O2 SIM Only Deals

O2 have a range of SIM Only deals for your requirements. You can get a 12 month or 24 month contract to get the cheapest prices. Alternatively, you can get a 30 day rolling contract, which is ideal for those who have a bad credit rating.

If you use a lot of data, you can get an unlimited data SIM only deal with 30 day, 12 month and 24 month contracts.

You can even use your O2 SIM for free within the EU, without any additional charges.

All O2 SIMs include 5G connectivity by default, for superfast internet speeds.

Can I get unlimited data with a O2 SIM?

Yes, unlimited data deals are available on O2 with 30 day contracts, 12 month contracts and 24 month contracts.

For unlimited data plans, you cannot use more than 25GB data per month when roaming within the EU, as stated in the fair usage policy. This policy also applies to plans that offer 25GB data or more per month.

Can I use my O2 SIM abroad?

O2 are one of the few networks that will not introduce roaming charges after Brexit. You will be able to use your allowance within the EU, as if you were at home.

For countries outside the EU, you can be eligible for the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, which allows you to use unlimited data, 120 minutes and 120 texts in 27 international destinations outside the EU.

If you’re not eligible for the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, or you wish to roam in additional worldwide countries, you can purchase the O2 Travel bolt on for £4.99 per day, which gives you unlimited data, 120 minutes and 120 texts in 104 international destinations outside the EU.

For more information, see our guide on O2 roaming.

Can I get 5G with a O2 SIM?

5G is available with all O2 SIMs at no additional cost. However, you must have a 5G compatible phone. O2 claims to have 5G connectivity in most major towns and cities with 183 locations across the UK, however you won’t be able to receive a 5G signal when roaming abroad.

O2 5G is currently available in the following locations:

• Aberdeen
• Allesley
• Altrincham
• Ambleside
• Ashford
• Aughton
• Aylesbury
• Banbury
• Banstead
• Basildon
• Basingstoke
• Bedford
• Belfast
• Birkenhead
• Birmingham
• Birstall
• Blackburn
• Blackpool
• Blaydon
• Bolton
• Bournemouth
• Bradford
• Bridge of Don
• Brighton
• Bristol
• Bromborough
• Burton Upon Trent
• Bury St Edmunds
• Byfleet
• Calverley
• Cambridge
• Cardiff
• Chadwell St Mary
• Chatham
• Cheadle
• Chelmsford
• Cheltenham
• Chertsey
• Chertsey South
• Chesterfield
• Chilworth
• Chipstead
• Clacton-on-Sea
• Colchester
• Coventry
• Danderhall
• Darlington
• Dartford
• Derby
• Dewsbury
• Dinas Powis
• Doncaster
• Dudley
• Dundee
• Dunstable
• Durham
• Dyce
• Eastbourne
• Edinburgh
• Egham
• Epsom
• Esher
• Falmer
• Gateshead
• Gillingham
• Glasgow
• Gloucester
• Gravesend
• Grays
• Great Yarmouth
• Grimsby
• Guildford
• Halifax
• Harlington
• Harlow
• Hastings
• Hebburn
• Hemel Hempstead
• Hextable
• High Wycombe
• Horwich
• How Wood
• Huddersfield
• Hull
• Inverness
• Ipswich
• Iver Heath
• Jarrow
• Joyden’s Wood
• Kemprow
• Kettering
• Lancaster
• Leeds
• Leicester
• Lincoln
• Lisburn
• Liverpool
• Llandudno
• London
• Loughborough
• Lowestoft
• Luton
• Maidenhead
• Manchester
• Mansfield
• Middlesbrough
• Milton Keynes
• Molesey
• Monifieth
• Morley
• Musselburgh
• New Denham
• Newbury
• Newcastle Under Lyme
• Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Newtownabbey
• North Shields
• Northampton
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Nuneaton
• Oldham
• Orpington
• Oxford
• Penarth
• Peterborough
• Plymouth
• Plympton
• Portsmouth
• Potters Bar
• Rainham
• Reading
• Redhill
• Richings Park
• Rochdale
• Rotherham
• Royal Leamington Spa
• Royal Tunbridge Wells
• Rugby
• Sheffield
• Shelf
• Shepperton Green
• Shinfield
• Shirehampton
• Slough
• South Shields
• Southampton
• Southend-On-Sea
• St Albans
• Staines
• Stapleford
• Stevenage
• Stockport
• Stockton
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Stranraer
• Sunbury
• Sunderland
• Swansea
• Swindon
• Tatling End
• Thornaby On Tess
• Thorpe
• Thundersley
• Trumps Green
• Tynemouth
• Virginia Water
• Wakefield
• Wallasey
• Waltham Abbey
• Warrington
• Washington
• Watford
• West Bromwich
• Whickham
• Whitley Bay
• Wickersley
• Windsor
• Wolverhampton
• Woodbine Close Park
• Worthing
• Wythenshawe
• York

Can I get a O2 SIM if I have a bad credit rating?

If you have a bad credit rating, you may struggle to be accepted for a long term contract with O2, such as a 12 month or 24 month contract. However, you should be eligible for an O2 30 day SIM plan. 30 day plans are generally more expensive when compared to longer term contracts, so you will have to pay a slight premium.

O2 30 day SIMs

If you don’t want to be tied to a long contract, O2 offer 30 day rolling SIM contracts.

All O2 30 day SIMs come with unlimited minutes and texts, with data ranging from 1GB to unlimited.

You can cancel an O2 30 day SIM at any time you want. You can also change your plan to a lower or higher cost tariff whenever you like.

Do I need to unlock my phone to use a O2 SIM?

If you bought your phone from O2, or it originally came with a O2 SIM, then you shouldn’t need to unlock your phone in order to use a O2 SIM.

