Best SIM Only Deals for Streaming in the UK

Short answer: For Netflix, YouTube or TikTok on mobile data, choose the smallest affordable allowance that covers your actual viewing, on a network that works where you watch. Lyca Mobile and 1pMobile are worth comparing for straightforward, higher-data EE-based bundles; Lebara for Vodafone coverage and a choice of contract lengths; and Sky Mobile if you actually use Sky Watch or Piggybank on O2 coverage. VOXI's eligible Unlimited Video plans are especially relevant for supported video apps, but their zero-rated data benefit has exclusions that matter. SMARTY, giffgaff and iD Mobile can also be better value for some people. You do not automatically need unlimited data or 5G to watch HD video.

Ready to compare? Start with 100GB+ SIM-only deals for substantial mobile viewing, unlimited data SIMs for very heavy use, or the partner ranges from Lyca Mobile, 1pMobile, Lebara and Sky Mobile. The cards are live selected offers, not a streaming-specific certification: a VOXI listing does not automatically include Unlimited Video, and a Sky listing does not make Netflix zero-rated. Open Full plan details, confirm the data allowance, any app benefit and the full payment schedule, then use the existing View Deal button.

Which SIM is best for the way you stream?

The winning SIM depends on which apps you use, not just how many GB appear in an advert. This quick shortlist covers genuine purchase situations rather than assigning one provider an invented universal crown.

Our recommendation: decide your usual mobile viewing hours, then verify the exact app-specific benefit, local reception and full price. A 'streaming SIM' is normally an ordinary SIM-only plan; there is no special Netflix-compatible UK SIM standard you have to buy.

How much data do Netflix, YouTube and TikTok use?

Video quality is the biggest controllable difference. Netflix provides unusually useful official numbers for up to hourly usage, which make a defensible baseline. YouTube and TikTok vary with video length, codec, adaptive quality, autoplay and viewing behaviour: do not pretend they have one universal GB-per-hour rate.

How much data does Netflix use per hour?

Source: Netflix's official data-usage guidance. These figures are upper-bound planning examples, not measurements of every film or promises that your device will receive that quality. Netflix's mobile app has separate settings: its official guidance describes Save Data as approximately six hours of video per GB, versus much heavier consumption under Maximum Data. The app setting and the account playback quality can interact, so do not treat the table as an exact bill. The same hourly assumption is held constant in each calculation so you can compare the scale of the difference.

Suppose you watch one hour a day on mobile data for 30 days. At Netflix's Medium upper-bound rate, that could use 21GB just for Netflix. At its HD High upper bound, it could use 90GB. Add your normal maps, social apps, background downloads and video calls. The first viewer may fit a modest plan; the second can outgrow a 100GB bundle. Switching playback quality can save more money than switching networks.

For a different example, two hours of HD video on both Saturday and Sunday is roughly 16–20 hours across four to five weekends. At up to 3GB an hour, this is approximately 48–60GB before anything else. That could make a 50GB allowance uncomfortable even if you barely stream during the working week.

If you are comparing 100GB versus unlimited specifically, use our separate 100GB vs unlimited data guide. This page focuses on the streaming behaviour and app rules that tell you which type of plan deserves a click.

Does YouTube use the same data as Netflix?

No fixed number is reliable for every YouTube video. Its Auto mode changes quality according to conditions, while Higher picture quality uses more data and Data saver favours lower consumption. The official YouTube video-quality instructions explain the settings for mobile and Wi-Fi separately.

Two commuters watching YouTube for an hour can use different amounts if one watches high-resolution full-screen video and the other watches a lower-quality clip. TikTok's autoplay and repeated short videos introduce another source of uncertainty. Rather than quote a fabricated fixed TikTok rate, monitor a week of use on your phone and scale from that, allowing extra headroom for busier days.

A practical seven-day test: check your phone's mobile-data statistics, reset or record the starting figures if appropriate, use the apps as normal off Wi-Fi, and record Netflix, YouTube, TikTok and total mobile data separately. Multiply the weekly result by roughly 4.3 for a calendar-month estimate, then add headroom for unusual weekends. For a 30-day bundle, about 30/7 weeks is a closer interval. Your operator's billing record is a useful cross-check if the phone counters cover a different period.

