Just data.
No calls, no texts, no fuss.
Data-only SIM cards for tablets, iPads, dongles, and routers. Compare the best deals from UK networks and only pay for what you actually need.
A data-only SIM gives your tablet, dongle, or router mobile internet without paying for calls or texts you will never use. The best value right now is Lebara's 12-month 100GB plan at £18 per month on the Vodafone network. For flexibility with no contract, giffgaff's 30-day plans start from £10 per month for 40GB.
Best data SIM deals right now
Lebara 100GB (12 month)
Lebara 50GB (12 month)
giffgaff 75GB (30 day)
giffgaff 40GB (30 day)
Asda Mobile 100GB (24 month)
What actually is a data-only SIM?
It is exactly what it sounds like. A SIM card that gives you mobile data but skips the calls and texts. You pop it into a tablet, a dongle, a mobile router, or any device that takes a SIM, and that device gets internet access wherever there is a 4G or 5G signal.
Most people use them because they have a device that only needs internet. Your iPad does not make phone calls. Your dongle does not send texts. So why pay for them? A data-only SIM means you are only paying for what the device actually uses.
What devices work with a data SIM?
Tablets and iPads
The most common use. Get your tablet online anywhere without relying on public WiFi or draining your phone's hotspot.
Laptops
Many modern laptops have a SIM slot built in. A data SIM means you are online the moment you open the lid.
Mobile routers
MiFi devices and home routers like the GigaCube need a data SIM to broadcast WiFi. Great for holiday lets or temporary setups.
Dongles
Plug a dongle into your laptop and you are online. Simple, portable, and no separate device to charge.
How much data do you actually need?
If you are using a tablet mostly for browsing, emails, and occasional YouTube, 30 to 50GB a month is usually plenty. If you stream a lot of video or use it as a proper work device, 100GB gives you room to breathe. If you are putting the SIM into a router as a home broadband replacement, unlimited data is worth the extra cost.
The Lebara 100GB 12-month plan at £18 per month is the best balance of data, price, and network quality for most people. If you want no contract, giffgaff's 75GB 30-day plan at £12 is the best flexible option. See our unlimited data SIM page if you need more than 100GB per month.
Can I put a regular SIM in a tablet?
Yes, and it will work fine. The tablet will just ignore the calls and texts part of the plan. But you are paying for something you are not using, which is why a data-focused plan often works out cheaper for tablet use specifically. It is worth checking the data allowance and price per GB rather than just the headline monthly price.
Questions people ask
A data-only SIM gives a device mobile internet access without calls or texts. You put it in a tablet, dongle, router, or laptop with a SIM slot and that device gets online using 4G or 5G. Because you are not paying for calls or texts, the data is often cheaper per GB than a standard SIM plan.
Any device with a SIM slot that connects to mobile data. The most common are tablets and iPads, mobile WiFi hotspots, 4G or 5G dongles, mobile broadband routers, and laptops with a built-in SIM card slot.
Yes, it works fine. The tablet will use the data allowance and ignore the calls and texts. The reason data-focused plans are often better for tablets is that you are not paying for minutes and texts you will never use, which usually means more data for the same price.
For light use like browsing and email, 20 to 30GB is usually enough. For regular video streaming, 50 to 100GB gives you room. If you are using a tablet or router as your main internet connection at home, unlimited data is worth considering. Streaming one hour of HD video uses roughly 3GB.
A data SIM goes into a device you already own. A mobile broadband plan usually comes bundled with a device like a hotspot or router. If you already have the hardware, a data SIM is almost always cheaper. If you need the device too, a mobile broadband bundle is worth comparing. See our mobile broadband page for bundle options.
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