The Pros And Cons Of SIM-only Contracts

What Are SIM-only Deals?
 
When you don't want to pay a fortune for a mobile contract but you still want the data, texts, and calls that you need, a SIM-only deal is a good choice. Once you have your SIM card, you are free to shop for deals from all of the top carriers. You have more options and it is easy to find the contract that is the best fit for your needs.
 
You can find SIM-only offers for Pay As You Go (PAYG) plans and contract plans. With the Pay As You Go Plan you are sent a SIM card. Once you get the card you can top it up whenever you need to. The carrier will often throw in free minutes or data to sweeten the deal.
 
If you start a SIM-only agreement with a contract you must pay the monthly fee for however long the duration of the contract is. SIM-only contracts tend to be shorter and don't usually extend for more than 12 months.
 
Many phone providers offer no-contract plans that allow you to get month to month service. A no-contract plan is a good choice if you are planning on buying a new phone soon or just don't want to be locked to one carrier. With a SIM-only plan you can easily cancel the plan and upgrade your phone when the latest model comes out. Click here for deals.
 
Switching over to a SIM-only plan is easy. Just choose your provider and choose the plan. Once your new SIM card comes in the mail, install it into your phone. You don't have to change your number as long as you ask for your PAC code while you are switching providers.
 
Whether or not a SIM-only contract works for you is going to depend on what you are looking for. Here are the top advantages of SIM-only phone plans:
 
* Choose your own provider. Since you are not buying a handset from the provider, you have the freedom to shop around and look for the best plan for your budget.
 
* Switch providers whenever you want. Many providers offer month to month plans which means you can just switch to a new provider at the end of the month if you find a better deal. Even if you do choose a contract, the term won't be for more than 12 months.
 
* Save money. Since you don't have to pay for the phone, your monthly bill is going to be much lower than if you had signed up for a plan that included the phone.
 
* Get the latest phones. Since your plan isn't tied to the phone, you can buy the latest phone and just pay cash for it. You can then shop for the SIM-only plan you want.
 
* Keep the phone you have. If you love the phone that you have and just want a better deal, just keep the phone and switch to a SIM-only plan with a different carrier to save money.
 
* Avoid a credit check. If you choose a contract that comes with a phone you will need to go through a credit check and you could be turned down if your credit is bad. SIM-only plans usually don't require a credit check so you won't have to worry about getting denied.
 
There are some cons to SIM-only plans that you need to be aware of:
 
* Phones are expensive: Since you have to pay for the phone yourself you are going to have to spend more money upfront. You can save money by buying a preowned handset.
 
* The phone could be locked. It is important to buy an unlocked phone when you are looking for your handset. If the phone is locked you might not be able to use it with the carrier you want.
 
These cons don't have to be dealbreakers, but you do need to be aware of them if you are planning on a SIM-only plan.