Family Sim plans – are they worth it?
Can family Sim plans save your household money?
Comparing family Sim-only deals or wondering whether family Sim plans actually save money? This guide explains how they work, which networks offer family Sim card deals and if a Sim-only family plan could cut your household’s mobile bill.
First, a quick overview of family Sim plans
This guide covers everything you need to know about family Sim plans, but in brief...
Most family Sim plans are grouped Sim-only deals. Each person still gets their own number, allowance and contract – they’re simply managed under one account.
Discounts vary widely. Some offer percentage discounts (20% off additional lines), others give fixed savings (for example, £17 off extra unlimited Sims), while some focus on perks rather than money off.
Family plans are mainly about convenience. If you value having one bill, with easier management and possible data sharing, family Sim plans can make sense.
Separate Sims are often cheaper. In many cases, cheap standalone Sim-only deals cost less than a family plan – though there are exceptions.
What is a family Sim plan?
A family Sim plan gives you multiple Sim cards with one network, all managed under a single account with one monthly payment. Most family Sim plans are effectively several Sim-only deals grouped under one bill, rather than one shared contract. While this makes it easier to manage your family's mobile contracts, it's often not the cheapest option.
With family Sim plans, you generally add additional plans to a main account – usually up to a maximum of 10. Each plan you add will have its own phone number, its own Sim card, and its own data, minutes and text allowance.
You usually get a discount for each Sim you add to your plan
The main benefit of a Sim-only family deal is that you typically get discounts for each Sim you add (also known as a 'multi-line discount'), plus perks such as sharing data between plans.
But bear in mind this is still likely more expensive than each person getting their own Sim-only deal separately – more info below and see our Cheap Mobile Finder to find the best deals.
Provider (network it uses) | Discount | Extras | Max Sims |
|---|---|---|---|
EE multi-line discount and data gifting | £10 off per month on eligible additional Sim-only, Data Sim and Flex Pay airtime plans purchased from 7 August 2025. | Data gifting between eligible plans on the same account. | - |
Honest Mobile family Sim (Three) | 20% loyalty discount on family Sims on 30-day plans, increasing monthly up to 30%. | Five days' free EU roaming per trip, up to 20GB/month. | 10 |
O2 Multisave | 20% off the airtime of each eligible additional Pay Monthly connection, including eligible Sim-only plans. The lead connection isn't discounted. | Access to its 'O2 Priority' rewards programme. | 20 |
Smarty Group Plan (Three) | Mix & Match. 10% off plans brought into the Group. | Manage plans and usage together. Mix & Match members can choose different data allowances. Everyone Unlimited gives every member unlimited data. | 8 |
Vodafone Together | Additional unlimited Sim-only plans from £16 a month on eligible 24-month plans. Discounts vary depending on the qualifying plan and additional plan chosen. | - | 10 |
1pMobile (EE) | 50% off each additional Sim added | Free EU roaming included | 7 |
Tesco Mobile Family Perks (O2) | No fixed multi-line discount – each line gets a free monthly perk. | Choose one monthly perk per line (extra data, bill credit, Clubcard points or insurance discount) | 5 |
Correct as of September 2026
Are family Sim plans right for kids?
Sim-only family plans can work for children and teenagers, particularly if you want everything managed under one account. Having your child’s Sim linked to yours means one bill and easier oversight of usage, and in some cases the option to share data if they run low.
However, they’re not always the cheapest or most flexible option. A low-cost 30-day Sim-only deal is often a better starting point for children, especially if their needs may change. Some parents also prefer pay-as-you-go or no-data Sims to keep tighter control over spending. For more info, see Buying your child their first phone.
Are family Sim deals worth it?
If you're looking into family plan Sim-only deals, it's worth making sure that any potential savings aren't outweighed by costs or extra hassle further down the line.
Here are some of the main advantages and drawbacks of family Sim plans to consider before deciding...
