Calculator
Contract or buy outright? Work it out in seconds
Pick a phone and we fill in today’s cheapest contract and SIM-free price. Change any number to match the deal you’re looking at — April rises are added for you.
bemobiles tips
What does the calculator include?
Upfront cost, every monthly payment and each April rise on the contract; the SIM-free price plus your SIM only plan on the outright side.
Where do the prices come from?
Live deals from UK retailers, checked several times a day.
What about finance?
If you’d borrow to buy outright, add the interest to the SIM-free price.
Apple- £39 upfront
- then £29.99 a month
- On iD Mobile, 24 months
24-month total £801.96
Get this dealAll iPhone 17 deals →Today’s cheapest iPhone 17 deal, at its true 24-month total.
Contract
Buy outright
Your result
How we work it out
Contract total = upfront + monthly × months + each April rise. A £2.50 rise each April adds £2.50 a month after the first April and £5 after the second, so on a 24-month deal starting now it adds about £75. Outright total = SIM-free price + your SIM only plan × the same number of months.
The comparison ends at the contract’s last month. If you keep your phone longer, the outright route only costs the SIM from then on — so switch to SIM only as soon as a contract ends.
Prices load live each time you open this page · How we compare
A worked example
Say a phone costs £799 SIM-free, and the contract you’re looking at is £39 upfront and £30 a month for 24 months on a network that adds £2.50 a month every April. For a contract starting in October:
| Contract | Outright + £8 SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront / phone | £39 | £799 |
| 24 monthly payments | £720 | £192 |
| April rises (18 months at +£2.50, then 6 at +£5) | £75 | £0 |
| Total over 24 months | £834 | £991 |
| Total over 36 months, if you stay put | £834 + £435 (6 × £35, then 6 × £37.50 after a third rise) = £1,269 | £991 + 12 × £8 = £1,087 |
Over two years the contract wins by £157. Keep the phone for a third year without switching and the outright route wins by £182. That is the pattern for many phones: contracts can win the first two years, outright wins the long game — unless you move to SIM only the day the contract ends.
Tips for accurate results
- Use the exact deal you’re considering — change upfront and monthly to match.
- Enter the network’s real rise: EE £4 on phone plans, O2 and Vodafone £2.50, Three £1.80–£2.30, giffgaff/SMARTY/Lebara/VOXI £0.
- Pick a SIM price for the data you actually need — see how much data do I need?
- If you’d pay by credit card or finance, add the interest to the SIM-free price.
What the calculator doesn’t include
Trade-in value of your old phone, cashback you’d have to claim, insurance and accessories. Subtract a trade-in from whichever route you choose; add cashback only if you’re sure you’ll claim it.
FAQ
Common questions
Is it cheaper to buy a phone outright?
It depends on the phone and the day. Right now contracts often win on popular phones because retailers discount them. See our guide with five phones priced both ways.
Why do you add price rises?
Most big networks add a fixed amount every spring. Ignoring it understates a contract by £40 to £100 over two years.
Can I use any SIM with a SIM-free phone?
Yes. Phones sold in the UK must be unlocked, so any network’s SIM works.