50 MB
UK 3-network
£0.65a month per active SIM, ex VAT
Order 50 MBWhat an IoT SIM really costs per device
The full yearly cost of connecting a device, from the one-off SIM charge to the monthly plan and optional extras, with live prices.
The headline monthly price is only part of what a connected device costs. Adding up the one-off charge, the plan, the extras you actually need and the months it is switched on gives the real figure, and it is usually smaller than people expect.
The parts of the cost
| Part | ThingSIM charge |
|---|---|
| The SIM itself | £2.00 per SIM, once (physical or eSIM) |
| The plan | Per active SIM, per month, only while switched on |
| Static public IP (optional) | £8 a month per SIM |
| Private APN, IPSec VPN, cloud interconnect (optional) | See extras |
| Contract, set-up or exit fees | None |
There is no charge for a SIM until it is switched on, so spares cost nothing while they wait. Once a SIM is switched on it is billed each month, including while it is paused, until it is ceased.
Worked examples for a year
A meter or data logger on UK 3-network, 50 MB:
- £2.00 once, plus 12 × £0.65
A card machine for a six-month market season, UK 4-network 50 MB:
- Kept on all year: £2.00 once, plus 12 × £0.90
- Ceased after the season and a new SIM activated next spring: £2.00 a season, plus 6 × £0.90
At these prices a small plan is cheap enough that many people simply keep it on; for larger plans, ceasing between seasons and starting a fresh £2 SIM can save more.
A CCTV camera on a building site with remote viewing, UK 4-network 5 GB plus a static public IP:
- £2.00 once, plus 12 × £8.85, plus 12 × £8 for the static IP
The pattern is the same each time: a one-off £2, then a monthly figure for the months the device is actually in use.
Where people overspend
- Paying for SIMs nobody uses. A switched-on SIM is billed even while paused. Cease SIMs in devices that have been retired; a replacement is £2 if you need one again.
- Buying more data than needed. Most telemetry fits 50 MB. Check real usage in the portal after a few weeks and move down if there is plenty spare.
- Paying for a static IP that is not needed. A static public IP is for reaching a device from outside. A device that only sends data out does not need one.
- Overage. There is none: a SIM pauses at its allowance rather than running up a bill.
Monthly or annual
You can pay monthly by card or annually. Annual is twelve months billed up front, at the same price as monthly, so choose it for convenience rather than a discount. There is no contract either way.
Common questions
Is there a charge for a SIM I have not switched on?
No. SIMs arrive inactive and billing for each one starts only on the day it is switched on in the portal.
Do I need a static public IP?
Only if something outside needs to connect to the device, such as viewing a camera remotely. Devices that only send data out do not need one.
Is annual billing cheaper?
No. Annual is twelve months billed up front at the monthly price; there is no annual discount.
Recommended plan
UK 3-network, 50 MB a month
Roams across O2, Vodafone and Three. Our lowest prices, for devices that don’t need EE.
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