Last updated: 26 October 2026
Black Friday 2026 is on Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November. As of 26 October 2026, no UK network has published its Black Friday SIM only prices: Lyca Mobile says its deals go live on 11 November, Talkmobile and EE say theirs are coming soon, and Uswitch says its own Black Friday deals launch on 2 November. You don’t have to wait to save. SMARTY’s 50GB plan is £8 a month through our link on a 1-month plan, so you can take it now and still move if a Black Friday deal beats it. This SwitchSquid guide sets out every confirmed launch date, the best SIM only deals you can buy now and how to use a rolling SIM so Black Friday works for you. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Sources: Lyca Mobile: when Black Friday deals start, Talkmobile Black Friday, EE Black Friday mobile, Sky Black Friday, Uswitch Black Friday phone deals and Ofcom: in or out of contract, all checked on 26 October 2026.
SMARTY 50GB: £8 a month, 1-month plan
- 50GB with unlimited UK calls and texts for £8 a month through our link on a 1-month plan you can cancel anytime, when we checked on 26 October 2026
- No code needed: the 50GB offer is applied on the page this button opens, with no credit check
- Main limitation: SMARTY runs on Three’s network, so check coverage where you live and work
When do Black Friday SIM only deals start in 2026?
Most networks point to November rather than a single day. Black Friday is the day after US Thanksgiving, which puts it on Friday 27 November this year, and Cyber Monday follows on Monday 30 November. Uswitch says its Black Friday deals launch on 2 November 2026.
Here is what each network says on its own website on 26 October 2026. Where no price has been published, the table says “Not yet”. To see price drops checked against 30 days of price history, use our Black Friday SIM only deals page.
Network | What it says (checked 26 October 2026) | Start date | Prices published? |
|---|---|---|---|
Lyca Mobile | “Lyca Mobile’s Black Friday 2026 deals are going live on November 11” | 11 November | Not yet |
Talkmobile | “Our Black Friday deals aren’t available yet … Be first to shop on 27 November” | 27 November | Not yet |
EE | “Our Black Friday mobile sale is coming soon” | Not given | Not yet |
Sky Mobile | “Sky Black Friday is coming soon”, including Sky Mobile | Not given | Not yet |
SMARTY | No Black Friday page found; 50GB for £8 available through our link | Live now | Yes: £8 a month |
A tip from experience: screenshots of “Black Friday SIM deals” shared on social media are often last year’s. If a price isn’t on the network’s own site, treat it as unconfirmed.
The SIM only deals worth taking now
These are offers you can buy now, priced when we checked on 26 October 2026. Two are on short or rolling terms, which is what makes them safe to take before Black Friday.
Deal | Network | Data | Monthly price | Contract | Cost over 12 months | Code or cashback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SMARTY 50GB | Three | 50GB | £8 | 1 month | £96 if you keep it a year | No code needed |
Lyca Mobile 30GB | Lyca Mobile | 30GB | £10 every 30 days | 30 days | £120 for 12 renewals | No code needed |
Lyca Mobile 120GB | Lyca Mobile | 120GB | £20 every 30 days | 30 days | £240 for 12 renewals | No code needed |
Vodafone 120GB at Mobiles.co.uk | Vodafone | 120GB | £14, then £16.50 from April 2027 | 12 months | £183, or £63 after cashback | £120 cashback by redemption |
How the sums work: SMARTY is 12 × £8. Lyca is 12 renewals of 30 days at the full price. The Vodafone total of £183 is Mobiles.co.uk’s own figure for the 12 months, including the April 2027 rise, and £63 is that total less the £120 cashback, or £5.25 a month on average. Lyca’s plans also include EU roaming and 100 international minutes, which matters if you call family abroad.
Lyca Mobile 30-day plans: 30GB for £10, 120GB for £20
- 30GB for £10 every 30 days and 120GB for £20 every 30 days when we checked on 26 October 2026, with no contract and no credit check
- No code needed: EU roaming and 100 international minutes are included on both plans
- Main limitation: Lyca says its Black Friday deals go live on 11 November, so prices may change then
Why a 1-month SIM is the smart Black Friday move
The risk with buying anything in late October is that a better offer turns up four weeks later. A rolling SIM removes most of that risk. On a 1-month plan such as SMARTY’s, you can usually give 30 days’ notice or simply change plan at the end of the month, so if a Black Friday deal on 27 November beats £8 for 50GB, you can move without an exit fee.
