Your cookie preferences

We use cookies and similar technologies. You can use the settings below to accept all cookies (which we recommend to give you the best experience) or to enable specific categories of cookies as explained below. Find out more by reading our Cookie Policy.

Select cookie preferences

Skip to main content

Look out for
Black Friday
in your results

No upfront cost mobile phone deals

Looking for a new no upfront cost pay monthly phone deal? Compare thousands of contract phone offers from all the major UK networks, including Vodafone, O2 and Three and Sky Mobile to get exclusive deals you won't find anywhere else.


List of contract phone deals

Sorted by: Uswitch Promoted

  1. Apple iPhone 16 128GB

    Apple iPhone 16 phone imageThree Mobile logo

    £42.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.

    £1008.00 total cost

    Unlimited5G data

    24 month contract

    • 2 months free insurance
    via Fonehouse
  2. Apple iPhone 15 128GB

    Apple iPhone 15 phone imageThree Mobile logo

    £34.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.

    £816.00 total cost

    Unlimited5G data

    24 month contract

    • 2 months free insurance
    via Fonehouse
  3. Apple iPhone 15 128GB

    Apple iPhone 15 phone imageThree Mobile logo

    £34.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.

    £816.00 total cost

    Unlimited5G data

    24 month contract

    via Affordable Mobiles
  4. Samsung Galaxy A55 128GB

    Samsung Galaxy A55 phone imageO2 logo

    £19.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (RPI) plus 3.9%.

    £456.00 total cost

    150 GBof 5G data

    24 month contract

    • Claim a Galaxy Fit3
    via Affordable Mobiles
  5. Apple iPhone 13 128GB

    Uses Three's Network

    Apple iPhone 13 phone imageiD Mobile logo

    £22.99 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (CPI) plus 3.9%.

    £551.76 total cost

    500 GBof 5G data

    24 month contract

    • Free roaming up to 30GB
    • Best Network for Data
    via iD Mobile
  6. Apple iPhone 16 128GB

    Apple iPhone 16 phone imageThree Mobile logo

    £42.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.

    £1008.00 total cost

    Unlimited5G data

    24 month contract

    • 2 months free insurance
    via Metrofone
  7. Samsung Galaxy S24 256GB

    Samsung Galaxy S24 phone imageThree Mobile logo

    £36.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by £1.50.

    £864.00 total cost

    Unlimited5G data

    24 month contract

    • 2 months free insurance
    via Fonehouse
  8. Apple iPhone 14 128GB

    Apple iPhone 14 phone imageO2 logo

    £35.00 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (RPI) plus 3.9%.

    £840.00 total cost

    100 GBof 5G data

    24 month contract

    via Affordable Mobiles
  9. Apple iPhone 13 128GB

    Uses Three's Network

    Apple iPhone 13 phone imageiD Mobile logo

    £22.99 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (CPI) plus 3.9%.

    £551.76 total cost

    500 GBof 5G data

    24 month contract

    • Free roaming up to 30GB
    • 3 months' Free Apple TV+
    • Data rollover
    via Mobiles.co.uk
  10. Apple iPhone 15 128GB

    Uses Three's Network

    Apple iPhone 15 phone imageiD Mobile logo

    £32.99 a monthNo upfront costMonthly cost will rise every April by inflation (CPI) plus 3.9%.

    £791.76 total cost

    500 GBof 5G data

    24 month contract

    • Free roaming up to 30GB
    • 3 months' Free Apple TV+
    • Data rollover
    via Mobiles.co.uk
Can't find what you're looking for?

Uswitch services are provided at no cost to you, but we may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to. If a deal is "promoted" on Uswitch's tables, then it has been lent additional visibility as a result of us securing exclusivity on a great deal, or a commercial agreement to showcase what we believe to be market-leading value to consumers. Learn more about how our site works.

Please note: Mobile networks may increase monthly prices in line with the retail or consumer price index each year during the length of your contract. Please refer to individual network's terms and conditions before signing up.

What is a no upfront cost mobile phone deal?

If you’re in the market for a new mobile phone but don't want to break the bank by forking out a lot of money initially, a no upfront cost mobile phone deal could be for you.

Our no upfront cost mobile phone deals make it easier than ever to get some of the latest devices without paying a dime initially. Some pay-monthly phone contracts require an upfront lump sum payment towards the cost of a brand-new smartphone, which must be paid in full when you sign up.

