30GB SIM Only Deals

Is 30GB enough data for a month?

Yes, 30GB is enough for many people who regularly use mobile data for social media, music, maps and some video, provided their heavier streaming and laptop use are limited. It may be too little if you routinely tether a laptop for work, stream high-quality video for long periods away from Wi-Fi or use your phone as your main home connection.

For context, Ofcom's Communications Market Report 2026 recorded 11.8GB of average monthly use per mobile-data user in 2025. A 30GB allowance is more than twice that figure. But the average includes people with very different habits: it is not a recommended plan size, and it cannot tell you whether your own next month will fit.

An even division across 30 days is 1GB a day. This is only a way to visualise the allowance; a normal monthly bundle is not a daily 1GB cap. A single hotspot session or video download can use a large share of that budget, even if most other days are quiet.

Start with your busiest normal month, not an average day

Before switching, open your current mobile provider's app or account and record how much mobile data you actually used in each of your last three complete billing periods. Take the highest representative month, not just the average. If a move, new commute or regular remote working is about to change your habits, allow for the new routine as well.

On an iPhone, Settings → Mobile Data shows usage by app. However, Apple notes that the Current Period statistics can be reset manually, so they may not represent your billing month. On a Google Pixel, Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → App data usage can show usage by period; Google also advises checking the provider's own record where measurements differ. Other Android menus vary.

Use the following as an editorial decision aid, not an Ofcom threshold or an operator guarantee:

For example, someone who used 16GB, 21GB and 24GB in three representative months would have 6GB spare in the busiest month on a 30GB plan. Someone who used 21GB, 28GB and 33GB would already have exceeded it in one month. The difference is the variation, not the amount of data in an ordinary week.

A practical 30GB budget for commuting and hotspot use

The most useful way to think about 30GB is as one shared monthly pot. Streaming, messaging, cloud backups, tethering and software downloads all draw from it. There is no separate 30GB allowance for each activity unless the provider expressly includes a specific extra benefit.

Imagine you reserve 10GB for personal phone use and want to use the other 20GB for a laptop hotspot across 20 working days. That gives you an illustrative 1GB of hotspot data per working day. It is a budgeting choice, not a claim that a video meeting, working day or streaming hour uses 1GB. A laptop synchronising cloud files, applying updates or making video calls may use far more than simple browsing.

Three checks make this budget realistic:

• Look at the applications responsible for the last month's traffic. A feed that automatically plays video may matter more than dozens of messages. Download large files over Wi-Fi where convenient and use lower video-quality settings when available.
• Account for the other device, not just your phone. Hotspot traffic counts against your phone's mobile allowance in the usual way. If you plan to share data, check the specific provider's tethering and device-use terms, not just the 30GB headline.
• Set a warning before the cap. A warning around 24GB would leave 6GB to manage, although the right warning depends on your usage and renewal date. Google explains how to set a data warning on Pixel devices; other phones and providers offer different controls. Use the provider's usage figure when assessing any actual excess charges.

If the SIM will live primarily in a router, dongle or tablet rather than a phone, read our data-only SIM and router guide. That is a different purchase decision from an ordinary 30GB phone plan.

What makes one 30GB SIM deal better value than another?

Thirty gigabytes of data is identical on the headline; the network, contract and actual amount you pay are not. Use the current Price, Contract, Network and feature filters above to create a shortlist, then open Full plan details before following View Deal to the provider.

Compare total cost, not the first-month banner

A low introductory rate is useful, but it can make a more expensive plan look cheaper than a steady-priced alternative. Here is a purely hypothetical calculation, not a quote from the live cards:

Under these assumptions, B costs £9 less across the year even though A's opening price is lower. The calculation assumes calendar-month billing, no setup charges, rewards, price changes or additional fees. A plan renewing every 30 days can have different payment dates from a plan billed once per calendar month: twelve 30-day periods cover 360 days, not a full 365-day year. Check how many payments fall within your intended time as well as when a promotion expires.

