Business SIM Only Deals UK

A business SIM only deal gives each user a SIM (or eSIM) with calls, texts and data on a business contract, without paying for a new handset. If your team already has phones that work well, SIM only is usually the simplest way to bring your monthly bill down while keeping the same networks, the same coverage and the same numbers.

Compare The Networks compares business SIM only deals from EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Tell us how many lines you need and how your team uses their phones, and we will come back with written options side by side. The comparison is free and there is no obligation.

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What a business SIM only deal includes

Every business SIM only plan is built from the same parts:

Airtime on one of the four UK networks. Calls and texts to UK numbers are normally unlimited on business tariffs. Check the written terms for calls to premium, international and non-geographic numbers.
A data allowance per line or a shared pool. Plans range from small allowances for light users to unlimited data for people who work from their phone all day.
A business account. One bill for all lines, VAT invoices, an account manager or business support team, and the ability to add or remove services through the account.
A fixed contract term. Our business contracts run for a minimum of 24 months. Your written offer will state the term, the monthly charge and any price changes during the contract.

Because there is no handset in the contract, the monthly charge covers airtime only. You keep using the phone you already own, or buy handsets separately when it suits your cash flow.

How much data does each user need?

Most businesses overspend on data by giving every line the same allowance. A better approach is to group users by role:

User type	Typical use	What to look for
Light users	Calls, texts, email, occasional maps	A small allowance or a share of a pool
Office and hybrid staff	Email, Teams or Zoom on the move, cloud apps	A mid-sized allowance
Field and sales staff	Navigation, video calls, tethering a laptop	A large allowance or unlimited data
Always-on roles	Hotspot for a laptop all day, heavy video	Unlimited data, check any fair-use terms

Check the data use on your current bills before you compare. Most network portals show usage per line for the last few months, and that is the best guide to what each person really needs.

Shared data across lines

Several networks offer shared or pooled data on business accounts, where all lines draw from one allowance. Pooling works well when a few heavy users and many light users sit on the same account, because unused data from the light users covers the heavy ones. Ask for a pooled option in your quote and compare it with per-line allowances.

Check coverage before you choose a network

The best SIM only deal on paper is no use if the signal is poor where your team works. Before you sign:

Use each network's official coverage checker for your office, warehouse, home workers and regular sites.
Check indoor coverage as well as outdoor, especially in older or steel-framed buildings.
Ask staff which network works best on their regular routes.
If you are unsure, trial a SIM on the network you are considering before moving every line.

Read our guides to EE business mobile deals, O2 business mobile deals, Vodafone business mobile deals and Three business mobile deals for more on each network.

5G and eSIM on business SIM only plans

5G is included on many current business plans, but you need a 5G-capable phone and 5G coverage in the places you work. Check the written offer rather than assuming.

eSIM is useful for business SIM only deals because there is no physical card to post. The network sends a QR code or activation details and the line can be added to a compatible phone in minutes. It also makes it easier to run a work line and a personal line on one phone. Check that every handset in your fleet supports eSIM before choosing it.

Keeping your existing numbers

You can keep your business numbers when you move to a new SIM only deal. To get a PAC code, text PAC to 65075 from each phone. Your current provider must send the code straight away, and it is valid for 30 days. Give the codes to your new provider and the switch usually completes on the next working day. For larger accounts, the porting can be arranged in bulk so every line moves on the same day.

SIM only deals for sole traders and small teams

Sole traders, partnerships and limited companies can all take out business SIM only deals. The network will run a business credit check, and sole traders may be asked for proof of trading. See our sole trader mobile deals page for more detail.

For teams of between one and twenty people, use our SME phone package comparison to compare SIM only and handset options, with a checklist for coverage, roaming and full contract costs.

VAT and tax on business SIM only deals

Business mobile prices are quoted excluding VAT. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim the VAT on their bills, and the cost of a business mobile contract is normally an allowable business expense. Check with your accountant how this applies to your business.

What to compare in each written offer

When the offers come back, compare them on the same basis:

Total contract cost across the full term, not just the first month.
Price rises during the contract. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom rules mean new contracts must set out any price rises in pounds and pence, not as an inflation-linked percentage.
Data allowance and fair-use terms, including tethering.
Roaming, if your team travels. Check which countries are included and what the daily or add-on terms are.
Support, including how faults, lost SIMs and number changes are handled.
Early termination charges if you need to reduce lines before the end of the term.
Adding lines later, and whether new lines can be put on the same end date.

How our comparison works

Tell us the number of lines, your current network, rough data use and where your team works.
We compare business SIM only options from EE, O2, Vodafone and Three for your needs.
You receive the options in writing and choose, with no obligation.

If you are looking mainly at price, see our page on the cheapest business mobile deals. For more background on data, eSIM, BYOD and porting, read our business SIM only buyer's guide. If your team needs unlimited data, see business SIM only unlimited data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a business SIM only deal?

A business SIM only deal is a mobile plan without a handset. You get a SIM or eSIM with calls, texts and data on a business contract, billed to your business with VAT invoices. It suits businesses whose staff already have phones they are happy with.

Is SIM only cheaper than a handset contract for business?

Usually, yes, because the monthly charge covers airtime only. If you need new phones, compare the total cost of buying handsets outright plus a SIM only deal against a handset contract over the same term.

How long are business SIM only contracts?

Our business SIM only contracts run for a minimum of 24 months. The written offer will set out the term, the monthly charge and any price changes during the contract before you agree to anything.

Can I keep my phone numbers when I switch?

Yes. Text PAC to 65075 from each phone to get a PAC code, which is valid for 30 days. Give the codes to your new provider and the switch usually completes on the next working day.

Can sole traders get business SIM only deals?

Yes. Sole traders, partnerships and limited companies can all take out business SIM only deals. The network will carry out a business credit check and may ask for proof of trading.

Do business SIM only deals include 5G?

Many current business plans include 5G. You need a 5G-capable phone and 5G coverage where you work, so check each network's coverage checker and the written offer.

Can I mix data allowances on one account?

Yes. Most business accounts let you choose a different allowance for each line, and several networks offer shared data pools across lines. We can include both options in your comparison.

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