Benefits of family Sim plans
One account and one bill can simplify payments. If you're already paying for multiple airtime plans for family members, it may be worth combining them into one family Sim plan for ease and clarity.
Data sharing can be useful where data requirements differ. While not a feature of all family Sim plans, data sharing can be a useful perk especially if some family members burn through their data faster than others.
Potentially easier to manage children’s phones. Having all Sims on one account can make it simpler to monitor usage, keep children on cheaper tariffs and apply spending controls where available.
Drawbacks of family Sim plans
Switching can be harder if multiple lines are tied to one account. You will have to coordinate multiple contract end dates and PAC code requests which could stop you from pursuing the best deals.
You often have to choose between a discount or shared data. Many providers offer either multi-line discounts or data sharing, not both. EE is one of the few exceptions.
They're not always the cheapest option. Family Sim plans can offer discounts, but they're not always the best value. In many cases, buying separate Sim-only deals on the same network costs less, although some family plans can work out cheaper depending on the provider. See how they compare below...
Provider (network it uses) | Data | Price of four Sim plans WITH discount | Cheapest price for four separate Sims using the same network's signals (1) |
|---|---|---|---|
£61/mth | '£43.80/mth' via Spusu | ||
£56/mth | '£12/mth' via iD Mobile | ||
£71.40/mth | £32/mth via Sky | ||
15GB | £33.30/mth | '£12/mth' via iD Mobile | |
Unlimited | £69/mth | '£76/mth' via Asda Mobile | |
Unlimited | £62.50/mth | £95.80/mth via Mozillion |
Correct as of September 2026. (1) All comparison links go via our Cheap Mobile Finder and show the cheapest Sims with the equivalent data allowance (where possible) using the same network's signals.
How we worked it out
- EE: 25GB data for £25/mth plus three additional Sims at £12/mth each. Subject to price increases in March. Spusu comparison: 30GB/mth of data on a one-month rolling contract at £10.95/mth per Sim.
- Honest Mobile: Based on four 10GB 30-day plans at £17.50/mth each, with a 20% discount applied to every Sim (£14/mth each). iD Mobile comparison: Based on a 10GB Sim at ‘£3/mth’.
- O2: Based on one 20GB Sim at £21/mth plus three additional 20GB Sims with the Multisave discount. Sky comparison: £32/mth for four separate Sims, as shown in the table.
- Smarty: Based on the price of one 15GB Sim for £9 plus three additional 15GB Sims with a 10% discount. iD Mobile comparison: Based on a 10GB Sim at ‘£3/mth’.
- Vodafone: Vodafone Together offers unlimited Sim-only plans from £16/mth (increasing to £18.50 on 1 Apr 2027 and £21 on 1 Apr 2028) for customers with an existing Pay Monthly plan. This price is based on a 50GB Sim starting at £21/mth (increasing to £23.50 on 1 Apr 2027 and £26 on 1 Apr 2028) plus three additional unlimited Sims. Asda Mobile comparison: Based on the price of four unlimited Sims at £19/mth each.
- 1pMobile: First Sim is £25/mth and each additional Sim is £12.50/mth. Mozillion comparison: Unlimited data for £23.95/mth per Sim on a one-month rolling contract.
How do I switch to a family Sim plan?
Networks make it relatively straightforward to bundle your Sims into a family plan. Usually you'll need to create an account first for your main or 'primary Sim' and when you're logged in, you'll be able to purchase additional Sims within your account. Each network is different, so see provider-specific instructions below.
How to set up your EE multi-line plan
To get EE's multi-line discount, you need to be on a pay-monthly plan. Each time you add a Sim to your existing account, the multi-line discount will be automatically applied to your next bill.
