying outright is expensive. That’s where pay monthly phone deals come in. By paying in instalments, you can access a range of up-to-date handsets without forking out for it all in one go. There’s also the option of choosing older phones and saving even more monthly on these contracts.

Upgrade regularly

Mobile phone brands constantly bring out the next big thing in mobile technology. So, it’s natural to want to get the latest devices when they hit the market. Fortunately, with the pay monthly contract, you have the option to upgrade more regularly with a choice of contract terms. Typically phone agreements last 24 months. But you can choose between 12 and 36 months too, depending on your budget. Having this flexibility means you can take advantage of great devices and update your phone to suit you with the best monthly phone deals.

Flexible data allowance

Contract phones typically have great deals on calls, texts and, ultimately, data. While there’s Wi-Fi around, data is often something we need, but we never know how much of it exactly. With a monthly phone deal, there’s flexibility on how much data comes in your package. In most cases, as you’re paying for a more expensive device, network providers often give better data allowance offers than SIM-only contracts. You may even have the opportunity to switch tariffs if you find it doesn’t suit your needs.

Additional benefits

We all love a freebie, and if you choose a monthly phone deal, there’s usually something extra on offer to help make the decision easier. These offers are typically exclusive to pay monthly customers so you won’t find them on other offers such as SIM-only contracts. For example, with O2, you get O2 Priority, which provides first dibs on event tickets and discounts on eating out, entertainment and gigs.

Ability to trade in your handset

Once your contract ends, you will have a mobile phone you’ve paid for outright. So what can you do with it? If you’re upgrading, then why not use this old one as money towards your new device? If you previously had the latest Apple or Samsung handset, then chances are it’ll still be worth a reasonable amount of money. It’s easy to trade in your phone or sell it via a third party. Just search online for resale sites.

Which networks and providers offer the best monthly phone deals?

You’re in luck, as there are numerous providers offering the best monthly phone deals at affordable prices. Some companies only have SIM-only or 30-day rolling contracts without a handset. However, you’ll still find plenty that give you great deals on top devices and tariffs.

When looking for a new monthly phone deal, it’s worth noting that there are several providers. But, there are only four primary networks that give you coverage. The providers use these networks to provide the best deals. So, if you’re looking for thorough coverage, don’t forget to check out who also piggybacks onto the main ones for more choice.

Check out the providers below to see what’s on offer:

O2

As one of the four primary networks, you get great 4G coverage and an expanding 5G network. You also have a choice of nearly any mobile device you can think of. In addition, O2 have numerous pay monthly deals available, including flexibility with data allowances and upfront costs. There are also other monthly contracts, such as SIM-only and data-only deals.

Vodafone

Another one of the leading networks, Vodafone, provides numerous pay monthly phone deals and a choice of handsets. Coverage is great too, with 5G being expanded across the country. Operating its own network means it has access to fantastic monthly plans and offers suited to all budgets.

EE

EE operates its own network and has some of the best 4G coverage in the UK. Like others, there are various deals and offers on top brands such as Apple, Samsung, Sony and Motorola. This network also provides other contracts including SIM-only and rolling 30-day options.

Three

You can get most phones and various affordable tariffs from Three, as this is one of the four main networks. Another selling point for this provider is its unlimited data contracts. However, these are more expensive but great if you use a lot of data.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile operates on the EE network and gets excellent coverage from this arrangement. In addition, you’ll find a host of pay monthly phones with great deals on tariffs. Plus, there’s a choice of top devices from Apple, Samsung, Nokia and Oppo, and many more.

Tesco Mobile

Much like other providers, Tesco Mobile has numerous mobile contracts to choose from. They run off the O2 network, so again, you’ll get a good signal. There’s also the bonus that Tesco Clubcard customers can earn points on their bill and can use vouchers against monthly charges.

Sky Mobile

While Sky Mobile doesn’t quite provide the same level of deals as other companies, there are some benefits particularly if you’re a Sky customer such as double data. This provider also runs off O2, so there’s ample coverage.

BT Mobile

With BT Mobile, you only get a few monthly contracts with handsets, but Apple and Samsung are among these monthly phone deals. This provider owns the EE network, so it naturally uses this for great coverage.

ASDA Mobile

You might be surprised at how many great deals are available on ASDA Mobile. Pay monthly contracts with the latest handsets are available from Apple, Samsung, Motorola and many more. In addition, you’ll find rolling bundles and SIM-only offers. ASDA Mobile runs off the EE network, so it provides an excellent level of UK coverage.

giffgaff

Operating on the O2 network makes giffgaff a great option for affordable deals with fantastic network coverage. Of course, it’s well known for its SIM-only offers. But you will also find monthly contracts that include the latest devices.

iD Mobile

This brand originated from the Carphone Warehouse but now provides pay monthly phone deals as a standalone company. There are various top handset brands available and great deals. Plus, operating on the Three network also gives you great coverage.

