There’s plenty of debate as to when children should be given their first phone. Some people think that 11 is the right age, while others believe it should be much later.
But whenever you decide to go for it, you’ll probably want to pair the handset with a contract, which reduces the risk of racking up a huge bill. Rather than paying off a premium phone over 24- or 36 months, a SIM-only deal will probably be more cost-effective in the long run.
For this method, you’ll need to buy the device outright first, so consider opting for a budget or mid-range phone instead of a high-end handset. You may also want to consider a basic phone.
After that initial outlay, the monthly costs are much lower, and you can still get plenty of calls, texts and data each month.
However, with so many options out there, deciding which contract is best for your child can be a daunting task. This article aims to simplify that, highlighting some of the best SIM-only deals for children and what to look out for.
You might also like our guide on the back-to-school tech tips you don’t know.
Best cheap SIM plans for kids with data
If you’re looking for a low budget, low data SIM deals, consider carriers such as Tesco Mobile (O2), Sky Mobile (O2) and Asda Mobile (Vodafone), all of which offer competitive data plans for under £10. However, the following are our favourites:
iD Mobile uses the Three network, and is currently offering 60GB of data for just £10 per month on a monthly rolling contract. If you’d like something a bit longer term, the operator also has unlimited data for just £8 per month for six months, then £16 per month for the rest of the 24-month contract. All plans include data rollover, meaning any unused data carries over into the next month.
Giffgaff, which uses the O2 network, is another provider that offers low-cost data plans.
20GB of data costs £10 per month on a monthly rolling contract, or there’s currently 60GB for £10 per month if you’re willing to commit to 18 months.
Smarty, which also uses Three, is another provider to consider. You can currently get 180GB of data for £15 or 5GB for £5.
Various other plans are also available, including ones where you get paid back for any data you don’t use each month (known as ‘Data Discount plans’). All SIM-only deals from Smarty are monthly rolling plans, so you can cancel at any time.
Best kids SIM-only plan for streaming and social media
There’s no doubt your child will want to watch content while on their phones – a lot of it. Thankfully, some network providers bundle streaming services and social channels with their contract plans.
Most O2 plans include several months of a streaming service of your choice (Disney+, Amazon Prime, Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, McAfee or Cafeyn) for free, which is sure to keep your child happy. The highlight is 150GB for £11.99 per month for the first 6 months of a 24-month plan (£23.99 per month thereafter), but there are alternatives.
For a lower data limit, there’s Vodafone-based Voxi’s 45GB plan for £10 per month. This includes include unlimited access to a range of social media apps, none of which will count towards your data allowance.
Alternatively, you can add music streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Tidal, Napster and Primedia) and video streaming services (YouTube Premium, TikTok, Netflix, Prime Video and My5) to a 105GB plan for £15 per month. Again, all the Voxi plans are on a 30-day rolling contract.
Best cashback SIM deal – Cheap data plans with a high data allowance
If you don’t mind cashback, the best SIM deal for over 100GB data right now is with Vodafone’s 200GB plan for £8 per month (via Mobiles.co.uk). However, to avoid paying the usual £16 per month, you’ll need to claim the cashback every few months by sending your bill to Mobiles.co.uk. Here’s how:
Family SIM plans and discounts
If you’re already on O2, you qualify for its multi-save discount while also consolidating your and your child’s bill into one. You can add up to 20 connections on a Family plan with O2 and get up to 20% off the airtime plan (calls, texts and data) for each.
In fact, most major providers offer family plans to existing customers, so it’s worth checking if your current provider has any family SIM deal programs in place.
Vodafone has up to 15% off for existing customers, while EE offers up to £12 off every additional line.
At Three, you’ll get 20% off each additional one, while Smarty (which uses the Three network) offers 10% off each one.
Parental controls on SIM
All the major phone networks in the UK – EE, O2, Three and Vodafone – automatically block 18+ content – though this is via a mobile data connection and not Wi-Fi.
If your child primarily uses Wi-Fi, you may need other parental controls in place. Parental controls are one of the ways to limit kids’ screen time.
Additionally, software such as Qustodio and Net Nanny are among the best parental control software options for filtering out inappropriate content to keep your kids safe online, while also offering tools to monitor and limit your children’s device and internet usage.
Data capping or not?
Most often SIM plans will automatically stop service once you’ve reached the limit, or text you when you’ve used up a sizeable portion.
Parents, however, might still want to consider data or usage capping features when buying a SIM for a child. You might be prompted to sign up for this option when you buy the SIM from the network provider. This helps limit charges that are out of contract, such as picture messaging, long-distance calls or additional data usage.
You can choose to set a £0 cap, which means your child won’t be allowed any additional spending outside the plan’s limits. Alternatively, you can set a budget beyond the base value of the plan if you want flexibility. This might be a helpful safety net for your child if they need additional minutes or texts to reach you. O2, for instance, allows a spending cap of up to £200.
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Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.