EE's newest deal beats Sky and O2 to give mobile users free data this summer
Buying a swanky new mobile phone is only the start when it comes to heightened costs, mobile users can spend hundreds of pounds on data each year. Locking into a pay-monthly deal often makes the cost seem and feel more affordable but unbeknown to many tech fans this can cost a lot more in extra fees and there's no wiggle room.
Providers like Giffgaff, Lebara, and SMARTY offer pay-as-you-go plans and now a well-known provider, EE, is swapping lengthy two-year contracts for the same flexible plan. It comes as research from the provider shows that more than half of Brits will increase their social media use over the summer as garden parties, BBQs or snaps by the pool make for Insta-worthy content.
EE's new prices start from as little as £10, a competitive rate to budget provider SMARTY and much cheaper compared to the likes of Sky Mobile and once bought users will get a boost of data thrown in for free. However, you have to buy by September 16.
How it works is mobile users buy one of its four new data subscription packs (don't worry it's pay-as-you-go so no pesky contracts) starting from £10 for 20GB of data, £15 for 50GB, £20 for 100GB, and £30 for 125GB. Once added to the basket shoppers will see that they get an extra boost per month for no extra cost.
On the 20GB data pack, for instance, shoppers will pay the £10 rolling contract price - which means you can leave when you like after every 30 days - and get a free 12GB of data. Depending on the plan you choose the free amount does go up, the bigger £15 50GB plan comes with a free 25GB of data, while the 100GB plan at £20 per month comes with 50GB of free data.
Of course, the biggest 125GB plan for £30 gets shoppers the biggest freebie, totalling a huge 62GB of free data. The packs launched following newly commissioned research from EE which revealed summer content is the most shareable of the seasons.
stress woman using phone
As a spokesperson for the provider said: "A third of Brits report that they post most of their social content over this period, and over half (52%) admit that they are planning to increase their social media usage this summer.
"This comes in addition to a further 38% of Brits who believe that posting about their summer experiences is important to them, with over half (52%) even admitting that they meticulously plan their content ahead of events such as holidays, eating out, sightseeing and festivals."
In rival deals, Giffgaff is offering 40GB of monthly data for a cheap £12 per month, however, to get the deal shoppers will have to lock into a long 18-month contract - a term and condition that makes EE's pay-as-you-go deal standout. SMARTY, another budget provider, is offering a capped £8 per month deal that comes with 50GB of data and unlimited calls and texts.
For more inspiration on where is best to buy a new phone or take out a SIM deal, you can read our full round-up here. Compiled by the Mirror Tech team we go into each perk and freebie from Sky, O2, Three, Vodafone and more which may sway the provider you choose.