Total cost
Is it cheaper to buy a phone outright in 2026?
We priced five popular phones both ways — the cheapest 24-month contract with April rises, and the SIM-free price plus a 30-day SIM — using today’s live deals.
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What is “buying outright”?
Paying the full price for the phone up front (SIM-free), then adding any SIM only plan you like.
When does a contract win?
When retailers discount the phone heavily to win the airtime — common on popular flagships.
When does outright win?
Mostly when you keep the phone well beyond two years, or when retailers stop discounting a model. The table above shows today’s answer.
No price rise- Runs on Three
- 30-day rolling plan
- No credit check
- EU roaming included, 12 GB
£6 a month
Get this dealSMARTY review →The cheapest 30-day SIM with 10GB+ and no annual rise — the SIM used in our outright figures.
Five phones, priced both ways
| Phone | Cheapest contract (true total) | SIM-free + 30-day SIM | Cheaper route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple iPhone 17 | £801.96 iD Mobile | £899 + £6 × 24 = £1,043 | Contract, by £241.04 |
| Samsung Galaxy S26 | £725.80 Talkmobile | £879 + £6 × 24 = £1,023 | Contract, by £297.20 |
| Google Pixel 10 | £511.80 Talkmobile | £499 + £6 × 24 = £643 | Contract, by £131.20 |
| Samsung Galaxy A57 | £465.80 Talkmobile | £599 + £6 × 24 = £743 | Contract, by £277.20 |
| Apple iPhone 16e | £589.96 iD Mobile | £599 + £6 × 24 = £743 | Contract, by £153.04 |
Today buying outright wins for 0 of 5 phones. SIM only = the cheapest 30-day SIM with 10GB+ and no annual rise. Prices checked 27 October 2026.
What the numbers mean
The contract total includes every monthly payment, the upfront cost and each April rise the network has announced. The outright total is the cheapest SIM-free price we track plus 24 months of the cheapest 30-day SIM with 10GB or more and no annual rise.
Outright usually wins if…
- You keep phones for three years or more — after 24 months the contract keeps charging for a phone you’ve paid off unless you switch.
- You use little data — a cheap SIM makes the outright route far cheaper.
- You want freedom — a 30-day SIM can be changed any month.
A contract usually wins if…
- Retailers are discounting that phone heavily — common on new flagships.
- You want a lot of data, which is cheaper bundled on some contracts.
- You can’t pay the full price today and would otherwise borrow at a high interest rate.
Every phone page on bemobiles runs this sum for that phone, so you can check any model in seconds.
Updated 26 October 2026 · bemobiles editorial team · How we compare
The answer in brief
- Over 24 months, contracts often win on popular phones because retailers discount them heavily.
- Over three years or more, buying outright usually wins: the contract has paid for the phone, but your bill doesn’t fall unless you switch.
- Light data users save most by buying outright and adding a cheap SIM.
- Run your own numbers: our calculator does it for any phone.
How to work it out yourself
You need four numbers: the contract’s upfront cost, its monthly price, the network’s yearly rise, and the phone’s SIM-free price. Then:
- Contract total = upfront + (monthly × 24) + the rises you’ll pay. A £2.50 rise each April adds about £75 over a 24-month contract that starts now — the rises stack, so the second year costs £5 a month more than the first price.
- Outright total = SIM-free price + (SIM only plan × 24). Pick a SIM with no annual rise and enough data.
- Compare the two. If you’d borrow to buy outright, add the interest to the outright side.
Our contract vs outright calculator fills in today’s prices for any phone and lets you change each number.
Why contracts sometimes win
Retailers and networks compete hardest on the newest, best-selling phones. To win the airtime they often discount the handset inside the contract, so the 24-month total can come in below the SIM-free price plus a SIM. That is why our table above can show contracts winning even though, on paper, you are “paying for the phone” as well.
Why buying outright often wins in the long run
- Year three: when a combined contract ends, the monthly price usually stays the same unless you act. The outright buyer keeps paying only for a SIM.
- No yearly rises: a 30-day SIM from giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara or VOXI keeps the same price, and you can move whenever prices drop.
- Freedom: no credit check on many SIMs, no 24-month tie-in, and the phone is yours from day one — you can sell it whenever you like.
Costs people forget
| On a contract | Buying outright |
|---|---|
| Upfront payment | Interest, if you borrow or use a credit card |
| Yearly price rises (EE £4 a month on phone plans; O2 and Vodafone £2.50) | Insurance or repairs, if you’d have had cover through the network |
| Early exit fees if you leave before 24 months | Higher price for a SIM with lots of data |
| Paying the same bill after the contract ends | — |
Middle routes
Split contracts (device plan plus airtime plan, as O2 and Sky Mobile sell them) end the device payments automatically, so your bill drops when the phone is paid off. Last year’s model narrows the gap — see iPhone 17 vs iPhone 16. And a refurbished or second-hand phone with a 30-day SIM is usually the cheapest route of all.
A quick decision checklist
- Will you keep the phone for more than two years? Lean outright.
- Do you use under 10GB a month? Lean outright.
- Is it a brand-new flagship with heavy contract discounts? Check the contract.
- Would you need to borrow at a high rate to buy outright? Lean contract.
- Do you want to avoid a credit check? Outright plus a no-credit-check SIM.
FAQ
Common questions
Is it cheaper to buy an iPhone outright?
It depends on the model and the day — the table above shows today’s answer for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16e.
What happens when a phone contract ends?
You keep paying the same unless you switch. Networks must tell you the contract is ending and show their best deals, so move to SIM only straight away.
Can I buy a phone on finance and use SIM only?
Yes. Retailers and phone makers offer interest-free or low-interest finance; compare the total with a contract.