Your phone bill is one of those costs that rolls on quietly every month. Once you have signed up, it is easy to forget about it until the contract ends, and by then you may have been paying more than you need to for quite a while.
Mobile deals are very competitive, and moving to a new network is far simpler than it used to be. Work through the checklist below, whether your contract is nearly up or you are already shopping for your next handset.
Check how much data you really use
Start with your own habits, not the adverts. Your phone's settings show how much mobile data you have used, and your network's app or online account usually lists the last few months. Take an average over three months rather than going by one unusually busy month.
Plenty of people pay for far more data than they get through. If you are on Wi-Fi at home and at work, a smaller allowance may be all you need. Most plans now come with unlimited calls and texts, so data is usually the figure that changes the price.
Know when your phone contract ends
Your provider must let you know when your minimum term is coming to an end. That message should arrive between 10 and 40 days beforehand and set out what you pay now, what you will pay afterwards and the best deals they can offer you. Treat it as your reminder to shop around.
If you do nothing, you will usually carry on paying the same monthly amount. On a contract that bundled the handset with your airtime, that can mean you keep paying for a phone you have already paid off. Put the end date in your calendar so it does not slip past.
Compare SIM-only with a new handset deal
If your current phone still works well, a SIM-only plan is usually the lowest-cost way to stay connected. You only pay for airtime, and short contracts or rolling monthly plans let you move again whenever a better offer appears.
If you do want a new handset, add up the full cost of the contract: the monthly price multiplied by the number of months, plus anything you pay upfront. Then compare that total with buying the phone outright and pairing it with a SIM-only plan. The bundle sometimes comes out ahead, but often it does not.
Think about a refurbished phone
Refurbished handsets can cost a lot less than new ones. Choose a seller that grades the condition clearly, checks the battery and includes a warranty. Buying from a business also gives you rights under consumer law if the phone turns out to be faulty, which you may not have when buying from a private seller.
Read the small print on mid-contract price rises
Many mobile contracts include a yearly price rise, often taking effect in the spring. Since January 2025, Ofcom rules mean any rise written into a new contract must be shown in pounds and pence when you sign, so check that figure before you commit. Older contracts may still link the rise to inflation. Either way, it affects what you pay over the whole term. A plan that looks cheapest in month one can end up costing more by the final bill.
Haggle first, then switch if you need to
Once you know what other networks are offering, call your current provider and ask for the team that deals with cancellations. Be polite and specific: give them the price you have been quoted elsewhere and ask whether they can match it. Retention teams often have offers you will not see advertised.
If they will not budge, switching takes a single text message:
- To keep your number, text PAC to 65075. You will receive a code to give to your new network.
- To switch without keeping your number, text STAC to 75075.
- The reply also tells you about any charges for leaving before your contract ends.
Your new provider then handles the move, which usually happens within one working day.
Where to get help if your phone bill is a struggle
Some networks offer social tariffs: lower-cost plans for people receiving certain benefits, such as Universal Credit. They are not always well publicised, so ask your provider directly.
If you have fallen behind on your bill, contact your network early, as they should work with you on a plan. Citizens Advice and StepChange both give free, confidential help. For more ways to trim household costs, see our tips on cutting your energy, water and broadband bills, and pick one of these budgeting methods that work so the money you save does not simply disappear.
