UK SIM card for tourists: local SIM or eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), the cheapest prepaid SIM in the United Kingdom costs £10 (EE, 20 GB, 30 days). A travel eSIM for the same week costs from $9.79 (GigSky) and is installed before you leave.
Offers checked on October 21, 2026 on the carriers’ websites
The best travel eSIMs in the United Kingdom for a week
For 7 days and 6 GB
- 1Best unlimited
Ubigi
Unlimited · 7 days
$21.00$3.00 per day- 25 GB at full speed, then reduced speed
- Networks: EE and Three
- Hotspot allowed
- 2Cheapest
GigSky
10 GB · 30 days
$9.79$0.98 per GB- Lowest total price for 7 days
- Networks: Three, O2, and Vodafone
- Hotspot allowed
- 3Best price per GB
GoMoWorld
15 GB · 30 days
$12.99$0.87 per GB- Lowest price per GB for this trip
- Hotspot allowed
Three steps, three questions: the best unlimited plan, the cheapest and the best price per GB, from three different providers. How we pick the podium · Affiliate links
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), at the prices on the carriers’ and providers’ websites.
Local SIM, 7 days
£10
EE · 20 GB · 30 days
- Sold in stores or online, depending on the carrier.
- It takes the place of your SIM: your usual number stops receiving calls and texts.
- ID: not stated on the pages we read.
Travel eSIM, 7 days
$9.79
with GigSky
- Installed at home before you leave, it works as soon as you land.
- Your SIM stays on for calls and texts.
- ID: our provider pages say who asks for one.
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
UK SIM card: our analysis
From the carriers’ websites, checked on October 21, 2026.
The carriers
- EEEE pay as you go 30-day plan £10 · online£10
- VodafoneVodafone Pay as you go Plus £10 · as an eSIM · online£10
- O2O2 Pay As You Go Big Bundle £10 · as an eSIM · online · in stores£10
- ThreeThree Pay As You Go Data Pack 40GB · as an eSIM · online£10
Unlimited, phone number, eSIM
- The cheapest unlimited SIM: EE pay as you go 30-day plan £35 (EE), £35 for 30 days.
- 21 of 21 offers come with a number for calls (EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three).
- 16 of 21 offers also come as an eSIM (Vodafone, O2, and Three): no counter to find.
Where to buy it
- At the airport: Heathrow (Sim Local).
- Online before you leave: 21 of 21 offers (EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three).
- In stores in town: O2.
eSIMs in the United Kingdom at a glance
- In the United Kingdom, we compare plans from 7 eSIM providers: GigSky, GoMoWorld, Jetpac, Nomad, Orange Travel, Ubigi, and Yesim.
- The cheapest unlimited plan for a week is from Ubigi: $21.00 (Unlimited · 7 days).
- A pocket WiFi rents from €58.65 a week (Hippocketwifi); see pocket WiFi rental in Europe.
The carriers’ prepaid offers
For each carrier, the cheapest offers that cover everyday use (maps, messaging, social media) for a week, two weeks or a month.
We found 21 prepaid offers from 4 carriers in the United Kingdom: EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three. Prices are those on their websites, in their currency (GBP), not converted.
| Offer | Carrier | Data | Validity | Price | As eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE pay as you go 30-day plan £10 | EE | 20 GB | 30 days | £10 | No |
| O2 Pay As You Go Big Bundle £10 | O2 | 8 GB | 30 days | £10 | Yes |
| Three Pay As You Go Data Pack 40GB | Three | 40 GB | 30 days | £10 | Yes |
| Vodafone Pay as you go Plus £10 | Vodafone | 27 GB | 30 days | £10 | Yes |
| EE pay as you go 30-day plan £15 | EE | 75 GB | 30 days | £15 | No |
| O2 Pay As You Go Big Bundle £15 | O2 | 25 GB | 30 days | £15 | Yes |
Sources: ee.co.uk, o2.co.uk, three.co.uk, vodafone.co.uk
What your trip costs, SIM or eSIM
For each trip length, the cheapest offer that covers everyday use.
| Trip | Local SIM | Travel eSIM | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week · 6 GB | £10 EE | $9.79 GigSky | See the plan |
| 2 weeks · 12 GB | £10 EE | $12.99 GoMoWorld | See the plan |
| 1 month · 24 GB | £10 Vodafone | $22.00 Ubigi | See the plan |
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
Where to buy it when you land
Carriers and SIM resellers named by the airports’ and carriers’ websites.
| Airport | Where to buy a SIM |
|---|---|
| Heathrow (LHR) | Sim Local |
UK SIM card: your questions
Answered from the carriers’ websites and today’s prices.
How much is a SIM card in the United Kingdom?
For a week of everyday use, from £10 with EE (20 GB, 30 days), checked on October 21, 2026.
Where can I buy a SIM card in the United Kingdom?
At the airport: Heathrow (Sim Local). Carriers also sell their offers in shops or online, depending on the offer.
Do I need a passport for a SIM card in the United Kingdom?
The pages we read do not say: bring your passport.
Local SIM or eSIM in the United Kingdom?
A travel eSIM is installed before you leave and keeps your SIM on for calls and texts; for a week, it costs from $9.79 (GigSky). The cheapest local SIM costs £10 (EE).
How much is a SIM card in the United Kingdom for two weeks or a month?
For two weeks, from £10 (EE pay as you go 30-day plan £10, EE); for a month, from £10 (Vodafone Pay as you go Plus £10, Vodafone).
Is there an unlimited SIM card in the United Kingdom?
The cheapest unlimited SIM: EE pay as you go 30-day plan £35 (EE), £35 for 30 days.
Does a tourist SIM card in the United Kingdom come with a phone number?
21 of 21 offers come with a number for calls (EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three).
Can I buy the SIM card before I leave?
Online before you leave: 21 of 21 offers (EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three). 16 of 21 offers also come as an eSIM (Vodafone, O2, and Three): no counter to find.
Which carrier should I pick in the United Kingdom?
For a week of everyday use: EE from £10, Vodafone from £10, O2 from £10, and Three from £10.
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