A guide to comparing mobile Phone Tariffs
Mobile phone tariffs are constantly changing as networks such as Vodafone, 02 and Orange compete to gain new customers. Read our guide on the best way to compare mobile phone tariffs so you get the best deal possible.
Monitor your current Mobile Phone Usage
Try and match phone tariffs based on your expected usage. If you are not going over your monthly allowance for texts and calls then you’re paying too much for the wrong tariff. The key is to find just the right phone contract to suit your usage.
1) How many minutes are you using on your current phone tariff?
2) Who do you call?
If you are ringing friends on the same network as you then look at phone tariffs which provide discounts or free network-to-network minutes such as 02 and Vodafone.
3) Do you call abroad?
If you make lots of calls abroad then look into tariffs which provide discounts or even inclusive over-seas minutes. 02, for example, provide an international traveller service (ITS) which offers 80% discounts on calls abroad. If you are getting a new mobile with your contract make sure it has dual or quad-band technology
4) Are your calls peak or off-peak?
Generally speaking, peak calls are between 7.am to 8pm mid-week. If the majority of your calls are off-peak then look into choosing a phone contract which provides you with off-peak discounts.
5) How much do you text?
Remember if you are looking to upgrade to an Apple iPhone then you can reduce the amount of texts sent by downloading iPhone applications which allow you to chat with your friends for free.
6) Do you surf the net?
Latest 3G handsets such as the Apple iPhone and Blackberry Touch make extensive use of the internet. The majority of networks and tariffs will charge for internet and data usage. If you want to get the best out of your iPhone then look at tariffs which provide free internet and wi-fi services. Vodafone for example, provide free unlimited wi-fi access and 1GB of mobile internet use on all their iPhone tarrifs. 02 offers a web bolt-on which gives you unlimited internet usage.
7) Pay-As-You-Go vs Sim-Only vs Contract
Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) means that you pay for your phones usages as you go along. There are no fixed contracts. The advantage to going on a PAYG tariff is that you only pay for the minutes and calls you use. It works out cheaper to opt for a PAYG tariff if you use less than 100 minutes of calls and 50 texts a month. The downside is that your network provider will not subsidize the cost of the handset.
A PAYG Apple iPhone can cost up to £549 on 02 compared to FREE on the monthly tariff.
Sim-Only deals are great if you are looking for lots of minutes and texts and don’t want a new mobile phone. On average you can save up to £15 a month compared with pay-monthly phone tariffs.
Sim-Only deals such as 02’s simplicity are based on a 30 day rolling contract so if you are stuck for cash one month you can easily cancel.
Pay Monthly Tariffs are best for those of you who are looking for a phone upgrade.
The majority of top end phones will be cheaper in the long run if you opt-in for a monthly contract.
Compare Tariffs at Vodafone