Can 20GB, 50GB or 100GB handle daily streaming?

There is no universal threshold, but a few illustrative Netflix High-HD upper-bound comparisons show when a bundle begins to feel small. These are not minimum bandwidth requirements and do not predict your actual data consumption.

The real allowance can stretch much further at lower quality, or disappear much faster if several people use the hotspot. A 30GB plan is not a 'bad streaming SIM'; it may be ideal if you watch half an hour on mobile some days and download larger programmes using home Wi-Fi.

Buying rule: when your projected use is near a plan's limit, compare the next larger bundle's actual price difference. A flexible 50GB or 75GB SIM may cost less than an inferior 30GB offer from another network. Use our mobile-data usage guide for a general allowance calculator and 100GB+ live offers when you know you need substantial headroom.

Which UK mobile operators should you compare for streaming?

The most useful comparison is between operators with different networks, app benefits, prices and contract rules. Below, four DealPriceCheck affiliate partners are assessed alongside significant non-partner alternatives. Recommendations are not paid rankings.

Do not assume two operators sharing a host network have identical 5G performance, speed caps, Wi-Fi Calling features or access to future network changes. VodafoneThree network integration is phased, and a brand's exact access can vary. The comparison above is a starting map, not a speed ranking.

Want a direct-network SIM rather than an MVNO? Three's own SIMs and the EE-network comparison are useful checks against our partner choices. Three's longer contracts can have payment step-ups, and an EE plan can have its own speed tier; neither guarantees better evening video than a suitable reseller on the same radio network. Both are comparators, not DealPriceCheck affiliate partners.

Lyca Mobile: a flexible EE-based route for substantial video use

If your home, train route and usual viewing places have good EE coverage, Lyca deserves a look. Its live DealPriceCheck catalogue includes several data sizes and eligible unlimited plans; which one offers best value depends on the current package, any initial promotional period and the payment after a promotion ends. Do not select a Lyca international-minutes package merely because it has 'Unlimited' in a different benefit description. What you need for Netflix is the UK mobile data allowance.

Lyca does not offer a universal Netflix or YouTube zero-rating benefit equivalent to VOXI Unlimited Video. Your ordinary video traffic generally consumes the package's data unless a named product's conditions say otherwise. That makes it a transparent option when you want data to spend freely on any app rather than a deal tied to a closed list of video services.

Good fit: a buyer who wants EE-hosted data, possibly a 30-day commitment, and predictable general-purpose use across Netflix, YouTube, video calls and other applications. Weaker fit: poor EE signal where they watch or a promo that becomes uncompetitive at renewal.

Compare Lyca's current UK SIM offers and inspect the individual card's data and renewal terms before using View Deal. Our EE-network SIM comparison is a useful second check when coverage is the main reason you chose Lyca.

1pMobile: high-data EE Boosts without choosing an app-specific pass

1pMobile's appeal for streamers is the ability to compare larger ordinary data allowances on EE. Its Boost bundles are different from classic pay-as-you-go credit. Choose an actual data Boost if you intend to watch hours of video; do not assume an idle PAYG balance buys you an unlimited streaming package.

The important catch is its official unlimited-data terms: data use is subject to a 500GB personal-usage cap, and they treat 30-day rolling usage above 500GB as non-personal. The fair-use policy allows measures including reduced speed, different charges or restrictions under its stated conditions. A customer watching several hours of 4K on a television through a hotspot could approach that level more quickly than someone streaming HD on one phone. This is a named 1pMobile Unlimited Boost personal-use condition, not a universal 500GB limit on its fixed-data bundles. The terms call it a cap and classify use above 500GB in a rolling 30-day period as non-personal; they do not establish an automatic stop exactly at 500GB. Check the specific Boost and potential consequences before choosing it as a household broadband replacement. See our unlimited-data restrictions guide for the broader distinction between caps, reviews and speed policies.

