Best Buy Sim Only Mobile Contracts

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Last Updated: 16 June 2013.

Highlighted Packages

Three 30 day contract - 350 flexi-units and 'unlimited' data - €20.33 per month
Tesco Mobile 1 year contract - 300 minutes, 'unlimited' texts and 1 GB data - €20 per month
eMobile 30 day contract - 'Unlimited' calls & texts and 15 GB data - €32 per month
Tesco Mobile 1 year contract - 'Unlimited' calls & texts and 15 GB data - €30 per month

Sim-Only Bill Pay Packages

Tesco Mobile:

30 day contract bundles:
  • : 100 minutes, 100 texts, 100 MB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.
  • : 300 minutes, 300 texts, 500 MB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.
  • : 500 minutes, 500 texts, 15 GB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.
12 month contract bundles:
  • : 150 minutes, 150 texts, 500 MB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.
  • : 300 minutes, 10,000 texts, 1 GB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.
  • : 10,000 minutes, 10,000 texts, 15 GB data and free Tesco to Tesco calls & texts.


  • Cap on 'free Tesco to Tesco calls' is 300 minutes per day. Cap on 'free Tesco to Tesco texts' is 300 texts per day.

Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: 20 cent per minute with 20 cent minimum charge.
  • Domestic texts: 10 cent per text.
  • Mobile data: 2 cent per MB. No mobile data bundles available for sim only customers.
  • Tethering data: Permitted and inclusive with above mobile data bundles.
  • International texts: 14 cent to 20 cent per text.
  • Webtexts: 200 free domestic webtexts per month and 50 free international webtexts for 30 days after you top up.
  • International calls: Rates include 1 cent per minute calls to landlines in 30 countries, UK mobiles: 20 cent per minute, USA: 2 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: 12 cent per minute. **Best value package for international landline calls to many countries**
  • Roaming: Rates include data roaming but only in certain countries.
Other provider information:
  • Network: O2.

eMobile:

30 day contract bundles:
  • €14.23: 100 minutes, 100 texts and free landline calls.
  • €24.40: 100 minutes, 100 texts, free landline calls and 1 GB data.
  • €24.40-€29.48: 200 minutes, 200 texts and free landline calls. €24.40 for Eircom customers, €29.48 for non-Eircom customers.
  • €39.64-€44.73: 400 minutes, 400 texts and free landline calls. €39.64 for Eircom customers, €44.73 for non-Eircom customers.
  • €44.73: 300 minutes, 300 texts, free landline calls and 2 GB data. Package available for Eircom and non-Eircom customers.
  • €49.81-€59.98: 500 minutes, 500 texts, free landline calls and 2 GB data. €49.81 for Eircom customers, €59.98 for non-Eircom customers.
  • €32.00**: Free any network calls and free any network texts and 15 GB data. Package available for Eircom and non-Eircom customers.

  • Cap on 'free calls' including 'free landline calls' is set at 45,000 minutes. Cap on 'free texts' is set at 10,000 text messages.
  • **Half price offer online only.

Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: 20 cent to 30 cent per minute. Varies by package.
  • Domestic texts: 11 cent to 14 cent per text. Varies by package.
  • Mobile data: €1.00 per day for any usage up to 50 MB then 2 cent per MB OR
    €10.16 for 1 GB for 30 days via add-on OR
    €15.24 for 10 GB data for 30 days via add-on.
  • Tethering data: Permitted and inclusive with above mobile data bundles.
  • International texts: 15 cent per text.
  • Webtexts: 300 free domestic webtexts per month.
  • International calls: Standard eMobile rates include UK mobiles: 20 cent per minute, USA: 20 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: 30 cent per minute.
  • Roaming: include 20 cent per minute in the UK if roaming on T-Mobile. EU and USA data roaming opt-in paid add-on available.
Other provider information:
  • Network: Meteor. Vodafone in certain counties.

Meteor:

30 day contract bundles:
  • [broken link removed]: 50 minutes, 50 texts, zero data and free Meteor to Meteor texts.
  • [broken link removed]: 200 minutes, 200 texts, 1 GB data and free Meteor to Meteor calls and texts.
  • [broken link removed]: 200 minutes, 5,000 texts and 1 GB data and free Meteor to Meteor calls and texts.
  • [broken link removed]: 400 minutes, 400 texts and 2 GB data and free Meteor to Meteor calls and texts.
  • [broken link removed]: Free any network calls, free any network texts and 2 GB data. (Calls, texts data are on a per minute/text/MB basis until you reach €50.00).