For a fixed-term deal, also check its full minimum commitment. A one-month minimum cost for a rolling SIM and a 24-month contract total do not describe equivalent periods. A lower headline monthly bill might still be a worse choice if you may need to leave early. Factor in any upfront charge, later monthly rate and clearly specified in-contract increases.

Under Ofcom's rules for new telecoms contracts, inflation-linked or percentage-based in-contract price rises are prohibited for new contracts; specified monetary rises must instead be disclosed clearly in pounds and pence before signing. This is not a blanket ban on price changes. Check the actual schedule at checkout. If an offer includes cashback or a voucher, treat it as a benefit only if you meet the conditions and would genuinely use it; a possible reward is not the same as money already taken off your bills.

Why price per gigabyte can be a trap

If one plan has 60GB for only slightly more than a 30GB plan, its price per GB will look better. Yet that only creates value if you want the extra headroom and the other terms suit you. More importantly, a larger plan might even have a lower total bill once introductory prices or rewards are accounted for. Do not pay more simply to get the number 30GB on the contract.

As an illustration, paying £1 extra per calendar month for a larger bundle would be £12 extra across twelve unchanged monthly payments. Whether that is worth it depends on how often you would otherwise buy add-ons, worry about usage or run out. This £1 difference is not a claim about any current offers. Compare the live 50GB options and the broader SIM finder on the same time horizon.

What the 30GB label cannot tell you

Can you use it in the places where you actually need 30GB?

An inexpensive 30GB SIM is poor value if you cannot use it at home, at work or along your journey. Start with Ofcom's Map Your Mobile, then check the shortlisted provider's coverage information. Ofcom's address-level predictions are useful indicators, not guarantees of indoor reception or of speeds at your specific desk. Two brands using the same underlying network may still differ in speed policies, access to features or customer terms.

What would it cost to leave early?

A 30-day rolling offer can make sense when testing an unfamiliar network, moving home or waiting for a better option. Check the actual renewal dates, notice requirements and whether it is a recurring pay-as-you-go bundle or a conventional pay-monthly contract. A longer fixed term may suit someone who knows the coverage and wants a predictable arrangement; compare its complete cost before deciding. For flexibility-first shopping, see no-contract SIM deals.

Are calls, hotspot and device features part of the deal?

Confirm included UK calls and texts, any international-call allowance, Wi-Fi Calling, tethering, 5G and eSIM support. Do not infer these from the data amount or from the network's name alone. Device compatibility also matters. If you care more about the capability than the exact allowance, begin with 5G SIM deals or eSIM deals.

Will the 30GB allowance work abroad?

A plan advertised with 30GB of domestic data might permit a smaller amount abroad, offer roaming only in certain countries or charge separately. Some plans also limit the time or usage permitted overseas. Check your destination and the tariff's roaming schedule; do not assume 30GB of EU data. If travel determines your choice, compare SIM deals with EU roaming instead.

What happens if you use the last gigabyte?

One provider may stop data, another may offer an add-on, reduce speeds or charge under an applicable out-of-bundle policy. Check whether a spending cap or automatic warning exists. Data rollover is also plan-specific: unused data may expire, and carried-forward balances do not necessarily build up indefinitely. These details matter most if your usage is already near 30GB.

When should you choose 20GB, 50GB or unlimited instead?

Do not treat the amount printed on this URL as a target you must reach. The right outcome is the lowest suitable real-world cost, not the greatest number of unused gigabytes.

• Choose 20GB if the largest normal months fit comfortably below that allowance and the overall deal is better. There is little reason to pay for permanent 30GB headroom when your phone rarely uses half of it.
• Consider 50GB if you often pass 24GB, your monthly consumption is unpredictable or the additional allowance is available on preferable terms. Compare the actual minimum duration and network, not only the data size.
• Consider unlimited if you routinely exceed capped bundles or use mobile data as a substantial alternative to fixed broadband. Even then, read any speed, fair-use, tethering and roaming restrictions; unlimited UK data is not a promise of unlimited roaming or identical performance on every tariff.
• Prioritise budget over allowance if you simply have a strict spending limit. SIM deals under £10 can reveal a different data tier with better value than the exact-30GB results.

