Although it doesn’t have to be that, selecting a new phone contract can sound overwhelming and complicated. Choosing the right deal goes beyond deciding you want a SIM only, PAYG, or monthly billed contract. In between each of those options, there are so many alternatives and factors you need to weigh before making the final decision. Failure to get your choice right could result in you incurring costs for which you aren’t enjoying the services.

In this guide, we walk you through each of the available options so that you’ll have it easy to arrive at the best choice.

Let’s get you started.

SIM-Only Contract

This option grants you access to an ongoing contract with better and value-based data and call time. As a result, you’ll get a fixed amount of inclusive data, calls, and texts that you’ll need to pay for on a monthly basis.

The advantage of this deal is that you’re able to determine beforehand how much you’ll be using the phone. Also, you can settle on a plan that suits the purpose for which you want the phone to serve. For example, if you’re looking to make more calls, you can opt for the deal that comes with more minutes for both local and international calls. better than ebay However, the option doesn’t come with a handset as the name suggests. You’ll thus be required to buy another phone separately or use an existing one.

Another benefit of SIM-only deals is that they allow you to give a cancellation notice 30 days in advance. After that, you’ll be free to explore other providers with better deals. 

Pros of SIM-Only Deals

• The best option for saving money on connectivity and communication
• Most flexible compared to the other deals
• Walk away when you get a better deal
• Convenient if you aren’t willing to upgrade your existing pone

Cons of SIM-Only Deals

• Requires your handset to be unlocked before you can use SIM-only deals

Pay-as-you-go

This option only requires you to pay for the minutes, texts, and data you use. There’s no kind of contract binding between you and the provider and that means you’re free to walk away whenever you get a more attractive offer. In most cases, there’s not going to be a consideration of your credit history.

The specific offers vary from one provider to another and so you should do proper research to find the best offer for bundles, minutes, and texts. Under this opt-in, you’ll upload a certain amount of money every month and get a deal that corresponds to your money.

The option is convenient if you’re not interested in getting a new handset, don’t usually spend a lot of time making calls or texting or you simply don’t want to be tied down a lengthy contract to a provider.

PAYG Deals Pros

• Only pay for whatever you use
• No lengthy and inconveniencing contracts
• Good if you are an infrequent user of your phone

Cons of PAYG Deals

• The package doesn’t include a handset
• Can’t make calls, surf, or text if you run out of credit

Monthly Contract

Monthly contracts demand that you upload a certain amount of money to cater for the minutes, texts, and data. It’s a better option compared to the PAYG alternative. This option also allows you to get another handset.

There are providers that will separate the cost of the new handset from the minutes, texts, and bundles package. After you’ve finished paying for the phone, the cost incurred at the end of the month will fall to only include that of the package you’re using.

The deal is ideal if you make many calls and send lots of texts in any given month and you would also like to get a new handset. The only shortcoming here is that you might be forced to enter into a contract that ties you down to a single provider for as many as 24 months.

Pros of Monthly Contracts

• You can get a new phone
• Good for people that text a lot and make many calls

Cons

• Long binding and expensive contracts
• Might come with deals that aren’t suitable for your communication needs

Summary

Equipped with this information, you can now go for the option that appeals the most to you. From the three options we’ve highlighted, we would recommend the SIM-only option as it’s both affordable, flexible and comes with amazing offers.