This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.Learn more Buying a new mobile phone is expensive enough in 2026 given the increasing costs of smartphones, but another cost to worry about is the mobile plan you pay for alongside the device itself.Whether you are paying off the cost of a handset as well as an airtime plan, or have opted for a SIM only deal, you might be subject to some unwanted price rises this year.If you want to avoid your bills increasing, you might want to consider switching mobile providers.
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Read our Privacy PolicyGet More of Our News on GoogleSet Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.Many UK mobile operators and third party resellers offer contracts on phones or on airtime that increase annually.This increase used to be linked to inflation, which makes the yearly increases slightly unpredictable.In January 2025, new rules enforced by UK regulator Ofcom were introduced that mean mobile providers must state by how much contract prices will increase over the course of a contract in plain pounds and pence.
Over the past few months, familiar phone companies have started to hike prices, with O2 announcing most of its customers will see a £2.50 monthly bill increase from April 2026.Rivals EE and Vodafone will also raise prices by the same amount for contracts taken out since July 31 and November 12 respectively.New Three customers who take out data plans will see bills rise by at least £1.80 this year.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTSky Mobile has also just raised prices for in-contract customers for the first time in seven years, a rarity for a provider that prides itself on not having to do this.
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTIf you are unimpressed with price rises set to affect your monthly bills, you could switch to a new mobile provider.This is a great option in particular if you already your own your phone outright and are not paying off a long contract.If you haven't completed the initial term of your contract, you may have to pay a termination fee to leave early.Once you’ve paid off the cost of your handset, likely over 12, 24 or 36 months, you may find that you are no longer tied to paying the monthly cost for the airtime.In fact, many providers don’t tell you this, as unfortunately they can legally continue overcharging you even if you’ve paid off the cost of the phone.Instead, you can switch to a different phone operator, some of whom have recently promised not to raise their prices. Giffgaff, which offers SIM-only deals using the O2 network, hasn’t raised prices of any of its plans for six years.“At Giffgaff we believe in fair value for our members, which is why we don’t do mid-contract price rises and haven’t raised our plan prices in six years,” said Kate Dohaney, Giffgaff CEO.
“We also give our members the freedom to change their plan up and down each month should they wish to suit their budget.”Pete Wicks shares dating advice with Sky Mobile Giffgaff gives you the choice between 18 month SIM contracts, or monthly rolling plans that don’t tie you into a contract.A notable non-contract plan is £10 per month, which gets you a respectable 20GB of monthly 5G data.Prices start from £6 for 2GB.The firm said it doesn't raise prices mid-contract for any of its customers, a promise echoed by Lebara.“Sky Mobile joins O2 in increasing prices mid-contract for their millions of existing customers,” said Mayur Jauhari, Commercial Director, Lebara Mobile UK.
“Price hikes like this have become all too common across major networks, penalising people for staying loyal.“At Lebara, we believe in fairness and transparency, which is why we never raise prices mid-contract.The price you agree to is the price you pay – no surprises, no hidden hikes.We remain committed to keeping things simple and affordable for our customers.”Lebara, which uses the Vodafone network, offers a monthly rolling, no contract £5 plan with 5GB data, 1,000 minutes and texts with 100 international minutes.
Its Unlimited data tariff is £25 per month.Tesco Mobile, which uses the O2 network, has recently committed to freezing mobile prices for Clubcard price deals.The firm offers special pricing and perks to those Clubcard members who use their card when signing up for a Tesco Mobile deal.“As the UK faces a cold snap, Tesco Mobile is putting mid-contract price rises firmly on ice.We’re proud to offer frozen prices on our exclusive Clubcard Price deals, guaranteeing that your monthly costs stay the same for the entire length of your contract,” said Laura Joseph, Chief Customer Officer at Tesco Mobile.“We know clarity and certainty matter when it comes to household budgets.
With heating bills climbing, we want your mobile bill to be one less thing to worry about.“For anyone reconsidering their options after recent price hikes across the market, Tesco Mobile provides a simple alternative: transparent pricing, frozen costs, and genuine value through Clubcard.Whatever the weather, at Tesco Mobile we help families stay connected without the stress of unexpected increases.”
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