EE review

Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 30, 2026

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Our verdict

EE suits households that want one network's own unlimited data on a SIM-only plan with no handset to pay off. Its Unlimited No Frills SIM starts at £23 on a rolling term, though a credit check is required and the price rises each year.

Key facts

Best for
Households wanting one network's own unlimited data on a short rolling SIM-only term.
Seller type
Network (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
SIM-only
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Price from
£23 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Reference plan prices
Unlimited No Frills SIM: GBP 23 per month, unlimited data, 30-day rolling; Unlimited with Apple One SIM: GBP 36 per month, unlimited data, 24-month; Cheapest overall SIM: GBP 23 per month, unlimited data, 30-day rolling (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Unlimited plan price
£23 (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
5G
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Mid-contract price rises
SIM-only +GBP 2.50 each 31 March in minimum term, then each 1 March; out-of-bundle +5% (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Credit check required
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Multi-line discount
Yes (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Markets
GB (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Support channels
Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 30, 2026)
Billing
Contract, Rolling, Prepaid
Contract length
1, 24
Official website
ee.co.uk

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInX

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Unlimited data starts at £23 on the Unlimited No Frills SIM, so the entry figure is also the unlimited data figure.
  • Billing runs contract, rolling and prepaid, putting a rolling SIM, a contract plan and prepaid under one seller.
  • EE is a network seller, so the SIM and the signal behind it come from the same provider.
  • A multi line discount is offered, which brings the cost of extra lines on one account down.
  • Terms run 1 and 24 months, so the rolling SIM avoids a long minimum commitment.

Cons

  • A credit check is required, so applicants with a shaky credit file may be turned away from the £23 deal.
  • Support runs on help centre and community only, so a billing or price rise query depends on a written reply.
  • EE sells in GB only, so coverage, pricing and the billing choices apply to a single market.
  • The stated price rise rule lifts the SIM-only price each spring in the minimum term and each March after it, plus more for out-of-bundle use, so £23 is the starting figure rather than the long term one.
EE

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Scored 8.7 / 10 by TariffCue.

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Who it suits

  • People who already have a phone and want unlimited data from the network that supplies the signal.
  • Households that may want to leave early, since the rolling SIM is the short option and terms run 1 and 24 months.
  • Families running more than one line, because a multi line discount is offered.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Not for shoppers watching only the entry figure, because yesss! lists a price from of €0 against EE's £23.
  • Not for buyers who want a prepaid-led seller rather than a network deal, since GETESA and Lonestar Cell MTN both bill on prepaid and contract and contract and prepaid.

Plans and prices

EE lists SIM-only plans from £23 a month, and that entry figure belongs to the Unlimited No Frills SIM, which is also the cheapest overall SIM and comes with unlimited data on a short rolling term. The Unlimited with Apple One SIM is the costlier option, pairing the same unlimited data with a longer commitment, so the choice is really about how long you want to stay rather than about data. Unlimited data pricing starts at £23, which means a heavy data user pays the entry rate rather than paying extra for the allowance. The stated price rise rule adds a set amount to SIM-only plans each spring while you are in the minimum term and a further amount each March after that, and out-of-bundle use is charged at a higher rate. Treat £23 as the starting point and budget above it for the later months of any plan.

How it compares on our data

Two rankings tell different stories for EE, and the gap between them is the useful part. On price from, the starting figure of every plan, EE sits at 254 of 258 brands, so entry price is not where this seller leads. On unlimited price, the same brand moves to 107 of 173, which is where the offer is judged strongest. The reason is simple to see in the plans themselves: the cheapest SIM and the unlimited SIM cost the same, so sorting by starting price understates what you receive. Buyers who sort purely by the lowest monthly figure will place EE much further back than buyers who look at what the allowance includes. Anyone holding a rolling SIM pays the entry figure rather than a premium for unlimited data, and anyone moving to a longer contract knows exactly which ranking is doing the work. Read the two positions together and the picture is a mid field entry price attached to a strong unlimited offering.