A second advantage is a sensible way to avoid overbuying. Someone needing around 80GB can compare a 100GB Boost with 150GB, 200GB and unlimited rather than automatically paying for unlimited. The relevant prices belong to the live offer cards, not a static table in this guide.

Good fit: EE coverage and substantial general data across mixed streaming apps. Less ideal: a household hoping to replace fixed broadband without checking 500GB fair-use conditions or device suitability.

Start with current 1pMobile SIM-only plans. If the exact Boost is not among our selected cards, browse 1pMobile's wider products through our affiliate link. That is a general products page, not a guaranteed checkout for a named 100GB or unlimited Boost.

Lebara: flexible Vodafone coverage, but ordinary video still uses GB

Lebara is useful for buyers who get stronger Vodafone reception than EE or O2 and want to decide between flexible 30-day SIMs and separate longer-term offers. High-data and eligible unlimited choices can suit streaming on any service; Lebara's international calling benefits do not reduce Netflix data consumption.

A 30-day product and a 12-month discounted product should not be treated as interchangeable. If you want mobile video only for a short stay, the flexibility of the exact plan matters alongside the headline cost. A lower initial payment on a longer term may be unsuitable if you want to leave after a few months. Lebara advertises no conventional credit checks on eligible SIM-only plans, but payment and identity checks can still matter to individuals.

Lebara has introduced eSIM with restrictions for some new customers and devices. That isn't central to HD streaming, but it matters when purchasing for a phone without a physical SIM tray. Check the exact new-customer activation path before ordering.

Good fit: Vodafone coverage with enough unrestricted general mobile data and a suitable term. Less ideal: buying solely on an unrelated international-calls bonus or assuming every promotion is a rolling plan.

Compare Lebara SIM-only data plans and choose a plan by GB, term and total renewal schedule before using the existing tracked View Deal route.

Sky Mobile: Sky Watch is valuable only for Sky apps you actually use

Sky Watch can be compelling if much of your mobile video consists of eligible Sky Go, Sky Sports, Sky News or other covered Sky apps. The official Sky conditions say qualifying viewing in the UK does not use your normal data allowance. You generally need at least 50MB of ordinary data remaining for Sky Watch to operate. Advertising in some streams, and other traffic outside the covered content, may still use normal GB. Access to subscription TV shows is not included simply because you have a Sky Mobile SIM.

Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify and YouTube are not covered by Sky Watch. If you watch those most evenings, do not count them as zero-rated Sky data. On the other hand, if you already pay for relevant Sky TV and watch Sky Go regularly during your commute, a modest allowance with Sky Watch can outperform a much larger ordinary data bundle for your particular habits.

Sky also has Piggybank on eligible fixed-data plans. Unused GB can be banked for up to 12 months, giving you an option for unusually heavy months. It is not unlimited data, and Sky's unlimited tariff does not accrue Piggybank in the same way. Saving GB has value only if you actually draw them down later.

Subtle hotspot difference: Sky's help describes its eligible Sky-app viewing benefit for watching via a Sky Mobile hotspot on another device, with advertising exclusions. That is not identical to VOXI's narrower rules for connecting smart TVs and streaming sticks. Sky Watch follows qualifying Sky-app traffic, not every video played through a Sky hotspot. Sky's current Watch conditions state that downloads are available only over Wi-Fi in the UK, so do not budget for zero-rated mobile-data downloads of Sky programmes. The hotspot benefit still applies only to eligible Sky-app viewing, not every video played through a Sky connection. Check the supported app, device and content conditions before building a streaming setup around this benefit.

Good fit: an O2-covered commuter who genuinely watches Sky apps; or someone with uneven usage who will redeem banked data. Less ideal: someone streaming Netflix all evening who thinks Sky Watch covers every entertainment app.

Compare Sky Mobile SIM-only deals and check both the 30-day and longer contracts carefully: introductory prices or permitted increases can change total cost. For options beyond our selected catalogue, Sky's wider SIM plan range is available via our verified Awin link. This is a general plans page, not a product-specific offer.

