How our prices compare with buying direct
We show the network's own published SIM only price next to ours so you can compare starting monthly prices.
Every deal card that has a like-for-like equivalent shows what the network charges for the same allowance directly, and what you save over the term. Here is exactly how that comparison is built.
Key takeaways
- We compare SIM only prices on the same network, allowance and term.
- Plans bundled with entertainment extras are excluded from the comparison.
- Savings use starting monthly prices; term estimates exclude annual increases.
- Business prices are displayed ex VAT first, with inc VAT alongside.
Every deal card that has a like-for-like equivalent shows what the network charges for the same allowance directly, and what you save over the term. Here is exactly how that comparison is built.
Key takeaways
- We compare SIM only prices on the same network, allowance and term.
- Plans bundled with entertainment extras are excluded from the comparison.
- Savings use starting monthly prices; term estimates exclude annual increases.
- Business prices are shown ex VAT first, with inc VAT alongside.
What we compare
The comparison uses the networks' own published SIM only prices for the same data allowance and term. Plans that come bundled with entertainment subscriptions or other extras are deliberately left out — those extras have value, but they make a price comparison meaningless.
Where there is no reasonable like-for-like equivalent, the card simply shows our price with no saving claimed.
How the saving is worked out
We take the difference between the direct price and our price for the same allowance, then multiply it by the contract length: 24 months on a fixed term, or 12 months for a rolling monthly plan so the figure represents an annual saving.
The shared direct-price catalogue stores VAT-inclusive prices at 20%. Displayed business comparisons convert both sides consistently to ex VAT, with VAT-inclusive amounts alongside.
What the saving doesn't include
The saving is based on starting prices. Both our price and the direct price are subject to annual increases, which may differ, so the comparison holds at the point of sale rather than being a guarantee of the exact cash difference in month twenty-three.
Direct prices change frequently. We refresh the reference prices we hold and always show the network's price alongside ours so you can check it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Why do some deals not show a saving?
Because there is no comparable published SIM only plan on that network for the same allowance and term, or the closest equivalent includes entertainment extras.
Are the compared prices including VAT?
Business prices are shown excluding VAT first, with VAT-inclusive amounts alongside. Direct reference prices are stored including VAT at 20%.
Do savings hold for the whole contract?
The saving reflects starting prices. Both plans are subject to the usual annual increase, so treat the total as an indication over the term rather than a fixed guarantee.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Why do some deals not show a saving?
Because there is no comparable published SIM only plan on that network for the same allowance and term, or the closest equivalent includes entertainment extras.
Are the compared prices including VAT?
Business headline prices are shown excluding VAT first, with VAT-inclusive amounts alongside. The shared direct-price catalogue stores VAT-inclusive reference amounts at 20%.
Do savings hold for the whole contract?
The saving reflects starting prices. Both plans are subject to the usual annual increase, so treat the total as an indication over the term rather than a fixed guarantee.
Deals mentioned in this guide
Prices are shown ex VAT first, with inc VAT alongside, and show the saving against the network’s own published price where a like-for-like plan exists.
O2 Unlimited
Unlimited streaming and tethering
£15/month inc VAT
Price per user. Starting price — rises by £1.50 each April during the contract
Compared against O2 direct, you save £192 over the 24 month term at starting prices
That’s £8/month less than their £23 price for the same allowance. Annual increases are excluded from this estimate.
Unlimited
Data
24 months
Contract
Vodafone Unlimited
Unlimited streaming and tethering
£17/month inc VAT
Price per user. Starting price — rises by £1.50 each April during the contract
Compared against Vodafone direct, you save £215.76 over the 24 month term at starting prices
That’s £8.99/month less than their £25.99 price for the same allowance. Annual increases are excluded from this estimate.
Unlimited
Data
24 months
Contract