Their first SIM.
The right price.
Compare the best SIM cards for children in the UK. No contracts, no credit checks, and data allowances that match how kids actually use their phones.
For most children, giffgaff's 40GB 30-day plan at £10 per month is the best all-round option. No contract, no credit check, plenty of data for social media and streaming, and you can cancel any time. For younger children who mainly need calls and texts, Lebara's 5GB plan at just £5 per month is one of the cheapest SIM cards available anywhere in the UK.
Best kids SIM deals right now
Lebara 5GB (30 day)
giffgaff 75GB (30 day)
Lebara 30GB (12 month)
Asda Mobile 10GB (24 month)
How much data does your child actually need?
These are rough guides. The biggest variable is whether your child spends most of their time on home WiFi. If they do, even a 5GB plan covers most light use away from home. If they use their phone heavily on the go, go for 40GB or more.
What age can a child get a SIM card?
There is no minimum legal age for a child to use a SIM card. However most networks require the account holder to be at least 18. In practice, parents take out the SIM in their own name and give the phone to their child. giffgaff and Lebara both work well for this since there is no credit check, no long contract, and it is easy to manage from a parent's account.
Can you limit how much data a child uses?
Most networks do not offer parental data controls on standard SIM plans. The simplest way to manage this is to pick a plan with a fixed data allowance rather than unlimited. Once the monthly allowance runs out, mobile data stops until the next cycle. This naturally caps usage without needing any technical setup.
Most smartphones also have built-in screen time and data usage controls. On iPhone, Screen Time lets you set daily limits per app. On Android, Digital Wellbeing does the same. See our family SIM deals page if you need plans for multiple family members.
Questions parents ask
giffgaff's 40GB 30-day plan at £10 per month is the best all-round option for most children. No contract, no credit check, and you can cancel any time. For younger children, Lebara's 5GB plan at £5 per month is the cheapest option available and covers calls, texts, and light use comfortably.
There is no minimum legal age for using a SIM, but most networks require the account holder to be 18 or over. Parents typically take out the SIM in their own name and give the phone to their child. 30-day rolling plans are ideal for this as there is no long commitment and you can cancel any time.
The simplest approach is to choose a plan with a fixed data allowance. Once it runs out, mobile data stops until next month. Most smartphones also have built-in screen time controls. On iPhone use Screen Time, on Android use Digital Wellbeing. These let you set limits per app independently of the SIM plan.
A 30-day rolling monthly plan is almost always better value. giffgaff's 40GB for £10 per month gives a generous allowance at a fixed predictable cost. Pay as you go top-up credit often works out more expensive per GB and can run out at inconvenient times. A monthly rolling plan is easier to manage and cheaper.
Under 10s who mainly need calls and texts can manage on 5GB. Children aged 10 to 13 typically need 10 to 20GB for social media and light streaming. Teenagers usually need 30 to 40GB or more. If your child is mostly on home WiFi, lean towards a smaller allowance.
Related deals and guides
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