# A Hologram Alternative for UK Devices

> How Hologram's pay-per-MB global IoT SIM compares with ThingSIM's monthly UK multi-network plans, with prices checked on each provider's own website on 3 November 2026.

Choosing a SIM · Published 3 November 2026

**Checked on 3 November 2026** against Hologram's and ThingSIM's own websites. Sources are listed at the end. Prices change, so check the provider's site before you buy.

Hologram is a US company selling a global IoT SIM priced per megabyte in US dollars, with an eUICC that can take profiles from several carriers. ThingSIM is a UK seller of multi-network SIMs on monthly allowances in pounds. Hologram suits fleets that cross many countries; ThingSIM suits devices that live in the UK.

For the full field of UK options, see [the best IoT and M2M SIM cards in the UK](/best-iot-sim-card-uk).

## At a Glance

| | Hologram (self-service) | ThingSIM |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | Pay as you go per MB, monthly | Monthly per active SIM, billed monthly in advance |
| Data price | $0.03 per MB, plus $1 a month per SIM | 1 GB a month for £2.40 on UK 4-network |
| SIM card | $3 per SIM | £2.00 once, trio card or eSIM |
| SMS | $0.19 per outbound SMS, inbound free | SMS supported |
| UK networks named | EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree, non-steered (in Hologram's UK guide) | O2, Vodafone, Three and EE (4-network), or O2, Vodafone and Three (3-network) |
| eSIM | eUICC to SGP.02 and SGP.32; MFF2 available | eSIM delivered as a QR code |
| Static IP | Not published; private APN and custom APN/VPN offered as add-ons | £8 a month per SIM |
| Technologies in the UK | 2G, 4G, 5G, NB-IoT and LTE-M | 2G, 4G, LTE-M and NB-IoT |
| Company | Hologram, Chicago, USA | Netavo, a UK network services provider |

Hologram prices are in US dollars as its pricing page shows them; ThingSIM's are in pounds excluding VAT. Hologram's Custom tier has discounted rates, data pools and multi-year prepaid options on request, with no published figures.

## What 1 GB a Month Costs

Hologram does not publish a 1 GB bundle on its self-service tier, so this is arithmetic from its published rate: 1,024 MB × $0.03 = $30.72 in data, plus the $1 monthly charge per SIM. On ThingSIM, 1 GB on UK 4-network is £2.40 a month.

## Where Hologram Is the Better Fit

**Fleets across many countries.** Hologram advertises more than 550 networks in over 190 countries and territories, and its eUICC can switch carrier profiles over the air. ThingSIM's published plans are for the UK; Europe is priced per project.

**Very small usage.** At $0.03 per MB, a device that sends a megabyte or two a month costs little more than the $1 monthly charge.

**5G.** Hologram lists 5G among its UK technologies. ThingSIM's plans are 4G, LTE-M, NB-IoT and 2G.

## Where ThingSIM Is the Better Fit

**Devices that use tens of megabytes or more a month.** Per-MB pricing climbs quickly with routers and cameras; a ThingSIM allowance is a fixed monthly price.

**A UK bill in pounds.** ThingSIM charges in pounds with UK VAT and is operated by a UK company. There is no currency conversion on the card statement.

**A cap instead of a surprise.** A ThingSIM pauses at its allowance rather than charging for every extra megabyte, and the portal emails at 80% and 100% of the allowance.

**Remote access priced up front.** A static public IP is £8 a month per SIM.

## Common Questions

### Is Hologram available in the UK?

Yes. Hologram's UK guide says its SIM has non-steered access to EE, Virgin Media O2 and VodafoneThree, with self-service plans from $0.03 per MB.

### Which is cheaper for a 4G router in the UK?

For a router using 1 GB or more a month, ThingSIM's fixed allowance costs less than Hologram's per-MB rate. See [setting up a 4G router](/setting-up-a-4g-router) for sizing the allowance.

### Do I need an eUICC for a UK-only device?

No. A device that stays in the UK needs a SIM that uses the strongest UK network where it is installed, which a multi-network SIM already does. Profile switching matters more for devices that move between countries. See [IoT eSIM or physical SIM](/esim-or-physical-sim).

## Sources

Checked on 3 November 2026.

- Hologram pricing: [hologram.io/pricing](https://www.hologram.io/pricing/)
- Hologram UK guide (networks, technologies, UK support): [hologram.io/blog/cellular-iot-sim-guide-uk](https://www.hologram.io/blog/cellular-iot-sim-guide-uk/)
- Hologram eUICC: [hologram.io/products/global-iot-sim-card](https://www.hologram.io/products/global-iot-sim-card/)
- Hologram company address: [hologram.io/contact](https://www.hologram.io/contact/)
- ThingSIM prices: [thingsim.com/plans](/plans)

## Recommended plan

1 GB, UK 4-network: £2.40 a month per active SIM, ex VAT.

Source: https://thingsim.com/hologram-alternative