Whether you intend to make the odd call or you are a download-addicted mobile user, it makes economic sense to hunt for the best value phone deals. First, you will need to choose the specific type of phone deal to go for. There are three popular options you can choose from. These include monthly pay contracts, pay-as-you-go, and SIM-only contract.
Your preferred option will depend on how much you are charged for mobile calls, internet browsing, text messages, and whether or not you want to upgrade to another handset. If you are not sure which phone you should choose, this guide will help you figure out the best one depending on your needs and budget.
Best Type of Phone Deals
1. Pay as you go mobile phone deals
With this option, there are no fixed monthly charges, and the users don’t have to sign up for a direct debit agreement. Rather, they pay for their phone use by just topping up their mobile credit in advance. Once they have used the credit, they will not be able to surf the web, make outgoing calls, or send text messages unless the top-up.
The first step to getting the best pay-as-you-go phone deal is to determine the specific type of package you need. With the traditional pay-as-you-go tariffs, you just buy credit and use it for data, calls, and text.
Finding the right deal requires you to compare different providers’ charges. This option is ideal for light uses. On the other hand, heavy users are better off purchasing a bundle of texts, minutes, and data. Purchasing in bulk gives you more for your cash, though you will have to use the credit within a specific period, or it will expire.
Some of the benefits of pay-as-you-go mobile phone deals include;
- The user doesn’t have to pay minimum monthly charges.
- No contracts. That means you can drop this option whenever you want
- Unlike pay monthly contracts, pay-as-you-go is available for users under the age of 18 years.
- You will be using only pre-paid credit, and that means you will not get unwelcome surprises.
- No credit checks necessary. Thus, you don’t need to worry if your credit history isn’t clean.
This option comes with a few downsides. For example, if you don’t use your pay-as-you-go mobile for a specified period, your service provider might assume that it’s no longer in use and probably deactivate your number. If this happens, you will lose the credit you had on your phone. Besides, heavy users are more likely to get better value with a contract that offers an allowance of text, data, and minutes. It might sound obvious, but there is nothing more frustrating than getting cut off during a phone call just because you have run out of credit.
2. Pay monthly phone deals
With a pay monthly contract, the user pays a fixed monthly fee by direct debit. This fee is made up of payments for the phone (normally via a credit agreement) and the SIM deal itself that has an allowance of data, calls, and texts. Remember, your credit score will be checked, and you will have to commit to a specific period of time, which is often two years.
Depending on your choice, there may be upfront charges for the device. This is something you must consider if you intend to get a good contract deal. Such deals are ideal for consumers looking for the latest mobile phones, including Samsung Galaxy S9, iPhone SE, and iPhone Xs but do not fancy paying a lump sum amount of money for the device.
Deciding the best monthly phone deal requires you to analyze various factors. These include the specific smartphone you intend to include in the contract, the cost of the bundle provided, and other extras you will be getting as part of the phone deal.
Pay monthly mobile phone deals are perfect for users who want the most-recent smartphones. Rather than spending hundreds of pounds on SIM-free or pay-as-you-go option, you can acquire a new device on an affordable monthly deal with a pocket-friendly one-off cost or on a monthly deal. This is the easiest way to get new smartphones released recently.
The top benefits of monthly contract mobile phone deals include;
- A with a good monthly phone contract, you will have access to a broad range of choices of subsidized smartphones. This is a great deal if you want an upgrade.
- This option creates a higher level of convenience. For instance, you will never get disconnected just because you forgot to top-up credit.
- Paying in advance for a specific amount of data, minutes, and texts is more affordable than the pay-as-you-go option.
- A monthly contract gives you the chance to improve your credit score.
Pay-monthly contracts are associated with bills. Besides, your provider first checks your credit history. This implies that missed payments could result in a considerable drop in your credit score.
3. SIM-only phone deals
These are contract deals without a mobile phone attached. The user will get an allowance of data, calls, and texts, but the monthly fee is considerably lower than it would be if they were to pay monthly mobile contracts.
Generally, sim-only mobile deals are much more cost-effective as you pay for a mobile phone upfront and then get a SIM-only deal, especially for users who have enough cash. Keep in mind that the cost might stand up out of money for the latest smartphones.
With SIM-only mobile phone deals, the retailers or network operators don’t subsidize the cost of the phone as they do with other pay-as-you-go and pay monthly phone deals. That means the users will get affordable internet services, calls, texts, and other items included in the bundle. Most SIM-only mobile phone deals have other benefits, such as data rollover. This allows you to roll over unused data from the previous period to the next.
Compare the three different options discussed in this article and choose the type of mobile phone deal that best suits you.