Opting for a monthly payment plan often makes the cost appear more manageable, but many tech enthusiasts are unaware that this could result in higher additional fees and leaves no room for flexibility.
Companies like Giffgaff, Lebara, and SMARTY offer pay-as-you-go plans, and now renowned provider EE is ditching lengthy two-year contracts in favour of the same flexible scheme.
This move comes as research from the provider reveals that over half of Brits will ramp up their social media usage during the summer, with garden parties, BBQs and poolside snaps providing perfect Instagram content.
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EE's new prices kick off from a mere £10, a competitive rate compared to budget provider SMARTY and significantly cheaper than Sky Mobile. Plus, customers will receive a bonus amount of data at no extra cost once they make a purchase, but this offer is only valid until September 16.
The way it works is that mobile users purchase one of its four new data subscription packs (don't worry, it's pay-as-you-go so there are no annoying contracts), starting from £10 for 20GB of data, £15 for 50GB, £20 for 100GB, and £30 for 125GB. Once added to the basket, shoppers will notice that they receive an additional boost each month at no extra charge.
EE shoppers can bag themselves free data this summer, with almost every pay-as-you-go pack coming with a free data boost ideal for Brits who are planning on sharing more on socials this summer. For instance, those after a 20GB rolling contract that costs £10 can get an extra 12GB of data for free, reports the Mirror.
Depending on the plan you opt for, the amount of free data does go up, with the bigger 50GB bundle, which costs £15, coming with a free 25GB of data. Meanwhile, the 100GB plan, which costs £20 a month, comes with a whopping 50GB of free data.
And it's no surprise that the 125GB plan, which costs £30, comes with the most free data, giving shoppers a huge 62GB of free data. EE launched the packs after its research found that Brits share the most content online during the summer months.
A spokesperson for the broadband provider said: "A third of Brits report that they post most of their social content over this period, and over half (52%) admit that they are planning to increase their social media usage this summer."
They continued: "This comes in addition to a further 38% of Brits who believe that posting about their summer experiences is important to them, with over half (52%) even admitting that they meticulously plan their content ahead of events such as holidays, eating out, sightseeing and festivals."
Rivals offering similar deals include Giffgaff, which is offering customers 40GB of data a month for £12. However, shoppers wanting to make the most of the deal will have to sign an 18-month contract, something that makes EE's pay-as-you-go deal much more appealing to data-hungry Brits.
Another provider, SMARTY, is offering a capped £8 a month deal that comes with 50GB of data, as well as unlimited texts and calls.