Phone contracts are one of the easiest places to waste money as a student. A £30/month contract is £360 a year. A £10/month SIM-only plan is £120. The difference funds most of your going out budget. Here’s the honest guide to getting it right.
SIM-Only vs Contract Phone
For most students, SIM-only is the right answer. Here’s why:
- SIM-only plans are typically £8-20/month for decent data
- A contract phone from a provider is typically £25-50/month – you’re paying for the handset in monthly instalments with interest built in
- Buy a phone outright (second-hand, or in a sale) and use SIM-only – saves hundreds over three years
- Second-hand iPhones and Androids from CEX, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace are typically 40-60% cheaper than new and work perfectly well
Best SIM-Only Networks for Students
Giffgaff
- Price: From £10/month for unlimited calls/texts and 15GB data
- Network: O2 (good coverage in Manchester city centre and student areas)
- Features: No contract (rolling monthly), community-based support, tethering included
- Good for: Most students. Flexible, fair pricing, reliable.
Smarty
- Price: From £7/month for unlimited calls/texts with data
- Network: Three
- Features: Rolling monthly, no contract, EU roaming included
- Good for: Best value unlimited data deals – Smarty often has unlimited data from £15-18/month
Three
- Price: From £10-20/month for unlimited data plans
- Network: Three (own network)
- Features: Unlimited data options are common, good for people who stream and tether
- Good for: Heavy data users. Three’s coverage in Manchester is generally solid but check your specific area.
Vodafone / O2 / EE – direct SIM plans
- Price: Higher than the sub-brands above – typically £15-25/month for equivalent data
- Features: Perks programmes can offer value (EE has free Apple Music or Netflix on some plans, Vodafone has VeryMe rewards)
- Good for: If you care about the perks or want direct-brand customer service.
Lebara
- Price: From £5-10/month
- Network: Vodafone
- Features: Designed for international calls – cheap rates to many countries
- Good for: International students who call home regularly.
How Much Data Do You Actually Need?
Most students overpay for data. The honest breakdown:
- 5-10GB/month: Enough if you use WiFi at home, campus, and in cafes. Social media, maps, music streaming on the go but not Netflix on the bus.
- 15-25GB/month: Comfortable for most students. Covers music streaming, occasional video, heavy social media.
- Unlimited: Needed if you don’t have WiFi at home, tether regularly, or stream video on mobile data often.
Check your current monthly usage on your phone settings before renewing. Most people use less than they pay for.
Network Coverage in Manchester
All major UK networks (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) have strong 4G and 5G coverage in Manchester city centre and the student areas. Specific blackspots are rare but check coverage maps for your specific postcode before switching. All four networks’ sub-brands (Giffgaff on O2, Smarty on Three, Voxi on Vodafone, BT Mobile on EE) have the same coverage as parent networks.
International Students – Getting a UK SIM
Most international students start with a pay-as-you-go SIM on arrival. Lycamobile, Lebara, and Giffgaff all sell PAYG SIMs available in shops for free or £1. Then move to a monthly SIM plan once you’re settled.
Giffgaff is particularly good for international students because you can order the SIM online and have it delivered to your UK accommodation before you arrive.
Student Discounts
Specific student deals:
- Three student deal: Sometimes offers extra data or free perks for students – check during sign-up
- Amazon Prime Student (free 6 months, then half price): Includes Prime Video and Amazon Music – may reduce the data streaming services you need
- Spotify Student: £5.49/month for music + Hulu (where available) + SHOWTIME. Not UK relevant for Hulu/Showtime but the price is still student-friendly.
- Apple Music Student: £5.99/month
- YouTube Premium Student: £6.99/month (reduces video streaming data use)
Stacking these can reduce your data needs and overall costs significantly.
Second-Hand Phones
Best places to buy used phones in Manchester:
- CEX (multiple city centre shops): Grade-checked second-hand with warranty. Pricier than private sellers but less risk.
- Facebook Marketplace: Cheapest option. Meet in public places (coffee shop, train station) and check the phone before paying.
- eBay: Protected by buyer protection. Look for UK sellers with high ratings.
- Refurbished direct: Amazon Renewed, Back Market, and manufacturer refurb programmes offer warranted used phones.
Avoiding Phone Scams
- Don’t click links in SMS texts claiming to be from your bank, Royal Mail, or phone network
- Your phone network will never ask you for your PIN, password, or full card details by text
- Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your email, bank app, and university login
- If you lose your phone, call your provider immediately to block the SIM and report lost to police (for insurance)
Phone Insurance
Most student bank accounts don’t include phone insurance (they used to). Options:
- Contents insurance with phone cover – extends to your phone away from home; often the best value
- Dedicated phone insurance (Protect Your Bubble, Insurance2Go) – £8-15/month
- Your parents’ home insurance may cover you as a student at university – worth checking before you buy separate cover