VOXI: potentially excellent for named video apps, with real exclusions

This is one instance where a non-affiliate option may be the better purchase. VOXI advertises Unlimited Video on eligible plans for services including YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video and TikTok, with additional named services in its published terms. Do not confuse this with its separate Unlimited Social Media feature or assume every low-cost VOXI plan includes Video. The exact bundle has to say so.

The small print changes the decision:

• Advertising is excluded. Video adverts can consume your ordinary data, even within an otherwise eligible service.
• A general-purpose allowance must remain. VOXI says the Unlimited Video benefit becomes inactive if you use up the rest of your standard data completely.
• VPNs and proxies are excluded. With one active, the provider can treat traffic as normal data.
• Tethering depends on the device. VOXI allows covered video through certain tethered phones, laptops and tablets, but explicitly excludes tethering to smart TVs, games consoles and streaming devices such as Chromecast, Roku or Fire TV Stick from the Unlimited Video benefit.
• Some related apps and content are excluded. Official examples include YouTube Kids, YouTube Music and YouTube for Android TV; following certain external links also uses standard data.
• Video subscriptions are separate. A VOXI SIM does not pay your Netflix or Prime Video subscription.

These distinctions matter more than an impressive 'unlimited' badge. A person who watches eligible YouTube and Netflix directly on a phone could get significant value. The same person who uses their phone as home internet for a Fire TV Stick may consume their normal allowance quickly despite buying an Unlimited Video plan.

Good fit: supported app viewing on a phone or covered tethered laptop/tablet, with good Vodafone-based reception and the relevant perk on the exact plan. Poor fit: VPN-heavy use, general-purpose data nearly exhausted, or most video coming through a television device.

Review VOXI's SIM-only options in our comparison catalogue. VOXI is not a confirmed DealPriceCheck affiliate; it remains a fair comparison, and we do not invent a partner link or claim a commission on it. Compare its total price with general-data plans from Lebara and Sky if you use a mixture of covered and uncovered apps.

SMARTY, giffgaff and iD: alternatives that can win on the actual price

SMARTY offers prepaid rolling data plans, including high-data and unlimited choices, on Three-based coverage. It is a reasonable shortlist for video-heavy buyers who value flexible payment and whose indoor reception is strong. The practical concern is performance in your location, particularly in a busy area during peak streaming hours, plus any fair-use rules if you plan to replace broadband. See SMARTY plans.

giffgaff uses O2 and offers a mix of rolling and longer contracts. If an O2 signal works better in your home than EE or Vodafone, a suitable larger giffgaff plan can beat a partner tariff that buffers in your room. Distinguish a rolling option from an 18-month offer before calculating value. See giffgaff deals.

iD Mobile uses Three-based coverage and has high-data plans and eligible data rollover. It can work for uneven months, but unused GB are not permanently banked; its pay-monthly SIM-only products require a credit check, even if they are labelled 30-day. That matters when recommending a flexible 'first SIM' to someone new to the UK. See iD Mobile SIMs.

None of these three operators is a confirmed DealPriceCheck affiliate. They remain genuine options when their coverage, terms or price beat a partner offer; the aim is a suitable SIM rather than a predetermined winner.

Are VOXI Unlimited Video and Sky Watch really unlimited streaming?

They are exemptions for eligible traffic, not unlimited general internet. Comparing them directly is useful precisely because their scope differs.

Two practical decisions: If you use Netflix and YouTube on a phone, check VOXI's actual Unlimited Video plan against a larger standard-data SIM. If you use Sky Go through your existing Sky account, check Sky's Watch eligibility. If you watch a smart television via hotspot, do not buy either expecting all TV streaming to be zero-rated.

Does 5G matter for Netflix or YouTube?

A stable 4G connection can be enough for HD video. Netflix recommends approximately 3Mbps for HD 720p, 5Mbps for Full HD 1080p and 15Mbps for 4K, assuming a stable connection and compatible service/device. See Netflix's official connection-speed recommendations. Those are video-playback guidance, not guarantees of any mobile carrier's performance.

A SIM marked 5G won't necessarily be faster inside your home than an alternative 4G network with stronger indoor coverage. Conversely, 5G may help in high-demand areas if it delivers better actual speeds and capacity. Both 4G and 5G speed caps, network congestion and the compatible phone can matter. A 10Mbps speed cap is not the same thing as a 10GB data limit: Mbps measures speed; GB measures amount consumed.