Moving networks is quick. Text PAC to 65075 from your current number to get a code, give it to your new network, and your number transfers, usually in one working day, under Ofcom’s text-to-switch rules. You don’t have to call anyone or argue with a retentions team.
Longer contracts are different. A 12-month or 24-month SIM can still be good value on Black Friday, but once you sign, you are committed. If you want one, the Vodafone cashback deal above shows the kind of effective price a long contract needs to beat.
How to judge a Black Friday SIM deal when it lands
Cost over the whole contract. Multiply the monthly price by the months, add any April rise, then take off cashback you will definitely claim. Compare that, not the headline.
Data you actually use. Check your phone’s data usage for the last three months. Most people use far less than the “unlimited” plans they pay for.
Network coverage. A cheap deal on a network with poor signal at home is a false saving. Check each network’s coverage checker for your postcode.
Price rises. Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has required networks to set out mid-contract rises in pounds and pence. Rolling SIMs such as SMARTY don’t have fixed rises, but they can change prices with notice.
Cashback rules. Cashback by redemption means you claim it, usually in set months. Put the dates in your calendar on the day you order.
What Black Friday SIM deals usually look like
Without 2026 prices, the safest guide is the type of offer networks tend to run. Expect a mix of extra data on the same price, a cut monthly price for the length of the contract, and first-month discounts on rolling plans. Big headline cuts often come on 24-month contracts, so do the sums before you sign for two years.
Who should buy now and who should wait?
Your situation | What we’d do |
|---|---|
Out of contract and paying £15 or more for a SIM | Move to a rolling plan now, then review on Black Friday |
Contract ends in December | Wait, but note the best current prices so you can compare |
Heavy data user who wants a year of certainty | Compare the Vodafone £5.25 effective price with any Black Friday 12-month deal |
Travelling abroad over Christmas | Check roaming rules, or read our Christmas travel eSIM guide |
Not sure which network works best where you live | Start with a 1-month SIM and test it |
Vodafone 120GB: £14 a month, £5.25 after £120 cashback
- Vodafone 120GB on a 12-month SIM only plan at Mobiles.co.uk for £14 a month, rising to £16.50 from 1 April 2027
- No code needed: £120 cashback by redemption takes the £183 total to £63, an average of £5.25 a month
- Main limitation: you have to claim the cashback yourself within Mobiles.co.uk’s claim windows
Our view
For most people, the best Black Friday SIM plan is the one you can leave. Take a strong rolling deal now, such as SMARTY’s 50GB for £8 through our link, and treat Black Friday as a free chance to upgrade rather than a deadline. If you prefer a fixed year, Vodafone’s 120GB at £5.25 a month after cashback is the price to beat. We will add real Black Friday prices to the table above as soon as each network publishes them. For deals outside Black Friday, see our best SIM only deals for October 2026.
FAQ
When do Black Friday SIM only deals start in 2026?
Black Friday is on Friday 27 November 2026. Lyca Mobile says its deals go live on 11 November, Uswitch says its Black Friday deals launch on 2 November, and Talkmobile says shoppers can buy from 27 November. EE and Sky Mobile say their offers are coming soon.
Should I buy a SIM only deal now or wait for Black Friday?
If you can get a 1-month plan, buy now and keep your options open. You can switch on Black Friday if something better appears, usually with 30 days’ notice or less. If you want a 12- or 24-month contract, waiting until the Black Friday prices are out makes more sense.
How much is SMARTY’s 50GB SIM?
When we checked on 26 October 2026, SMARTY’s 50GB plan was £8 a month through our link on a 1-month plan, on the Three network. That is £96 over a year if you keep it. Lyca’s 30GB plan is £10 every 30 days, so it costs more and gives less data.
Is the Vodafone £5.25 a month deal real?
It is an average after cashback. The plan is £14 a month for 12 months, rising to £16.50 from 1 April 2027, for a total of £183. Mobiles.co.uk pays £120 cashback by redemption, which brings the total down to £63, or £5.25 a month, but only if you claim it.
Can I keep my number when I switch on Black Friday?
Yes. Text PAC to 65075 to get your code, give it to your new network when you order, and your number usually moves within one working day. Your old contract ends automatically when the switch goes through.
Do SIM only deals go up in price mid-contract?
Many 12- and 24-month SIM contracts include a fixed rise each April, set out in pounds and pence. The Vodafone plan above rises to £16.50 from April 2027. Rolling 1-month plans don’t have a fixed rise but can change price with notice.
