5G SIM Only Deals: Compare Our Best Contracts 2025

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What is a 5G SIM?

5G is the latest generation of cellular technology. In simpler terms, the wireless network powers your phone's internet when you're out and about and not connected to Wi-Fi. 5G was preceded by 3G (which introduced the dawn of the smartphone) and 4G (which took mobile speeds to new limits). 4G ushered in the smooth online mobile experience most of us are now used to, but 5G takes it to a new level with ultrafast download speeds and buffer-free streaming in full HD and (sometimes) 4K.

With 5G now widely available, it’s a great time to upgrade if you haven’t already. However, if you’re still using an older 4G device, there are a few updates you’ll need to make. By now, you probably know that you’ll need a 5G-capable phone and a 5G plan to access the network. Fortunately, these steps are easy since most plans now include 5G as standard, and many smartphones are 5G-compatible. But do you also need a new 5G SIM card?

To use 5G, you need a 5G SIM, a 5G-compatible phone, and a 5G-connected area. Most major UK mobile phone networks have now switched their 5G services on throughout the UK.

Which networks offer 5G SIM cards?

Can I get a 5G SIM card with unlimited data?

One way to ensure you never run out of data on 5G is to get a deal that offers unlimited data, and thankfully, there are unlimited 5G data deals from Vodafone, Three, and more.

However, these deals tend to be more expensive than limited options. So it's good to use a mobile data calculator to figure out how much data you usually use and, therefore, what budget you can stick to.

What's the cheapest 5G SIM plan?

There's a wide range of cheap 5G SIM only deals to choose from.

Remember that if you use 5G to stream and download, you might end up using a lot of data quite quickly. And charges for going over your data cap can sometimes be expensive.

So it's worth looking out for a deal with enough mobile data to suit your needs.

5G SIM only deals pros and cons

Pros

Speed
5G offers speeds up to 20 Gbps, far surpassing 4G, depending on proximity to towers and the device technology.
Low latency
5G lowers latency compared to 4G, reducing it from 60-98 ms to under 5 ms, with a target of under 2 ms. This drastically reduces lag in real-time conversations so you can enjoy a smooth call with your friends and family.
Capacity
Private 5G eliminates competition for bandwidth, allowing you to connect up to 100 times more devices per square kilometer than 4G. This removes the need for enterprises to choose between cellular and Wi-Fi.
Availability
5G technology has come a long way in recent years so now you can compare deals from a range of your favourite providers using the table above.

Cons

Price
Because it is the fastest data speed available it comes with the price to match. 5G SIM only deals almost always come at a higher price than 4G deals.
Location dependent
Although 5G is now available in all major UK cities you still need to check your local area to see if you can access 5G.
Battery life
5G can impact battery life, potentially causing faster battery drain compared to 4G. However, newer phones are more likely to be less affected by this.

When is 5G coming to my area?

The 5G era is well underway, with most major 5G networks running throughout the UK's urban and suburban areas. Let's see how they all stack up.

Vodafone

Vodafone's 5G launched on 3 July 2019, with its service initially available in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and London.

It’s now available in around 138 UK locations, including Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Guildford, Newbury, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Warrington and Wolverhampton. It's also available in 240 different EU roaming locations.

Vodafone has made a big statement with its 5G offering by shaking up the traditional 'data allowance' system and instead offering unlimited data in a tiered speed system, similar to what you might get your broadband.

Vodafone has also launched 5G and unlimited data for all its pay-as-you-go customers. This enables people to benefit from the blistering speeds of 5G without the confines of a monthly contract.

Check out our Vodafone SIM only deals

Three

After a bit of a delay, Three's 5G was launched in February 2020. The rollout initially covered 66 UK locations, including London, Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Aberdeen, and many more. It’s now extended to 303 locations at the time of writing, so that’s excellent coverage.

Three has dubbed its 5G as the ‘real 5G’ because it has up to twice the 5G spectrum of other networks. In theory, that means downloading movies, music, and gaming online will be far faster on Three than on its competitors.

Three’s 5G also comes at no extra cost. All of Three’s SIMs are 5G ready as standard, so all you’ll need is a 5G smartphone, and you’re good to go.

The company has also launched a 5G home broadband service in London. EE and Vodafone are offering home routers utilising 5G, as the need for traditional landline connections looks set to dissipate in the next few years.

Check out our Three SIM only deals

O2

O2 began its 5G rollout in October 2019. It was initially launched in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Slough, and it now spans over 200 UK locations.

Check out our O2 SIM only deals

Giffgaff

Giffgaff currently has 5G switched on around 200 UK cities and towns. Giffgaff's bundles and packages allow you to pick and choose how much data you use, making its 5G offering one of the most flexible on the market.

Check out our Giffgaff SIM only deals

Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile's 5G is switched on in 2000 locations throughout the UK, such as London, Belfast, Leeds, Edinburgh and more. Sky Mobile’s 5G is now free to all customers; previously, customers needed to sign up for their free Sky VIP programme.

Check out our Sky Mobile SIM deals

Tesco Mobile

Tesco Mobile has launched the start of its 5G offering, which is live in 2000 cities around the UK.

Tesco Mobile customers in cities and towns, including Bournemouth, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Glasgow, Leeds, and London, can now access superfast 5G connection speeds.

Check out our Tesco Mobile SIM only deals

More SIM only deals

Does my current SIM support 5G?

If your existing SIM is a 4G or 3G card, you can’t connect to 5G on your smartphone. So, unless you already have a 5G SIM card, you’ll need to get a new SIM.

Do I need a new SIM card to access 5G?