For the deeper technical comparison, use our 5G vs 4G SIM-only guide or UK mobile speed-caps explanation. On this page the buying test is simple: does the connection sustain the quality you want in the place and at the time you watch?

Which network streams video reliably where you live?

Use Ofcom's Map Your Mobile before considering a long contract. It compares network coverage and includes an area-level likelihood of successful video streaming or video calling. That is more directly relevant to this guide than a general UK population-coverage percentage.

Check the postcode of your home, workplace or university, and the train or bus route where you watch most. A strong outdoor signal is not a promise of reception through thick walls or inside a crowded carriage. You may have excellent EE signal in one room but need O2 or Vodafone in another. All four major infrastructure networks are worth considering.

Then do a real-life check if possible: try a suitable short rolling SIM, watch the service at your normal quality during evening peak hours, and check whether it buffers. Keep separate notes for indoor strength, speed consistency and video playback. A single fast speed test at lunchtime can give false confidence about an 8pm movie.

If coverage doesn't meet your needs, use our wider SIM comparison rather than forcing a deal from a provider that happens to advertise a streaming benefit.

Is unlimited data better than a 100GB, 150GB or 200GB SIM?

Don't pay for unlimited simply because you watch Netflix. Work out a realistic estimate first, then compare neighbouring allowances on networks that actually work. For example, a customer who uses 65GB in a busy month might be better served by a competitively priced 75GB or 100GB bundle than by unlimited. Another who routinely uses 160GB and relies on hotspot video might need 200GB or an eligible unlimited package.

Example: paying £4 more for data you rarely use

Consider two entirely hypothetical 30-day SIMs on equally reliable networks: an adequate 100GB tariff for £12 per renewal and unlimited data for £16. If a user never goes over 80GB, the extra £4 per renewal buys comfort but no necessarily useful data. Across 12 renewals, the difference is £48; 12 × 30 days equals 360 days, not a whole calendar year. If you compare with a calendar-month contract, align the actual service dates instead of assuming twelve 30-day periods cover the same time.

But suppose this customer frequently needs another 50GB and their existing plan charges £6 for a relevant add-on each time. If that happened on eight renewals, add-ons would total £48. In that constructed case the gap to unlimited is already spent before considering convenience, and unlimited could be a better choice. The real winner depends on the actual plan's add-on price and rules, which vary.

Also compare the 150GB or 200GB middle tier. It may be cheaper than unlimited while giving you enough room for those busy months. Our 100GB+ plan catalogue and unlimited catalogue are where you can make that live comparison.

When a streaming app benefit changes the calculation

Suppose a person uses 60GB a month, of which 35GB is eligible video-app traffic and 25GB is general data. On a suitable zero-rated plan, in principle that could mean only the 25GB of other usage counts against the included allowance. However, advertisements, external content, VPN use and exclusions remain ordinary data, so treating the whole 35GB as free would overstate the savings. The correct comparison is the current price of that precise eligible VOXI plan versus a conventional 60GB-or-larger SIM on a reliable network, not 25GB versus 60GB without checking conditions.

For Sky the relevant question is different: how much of that 60GB is eligible Sky-app viewing, not Netflix? A person who watches no Sky content receives little value from Watch, even if the marketing makes it sound generous.

Can you stream on a TV using your phone's hotspot?

This changes the answer dramatically. A television may request higher video quality than a small phone screen, and a household can have multiple simultaneous streams. Your hotspot may also carry automatic device updates, game downloads and other traffic unrelated to entertainment.

Before ordering, check three separate conditions:

1. Can the chosen SIM legally and technically be tethered? Look for policy or product restrictions and any separately stated fair-use limits.
2. Is your mobile reception reliable indoors, in the room containing the TV? A strong phone signal beside a window may drop when the phone moves.
3. Does the advertised video exemption cover the exact viewing device? VOXI specifically excludes smart TVs and streaming sticks from Unlimited Video zero-rating even though some phone/laptop/tablet tethering is covered. Sky describes different Sky-app-specific conditions. Neither gives a blanket exemption for every Netflix stream sent to a television.