The discount you receive will depend on when you took out your EE plan:
Date contract with EE was taken out | Discount available |
|---|---|
From 7 August 2025 | 'Up to' £10 off each line (1) |
Between 29 August 2024 and 6 August 2025 | 'Up to' £12 off each line (1) |
Between 18 July 2023 and 28 August 2024 | 30% discount on each line (1) |
Between 17 August 2022 and 17 July 2023 | 20% discount on each line |
Before 17 August 2022 | 10% discount on each line |
(1) Discount only applies to cost of calls, texts and data (your airtime plan).
How to set up your Honest Mobile group plan
With Honest Mobile family Sim you'll need to select in advance what features you'd like on your plan.
Go via Honest Mobile's website to order your family plan and select how many Sims you'd like to bundle together.
You'll also need to customise your Sims by deciding contract length and data amount.
The final step is to activate your Sims. You can do this via the app and follow the in-app instructions. Your first month only starts when you activate your Sim.
How to set up your O2 Multisave account
To get O2’s Multisave discount, you’ll need at least one eligible Pay Monthly plan on your account, then add additional lines through your O2 account.
First you'll need to buy a Sim directly from O2 on an .
Sign in to your O2 account and select Multisave from the menu and follow the instructions.
Your discount will be applied within three working days.
The first phone number you add will be your 'lead connection' and won't receive a discount. However, every additional number you include in your group will get a 20% airtime discount. To add more numbers, simply follow the same steps again.
How to set up your Smarty Group plan
To set up Smarty's Group Plan, you first need to be a customer, and then:
Log in to the Smarty app, click You and Add a Sim.
Select either 'Everyone Unlimited' or 'Mix & Match'.
Then choose the number of people you'd like to add.
Confirm the postcode and address you want the Sim delivered to.
Make a payment for the first month.
How to set up your Vodafone Together plan
To qualify for Vodafone Together, you’ll need a Pay Monthly Vodafone mobile plan (or broadband) and add extra eligible lines through your online account.
First you'll need to buy a pay monthly Vodafone mobile plan.
Log in to your My Vodafone account.
Add an eligible additional Pay monthly mobile plan.
Check the discount is automatically applied at checkout.
Keep at least one qualifying plan active to maintain the discount.
How to set up your 1pMobile Unlimited family tariff
If you're already an existing customer with 1pMobile, you can just add an additional unlimited Sim via your online account.
If you're new to 1pMobile:
Go to 1pMobile's website.
Select how many Sims you'd like to bundle and order.
You'll need to enter your delivery address, email address and payment details.
How to set up Tesco Mobile Family Perks
To get Tesco Mobile Family Perks, you need at least two eligible pay monthly contracts on the same account. This includes Sim-only plans.
Here’s how to set it up:
Take out two or more eligible pay monthly contracts on the same Tesco Mobile account.
If you’re signing up to multiple contracts at once, you’ll be able to choose your Perks during checkout.
If you’re already a customer, log in to My Account or the Tesco Mobile app and add another eligible contract.
Go to “View or change my tariff” and select “Add or change a Family Perk” to choose your monthly perk.
Each line can select one free monthly perk, which renews every month.
You can have up to five contracts on one billing account, and they must all be paid together using the same payment method.
Family Sim plan FAQs
What’s the difference between family Sims and multi-Sims?
A family Sim usually means multiple separate Sims on one account, often with a discount for adding extra lines. A multi-Sim typically refers to multiple Sims linked to the same phone number for use across devices (for example, a phone and tablet).
The terminology varies by provider, so always check how billing, discounts and data allowances work.
How many Sims can I add to a family plan?
It depends on the provider. Most allow between five and ten additional Sims, though some cap it lower and others allow more. Always check the maximum number of lines permitted and whether discounts change depending on how many Sims you add.
What should I check before I join a family Sim plan?
First, compare the per Sim monthly cost against buying separate cheap Sim-only deals – family plans aren’t always cheaper.
Then check the maximum number of Sims allowed, whether data is shared or separate, contract length, price rises and any exit fees. If you’re adding children, look at spending caps or data limits too.
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