This comparison is deliberately restricted to exact 30GB plans. It is not a ranking of every possible SIM size, and DealPriceCheck does not claim to cover every UK offer.

Ready to choose your 30GB SIM?

Start with the live offer cards above. Filter out unsuitable networks, compare rolling and fixed terms, and check the full price schedule and features of the final two or three plans. Open Full plan details for the conditions, then use the existing View Deal button to reach the provider. The provider confirms availability, handles eligibility checks where required and takes the order.

If you are switching an existing UK mobile service and want to keep your number, Ofcom's Text to Switch service lets you request a code by texting PAC to 65075. If you want to leave that service without keeping its number, text STAC to 75075 instead. Give the PAC or STAC to your new provider: receiving the code alone does not complete the switch. The code is valid for 30 days. You can text INFO to 85075 to check your current contract status before moving; any early termination charge still matters. You do not need a switching code merely to take out an additional SIM while keeping your existing service.

30GB SIM-only FAQs

Are all the plans on this page exactly 30GB?

The live results are selected from offers recorded with an exact 30GB UK allowance, rather than plans with 30GB or more. Providers can change bundles or add temporary bonus data, so verify the package name and allowance on the final provider page.

Is 30GB enough for watching videos every day?

Possibly, but it depends on the video quality, duration and what else uses your data. Short clips or occasional lower-quality streams may fit; long daily sessions of high-quality video can exhaust 30GB. A reliable choice starts with your phone's last three usage totals, not a universal hours-per-GB claim.

Can I use a 30GB SIM as a mobile hotspot?

Often, subject to the selected provider's terms and device compatibility. Data used by a connected laptop or tablet will normally count towards the same 30GB. Background updates, uploads and meetings can make hotspot demand unpredictable. Confirm tethering conditions, particularly for use in a router.

Is a 30GB or 50GB SIM better value?

Neither is automatically better. A 30GB plan can suit you if your busiest representative month stays comfortably below the cap. A 50GB plan deserves a look if you often approach 30GB—or if its total cost over a comparable term is lower. Compare the network, renewal price and contract length before treating the bigger allowance as a bargain.

Does a 30-day 30GB SIM mean I can cancel immediately?

Not necessarily. A rolling offer normally avoids a long fixed commitment, but renewal dates, notice periods, payment arrangements and any charges already due depend on the agreement. Check the provider's cancellation instructions; do not assume that a 30-day product is the same as no contract or no notice.

Does 5G make 30GB run out faster?

A gigabyte counts as a gigabyte on 4G or 5G. However, a faster connection may encourage higher video quality, bigger downloads or more tethering, which can increase how much data you choose to use. A 30GB label does not establish 5G access or a particular speed; confirm both the tariff and compatible coverage.

Can I use the whole 30GB while roaming in Europe?

Do not assume so. Your plan may have a separate EU data limit, country exclusions, usage conditions or charges. Read the provider's current country-by-country rules before departure; compare the dedicated EU roaming page if travel is central to the decision.

Which is the cheapest UK 30GB SIM deal?

There is no permanent cheapest provider. Use the current cards and sort options to compare the offers currently listed. Then calculate what you will actually pay over your intended period, including introductory rates, later charges and any applicable upfront costs. A deal with more than 30GB can sometimes be better value, so check the full SIM-only comparison if the exact allowance is not essential.

Consumer guidance and linked official sources checked on 19 October 2026. Current plan prices, promotions, features, provider terms and offer-check dates come from the existing live DealPriceCheck catalogue and can change. Always verify the selected plan at the provider before purchasing.