A phone hotspot might be a useful temporary internet connection, but a heavy household should also compare fixed broadband and dedicated mobile broadband or permitted router plans. SIM-only handset plans and data-only router products are not automatically interchangeable. We examine these issues in detail in our hotspot and tethering SIM guide and data-only SIM explainer.

How do you compare the real cost of streaming SIMs?

Use a same-use, same-period comparison. This matters when one provider shows a low initial price on a 24-month contract, another offers a 30-day rolling renewal and a third includes a zero-rated video benefit that applies only to named apps. Do not assume that a VOXI Unlimited Video benefit is an extra subscription charge: the supported feature is included only with eligible VOXI plans, while any Netflix or Prime Video subscription is separate.

Start with the cost of a suitable base data plan. Add extra data, any separately charged streaming pass, your actual video subscriptions, device financing and paid roaming only where they apply. Record any scheduled price step-ups and the liability of a longer agreement. Do not count a perk as money saved unless it replaces something you would otherwise pay for. A Sky customer who already subscribes to Sky TV may receive meaningful value from Sky Watch; someone without that subscription does not get free premium television through the mobile plan.

Example: three hypothetical 12-payment choices

These are invented numbers, not current prices for VOXI, Sky or any other provider. They show why the lowest number in one column doesn't automatically win. If your video is mostly Netflix on a Fire TV Stick, the 'eligible-video' option in this hypothetical comparison may fail because its special allowance is unavailable to your viewing setup. If you use ordinary YouTube on your phone and have an appropriate eligible VOXI plan, the same type of offer deserves proper consideration.

Choose your network first. Compare the relevant live cards on Lyca, 1pMobile, Lebara and Sky. Full plan details should come before View Deal, particularly on long contracts with promotional pricing. A quoted monthly cost or displayed minimum contract sum should be checked against the operator's complete payment schedule at checkout.

How can you save streaming data without buying a bigger SIM?

Several changes can reduce mobile-data use without forcing you to stop watching videos.

• Choose video quality deliberately. Use Netflix's playback-data settings and YouTube's mobile Data saver option when appropriate. The same film can have a radically different data footprint at HD and medium quality.
• Download programmes over Wi-Fi where the service permits it. Confirm the download and offline-playback rules for your subscription and device. Downloads are not universally included by zero-rated video passes.
• Avoid automatic high-quality playback on small screens when it adds little visible detail. This is especially useful for casual viewing on the commute.
• Check app-specific usage in your phone settings. It helps distinguish heavy video consumption from cloud photos, backups, gaming downloads or another unexpected culprit.
• Stop background downloads and automatic app updates over mobile data, especially when tethering a laptop.
• Set a usage warning before your limit, rather than discovering it when your stream stalls or a costly add-on is activated.
• Account for the full household. Two or three simultaneous viewers on one hotspot change both GB consumption and speed needs.

Don't disable features blindly. For example, a lower resolution may be perfectly acceptable on a phone but poor for a large television. The goal is choosing enough usable data for your viewing, not enduring endless buffering to save pennies.

How do you choose a streaming SIM in five minutes?

1. Name your main apps. Is your viewing mostly Netflix, TikTok, YouTube, Sky Go or a television connected through hotspot? That determines whether an app benefit deserves attention at all.
2. Estimate mobile-only use. Check your phone's last several periods if available; otherwise, use the streaming-hours method above and add non-video data. Don't include viewing already carried over Wi-Fi.
3. Check coverage for video. Use Ofcom's video-performance map and, where possible, test at the actual time and place you watch.
4. Compare the right purchase class. A 30-day bundle, 12-month contract and 24-month introductory promotion have different commitments. A 50GB ordinary allowance and an eligible video pass are not interchangeable until you identify excluded traffic.
5. Buy through the matching live offer. Compare high-data deals, unlimited deals or the relevant Lyca, 1pMobile, Lebara and Sky pages. Open Full plan details, inspect the real offer and then select View Deal.

