Independent Guide — Community, Flexibility & Value
📞 Ask us about giffgaff →giffgaff is an MVNO running on O2's network, owned by Telefónica (O2's parent). Founded in 2009 and B Corp certified, giffgaff operates a unique community-based model — customers help other customers via community forums rather than traditional call centres. It offers highly flexible 'goodybag' plans on rolling 30-day terms, with no contract and no credit check required. giffgaff has won Uswitch Mobile Network of the Year 2025 and consistently scores around 94% customer satisfaction.
We don't display live prices as they change often — check giffgaff's website for today's offers. Below we explain how each plan type works.
giffgaff plans are called 'goodybags' — available as monthly rolling (Golden Goodybags) or 18-month contracts. Data tiers from 2GB to Unlimited. Examples: 2GB ~£6, 20GB ~£10 (rolling), 25GB ~£10 (18-month), Unlimited ~£25 (18-month, promotional prices sometimes lower). All include unlimited calls and texts. 5G on all goodybags. No contract, no credit check on rolling plans. Payback scheme: earn £5 for each friend referred. EU roaming: use up to 5GB of allowance across EU/EEA destinations.
giffgaff does offer refurbished phones and some handset deals, though selection is smaller than major networks. 18-month contracts available with phone upgrades. Device financing available via third-party partners.
giffgaff's rolling 30-day goodybags effectively serve as PAYG-with-bundles. Standard PAYG rates (without a goodybag) apply: 25p/min, 10p/text, 10p/MB — expensive, so a goodybag is strongly recommended for any regular usage.
giffgaff supports eSIM on all accounts. Activate in the giffgaff app or via QR code. Compatible with iPhone XS+, Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3+, and selected other devices. Full eSIM account management through the app.
giffgaff runs on O2's network — 4G coverage to 99% of the UK population. 5G on all goodybag plans via O2's 5G network (77%+ population coverage). Coverage is identical to O2 direct. Rural coverage strong thanks to O2's established infrastructure.
giffgaff includes EU roaming on all goodybags — use up to 5GB of your UK data allowance across EU/EEA destinations at no extra cost. This is the lowest fair-use EU data cap of the major MVNO options (O2: 25GB, iD: 30GB, Lebara: 30GB, Tesco: 25GB). For data-heavy EU travel, another MVNO may suit better. Beyond the 5GB, EU data costs 10p/MB. International calls and texts are charged separately.
Award-winning peer-to-peer community forum where members help each other — typically faster than waiting for a call centre.
30-day rolling goodybags — cancel anytime, change plan every month, no contract, no credit check.
Earn £5 for every friend you refer to giffgaff who buys a goodybag. Community contributors also earn Payback.
giffgaff is B Corp certified, committed to environmental and social standards.
Runs on O2's 99% 4G network with 5G included free. Identical coverage to O2 direct.
Full eSIM support with app-based activation — one of the easiest eSIM experiences among MVNOs.
Our independent team covers all 12 major UK networks — call us or drop a message and we'll guide you honestly.