  • *Half price promotion.
  • The above prices are the online price only.
  • Cap on 'free calls' is set at 5,000 minutes. Cap on 'free texts' is set at 5,000 text messages. This cap applies for all packages except the up to €50.00 package.
  • Cap on the €50.00 package is 45,000 minutes minutes and 10,000 texts.

Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: [broken link removed] per minute.
  • Domestic texts: [broken link removed].
  • Mobile data: 79 cent per day for any usage up to 50 MB then 2 cent per MB (default out of bundle rate) OR
    €4.99 for 500 MB for 30 days via paid [broken link removed] OR
    €15.24 for 10 GB for 30 days via paid [broken link removed].
  • Tethering data: Permitted and inclusive with above mobile data bundles.
  • International texts: [broken link removed].
  • Webtexts: [broken link removed] free domestic webtexts per month.
  • International calls: Standard Meteor international [broken link removed] OR
    Lower [broken link removed] to selected countries via free [broken link removed] including UK mobiles: 10 cent per minute, USA: 15 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: 15 cent per minute.
  • Roaming: [broken link removed] include 'free roaming' at domestic, out of top up bundle rates, in the EU for texts and calls but not data via free [broken link removed]. EU data [broken link removed] paid add-on available. EU and USA [broken link removed] available.
Other provider information:
  • Network: Meteor. Vodafone in some counties.

Three:

30 day contract bundles:
  • [broken link removed]: 60 'flexi Units', free 3 to 3 calls and 3,000 texts to any network.
  • [broken link removed]: 350 'flexi Units', unlimited data and free 3 to 3 calls. **Best value package for heavy mobile data usage**
  • [broken link removed]: 300 'flexi Units' and free 3 to 3 calls.
  • [broken link removed]: 200 'flexi Units', free 3 to 3 calls and 3,000 texts to any network.
  • [broken link removed]: 500 'flexi Units' and free 3 to 3 calls.
  • [broken link removed]: 10,000 'flexi units'.
  • [broken link removed]: 400 'flexi Units', free 3 to 3 calls, 1 'freebie' and 3,000 texts to any network.

  • A 'flexi Unit' is defined as 1 call minute OR 2 text messages.
  • A 'freebie' is defined as unlimited landline calls OR 150 evening and weekend domestic minutes OR 26 cent per minute calls to Europe OR 39 cent calls to Australia OR 150 free texts per month.
  • All packages include unlimited free Skype to Skype calls.
  • Cap on 'free calls' is set at 3,000 minutes. Cap on 'free texts' is set at 3,000 text messages.

Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: 30 cent to 35 cent per minute depending on the plan.
  • Domestic texts: 15 cent to 17 cent per text depending on the plan.
  • Mobile data: up to 70 cent per MB (by default) OR
    €6.99 for 500 MB for 1 month with opt-in paid add on OR
    €10.15 for 1 GB for 1 month with opt-in paid add on OR
    €20.32 for 10 GB for 1 month with opt-in paid add on.
  • Tethering data: No tethering packages offered. Not [broken link removed] with mobile data bundles.
  • International texts: 25 cent per text.
  • Webtexts: 333 free [broken link removed] per month.
  • International calls: Standard 3 international OR
    Lower international call [broken link removed] if you prefix the number when calling with the instructions on 3's gocall.ie website. Rates include 2-3 cent per minute calls to landlines in 38 countries, UK mobiles: 15 cent per minute, USA: 2 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: 12 cent per minute.
  • Roaming: Rates
Other provider information:
  • Network: 3 and Vodafone.

O2:

30 day contract bundles:
  • : 350 minutes, 350 texts, 350 MB data.
  • : 5,000 minutes, 5,000 texts and 1 GB data.
  • The cap on 'free calls' is 5,000 minutes. The cap on 'free texts' is 5,000 texts.
Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: 31 cent per minute.
  • Domestic texts: 11 cent per text.
  • Mobile data:
    (default charge) OR
    Different data add-ons available with different plans.
  • Tethering data: €15.06 for 1 GB for 30 days with paid OR
    €30.12 for 10 GB for 30 days with paid .
    Tethering is also permitted with the above mobile data bundles.
  • International texts: .
  • Webtexts: [broken link removed] free international webtexts per month.
  • International calls: include UK mobiles: up to 70.28 cent per minute, USA: up to 93.7 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: up to €1.79 cent per minute.
  • Roaming: .
Other provider information:
  • Network: O2.

