Answer first: O2 has reactivated Classic 30-day (1-month rolling) SIM Only tariffs from 1 October 2026, live throughout October. The ladder runs from 10GB at £7 up to 250GB at £15, with unlimited UK mins and texts. 12-month and 24-month O2 Classic SIMs stay on their own pricing — including Classic Unlimited at £23 and Classic 100GB at £20 (retailer window language: through 4 November 2026 on o2.co.uk — confirm at checkout). Perks worth knowing on the rolling ladder: Priority from O2 Access, free EU roaming up to 25GB, and double data for Virgin Media customers (so 50GB becomes 100GB, and so on).
O2 Classic 30-day — 10GB for £7/mo rolling
- 10GB UK 5G data (20GB with Virgin Media double data where it applies)
- Unlimited UK mins & texts · 1-month rolling Classic
- Priority from O2 Access · EU roaming up to 25GB — confirm at checkout
Last updated: Wednesday 7 October 2026 (Europe/London). Prices and tariff details are from O2’s October 2026 Classic SIM lineup and live O2 checkout terms — always confirm data, price and terms at checkout before you pay.
What changed for October 2026?
In mid-September, O2 withdrew its 30-day / rolling monthly SIM Only propositions from public comparison offers. From 1 October 2026, the Classic 30-day ladder is back for the month. If you still have an open tab with older mid-September messaging about the rolling Classic withdrawal, treat that as outdated — the rolling Classic tiles below are the current story for October.
What did not change: longer O2 Classic SIMs (including 12-month and 24-month) stay available on their own pricing. Choose rolling if you want a monthly exit; choose a longer lock if a different cash profile suits you better — for example Unlimited at £23 or 100GB at £20 on the 24-month Classic path (retailer deadline language through 4 November 2026).
October Classic 30-day ladder (prices and double data)
All plans below are 1-month rolling, unlimited UK minutes and texts, on the O2 network. Virgin Media customers should see the doubled data column when the offer applies at checkout.
| Allowance | £/month | Virgin Media double data | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10GB | £7 | 20GB | 1 month rolling |
| 50GB | £8 | 100GB | 1 month rolling |
| 80GB | £10 | 160GB | 1 month rolling |
| 120GB | £12 | 240GB | 1 month rolling |
| 250GB | £15 | 500GB | 1 month rolling |
Extras called out by O2 for these Classic 30-day SIMs:
- Priority from O2 Access — perks and Priority experiences tied to an eligible O2 plan.
- Free EU roaming up to 25GB — useful if you travel in the EU/EEA; confirm destination list and fair-use detail on o2.co.uk before you go.
- Double data for Virgin Media customers — shown clearly in the table (for example 80GB → 160GB).
O2 Classic Unlimited — £23/mo · 24 months (Ends 4 November)
- Unlimited UK data on O2 Classic Unlimited
- £23 a month for 24 months — rises £2.50 each April
- Live on o2.co.uk through 4 November 2026 — confirm at checkout
Who the relaunch suits
- You want O2 coverage with a monthly exit — Classic 30-day is back for October; start with 10GB at £7, 50GB at £8 or 80GB at £10 if you are unsure.
- You are on Virgin Media broadband — double data can make a mid ladder tier feel like a heavy-data plan (50GB → 100GB, 120GB → 240GB).
- You travel in the EU — up to 25GB inclusive roaming is a clear plus versus many budget MVNOs; still read the destination list.
- You prefer a longer lock on O2 — skip rolling and compare live 12-month or 24-month Classic prices instead (Unlimited £23 / 100GB £20 soft-listed above).
Rolling vs longer O2 — quick decision
Pick 30-day Classic if you may leave within a few months, you want Priority and EU roaming on a rolling bill, or Virgin Media double data meaningfully changes the value.
Pick a longer Classic lock if you already know you will stay on O2 and a 12- or 24-month plan prints a better monthly rate for your allowance. Related reads: no credit check SIM only, EU roaming SIM only, SIM only vs contract, and allowance guides for 20GB and 30GB.
How to switch without drama
- Check indoor O2 signal at home (and work) before you leave another network.
- If you are bringing a number, start a PAC from your current provider; for a new number, you can skip that step.
- Prefer eSIM if your phone supports it and you want activation without waiting for a plastic SIM.
