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EE SIM only plans: Prices and comparison for 2026
A complete guide to EE SIM only contracts. Compare 24-month tariffs, download speed caps, multi-line family discounts, and long-term travel roaming rules.
EE provides UK consumers with leading mobile connectivity, ranked as the UK’s best network for 13 years running. Still, maintaining fixed domestic allowances creates unnecessary costs when keeping a home line while travelling overseas.
EE sells seven core SIM only plans structured around fixed 24-month contract terms. Monthly rates range from £13 to £43 depending on speed caps and inclusive entertainment perks.
This review examines domestic allowances, true monthly charges, early exit fees, and multi-line family discounts. Additionally, Holafly Plans can complement your existing UK mobile line during extended stays abroad.
Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of October 29th, 2026, and is subject to change.
EE SIM only plans compared
We currently see seven core 24-month postpaid plans in EE’s SIM only lineup suited to domestic users. UK residents moving abroad face rigid contract commitments and annual price rises.
Plan Name | Monthly Price (1 line) | Data & Speed Cap | Hotspot, 5G/5G+ | Roaming Included (Yes/No) | eSIM (Yes/No) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 GB SIM | £13 | 50 GB (100 Mbps) | Yes, 5G | No | Yes |
| 100 GB SIM | £17 | 100 GB (100 Mbps) | Yes, 5G | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Essentials Plus Max | £26 | Unlimited (Uncapped) | Yes, 5G | Yes (50 GB EU) | Yes |
| Unlimited All Rounder for iPhone | £33 | Unlimited (Uncapped) | Yes, 5G+ | Yes (50 GB EU) | Yes |
| Unlimited All Rounder | £33 | Unlimited (Uncapped) | Yes, 5G+ | Yes (50 GB EU) | Yes |
| Unlimited Full Works for iPhone | £43 | Unlimited (Uncapped) | Yes, 5G+ | Yes (50 GB EU & Beyond) | Yes |
| Unlimited Full Works | £43 | Unlimited (Uncapped) | Yes, 5G+ | Yes (50 GB EU & Beyond) | Yes |
Every EE SIM only plan can be ordered as a physical SIM or an instant digital EE eSIM at checkout with zero extra fees.
50 GB SIM
This baseline tier establishes entry-level connectivity while adding household Data Gifting to share unused gigabytes. Your contract enforces download speed limits capped at 100 Mbps across standard mobile masts. Roaming outside the United Kingdom is excluded and incurs standard out-of-bundle access charges. A light user on WiFi pays standard ongoing UK charges during trips abroad.
100 GB SIM
Upgrading to this tier doubles your monthly domestic allowance without increasing your speed tier. Download speeds remain restricted to 100 Mbps across nationwide 4G and standard 5G masts. Inclusive minutes cover calls made to standard domestic UK landlines and mobile numbers. An expat living abroad several months can pay duplicate mobile bills across two countries.
Unlimited Essentials Plus Max
This tier removes download speed caps entirely and introduces cellular data pairing for smartwatches. Your contract includes 50 GB of inclusive roaming data across European Union destinations. Speeds face temporary traffic management at congested local mobile masts past 600 GB monthly. An occasional EU traveller on just short holidays can avoid daily surcharges across EU cities.
Unlimited All Rounder for iPhone
This tier is designed specifically for Apple phones and upgrades your connection to standalone 5G+ data speeds. You receive access to bundled Apple One cloud storage, arcade games, and music streaming. Mobile hotspot usage undergoes continuous monitoring to prevent persistent commercial tethering across connected hardware. A remote worker relying heavily on mobile hotspot faces strict network traffic management.
Unlimited All Rounder
This plan matches 5G+ speeds while letting you select alternative entertainment like TNT Sports. Secondary account lines qualify for multi-SIM savings when linked under a single billing account. Using non-standard directory services or international calls generates extra out-of-bundle charges on your bill. A family managing multiple domestic lines must track out-of-bundle expenses across all SIMs.
Unlimited Full Works for iPhone
This premium package combines uncapped data with an inclusive Apple One subscription for iOS users. You receive access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, arcade gaming, and iCloud backup storage. The bundled Roam Abroad Pass unlocks international roaming in destinations including the USA and Australia. A corporate expat station abroad can face steep termination charges to clear remaining 24-month commitments.
Unlimited Full Works
This top-tier package bundles uncapped domestic data with access to Google AI Pro services. Like the previous plan, the Roam Abroad Pass covers global destinations, subject to the same fair-use ceiling. Continuous overseas usage beyond a certain number of consecutive months breaches EE domestic terms of service. For instance, an extended overseas traveller faces roaming domestic usage limits after two consecutive months.
Special-eligibility EE plans
EE offers discounted monthly airtime rates to verified students and emergency service personnel. Eligible applicants must complete standard UK credit assessments and accept 24-month agreements. These arrangements differ only through upfront promotional discounts applied to standard base tariffs. Eligible public service workers still face standard contract rules and regular airtime terms.
Legacy EE contracts started before July 2021 retain inclusive European roaming, while newer closed tariffs require daily passes detailed in our guide to EE EU roaming.
How much an EE SIM only plan really costs
The advertised price assumes autopay by Direct Debit on a single line. Selecting an EE eSIM carries no extra activation or delivery surcharge compared to plastic cards.
| Account Lines | Base Cost Mechanism | Multi-Line Savings | Average Monthly Commitment (Per Line) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Line | Standard baseline tariff | £0 (Standard rate) | £13–£43 |
| 2 Lines | 1 Primary line + 1 Additional SIM | Up to £10–£12 off line 2 | £11.50–£37 |
| 3 Lines | 1 Primary line + 2 Additional SIMs | Up to £10–£12 off lines 2 & 3 | £11–£35 |
| 4 Lines | 1 Primary line + 3 Additional SIMs | Up to £10–£12 off lines 2, 3 & 4 | £10.50–£34 |
Baseline plans incur a £2.72 daily European roaming surcharge. Recent pricing adjustments enforce a £2.50 monthly airtime rise every March alongside 5% higher out-of-bundle rates. For travellers spending extended periods abroad, flexible monthly solutions like Holafly avoid these recurring domestic contract surcharges entirely.
