There are regular SIM cards that contain minutes, text, and data bundles. In contrast, there are data-only SIM cards without voice minutes and texts and only data bundles. The latter type of SIM card has applications in USB dongles, mobile hotspots, tablets, and smartphones. Not everyone needs a prepaid SIM card that comes with a package for calling minutes and SMS. Similarly, not all users require a SIM card that ties them into a long-term contract of, say, 12 or 24 months. Thus, if you only require internet services with flexible validity to use with your dongle, SIM cards with nothing but data are all you require.
Various companies offer SIM cards with data only at different prices with distinct plans, both prepaid and postpaid SIM cards. In this article, we will talk about 10 telecommunications companies that offer the best data-only SIM cards available around the world. You don’t necessarily have to use them with dongles, mind you.
1. EE
EE is a United Kingdom-based telecom company that offers a wide range of prepaid data-only SIM cards with a validity of either 30 days or 90 days. The carrier has the largest 4G network in the UK and reliable coverage across the UK and EU. You can also order a free SIM card and top-up at a later date with a data-only package that lasts either 7 or 30 days. The company offers prepaid plans such as 200 MB data for 30 days at £1; 2 GB of data for 30 days at £8; 90 days of 6 GB of data at £30; 90 days of 10 GB of data at £40; 20 GB of data for 90 days at £60.
2. Three
Three is also a UK-based wireless carrier offering prepaid and pay-as-you-go SIM cards with varying validity. It offers plans at simple upfront pricing without any hidden charges. The company has good 4G coverage across the country and its plans include free-roaming throughout the EU.
The bundles it offers are 1 GB of data for 30 days at £10; 3 GB of data for 3 months at £16; a year of 12 GB of data at £40. Currently, the best deal for an average user is the £60 plan, in which you get 24 GB for 24 months. If you break the deal down, it works out at just £2.50 per month for 1 GB of data. It is a lucrative choice if you use 1 GB of data/month consistently.
3. O2
O2 is a wireless network operator in the UK. It offers prepaid dongle SIM cards, preloaded with data that lasts from 1 month to 12 months. The company has good 4G coverage across the country and offers plans ranging from 1 day to 12 months validity. There are several plans offered by O2 such as 300 MB of data for 24 hours at £3; 300 MB of data for 30 days at £5; a month of 1 GB of data at £10; 3 GB of data for 30 days at £16; 5 GB of data for 30 days at £20; a month of 12 GB of data at £40; 5 GB of data for 90 days at £25; 12 GB of data for 12 months at £60; a year of 20 GB of data at £75.
4. Jio
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, commonly referred to as Jio, is the largest Indian wireless network operator with more than 400 million subscribers, many of whom are ported from Airtel or Vodafone Idea (Vi). It launched its 4G-only network at the end of 2015 across the nation. Reliance Jio claims to be the largest data network in the world.
There are many data plans Jio extends to its customers like 150 MB of data for 24 hours at Rs. 19; 42 GB of data for 28 days at Rs. 149; 51 days of 102 GB of data at Rs. 251; 168 GB of data for 84 days at Rs. 448; 350 GB of data for 360 days at Rs. 4,999. There are many more such data bundles available at varied rates and validity.
5. Telus
Telus has the fastest, largest, and most reliable mobile network in Canada. It offers 4G LTE and 5G connectivity to its customers, covering 99% of the country’s population. The company has some of the widest variety of data packages in the country. It has flexible plans that start from $10 per month for 100 MB of data. With its Flexi plans, you can scale up based on how much data you use, rather than sticking to the same data package every month. There are also fixed data plans like 2 GB data for $40 per month or 6 GB of data at $65 per month. There are many more convenient plans for business customers.
6. Amaysim
Amaysim is an Australian MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) operating on Optus’ network towers. It offers data-only plans of great value to its customers. There is no lock-in contract — just choose your data allowance and that’s it. All of its data plans work only in Australia, and that too is only for personal use. These plans auto-renew after every 28 days.
If you run out of your data before the expiry date, then a data add-on is available for just 10 AUD per 1 GB. Some of its plans are 7 GB per 28 days for 15 AUD; 50 GB per 28 days for 40 AUD; 90 GB per 28 days for 60 AUD. All packs offer data rollover, so you don’t need to worry about unused data getting wasted.
7. Etisalat
Etisalat is a UAE-based telecom giant headquartered in Dubai. It has the fastest average internet speed globally. The company offers high-quality internet services but not at cheap prices. Etisalat extends data-only plans to its subscribers to browse the web, check emails, stream videos, and more on its high-speed internet. Just insert any of the Etisalat SIM cards in your dongle and you are ready to go. It offers plans such as 500 MB/month for 29 AED; 1 GB/month for 69 AED; 3 GB/month for 99 AED; 5 GB/month for 119 AED; 7 GB/month for 149 AED, and 10 GB/month for 179 AED. All the aforementioned plans are tied to a 12-month contract.
8. AT&T
AT&T is the world’s largest telecom company and the largest telecom network provider in the United States. It offers a widespread 4G and 5G network for fast internet data speed. The company has a plethora of cheap data-only plans compatible with your dongle. Some of its bundles are: 25 GB of data for $50/month; 40 GB at $75/month; 15 GB for $35/month; $25/month for 20 GB when you pay $300 for one year in advance; 100 GB for $55/month, etc. The mentioned plans offer only local data, as international data use isn’t available for now.
9. Mobal
Mobal is an MVNO in Japan offering cheap rates of regular and data-only SIM cards to its local and international customers alike. You can get the SIM card for free at the doorsteps in your home country if you are planning to visit Japan as a tourist either for the short-term or the long term. There are no binding contracts and the company even offers customer support services in the English language. Moreover, all the profit it earns goes to charity, so by buying it you are indulging in some social service indirectly. There are various plans like unlimited data for 8 days at ¥3,990; unlimited data for 16 days at ¥5,990; unlimited data for 31 days at ¥7,490, and many more.
10. Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is the largest German network operator and one of the largest wireless carriers in the world. It operates multiple subsidiaries across the planet, including the famous mobile telecommunications brand T-Mobile. The company has one unlimited data SIM card offer to extend. However, it is available on a 24-month postpaid contract at €84.95. Its users can enjoy the company’s LTE and 5G network with download speed up to 300 Mbps and upload speed up to 50 Mbps. You can get some more bundles like 3 GB of data at €4.95; 10 GB of data at €14.95; €19.95 for 20 GB of data at; 40 GB of data at €29.95, and more.