Giffgaff SIM only deals Updated: 2024-12-05 10:14:54
Giffgaff offer low cost flexible SIM only plans you can change or cancel at anytime.
Giffgaff offer low cost flexible SIM only plans you can change or cancel at any time. Their online support is run by their members and offers rewards to those who get involved.
- Change or cancel your plan anytime
- Unlimited 'Always On' plans available
- Payback rewards active community members with money back
All you need to know about Giffgaff Mobile
Giffgaff Mobile was launched in November 2009 as a low cost SIM only provider. Owned by O2 and operating on their network, their excellent community of members provide help and support online, so they can keep costs down and pass these saving onto you.
Let's take a look in more detail at what Giffgaff Mobile has to offer.
SIM only plans
Giffgaff don't do your typical handset pay monthly plans. Instead they have SIM only deals which they call a Goodybag.
These are contract free so you can change or cancel at anytime.
All Goodybags come with unlimited minutes and texts and have data allowances that range from 500Mb to unlimited.
There is still the option of traditional pay as you go for those that prefer, although you'll find the Goodybags much better value, especially for data.
Goodybags last for 30 days and can even be set to automatically recur every 30 days. If you run out before the auto recur then you can choose to purchase your next plan early, or use traditional pay as you go in the interim.
Why choose Giffgaff Mobile?
Online community
Instead of the usual customer support, such as online chat and call centres, Giffgaff's support is run by its members via an active online community. They are there to help with any questions you have.
In the Ofcom comparing service quality report(published on 30th April 2019), Giffgaff scored well above the average on overall satisfaction with provider at 96%.
Payback
As a reward for being involved in their online community, Giffgaff members earn Payback points. Twice a year you can convert your points to cash, credit or a donation to charity.
Flexible
Giffgaff's Goodybags can be changed whenever you like. Upgrade if you need a little more data than normal one month, or reduce if you are looking to budget for a while.
Coverage
Giffgaff is an MVNO which runs on the O2 network so has excellent coverage - 99% population coverage across the UK.
No credit check
No contract means no credit check. Great for those with poor rating or those just starting out.
Tethering
You are free to tether with Giffgaff (assuming your device supports this). Tethering is turning your phone into a personal hotspot so that you can use your mobile data allowance to get online with other devices like a laptop or tablet.
This can really chew through your data though so make sure to keep your eye on your allowance. In the case of the £25 Always On Goodybag you won't be ever charged anything extra while in the UK, however data speeds are throttled between 8am and midnight if you use more than 80Gb in a month.
WiFi Hotspots
Giffgaff customers get free access to WiFi on the London Underground provided by Virgin Media, as well as around 8000 hotspots around the UK.
Roaming on Giffgaff Mobile?
Giffgaff made changes to its roaming policy in June 2022. From 9th August 2022, giffgaff members will be able to use up to 5GB of their goodybag allowance in the EU and selected destinations at no extra cost. Beyond this, there’ll be a charge of 10p/mb while roaming.
Giffgaff state that ‘Providing 5GB of data while you’re abroad enables the vast majority of our members to still roam in the EU within their current goodybag allowance’ and claim that in 2019, over 90% of their members used less than 5GB when roaming in the EU each month.
What's bad about Giffgaff Mobile?
Always On speed restriction
Giffgaff's 'Always On' Goodybag gives unlimited minutes, texts and data for £25 per month. You can download as much as you like but there are speed restrictions. The first 80Gb are full speed, but after this you'll experience a reduced data speed of 384kbps from 8am to Midnight.
No WiFi calling
Giffgaff does not support WiFi calling. It's still a bit of a premium feature and so tends not to be available on the smaller more budget friendly networks. However there are a few alternative apps you could use instead, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get unlimited data with Giffgaff?
Yes, Giffgaff offers an unlimited data package which also includes unlimited calls and texts. However, you can only use up to 20Gb of your full allowance for roaming, and after 80Gb of data used you'll experience a reduced data speed.
Which network does Giffgaff Mobile use?
Giffgaff doesn’t have its own mobile network, so it piggybacks onto the O2 network. O2 has 99% population coverage across the UK.
Can I keep my current phone number if I switch to Giffgaff?
Yes, it is usually possible to keep your number. You will just need to request a PAC code from your existing network. After you’ve received and activated your Giffgaff SIM, they will give you a link to transfer your old number.
What is an Always On goodybag?
Giffgaff’s Always On goodybag means you can stay connected with your friends and family without having to ever worry about running out of data again.
With Always On data, you get 80 GB of data at full 4G speed. After 80 GB of data used you'll experience a reduced data speed of 384kbps from 8am to Midnight. You may notice that activities which require high amounts of data, like HD video streaming, will be slower.
Roaming in the EU and selected destinations with Always On means that after you’ve used the full 20 GB of data, you’ll be charged 0.36p/MB (that's less than a penny per megabyte) while roaming.
Can I get a handset from Giffgaff?
Yes, Giffgaff do sell both new and refurbished phones. The range is limited to the main players like Apple and Samsung, as well as the likes of Sony, Nokia and Huawei.
How do I switch to Giffgaff SIM only?
Switching to Giffgaff SIM only couldn't be easier. Once you have found the deal you want, simply click the ‘View Deal’ button. This will take you to Giffgaff’s website, who will guide you through the rest of the process. Or you can click the link below to go direct to the Giffgaff website.