Core features

EE sells SIM-only plans, so there is no handset in the price and nothing to pay off after signing up. That suits anyone bringing their own phone or moving an existing number across. The 5G option is available, so phones built for the newer generation of mobile data can use it where coverage allows. A credit check is required before a plan is confirmed, which narrows who can take up the advertised entry figure and makes the prepaid route worth weighing for anyone whose file does not pass. A multi line discount is offered, which lowers what extra lines cost on one account and makes a family setup more workable than paying full price on every line. Set against each other, these four features describe a straightforward arrangement: a SIM for a phone you already own, the newer generation of mobile data where it is reachable, a check before you start, and a discount for running more than one line. The credit check is the only one of the four that can stop a deal going through.

How EE compares

Where EE is available

Available
United Kingdom

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 30, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much is the cheapest EE SIM-only plan?+

The entry figure is £23 a month. That price belongs to the Unlimited No Frills SIM, which is also the cheapest overall SIM and comes with unlimited data on a short rolling term. Because the entry figure and the unlimited price are the same number, you begin at the level you would pay for unlimited data.

Does the monthly price rise after signing up?+

Yes, and the rule is stated in advance. A set amount is added to SIM-only plans each spring while you are in the minimum term, then a further amount each March after that, and out-of-bundle use carries a higher charge. Budget for more than £23 in the later months of a plan.

What does the unlimited data plan cost and include?+

Unlimited data pricing starts at £23. The Unlimited No Frills SIM carries unlimited data on a rolling term, while the Unlimited with Apple One SIM pairs unlimited data with a longer commitment at a higher price. Both are SIM-only, so no handset is bundled with either.

Do I need a credit check to get an EE SIM?+

A credit check is required, so the deal is not open to every applicant. EE is a network selling its own SIMs, and the check sits before the plan is confirmed. Buyers who cannot pass a check would do better looking at a prepaid seller such as GETESA, which bills on prepaid and contract.

Which billing options does EE offer?+

EE bills on contract, rolling and prepaid. A contract plan, a rolling monthly SIM and a prepaid option all sit under the same seller, which saves shopping between provider types. The rolling SIM suits anyone who wants to leave early, and the multi line discount applies to extra lines on the same account.

Which countries can an EE SIM be used in?+

EE sells in the United Kingdom. Coverage, pricing and the listed billing choices are all drawn from that market. Anyone who splits time between markets should read the terms for each one, because the listed prices do not travel with the SIM.

How do I get help from EE?+

Support runs on help centre and community. Written help and a community board cover questions about billing, the credit check and the price rise rule, so getting help depends on a reply rather than a call. Readers who want a voice on the phone should weigh that before they sign up.

How long are the contract terms?+

Terms run 1 and 24 months. The rolling SIM is the short option and carries no long commitment, while the Unlimited with Apple One SIM asks for the longer term. Pick the rolling route if you may move market or change provider, since EE sells in the United Kingdom.

How does EE compare with GETESA and yesss!?+

EE charges £23 from, while yesss! lists a price from of €0 and GETESA bills on prepaid and contract. None of the three is a direct substitute: yesss! holds the lower entry figure, GETESA the billing choice, and EE the backing of its own network in the United Kingdom.

Sources

  • ee.co.uk checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Markets, Price from, Reference plan prices, Seller type, Unlimited plan price

    “The UK's Best Mobile Network”

  • ee.co.uk/help/billing-payments/guide-to-bill/about-annual... checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Mid-contract price rises, Support channels

    “Mobile SIM Only plan and airtime plans From 31 July 2025 2.50 pounds”

  • ee.co.uk/mobile/sim-only-deals checked September 30, 2026

    Backs: Billing, Credit check required, 5G, Multi-line discount, Contract length, SIM-only

    “24 month or flexible 30-day rolling plans”

Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 30, 2026. We did not open an account.

EE

EE

Households wanting one network's own unlimited data on a short rolling SIM-only term.

8.7/10Visit

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