However, with no upfront cost contracts, the price of the phone is distributed across the entire duration of your contract. This means you'll be paying for the phone in instalments over a set period, for example, 12 or 24 months.

Why choose a no upfront cost mobile phone deal?

There are several reasons why you should consider choosing a no upfront cost mobile phone contract.

  1. Budget-friendly: A no upfront cost deal allows you to spread the cost of your new phone (which can be hundreds or thousands of pounds) over manageable monthly payments with nothing to pay until your first monthly bill, easing the strain on your wallet.
  2. Access to the latest models: Get your hands on the hottest and most advanced smartphones on the market, such as the iPhone 15 or the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, without the hefty initial price tag.
  3. Flexible plans: On Uswitch, you can choose from a variety of plans from the deals table above, tailored to fit your data, call, and text needs, ensuring you get the best value for your money.

How to choose a no upfront cost mobile phone deal

First, make sure you select the right phone for you. Browse our extensive range of mobile phones from top brands, including Apple, Samsung, Google, and more. If you need any help choosing a mobile phone, check out our ‘Which mobile phone to buy’ guide.

The next step is to pick a monthly plan that suits your needs and budget. Using our deals table above, you can choose from a range of different phones with no upfront cost. Our deals range from older smartphones with a cheaper monthly plan to phones like the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which was voted Uswitch’s 2024 handset of the year.

Once you select your phone and monthly plan, you will be taken to the provider's site, where you can confirm and receive your desired mobile phone without having to pay anything upfront.

What network providers offer a no upfront cost contract?

Several well-known networks currently offer phone contracts on Uswitch with no upfront cost - at the time of writing.

While some of the newer flagship mobile phones may not always be available with these deals, older, mid-range, or refurbished models often have no upfront cost options. Examples of network providers that offer no upfront cost contracts include:

  • O2 - Sign up to enjoy its exclusive O2 Priority and Rewards schemes
  • Three - Chose a range of phones with one of the UK’s fastest 5G networks
  • Vodafone - Sign up to Vodafone to make the most of its VeryMe Rewards Scheme
  • iD Mobile - Also powered by Three’s super fast 5G network
  • Sky Mobile - Use Sky Mobile's range of benefits, like streaming Sky TV, without using up any data.
  • Tesco Mobile - Chosen as Uswitch 2024 mobile network provider of the year award
  • Talkmobile - Talkmobile contract plans are straightforward and operate on Vodafone’s network.
  • EE - UK’s fastest and most reliable network

Popular phone choices with a no upfront cost contract

The good news is that a lot of the flagship smartphones are available on a no upfront cost contract, as you can see in the table above. This means that if you have a specific phone in mind, you should have no problem purchasing it.

You can go straight to our most popular mobile phone deals pages to select your desired smartphone:

Can I get a no upfront cost mobile phone contract with a bad credit score?

If you have a poor credit score, you might be wondering about your options for pay-monthly phone contracts. Unfortunately, providers offering deals to customers with bad credit often require an upfront payment to cover some of the handset's cost. This helps reduce the provider's risk.

However, you might have better luck securing a no upfront cost deal if you choose an older phone model instead of the latest releases. Older models that still pack a punch often come with more flexible payment terms.

If you already own a handset or can afford to purchase one outright, opting for a SIM only deal is usually much easier if you have a bad credit score. SIM only contracts involve lower financial risk for providers and often have more lenient credit requirements.

By exploring these options, you should be able to find a solution that fits your financial situation while still enjoying the benefits of a pay monthly phone contract.

Visit our SIM only deals page to explore a range of deals on Uswitch.

FAQs

Is it cheaper to get a phone contract with an upfront cost?

Not necessarily. You might avoid having to pay a hefty fee straight away with a no upfront cost contract, but over the course of your agreement, you might pay more overall due to high monthly fees.

If you can afford to pay a lump sum to begin with, then you will often save yourself money in the long run.

Is it better to pay for a contract upfront or monthly?

This will always depend on your financial situation at the time. If you would like to purchase one of the newer, more expensive smartphones but can’t afford to pay a large amount upfront, then a no-upfront-cost deal will suit you perfectly.

However, if you can afford to pay a sum at the beginning of the contract then you will likely save money on the contract overall.

What contract lengths can I get with a no upfront cost deal?

Technically, contract length should not be impacted by whether or not you pay an upfront fee. But opting for a longer contract, over a period of 24 months, for example, may bring the monthly price down, giving you longer to pay back the cost of the phone.