topic Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs? in Mobile Data

Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Ammunisie — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:59:49 GMT

Hi all,

I'm buying a data-only SIM to put in a 5G router as a short-term stopgap before my fibre gets installed, and I've hit a discrepancy between two EE pages that I can't resolve. Screenshots attached.

On the Pay Monthly SIM Only page (phone plans), each tier lists a maximum speed. No Frills is 10 Mbps, Essentials and Essentials Plus are 100 Mbps, and All Rounder and Full Works are uncapped with 5G+.

It also states, when clicking more info, that No Frills does not have 5G+. (I've highlighted in the screenshot, you can see it is only listed as part of All Rounder or Full Works.

On the Pay Monthly Data SIM page, the three 30-day plans are listed as Unlimited No Frills at £30, Unlimited Essentials at £35 and Unlimited Essentials Plus at £39. All three show "5G+ for a more reliable connection", and none of them show a maximum speed at all.

So a few questions:

Do the same speed caps apply to the data-only versions of these plans? I've found the data SIM plan terms which say No Frills is capped at 10 Mbps and Essentials at 100 Mbps, but the plan cards on the buying page don't mention any cap, which seems like something people would want to know before they choose.
Is the No Frills cap on upload as well as download? I've seen it answered both ways on here.
If 5G+ is included on all three data SIM tiers, how does that square with the phone plans where 5G+ only comes with All Rounder and Full Works? Is 5G+ genuinely available on all the data SIM tiers?
Does 5G Standalone actually work in a third-party 5G router, or is it restricted to a list of approved handsets? I'd rather find out now than after the SIM arrives.

Not trying to catch anyone out, I just want to buy the right one first time. If the speed caps do apply, it would save a lot of confusion to show them on the data SIM plan cards the same way they're shown on the phone plans.

Thanks

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Colstalex — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:53:07 GMT

Buy a phone sim, you aren’t restricted as to what you can put it in, data only sims tend to be poor value

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Ammunisie — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:34:09 GMT

Any particular reason why? I don't texting or minutes. I need data standalone. The no frills mobile sim only doesnt even have 5G+ but the data plan does? Some clarification here would be useful.

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Northerner — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:06:28 GMT

Hi @Ammunisie

Consider buying a preloaded PAYG SIM. No reason to commit to and impact your credit score with a pay monthly contract if this is only for a short period.

1. Yes, the speed caps still apply. EE's underlying plan framework is identical across phone and data-only SIMs I believe.

2. Yes it applies both up and down.

3. 5G+ SA is pointless on a mobile router at home unless you live next to a stadium or maybe a busy area. If you receive 5G NSA it should be more than fast enough.

4. Yes it should work but see point 3 it is largely pointless in my view.

Lastly EE give no guarantees on their mobile network speeds and therefore this is all immaterial becase speeds are not guaranteed.

Thanks

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Ammunisie — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:24:18 GMT

My understanding is that EE's PAYG SIMs are basically limited to 25 Mbps. Given EE is the best option for mobile coverage in the area, are you suggesting I look at MVNOs like Lyca for a PAYG unlimited data SIM card that operates on the EE network? (One like this, basically? Unlimited Data Pay as you go SIM | Lyca Mobile £12.50 Bundle)

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

XRaySpeX — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:36:11 GMT

Yes, phone SIMs generally have more data Bytes per buck than data SIMs! On top of that you may not need the mins. but it is conceivable that you might need to text from your mobile router, of which most are capable.

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Colstalex — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:45:28 GMT

Also look at 1pmobile runs on EE no speed caps either.

Re: Discrepancy between Data-Only SIMs and Pay-monthly mobile SIMs?

Peter_W — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:47:30 GMT

Thanks for highlighting this @Ammunisie

I see @Northerner has done a great job answering your initial questions on this, and as he mentioned the general terms for each plan still apply.

I completely appreciate where you're coming from around the speeds not being mentioned though, and we definitely would want this to be clear.

I've fed this back so we can look into making sure this is communicated clearly in the same way it is on the phone plans you shared.

Peter