4 mins read
Key points
- giffgaff deals are easy to cancel. In fact you can change your plan every month if you want, giving you endless flexibility.
- giffgaff is suitable for all types of mobile customers and their needs, offering plans with unlimited minutes and calls across the board as well as flexible data allowances from 1GB to unlimited.
- It’s easy to activate your new giffgaff SIM; just follow the instructions online and you should be able to start using it soon after setup.
- giffgaff encourages use of its community forum. And if you make helpful contributions you can earn points that go towards credit, charity donations or even cashback.
What is giffgaff SIM only?
Launched back in 2009, giffgaff is what’s called an MVNO (or mobile virtual network operator).
This means it uses another provider’s network to deliver its services. Currently, giffgaff ‘piggybacks’ off O2, enabling it to offer its customers extensive coverage across the whole of the UK.
A big feature of giffgaff is that it exclusively offers SIM only deals. If you’ve got a handset you’re happy to keep using, giffgaff almost certainly has a flexible tariff for you.
Why choose a giffgaff SIM only deal?
Some reasons to consider giffgaff SIM only plans include:
Affordability and flexibility
Unlike some other mobile networks that tie you in for lengthy periods of time, you can switch your giffgaff SIM only tariff whenever you want.
Plus, with data allowances ranging from 1GB to unlimited, this network caters for everyone’s budgets.
Community support
One thing that sets giffgaff apart from other networks is its community forum.
A collaborative support hub, this platform exists because giffgaff doesn’t have a dedicated customer helpline.
Instead, you can post your queries online and receive responses from fellow giffgaff community members.
Great reviews
At the time of writing[1], giffgaff received a 4.1 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot .
This puts it at the very top of the ‘Great’ category.
What giffgaff SIM only deals are there?
As an exclusively SIM only mobile provider, giffgaff can offer both flexibility and savings across its plans.
All giffgaff SIM only deals feature unlimited UK minutes and texts, with unlimited data also available depending on which tariff you choose.
With giffgaff, you can get 5G speeds if your devices are compatible and you’re in a 5G-enabled area.
There are even rewards you can earn when you:
- Refer new customers to giffgaff
- Contribute widely to the community forum
How much are giffgaff SIM only deals?
At the time of writing[2], giffgaff’s cheapest SIM only plan starts at just £6. Its most expensive deal - featuring unlimited data - is £35.
Of course, giffgaff has many more tariffs. So no matter how much data you need or how economical you want your SIM only deal to be, you’re sure to find something that suits your budget.
How to choose a giffgaff SIM only deal
Ultimately, the giffgaff SIM only deal you pick will come down to how you use your mobile phone.
For example, if you only use it for casual social networking or web browsing, you might be able to get by on a tariff between 1-6GB data per month.
However, if you’re out and about a lot, travelling for work or leisure, you’ll probably need a more generous data allowance, especially if you stream while on the go.
How long is a giffgaff SIM only contract?
Unlike other mobile networks, giffgaff doesn’t offer a 12-month contract for SIM only customers.
Instead, if you want to enter into a SIM only contract, you sign up for 18 months or for a one-month rolling contract.
However, you can still switch your plan up every month (if, for example, you require less data over the next 30 days).
giffgaff also offers one month rolling SIM only plans and Pay As You Go deals, too, for even more flexibility.
Activating your new giffgaff SIM
You’ll need an unlocked phone to use your new giffgaff SIM.
Fortunately, if you’re using your existing handset or have bought one from a household name retailer in the last few years, this should already be unlocked.
To activate your giffgaff SIM, visit www.giffgaff.com/activate and enter your six- or 13-digit activation code. This should be printed on the back of your SIM card.
For billing purposes, you'll need to provide card details as well.
Once giffgaff has all the required information, your new SIM should be ready to use shortly.
Can you keep your current number with a giffgaff SIM only deal?
If you're switching to giffgaff from a different network, you can keep your existing number.
All you need is your PAC code, which you can request by texting 65075.
Once you receive your PAC code, simply call giffgaff and give this to them. They should then be able to port you over within one working day.
A PAC code can take up to two hours to come through, so don't be alarmed if you haven't received a message immediately.
Are giffgaff SIM only deals suitable if you have poor credit?
Unlike many other networks, giffgaff doesn't require you to undergo a credit check for its SIM only plans.
This means you can choose either a Pay As You Go SIM - which charges you per minute, text and MB of data used - or a monthly bundle with all these included for a set price.
If you have a giffgaff Pay As You Go SIM, simply top up via your credit/debit card or onsite through Paypal.
Alternatively, you can buy a giffgaff voucher in certain shops and redeem it online or over the phone by calling 43430.
Can you use your giffgaff SIM only plan abroad?
You can use your giffgaff SIM only plan in the EU and certain other global destinations.
In the EU, you can roam like you’re at home, with no extra data charges.
However, there is a data cap at 5GB, which if you exceed, you’ll have to pay for how much you’ve gone over. This applies regardless of whatever giffgaff SIM only plan you have.
For other worldwide destinations, PAYG rates vary, so remember to check before you travel.
What happens when you reach the end of your giffgaff SIM only deal?
If you're on a giffgaff SIM only contract, this will turn into a rolling plan once the initial contract period ends.
For customers who choose a monthly rolling or PAYG plan, however, these have no fixed end date, so you can leave them as recurring and keep topping up as needed.
Any giffgaff SIM not used in six months will be automatically disconnected from the network.
Does giffgaff offer Wi-Fi calling?
As it stands, giffgaff does not currently provide Wi-Fi calling on its network. But since it’s offered by most other networks, we wouldn’t be surprised to see giffgaff switching on Wi-Fi calling in the near future.
What is giffgaff’s tethering policy?
Good news, giffgaff doesn’t impose any restrictions on tethering. So you’re free to connect other devices onto your phone’s internet and convert it into a useful mobile hotspot.
This is excellent if you have unlimited data, as you can hook up as many of your devices at once and not have to worry about multiple devices draining your allowance.
Does giffgaff charge upfront costs or set-up fees?
Don’t worry about set-up fees, giffgaff doesn’t include upfront costs with any of its SIM only deals. So you can get started right away by simply paying for your data bundle which will always include unlimited calls and texts.
Does giffgaff offer data rollover?
giffgaff doesn’t include a data rollover option, but since its deals are easy to change and great value, if you find that you have a lot of unused data left over every month you can just drop down to a cheaper plan to save money.
Compare giffgaff SIM only deals with other networks
See how giffgaff SIM only and mobile deals compare to those offered by other UK networks, including:
FAQs
Will I need to sign a contract?
No, you don’t have to sign a contract for a giffgaff rolling monthly deal. You’re only buying one month’s worth of data at a time, so there’s no need to commit to a financial payment plan or complete a credit check.
Is giffgaff connected with O2?
Yes, giffgaff had based its mobile phone infrastructure on O2’s network. So not only do you get cheap deals and great flexibility, you also benefit from one of the country’s best speeds and coverage providers.
Can I get a giffgaff SIM only deal with poor credit?
Yes, giffgaff doesn’t check your credit history for any of its rolling monthly deals. So you can sign up and get a cheap data bundle with no multi-year financial commitment to worry about.
The flexible price plans can also be changed from months to month if you wish, so you can switch up your data package to suit your changing needs.
If I get a giffgaff SIM only deal, can I keep my current mobile number?
Yes, make sure you have your PAC code to hand when you sign up to giffgaff and you’ll be able to keep your current mobile phone number with no hassle. Don’t have a PAC code? No problem, just send a text to 65075 and you’ll quickly get a reply with your PAC code inside.
[1] 11 April 2024.