In the UK, mobile operators introduced 'SIM only' contracts a few years ago, where you got a rolling monthly contract (you weren't tied in for more than a month

In the UK, mobile operators introduced 'SIM only' contracts a few years ago, where you got a rolling monthly contract (you weren't tied in for more than a month at a time), effectively giving you the flexibility of 'Pay As You Go' but without having to bother with top-ups. Initially, these were much cheaper than the year-long contracts, if you already had a phone. Now, however, they have little advantage over a 'standard' 2 year contract, as they've made them much more expensive (if you want a decent amount of data, which people who own smartphones do) and much less value for money on a monthly contract than a yearly contract. Now if you 'bring your own phone' - and it's a smartphone, so you want some data, a 'SIM only' contract allows you to choose between not really saving any money, but being on a rolling monthly contract - a bit pointless unless you plan on switching providers very soon or giving up mobile phones forever - or saving having to buy a phone you don't need over 2 years, but still being locked in for a year. All this said, I've managed to get a year's service with Vodafone UK (unlimited calls/texts, 6GB data) for £9/month effectively, due to cashback and offsetting my Spotify premium that I was paying for. My phone (that I bought from O2 and had them unlock) is a Nokia Lumia 635, which is around £70 and is, well, 'functional'.