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When buying a SIM card, you might think you have to choose a specific network and therefore be limited by that network’s coverage, but in fact there’s another option – you could get a multi-network SIM deal.
A multi-network SIM is one that works across multiple or more often all UK networks (so some combination of EE, Three, Vodafone, and O2). It can seamlessly switch between networks depending on which has the best coverage where you are.
The upshot is that you’ll almost never be without some coverage, and will always have the best possible coverage in a given area. So these can be a great choice for anyone, but are especially useful for hikers or other people who spend a lot of time in rural areas, or simply anyone who travels the UK extensively.
There aren’t many companies offering multi-network SIM deals to consumers, as most are aimed at businesses or Internet of Things (IoT) devices, but there are a few options, which we’ve detailed below.
Anywhere SIM
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The main multi-network SIM option is Anywhere SIM, which lets you roam seamlessly across all four of the UK’s major networks.
There are a variety of SIM Only deals available on this network, but the main difference is just how much credit they come pre-loaded with – with options ranging from £10 to £60. Calls on Anywhere SIM cost 10p per minute, while texts cost 5p each, and data costs 10p per megabyte.
So these are essentially Pay As You Go plans rather than SIM Only contracts, you just choose how much credit you want to start with, and how long you want service on the SIM for (with options ranging from one month to one year).
Alternatively, you can choose a data-only SIM, which comes with between 1GB and 120GB total, and that allowance must be used in between one month and 12 months (depending on which plan you choose).
Downsides of Anywhere SIM include the price, as you pay a premium to be able to seamlessly switch networks. Anywhere SIM also doesn’t currently offer 5G, and nor does it allow roaming outside the EU at the time of writing – though it claims that will be available soon.
ParentShield
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Another option for a multi-network SIM deal is ParentShield, but this is a bit different in that it’s designed specifically for children.
As with Anywhere SIM, it works across all four major UK networks, though you need to specifically choose one of its all-network plans for this, and it also does a similar thing when roaming, with 152 networks across Europe supported.
Beyond this, ParentShield offers various tools aimed at keeping kids safe while they use their phone, such as the ability to automatically block all anonymous calls, the ability to store texts and call recordings online so you can review them, and the ability to add time controls, limiting when a child can actually use the phone, among other things.
So ParentShield probably isn’t the network for you, but it might be the network for your kids if you’re trying to work out how to keep them contactable while keeping them safe, as ParentShield's plans rank among the best SIM card deals for kids.
Honest Mobile
Honest Mobile’s standard SIM card (called a ‘Classic SIM’) isn’t multi-network, as this just connects to Three, but Honest Mobile also offers a ‘Smart SIM’, and this can connect to Three, O2, Vodafone, and EE.
However, it’s a bit different to the other multi-network options on this page, because it won’t replace your existing SIM card. Rather, the Honest Mobile Smart SIM is intended as a secondary SIM that your phone will switch to when you can’t get a connection on your main SIM.
It’s a data-only eSIM with a lot of restrictions, including only working with select apps (though 500+ are supported at the time of writing). You can use it for things like WhatsApp voice calls and messages, mapping, banking, requesting an Uber, and various other things, but it won’t work for video calls, streaming, web browsing, or other data-hungry activities. You also can’t use it for regular calls and texts.
However, these restrictions mean it’s quite affordable relative to other multi-network options, and it comes with unlimited data, and you can even use the Honest Mobile Smart SIM when roaming in over 180 countries.
FlexiFone
FlexiFone is another option along the lines of Anywhere SIM, in that it sells SIM Only plans that can connect to all four of the UK’s major networks.
These aren’t data only plans, so you can call and text on them too, and they come with up to 50GB of data.
They also support 5G (though the network notes that speeds top out at 200Mbps and average around 10-80Mbps, making it slower than a typical 5G service), and FlexiFone also offers inclusive roaming in numerous locations in Europe and beyond – though some locations only let you use your data to roam, not calls and texts.
Tethering is also supported, and you can choose between a physical SIM and an eSIM. Most plans are 30 days, but you can also choose to commit for a year at a discounted price.
The main downside of FlexiFone – aside from it delivering lower speeds than most 5G networks – is that prices can be high, but this is true of most multi-network SIM options.
RWG Mobile
Finally, there’s RWG Mobile, which offers data-only multi-network SIMs that can connect to all four of the UK’s major networks.
These come with between 100MB of 10GB of data, so they’re not for heavy users, however prices are middling, you can roam across the EU, and 5G is supported.
Note however that not all of RWG’s plans support all four networks – you specifically want a ‘Multi Network SIM’.