What to consider when choosing your next mobile phone

You may have your favourite or you could be entirely new to picking a mobile phone. Whatever park you sit in, selecting the right one can be confusing, especially with many great deals around. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated – it’s just a case of picking a handset that fits your lifestyle best.
Below, we take a look at some of the factors to consider:

Operating system

One of the easiest ways to determine this is whether you’re an avid Mac user or a PC fan. This is because the operating systems are either iOS (Apple phones) or Android (most other phones), and it often comes down to which you prefer to use – much like a computer.

Screen size

Screens have been getting bigger and bigger in recent years. Deciding how big you need it can help you pick a suitable device. Larger screens are often easier to navigate especially if you use a lot of apps. But big phones can also be heavy to carry around, which is less convenient.

Camera

Whether you’re snapping pics for Instagram or filming the latest TikTok trend, camera quality matters. This factor is typically an important feature for phone users, and fortunately, there is a lot of choice from brands, including Apple, Samsung and Google.

Price

Pay monthly phone deals vary in price – this is usually down to what handset you choose. The latest devices, such as iPhones, are more expensive, so deals will be more expensive. When considering this, give yourself a budget and stick to it. Consider how much you really need from your tariff, and take a look at your average data usage on your last contract. That way, you won’t go for a data plan that you won’t utilise fully.

Battery life

Modern phones take up a lot of battery life, with operating systems and apps running in the background. With that in mind, choosing a phone that has enough juice for at least 10-12 hours will ensure you have plenty during daytime hours.

Storage space

We’ve all had the dreaded ‘out of storage’ message. But instead of having to delete a ton of pictures or apps to make space, opt for better storage space on your next pay monthly deal. Most phones have a minimum of 32GB nowadays, but if you need more, check out the offers available. Of course, you’ll pay more for extra storage, or there’s also the option of cloud storage for most providers to top it up.

Available networks

Some providers and networks don’t have all the latest phones available. For more choices, look at the four leading networks which typically stock most phone brands. If you’re looking for the best coverage, these will also provide around 96-99% of 4G UK coverage.

What other mobile deals are available?

There are several other deals on the market that could be suitable for your needs. For example, rolling 30-day SIM-only and 12-month SIM-only contracts allow greater flexibility if you want to spread costs over monthly instalments. There’s also the option of tablets on monthly contracts.

If you’re looking for a cheaper option, pay-as-you-go SIMs and phones are still available (although they’re slowly phasing out). There are also data-only SIMs for phones and tablets.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pay monthly phone deal?

A pay monthly phone deal is an agreement where you pay monthly instalments to purchase a mobile device outright over 12, 24, or 36 months. It is also accompanied by a monthly tariff covering the cost of calls, texts and data allowances.

This is a credit agreement, as the network provider provides the initial credit to cover the cost of the mobile handset. You will need a credit check to get a monthly contract – similar to applying for a loan or credit card.

There are two main types of monthly mobile deals:

Pay monthly (device and tariff offers)

This contract includes a handset and tariff and is paid over agreed monthly instalments.

SIM-only monthly deals

This contract covers a tariff only and is ideal for anyone with a mobile they don’t want to upgrade.

Can you pay for just a phone monthly?

You can pay for a phone monthly, but not through a network provider. These are available from retailers, and you purchase the phone via a consumer credit agreement. Like a monthly phone contract, this is payable monthly, and a credit check is required.

Can I get an iPhone and pay monthly?

Yes. There are numerous network providers that have the best monthly phone deals on the latest iPhones. You can also choose slightly older models at cheaper monthly costs.

Can I get a phone contract with no credit?

If you take out a contract phone, a credit check is required. Unfortunately, if you have a low score, there’s less chance of securing these deals.

What pay monthly phone deal is the best value?

This differs for everyone. It depends on a number of personal factors and what you want out of your phone contract. Perhaps you need a lot of data or have your sights set on the latest handset. Whatever suits your budget and requirements will be the best monthly phone deal for you.

What’s the cheapest contract phone?

You can search for the cheapest pay monthly phone deals by filtering by price results. However, the cheapest deals don’t always mean the best value for money. The cheap offers may look appealing, but the deal may not suit your needs if they don’t have suitable calls, minutes, data or handsets available.

What is the difference between a monthly contract and a SIM-only contract?

A monthly contract phone comes with a handset. In comparison, a SIM-only contract provides a SIM with minutes, texts and data, which you can use in an existing device.

Can I end a pay monthly deal early?

Yes. You can terminate your monthly contract early. However, you will need to pay for the remainder of the device to end the contract. This could be costly – depending on how many months you have left in your agreement.

Can I sign up for a 12-month mobile contract?

Most providers offer flexibility when it comes to choosing your contract terms. Typically agreements last 24 or 36 months, but there is the option of 12-month contracts to upgrade more regularly. These deals are typically more expensive depending on the handset cost because you are paying this over a shorter period of time.