According to an Ofcom-accredited survey, three-quarters of Britons on pay-monthly deals spend too much on their mobile phone contracts, with the total overspend at a shocking £5 billion per year.
Even more alarming is that this is happening despite the huge array of new contracts to choose from and comparison sites that help you track down the best deals and choose the right price.
Here we’ll help you determine the best phone tariff for you, with handy links to other articles that will help you make the best decision. While we’re at it, we’ll also help you avoid paying more than you have to.
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Finding the right mobile phone tariff
When you’re looking at getting a new phone tariff with a new phone, there are two major things you need to consider: what kind of handset do you want, and what kind of contract is best for you? Once you know these things, working out what mobile phone tariff will fulfil your needs won’t be difficult.
Finding the right phone
If you’re not quite sure which phone you want to go for, have a look at our mobile phone reviews section. We have reviews for the latest iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and more.
Even if you don’t think you’ll want to pay more for the latest model, just click ‘Read all’ to find reviews for older models.
Getting the most out of your contract
Once you’ve determined which handset you prefer, check out our guide to picking the best phone contract.
Here, you can filter all the deals by length of contract and cost. You can also sort them by the amount of data, calls, or text allowance that you need, so narrowing down the options to the perfect choice is easy, no matter your priority.
Pay monthly or pay as you go?
Pay monthly mobile tariffs allow you to make one monthly payment and usually include unlimited minutes and texts and a set amount of mobile data. You will be invoiced for any talk time you use over the included amount.
Pay as you go tariffs, on the other hand, allow you to top-up your phone with credit or mobile data in advance and then use your phone until that pre-paid credit runs out. People who like to have complete control over their spending may prefer to use pay as you go, but it does come with the added task of regularly topping up.
What's included in a phone tariff?
The most common elements people need to consider when choosing a mobile phone tariff are the number of minutes and texts included, the amount of data, and whether calls and texts are free when contacting others who are on the same network.
Inclusive minutes
Every mobile phone tariff should offer a deal on inclusive minutes, which usually depends on the amount you pay each month. The more expensive the tariff, the more minutes you get.
Many mobile phone tariffs offer free calls to your colleagues if you are all on the same network, but this isn’t always true, so it’s best to keep an eye out for it if it’s important to you.
Inclusive texts
Much like inclusive minutes, most mobile phone tariffs offer a set number of inclusive texts. Some providers even allow you to add extra texts with an add-on bundle if you’re running low.
Just like minutes, most networks nowadays automatically provide free texts to devices that are on the same network.
Data
Data refers to content or information you can access over the internet from your mobile device, including browsing web pages, downloading music, and making video calls.
If you like to make the most of the advanced technology available on your phone, you should make sure your mobile phone tariff includes a good data bundle. If you’re not sure how much data you need, we have a guide for that, too.
International calls
Calls from mobiles when you're abroad can be very expensive. However, if you plan to use your mobile abroad a lot, you can sign up for a mobile phone tariff that gives you a good rate on international roaming.
Keep contract lengths in mind
Phone contract lengths vary considerably. If you upgrade your phone regularly, a 12-month contract might be a good idea. These deals are excellent for those of us who love getting our hands on the latest and best models on the market.
Otherwise, you’ll find contracts are typically for 18 months, 24 months, or even 36 months.
The main advantage of longer terms - especially 24 or 36-month deals - is that the length of the contract usually means you'll pay a lower monthly premium.
You are also likely to pay a reduced sum for the handset itself, or in some cases, nothing at all.
Compare mobile contracts and SIM only deals
Browse our best contract deals for the latest handsets or save money with a cheap SIM only offer.