- At checkout, confirm the tariff term (1-month Classic vs longer Classic), the monthly price, and — if relevant — that Virgin Media double data has applied.
What you get on every Classic 30-day tier
Across the October ladder, the shared package is simple: unlimited UK minutes, unlimited UK texts, and a clear data bucket on O2’s network. You are not buying a handset bundle here — it is SIM only — so keep your phone unlocked (or network-unlocked) and check eSIM support if you want same-day activation.
Priority from O2 Access is the lifestyle perk many people overlook when they only compare pound-per-gigabyte. If you already use Priority offers, staying on an eligible O2 plan keeps that continuity. If you have never used Priority, skim what is live in the Priority app before you decide — a £1–£2 monthly difference between tiers is easier to justify when you will actually use a perk.
EU roaming up to 25GB is the travel line to remember. It will not replace a dedicated travel eSIM for a three-week working trip with tethered laptops, but for a week away with maps, messaging and some video it is often enough. Always confirm whether your destination is included and what speed or add-on applies after 25GB.
Picking a tier without overbuying
10GB at £7 suits light phone use: messaging, maps, and modest social video. With Virgin Media double data that becomes 20GB, which is closer to a typical mid-use month for many people.
50GB at £8 is the value hinge on this ladder — only £1 more than 10GB for five times the base data, or 100GB with Virgin Media double data. If you are unsure, this is the sensible default to open at checkout.
80GB at £10 (160GB doubled) fits heavier streaming and hotspotting without jumping to the top of the ladder. 120GB at £12 (240GB doubled) and 250GB at £15 (500GB doubled) are there when the household shares a hotspot or you work from a phone tether often.
If your usage is spiky, rolling helps: you can step up or leave after a month instead of guessing a longer lock. If your usage is stable and a 24-month Classic (Unlimited £23 / 100GB £20) prints a better monthly rate for the same need, do the longer-lock cash maths before you tap pay on rolling.
O2 Classic 100GB — £20/mo · 24 months (Ends 4 November)
- 100GB UK 5G data, unlimited UK calls & texts
- £20 a month for 24 months — rises £2.50 each April
- Solid mid-data alternative while you compare Unlimited options
Checkout checklist for October
- Confirm the plan name shows Classic and the term you expect (1-month vs 24-month).
- Check the monthly price matches the soft-list (£7 rolling entry; £23 Unlimited / £20 100GB on 24-month).
- If you expect Virgin Media double data on a rolling plan, look for the doubled allowance on the order summary before you pay.
- Read the EU roaming note if you have travel booked in the next month.
- Keep a screenshot of the order confirmation — useful if a retail chat later asks which tariff you took.
FAQ — O2 30-day SIM relaunch October 2026
Are O2 30-day SIMs available again?
Yes — from 1 October 2026, O2 is running Classic 30-day (1-month rolling) SIM tariffs through October. The public ladder in this guide starts at 10GB for £7 and goes up to 250GB for £15.
Did longer O2 SIMs change?
No. O2’s longer Classic tariffs stay on their own pricing. Rolling and longer locks are separate choices — soft-list Unlimited £23 and 100GB £20 above (retailer window through 4 November 2026).
What is Priority from O2 Access?
Eligible O2 plans can include Priority benefits (offers and experiences). Confirm what your exact tariff includes on O2’s site at signup — benefits can vary by plan.
How does free EU roaming work on these SIMs?
O2 lists free EU roaming up to 25GB on these Classic 30-day tariffs. Check the destination list, any fair-use rules, and what happens after 25GB before you travel.
How does Virgin Media double data work?
If you qualify as a Virgin Media customer at checkout, O2’s offer doubles the plan allowance — for example 10GB → 20GB, 50GB → 100GB, 80GB → 160GB, 120GB → 240GB, 250GB → 500GB. Always confirm the doubled amount on the order summary.
I still see mid-September messaging about the rolling Classic withdrawal — what should I do?
That matched the mid-September public withdrawal. The October 2026 relaunch brings Classic 30-day back for the month. Use the ladder and buttons on this page, and ignore older withdrawal wording elsewhere.
Is a rolling O2 SIM better than an MVNO?
It depends on coverage and perks. O2 rolling suits you if you want the O2 mast, Priority, and up to 25GB EU roaming with a monthly exit. An MVNO can still win on pure price — compare total cash and coverage for your address.
