What is PAYG mobile broadband?
Simply put, it is a dongle or MiFi router device you will need to buy outright and upfront, with a SIM slot, into which you will put a data-only, mobile broadband SIM. Unlike contract mobile broadband where you will pay a flat monthly fee for a set amount of usage, PAYG mobile broadband involves buying and owning the dongle or MiFi device, sticking a special SIM in it and adding top-up (money) onto the SIM. As you use data, it will eat directly away at your top-up.
The advantage should be obvious to anyone who needs mobile broadband, but only needs it very rarely, or as a last-ditch backup when you can't get access to wifi, or leverage the data allowance of their mobile phone. There's more than one way to get mobile broadband on pay-as-you-go, though. Several ways, in fact. They are:
- PAYG MiFi device – A MiFi device is, in essence, a small portable router that emits a 4G or 5G signal to which you can connect several devices if you wish
- PAYG Dongle – A dongle is a small internet ‘stick’ that plugs into any USB port – usually on a laptop – and, once loaded with a compatible data SIM, will get your laptop online. It can also be used as a hotspot to get other devices online.
- Data only SIMs – Data-only SIMs are designed specifically for tablets and laptops but do not offer any form of calling or texting allowance. You can also use your tablet SIM as a hotspot as well
- Mobile hotspots/tethering – Similarly to data-only SIMs, your mobile phone can be used as a mobile broadband hotspot in itself. With so many unlimited data deals now available for mobile phones, you may decide that you have no need of paying for an additional pay-as-you-go mobile broadband solution
Do I need PAYG mobile broadband?
Specifically when it comes to PAYG mobile broadband, there are a few different scenarios where it may come in handy. Most of them, though, sit in the context of it forming some sort of backup or failsafe. After all, you can use your mobile phone as a mobile broadband hotspot in most cases. The need for PAYG mobile broadband in addition should be relatively rare.
That's also where the PAYG element is useful of course. A rarely used fallback service is not something you are going to want to be paying a flat monthly fee for. Those who might want PAYG mobile broadband will fall into one or more of the following categories:
- You travel for work – If you're up and down the country all week every week, mobile coverage on your existing mobile network may be spotty. Having a PAYG mobile broadband dongle or MiFi device as backup, signed up to a different network to your phone, will have you covered nine times out of ten where signal is poor
- No other options – This is going to be rare, but it is possible that your existing phone data isn't enough or lacks the coverage to ensure you stay online wherever you are, and that your credit rating means you can't get a pay monthly mobile broadband deal
- You only need to use it once in a while – As mentioned previously, PAYG mobile broadband really should be viewed as backup rather than your primary means to get online when you're out and about. You should only need to use it once in a blue moon
Mobile broadband coverage and data speeds
As things stand, you'll only get PAYG mobile broadband from three of the UK's four network providers: O2, Vodafone and Three. (EE does not offer PAYG mobile broadband data as such, although it does offer 30-day and 90-day preloaded data-only SIMs.) There are many other providers of phones and SIMs in the UK, of course, but they do not run on their own networks, instead they piggyback on one of these four.
These network providers (rather than the many virtual network providers) tend to offer a far wider range of services than anyone else. That's why when it comes to something as specific as PAYG mobile broadband, you will only find it available with these four. See our mobile phone coverage guide for more info.
Which providers offer PAYG mobile broadband?
As outlined above, only O2, EE, Vodafone and Three offer preloaded data SIMs that you can use for mobile broadband and choose to top up when you want. Remember also, that for PAYG mobile broadband you will have to buy the device, either a dongle or MiFi router, outright, before putting a PAYG mobile data SIM into it. Depending on what level of functionality you need, this may cost you between £10 and £100.
- Vodafone – offers a mobile hotspot MiFi device, a laptop dongle and also data-only SIMs. Both the hotspot and the dongle are available to buy outright with a preloaded PAYG data SIM, or you can choose to bolt on a contract plan.
- Three – offers a single MiFi device, which is only available on contract, although one-month contracts are an option.
- O2 – offers both pre-loaded data SIMs for use in mobile broadband devices, tablets and dongles, as well as free PAYG SIMs that you can then top up with data whenever you need it
- EE – offers a choice of 30-day and 90-day, data-only SIMs, preloaded with data that can be used in any mobile broadband device, but it doesn’t offer pay-as-you-go data only.
PAYG mobile broadband versus contract mobile broadband
The differences between PAYG mobile broadband and contract mobile broadband have little to do with the functionality. Both will get you online when you're out and about. It's the means of getting there and the reasons you may have for choosing one or the other that set them apart.
- PAYG is better for occasional use – If you're on a contracted mobile broadband plan you're going to be paying regular monthly installments for a fixed amount of monthly data allowance. This is great if you use your mobile broadband reliably each month, but not so great if you only use mobile broadband as an emergency backup for when all else fails
- With PAYG you have to buy the device – Though you may want to save money by choosing not to pay monthly or tie yourself into a contract when choosing PAYG mobile broadband, it is worth bearing in mind that you will have to buy the device outright, which could make that saving redundant in part or in whole
- PAYG means carefully managing top-up – There's a fire-and-forget aspect to signing up to a contract mobile broadband deal and sticking within your monthly data allowance, which you don’t get with PAYG mobile broadband. Instead you'll have to always ensure you have top-up when you need it. Top-up on PAYG mobile broadband has a long shelf life, though – usually 12 months
