Top Tech: Our favourite mobile and SIM only deals to help beat the April price hikes

As we head into April, the days are getting longer, the weather is warmer, but the bills are getting bigger. From April 1, millions of Brits will start to be hit with higher bills on essential outgoings like energy, council tax, broadband and mobile phones.

This means that people locked into a mobile phone contract will notice a higher fee on their next bill. This happens every year as inflation rises as networks offset the increase and cover rising business costs and network upgrades.

While there’s no way to stop companies from upping their prices, there are some ways you can avoid the hikes, such as upgrading to a new contract and locking in the price or simply finding a cheaper deal and switching providers. With this in mind, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite mobile phone and SIM-only deals to help you beat the April price increase from brands including , and .

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Mobiles.co.uk

Mobiles.co.uk is one of our favourite retailers for lower-cost contracts, and its new deal on the latest Google Pixel even undercuts Amazon’s prices. Shoppers can currently knock upfront cost with the discount code PIXEL100.

The handset is available on contracts such as , for £20.99 per month and £59 upfront. This works out at £580.76 over the 24-month plan, including the upfront cost and the inflation-linked price rise in April 2026 – when the rate will rise to £22.49.

Even with the increase, Mobiles.co.uk beats ’s reduced price of £627.96 – a £65.20 saving.

Smarty

is an ideal option for SIM-only deals that provide flexibility and peace of mind, as it offers a variety of rolling one-month plans that can be cancelled or changed at any time. It also doesn’t include any annual price rises with these plans, so you always know where you stand.

Options range from £6 for 12GB to £20 for unlimited data or in a double data deal. Smarty says it covers 99% of the UK with its 4G network and its customers have awarded it a 4-star rating on Trustpilot.

One customer said: “Great value for money. Being a low data user, it’s absolutely perfect for my needs. I’m not paying over the odds for data I’ll never use, couldn’t be happier with the price and service.”

Another said: “So impressed with the folk at Smarty. So kind, helpful, polite and willing to help and solve any problem asap.”

A third said: “The company is great, and the app is very easy to use. A very big plus is to make changes to your package at any time without penalty, and Smarty has some great offers.”

However, it’s always worth checking Smarty’s coverage to ensure it suits your needs, as the same customer found out: “My biggest gripe is the lack of coverage in a lot of areas I travel to.”

Giffgaff

Giffgaff also offers a raft of ranging from £8 for 6GB to £25 for unlimited, all of which run for 12 months. It also offers monthly rolling options, but these can’t beat ’s prices.

There are many budget-friendly if you’re willing to commit to a 36-month plan. Options include the new for £26.64 and £20 upfront, the for £23.31 and £20 upfront, or the Moto G75 for £15.53 and £10 upfront.

Giffgaff has earned a slightly lower Trustpilot rating compared to Smarty, with customers awarding it 3.8 stars. One member said: “Good service and honest feedback on data usage, which could be less than currently paying.”

Another said: “It’s a brilliant service, plenty of options to suit everybody and really priced well. I wouldn’t go with any other provider, the whole family are on Giffgaff.”

However, this less-impressed customer said: “Poor service if you have an issue, but you get what you pay for, I guess.”

Amazon

Usually, buying a phone outright is far cheaper than paying for one on a monthly contract. While it may hurt the wallet at first, doing so saves money over time if you can afford the upfront cost.

You can then use the phone with a cheaper SIM only contract – or a current one that’s locked into a cheaper monthly rate. Amazon offers countless handsets from Apple to Samsung and everything in between and often undercuts rival brands and retailers.

More affordable options include older models like the (£649) if you’re not fussed about having the latest and greatest, or refurbished ones like the (£480). But some brand-new budget-friendly options include the (£68.30), (£149), (£349).

Carphone Warehouse

Carphone Warehouse offers countless deals whether looking for a , SIM only or a . Among the standout handset deals include the new for £27.99 per month and £9 upfront on iD Mobile, the for £14.99 per month and £49 upfront.

Those happy to pay a little more upfront could also upgrade to the for £24.99 per month and £99 upfront. Those going down the SIM-only route can also get up to on select Vodafone plans, but keep in mind these prices are higher than ’s options.