Stay connected abroad with Holafly Plans
If you travel abroad for months, keeping an active UK contract means paying monthly bills for data you rarely use. EE’s inclusive roaming limits and daily add-on fees were never built for extended trips outside the country.
A smart solution is parking your domestic line on a basic tier while using Holafly Plans for international data. It provides a flexible monthly subscription covering over 160 destinations on a single eSIM:
- Light Plan: 25 GB of monthly data with personal hotspot support.
- Unlimited Plan: Unlimited data and hotspot, alongside an inbound number for verification messages.
- Ultra Plan: Everything in Unlimited, plus 24/7 doctor consultations on chat, mental wellbeing sessions, and flight delay claim help.
For a single short getaway, a standalone destination eSIM is often enough. Every option includes 24/7 support and Always On, providing 1 GB of backup data every 30 days in 150+ destinations after your plan ends.
Which EE SIM only plan should you choose?
The right plan depends on how you use your phone, not on the highest tier.
| User Type | Recommended Fit | Deciding Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Light user, mostly on Wi-Fi | 50 GB SIM | Lowest baseline monthly commitment for essential domestic browsing. |
| Heavy streamer or hotspot user | Unlimited Essentials Plus Max | Uncapped data speeds without paying extra for bundled streaming perks. |
| Family of 3 to 4 lines | Unlimited All Rounder | Multi-line discounts save up to £10–£12 monthly on each additional SIM. |
| Occasional traveler | Unlimited Essentials Plus Max | Inclusive 50 GB EU roaming data avoids standard daily European charges. |
| Long-stay traveler or expat | 50GB SIM paired with Holafly Plans | Keeps your UK number active while Holafly Plans covers data abroad. |
If you plan to stay abroad beyond standard holiday limits, pairing an entry-level UK line with an international data service offers a flexible setup.
How to get or switch to an EE SIM only plan
Joining an EE pay monthly plan requires completing a standard onboarding process:
- Valid photo identification and proof of a UK residential address covering the last three months.
- Passing an EE credit check, which may require an upfront refundable deposit if your credit history is limited.
- Bringing your own handset after confirming your phone is unlocked, or financing a device through EE Flex Pay.
By contrast, signing up with Holafly requires zero paperwork or credit checks; you purchase your subscription online, install the profile digitally, and connect in minutes.
To keep your mobile number when switching from another provider, text PAC to 65075 and submit the code to EE. Existing EE Pay As You Go customers can upgrade directly online without needing a PAC code.
When ordering an EE contract, choose free digital delivery to receive an instant eSIM code. Existing users can convert an active physical SIM to an eSIM inside account settings. For step-by-step digital setup instructions, consult our EE eSIM activation guide.
EE prepaid vs postpaid: Which one suits you?
Postpaid suits heavy domestic data users wanting priority speeds and inclusive perks, while prepaid fits casual users avoiding contracts and credit checks.
| Feature | EE Postpaid (SIM Only) | EE Prepaid (Pay As You Go) |
|---|---|---|
| Billing Style | Billed monthly in advance via Direct Debit | Paid upfront every 30 days without advance charges |
| Credit Check or Deposit | Mandatory UK credit reference check or deposit | No credit check or security deposit required |
| Contract & Price Lock | 24-month commitment with annual March price rises | Flexible 30-day packs with no long-term contract lock |
| Data Priority | Full 5G/5G+ standalone network priority | Standard consumer 4G/5G network access |
| Perks | Data Gifting, smartwatch pairing, and streaming extras | Free Boost data on continuous 30-day renewals |
Unlike standard Pay As You Go packs, EE postpaid bills line rental one month in advance, meaning your initial statement includes pro-rata charges alongside your regular monthly rate. Our guide on the best eSIM for the United Kingdom can help compare local network coverage and alternatives across the country.
FAQs about EE SIM only plans
You can cancel an EE SIM only contract by giving 30 days of advance notice to customer support. If your minimum 24-month term remains active, EE charges early termination fees before closing your account. This fee equals your outstanding monthly airtime charges minus statutory tax and cost adjustments. Once your 30-day notice period ends, EE disconnects the service and finalises your billing.
Standard 24-month EE SIM only contracts range from £13 to £43 per month for a single line. The entry-level 50 GB plan starts at £13, while top-tier Unlimited Full Works plans cost £43 monthly. Adding extra lines under one account reduces costs through multi-line discounts saving up to £12 per line. However, baseline plans incur additional daily fees when accessing data across European destinations.
EE prices its SIM only plans at a premium due to its leading nationwide network coverage. Independent testing consistently ranks EE fastest for domestic 4G and 5G download speeds across the United Kingdom. Higher monthly tariffs also bundle inclusive premium services like Apple One, TNT Sports, and Roam Abroad passes. Furthermore, fixed £2.50 annual price increases every March steadily compound your baseline monthly contract expenses.
No, EE charges zero extra fees for an eSIM on SIM only plans. Digital delivery is completely free at online checkout, unlike physical SIM cards which may carry delivery fees on certain short-term promotions. Existing customers can convert an active plastic SIM to an eSIM inside account settings on eSIM-compatible phones.
