# Ordering SIMs online or setting up a fleet

> When ordering up to 25 SIMs online by card is the right route, and when a larger or more specialised fleet is better set up with us.

Fleets & developers · 6 August 2026

ThingSIM is built so that someone who needs one SIM, or a handful, can order online in a few minutes and have a device working the same day. Larger fleets, and projects with private networking or European coverage, are set up with us instead. Here is where the line falls.

## Ordering online: up to 25 SIMs

Online ordering suits most people who need a SIM for a device, or a small number of them:

- Order up to 25 SIMs by card.
- Choose physical trio SIMs, posted to UK and EU addresses, or eSIMs delivered as a QR code minutes after ordering. Either is £2.00 per SIM, once.
- SIMs arrive inactive; billing for each starts only when you switch it on in the portal.
- Pay monthly by card or annually, with no contract.
- Add a static public IP to any SIM from the portal for £8 a month.

UK 4-network starts at £0.90 a month per SIM for 50 MB, and UK 3-network at £0.65.

## When to talk to us instead

Some needs are better set up together than ordered off the shelf:

| Need | Why it is set up with us |
|---|---|
| More than 25 SIMs | Larger fleets are set up with you |
| Private APN | Your SIMs on their own network and address range |
| IPSec VPN or cloud interconnect | Agreed with your firewall or cloud region |
| Europe coverage | Europe roaming is priced per project |
| Devices installed for your own customers | Accounts, keys and webhooks arranged for that |

For any of these, [talk to us about a fleet](/contact?topic=fleet) and we will set it up with you.

## Starting small and growing

Many fleets start as a handful of SIMs ordered online. Nothing about that locks you in: the same portal, API and plans carry on as the number grows, and you can talk to us about private networking or larger volumes whenever you need them. If you already expect to manage devices from your own systems, look at [activating SIMs with the API](/activate-sims-with-the-api) and [running a small fleet](/running-a-small-sim-fleet).

## A failed payment will not take devices offline

If a card payment fails, new orders and plan changes are held until it is sorted, but SIMs already working in the field carry on. A billing problem never switches off a device that is doing its job. See [how ThingSIM billing works](/iot-sim-billing-explained).

## Common questions

### How many SIMs can I order online?

Up to 25. For more, talk to us and we will set the fleet up with you.

### Can I add a private APN to SIMs I ordered online?

Private APN, IPSec VPN and cloud interconnect are set up with us per project. A static public IP can be added to any SIM from the portal.

### Is there a contract?

No. You pay monthly by card or annually, and SIMs are billed only from the day each one is switched on.

## Recommended plan

250 MB, UK 4-network: £1.20 a month per active SIM, ex VAT.

Source: https://thingsim.com/ordering-sims-online-vs-fleet