In short, it depends. In most cases, you won’t need a new SIM card. As long as you have a 5G plan and a compatible device, your old SIM card should work to connect to a 5G network. However, there are a few exceptions.

For EE, Three, and Vodafone customers, all SIM cards are 5G-ready. So, even if you’ve been using your SIM card for a while, it should work with 5G, and any new SIM card from these networks will support 5G by default.

However, O2 is an exception. The network states that you will need a new 5G SIM card to access 5G services.

The good news is that since October 17, 2019, O2 has been issuing 5G SIM cards with its 5G phones, so if you have a newer O2 SIM, you should be good to go. But if you’re still using an older SIM card from O2, it might only support 4G.

Is 5G available in the UK?

Yes, 5G is available in the UK in a number of towns and cities. Not all areas are fully connected, but the following cities should offer 5G in at least some areas.

Aberdeen	Barnsley	Basildon	Bath
Bedford	Belfast City	Birmingham	Blackburn
Blackpool	Bournemouth	Bradford	Brighton
Brimington	Bristol	Cardiff	Carlisle
Colchester	Coventry	Derby	Doncaster
Dundee	Edinburgh	Glasgow	Ipswich
Leeds	Leicester	Lincoln	Liverpool
London	Luton	Manchester	Middlesbrough
Milton Keynes	Newcastle	Northampton	Nottingham
Oxford	Peterborough	Plymouth	Portsmouth
Preston	Reading	Sheffield	Slough
Southampton	Southend-on-Sea	Sunderland	Swindon
Wigan	York

FAQs

Do I need a 5G SIM card?

To get connected to 5G, the fastest type of mobile internet connection, you need to be in an area that has 5G coverage. You'll also need a 5G-compatible smartphone, and yes, a 5G SIM card.

A 5G SIM card does what it says on the tin - it’s a SIM card that you put in your smartphone, that will enable you to connect to 5G.

Getting a cheap 5G SIM is easy, just compare our best deals and you'll soon find the perfect plan. From super-low cost deals to unlimited data bundles, there are a range of 5G SIMs to suit all user needs.

Need a 5G mobile phone too? Check out our best deals on 5G pay monthly plans.

Can I get a 5G SIM only deal?

You can get a 5G SIM only deal on all the major networks here at Uswitch. SIM only 5G deals can get you connected to super fast downloads, lag-free gaming and smooth web browsing.

With a 5G SIM only deal, you'll get a data allowance, calls, texts and minutes. All you'll need is a 5G enabled smartphone.

Will my current SIM support 5G?

Existing 4G or 3G SIM cards can’t connect you to 5G.

So unless you already have a 5G SIM card, you’ll need to get a new SIM if you want to get connected to 5G on your smartphone.

Will a 5G SIM card work in a 4G phone?

Yes, a 5G SIM card will work in a 4G phone, but it won't connect you to 5G.

You’ll still be able to use your phone as normal on 4G, but to get access to 5G, you’ll need to pop the 5G SIM into a 5G smartphone, like the iPhone 16 or the Samsung Galaxy S25.

Are 5G SIMs more expensive than 4G?

Not necessarily. Some networks, such as Three, are offering 5G with their SIM only deals as standard with no extra cost. So all you need to connect is to pair the SIM card with a 5G phone.

That’s why it’s important to compare deals across all networks to ensure you get the best deal available.

What are 5G SIM only plans?

A 5G SIM only plan is just like a regular SIM only plan - you get a SIM card to use in your mobile phone that includes calls, texts and data. The only differing factor of a 5G SIM is that it can connect you to 5G, provided you have a 5G-enabled phone and live in a 5G area.

All the major networks - including Vodafone, Three and O2 - offer 5G SIM only plans, and you can find all sorts of offers ranging from low data deals to unlimited data deals.

Do I need a new SIM for 5G?

If you're making the step up from 4G to 5G, then yes. You'll need a 5G-compatible smartphone and a 5G data plan. Your chosen network will then send you a new, 5G-enabled, SIM card.

Can I order a 5G SIM card?

Yes. If you want to upgrade to 5G, just find a data plan from any one of the major networks, such as Three or Vodafone, and order your new 5G SIM card.

Just remember, you'll need a 5G smartphone too, and you'll need to live in an area that has already switched on to 5G.

Do I need 5G sim for iPhone 15?

If you've just bought the new iPhone 15, you might be wondering why your existing SIM card is still just on 4G. That's because you need to sign up to a 5G data plan too. Take a look at our SIM only deals to find the perfect plan to match up with your new iPhone.

How do I get 5G on my iPhone 15?

Just bought an iPhone 15? Good news - it's ready for 5G. All you need now is to make sure you live in an area that has 5G switched on and then sign up for a 5G data plan.

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Compare 5G SIM only deals

Uswitch tips

Do I need a 5G phone to use a 5G sim?

List of SIM Only deals

What is a 5G SIM?

Which networks offer 5G SIM cards?

Can I get a 5G SIM card with unlimited data?

What's the cheapest 5G SIM plan?

5G SIM only deals pros and cons

Pros

Cons

When is 5G coming to my area?

Vodafone

Three

O2

Giffgaff

Sky Mobile

Tesco Mobile

More SIM only deals

Does my current SIM support 5G?

Do I need a new SIM card to access 5G?

Is 5G available in the UK?

FAQs

Do I need a 5G SIM card?

Can I get a 5G SIM only deal?

Will my current SIM support 5G?

Will a 5G SIM card work in a 4G phone?

Are 5G SIMs more expensive than 4G?

What are 5G SIM only plans?

Do I need a new SIM for 5G?

Can I order a 5G SIM card?

Do I need 5G sim for iPhone 15?

How do I get 5G on my iPhone 15?

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