If you are moving an existing UK number to a different operator, request a PAC from the old network and provide it to the new one using the standard switching process; switching away from a longer contract does not automatically remove outstanding charges.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best SIM-only deal for Netflix in the UK?

The best choice is a reliable network with enough normal mobile data for your Netflix quality and hours. Compare high-data options from Lyca, 1pMobile, Lebara and Sky, plus non-partner alternatives. VOXI can be attractive if your exact plan includes eligible Unlimited Video and you watch on a supported device, but not for every tethered television or VPN setup.

Is 50GB enough for Netflix and YouTube?

It can be if you watch moderately, use home Wi-Fi often or lower video quality. Netflix says HD at its High setting can use up to 3GB an hour, so 50GB corresponds to about 16.7 hours at that upper-bound rate before other data use. Actual consumption depends on settings, titles and device.

How long does 100GB last when streaming HD?

At Netflix's published upper-bound HD setting of 3GB per hour, 100GB corresponds to about 33 hours of that specific video use alone. Real streams may consume less; other mobile activities reduce the remaining allowance. Don't treat 33 hours as an entitlement or the same figure for TikTok and YouTube.

Do I need unlimited data to stream every day?

Not necessarily. An hour a day at a lower video-data setting can use far less than an hour at HD or 4K. Compare your actual usage with 50GB, 75GB, 100GB, 150GB, 200GB and unlimited; the best-value fixed allowance may beat unlimited.

Does VOXI Unlimited Video include Netflix and YouTube?

On eligible plans, VOXI includes named services such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and TikTok. Its conditions exclude adverts, VPN/proxy traffic, certain related apps and streaming to smart TVs or streaming sticks. Some ordinary data must remain available for the feature to keep working. A VOXI Unlimited Social Media plan alone is not proof you have Unlimited Video.

Does Sky Mobile give free Netflix streaming?

No. Sky Watch covers eligible Sky apps in the UK, not Netflix or YouTube. Premium Sky programmes may still require a separate Sky TV subscription, and some advertising can use your normal mobile data. Check the exact service and data eligibility before buying.

Is 4G fast enough for HD Netflix?

Potentially yes. Netflix recommends a stable 5Mbps or better for Full HD 1080p. Some 4G connections exceed that comfortably; a weak or crowded 5G signal can perform worse than expected. Check actual reception, supported quality and any speed cap, not only the 4G/5G label.

Can I stream Netflix through a phone hotspot on a SIM-only plan?

Often yes where the product permits tethering and has enough data. Streaming through a television or stick may consume substantially more data than on a phone. Do not assume VOXI Unlimited Video zero-rates smart-TV, Chromecast or Fire TV Stick traffic; its official terms exclude these from that specific exemption.

Which UK network is best for streaming video?

No UK network wins every postcode. Compare EE, O2, Vodafone and Three using Ofcom's Map Your Mobile coverage and area-level video-performance figures, then test where and when you normally watch. The tool's video measure covers a wider postcode district, not your precise living room.

Can I switch to a cheaper streaming SIM without losing my UK number?

Normally yes. Text PAC to 65075 from your current UK number and give the code to the new network. Check exit charges, outstanding handset finance and device compatibility first; moving the number does not erase those liabilities.

Verdict: choose usable video data, not the biggest unlimited badge

If EE coverage is strongest, check Lyca Mobile and 1pMobile for enough general-purpose data, then compare their genuine renewal cost. If Vodafone coverage works best, check Lebara against the exact VOXI Unlimited Video product and its exclusions. If you regularly watch eligible Sky apps, Sky Mobile can make sense because of Sky Watch and, where eligible, Piggybank. If another network wins on coverage and price, choose it rather than paying for a partner plan that buffers.

For serious mobile video, open 100GB+ SIMs or unlimited SIMs, filter by the network that works, and inspect Full plan details before using View Deal. Your best deal is the one that streams reliably and leaves the least unnecessary spending over the period you need it.

DealPriceCheck compares selected UK SIM offers and may earn commission from eligible partner purchases. Prices, promotions, app eligibility, roaming and network features can change; check your actual offer, local signal and total payment schedule before purchase.

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