Vodafone:

30 day contract bundles:
  • [broken link removed]: Zero any network calls/minutes, free Vodafone to Vodafone calls & texts and zero data.
  • [broken link removed]: Zero any network calls/minutes, free Vodafone to Vodafone calls & texts and 500 MB data.
  • [broken link removed]: 5,000 minutes, 5,000 texts, free Vodafone to Vodafone calls & texts and 1 GB mobile data.

  • Cap on free Vodafone to Vodafone calls is 5,000 minutes. Cap on free Vodafone to Vodafone texts is 5,000 texts.

Outside above bundles:
  • Domestic calls: 25 cent per minute.
  • Domestic texts: 11 cent per text.
  • Mobile data: Default out of bundle rates [broken link removed] OR
    €9.99 for 1 GB via paid add-on.
  • Tethering data: €9.99 for 1 GB for 30 days via paid add-on OR
    €19.90 for 10 GB for 30 days via paid add-on.
    Tethering is also permitted as part of mobile data bundles but not permitted as part of free data with contract bundle.
  • International texts: Typically 15 cent per text.
  • Webtexts: 600 free international webtexts per month. **Best webtext offer**
  • International calls: Standard Vodafone international rates including UK mobiles: 30 cent per minute, USA: 15 cent per minute, Australian mobiles: 30 cent per minute.
  • Roaming: Rates include UK roaming at domestic, out of bundle, rates via a free opt-in. Rates also include 50 MB per day for €2 per day via opt-in.
Other provider information:
  • Network: Vodafone.

Apps for Calls, Texts and Messaging:
  • Apps below enabling calls, texts and messaging over 3G/WiFi. Frequently a better value option that using your service provider. These apps obviously utilise your data allowance with your service operator.

  • Viber:
    Free Viber to Viber calls and texts. Uses your existing contact list. Hence, you can easily see which of your phone contacts are already on Viber. Available for Android and iPhone.
  • Skype:
    Free Skype to Skype calls and messaging. Available for Android and iPhone.
  • WhatsApp:
    Free Whatsapp to Whatsapp messaging. Uses your existing contact list. Hence, you can easily see which of your phone contacts are already on Whatsapp. Available for Android, iPhone and Windows Mobile.
  • HeyTell:
    Free HeyTell to HeyTell audio messaging. Available for Android and iPhone

  • Cabbage:
    Free texts messages via your providers webtext account. Compatible with 3, O2, Vodafone, Meteor, eMobile and Tesco Mobile. Available for [broken link removed]. **Best value option for text messages**
  • ChompSMS:
    8 cent per text message to most countries worldwide. Recipient gets text, in a normal text manner, with senders caller ID. Available for Android.

Tips and Notes:
  • Sim Only mobile packages are bill pay packages with 30 day contract periods.
  • "Minutes" and "texts" above refer to any network any time calls/texts unless otherwise stated.
  • The word "unlimited" is used above if the 'fair use' or usage cap is very large. For example, the eMobile unlimited landline calls are subject to a 40,000 minutes per month limit.
  • 30 days notice is required to cancel your contract OR you can go ahead and port but you will be charged your 30 day subscription by your old provider.
  • There is a separate thread for .
  • The above packages are the current sim only packages offered by all mobile operators. Many long-term customers may be on legacy plans at different rates.
  • The above list does not include Postfone and '48' as they do not offer bill pay packages.
  • The above packages are all available with a sim card with your chosen operator. Hence, you will need an unlocked phone if you are switching.
  • Given the growth in smartphone usage, data is increasingly becoming a very important criteria to consider with your chosen provider and choosen package. Specifically, one is generally best ensuing that you get adequate data included with your monthly package or you choose a reasonably priced data add-on that will exceed your likely data usage to avoid unexpected and often significant data charges.
  • Tethering means using your phone as a modem to enable you to access the internet on other devices such as laptops.
  • The value of free one provider to one provider calls and/or texts depends on the portion of your contacts that are on that relevant provider. Obviously, any network deals are the most valuable.
  • Use online webtexts to save money, especially for group texts.
  • Check your online bill, where possible, for premium texts.
  • Ensure you have data roaming switched off when abroad or that you are fully aware of the cost implications which are usually significant.
  • Most service providers offer free sim cards via their website but charge for sim cards in store. One way to test network reception, where you live, is to obtain a free prepay sim card.
  • Post comments, questions and feedback in the service provider forum.
  • If you want email updates on prepay packages, you can subscribe to this thread.
 
Top post updated.

New Vodafone sim only packages added.

(Thread opened for postings about news on packages, like the prepay thread).
 
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