Since December 2021, it is illegal for any network to sell a mobile phone that is locked to a specific network.

If you bought your phone before this date, it may be locked to your current network. If you’re unsure if your phone is unlocked, simply insert a SIM from a different network - if your phone is locked, an error message will be shown.

All providers must unlock your phone for free. You will need to contact your current network to do this. They will ask for your IMEI number, which you can obtain by dialling *#06# from your phone.

What size SIM cards can I get with O2?

O2 offer all SIM card sizes, including eSIMs. You will be sent a standard SIM card size, which will have cutouts that can be broken down to a micro SIM or nano SIM. You can request an eSIM from O2 if you have a phone which supports the technology.

1. Standard - the largest SIM card size, which is generally used with older non-smartphones. Newer phones are likely to use micro or nano SIMs.

2. Micro - Once considered a smaller replacement for standard SIMs, micro SIMs are less prevalent today, being replaced by the even smaller nano SIM. Older smartphones or budget phones may still use a micro SIM.

3. Nano - The smallest and most common SIM card size used in phones sold today. Used by the newer iPhones and Samsungs.

4. eSIM - A digital SIM card. eSIMs are still a new technology, and are not commonly used in the UK right now. However, O2 do offer eSIMs for newer phones which support it, such as the Apple iPhone 14.

Can I switch from my current network to a O2 SIM?

Yes, it’s easy to switch to O2. From your current network, text PAC to 65075 for free. You will receive a reply text within 5 minutes, which will contain your PAC code.

You will need to give this PAC code to O2. You can do this at the time of purchase, or by contacting O2 after you have received your O2 SIM card.

After you have given your PAC code to O2, they will begin the switch on your behalf, which normally takes 3 working days. Once the switch has completed, you will lose signal with your current network. When this happens, you can insert your O2 SIM to complete the switching process.

For more information, see transferring your phone number to a new network.

Does O2 have good coverage?

O2 has excellent coverage, with 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G connectivity. In 2022, O2 claims they will invest in infrastructure more than they ever had, adding 4G for over 241,000 postcodes and 5G to over 300 towns and cities. As of today, 99% of the UK population can get a minimum 4G signal with O2.

With O2 Wi-Fi calling, you can make calls and texts even when you do not have a signal. O2 Wi-Fi calling is available for all O2 customers at no additional cost. As long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, your phone will automatically switch between Wi-Fi whenever a signal is not available. Nearly all smartphones sold today will support Wi-Fi calling.

In 2019 and 2020, O2 won Best Network Performance at the Mobile News Awards for their coverage, reliability and speed.

To see if you can receive a signal with O2 from where you live, you can use O2’s network coverage tool.

Is O2 a fast network?

According to OpenSignal’s September 2021 report, O2 is the slowest between the 4 major networks in the UK, with an average download speed of 17.1Mbps and average upload speed of 5.4Mbps.

However, O2 has the second fastest 5G speeds, with an average download speed of 91.2Mbps.

O2’s speed is within the same range as Three and Vodafone, with EE being twice as fast as the rest.

How reliable is O2?

O2 is one of the most reliable networks in the UK, with minimal downtime or disruption. The most recent downtime occurred in May 2020, where many across the UK were unable to connect to O2. Although a huge inconvenience at the time, services were quickly restored within a few hours, with continuous updates to customers throughout the disruption.

If you are experiencing connectivity issues, you can enter your postcode at O2 Service Status to see if there is a network disruption within your area. If there is a problem, O2 will tell you specific details about the issues causing the disruption, and when you can expect a fix for a resumed normal service.

Does O2 have good customer service?

O2 is well known for their good customer service, with a range of options to get in contact. As well as the physical O2 stores, you can also call, text or chat online to receive help. Customer service is open 7 days a week:

• Monday to Friday: 8am - 9pm
• Saturday: 8am - 8pm
• Sunday: 8am - 6pm

It’s free to get in contact over the phone:

• From your O2 phone: 202
• Any other phone: 0344 809 0202
• From abroad: +44 7860 980 202

Furthermore, you can chat online with O2 Guru or use the O2 Community Forum.

In Ofcom's pay monthly mobile complaints, O2 only received 2 complaints per 100,000 customers between July 2021 and September 2021. Only EE and Tesco Mobile beat O2, with 1 complaint each. For all networks, the average amount of complaints per 100,000 customers is 2.

In 2021, O2 were awarded Network of the Year at the Mobile Industry Awards for their excellent customer service.

O2 Refresh

With O2 Refresh, your contract is automatically split between your tariff (data, minutes and texts) and your phone. You can pay off your phone before your contract ends, allowing you to upgrade to a new phone at any time you wish.

Furthermore, you can also customise your plan, allowing you to choose the duration of your contract (between 3 and 36 months), the upfront cost of your phone and the amount of data you require. You can even trade in your old device to use towards your bill.

O2 Refresh makes O2 the most flexible network when it comes to finding the exact phone contract you require. You can also choose from their preset contracts if you don’t require as much flexibility.

O2 Extras

O2 Extras allows you to select a perk with your contract, such as Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video.

If you’re a O2 Refresh customer, you’re entitled to a free Extra. If you aren’t a O2 Refresh customer, or you want an additional Extra, you can purchase a subscription through My O2.

Current O2 Extras include:

• Amazon Prime Video
• Amazon Music Unlimited
• Audible
• Cafeyn
• Disney+
• International Bolt On
• McAfee
• Travel Inclusive Zone

The duration of your Extra ranges from 3 to 12 months, depending on the type of O2 Refresh contract you have. Not all Extras are available for all plans.

O2 Bolt Ons

O2 Bolt Ons are additional monthly services you can add to your existing contract. You can purchase Bolt Ons through My O2. Bolt Ons do not rollover to the next month, meaning any unused services will be lost.

FAQs