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O2 phone contracts: how they work, compare latest deals

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We talk you through everything you need to know before signing up to an O2 phone deal and help you compare latest prices. Last updated: 10th July 2024

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Useful information about O2’s phone contracts

Very flexible finance-based phone contracts on O2

O2 custom plan builder

Set a contract length that suits youHow they work

at O2.co.uk
(opens in new window)

O2 offer flexible phone contracts based on credit agreements (loans). These are split into two bills, one for the cost of your phone and one for your usage plan (mins, texts, data) that make up your monthly total.

This lets you pay off the cost of your device to upgrade to a new phone whenever you want. You don’t have to wait for your contract to end. And O2 let you switch your usage plan up or down as you need.

To add even more flexibility, O2 let you choose the contract length for your phone anywhere between 3 and 36 months. No matter what you choose, you’ll pay the same amount for your phone in the end.

Their usage plans are on monthly rolling contracts that you can leave at any point by paying off your loan. Most networks make you stay for the full term of your usage plan, so we like the extra flexibility here.

Useful link: Read O2’s full guide to their phone contracts

There are a few other technical things you should know

Fixed sum loan agreement

You’ll have to pass a credit checkRead their terms

at o2.co.uk
(opens in new window)

To join on any O2 phone contract you’ll have to pass a credit check. This is where they look at your history of making payments to decide whether or not they trust you as a customer.

We don’t have any insider information, but it may be difficult to pass one of these. This is because O2 are buying and shipping you your phone and need to know that you’ll be able to pay them back.

There’s no way to leave your usage plan without paying off your phone until you reach the 24 month minimum term. After that, if you’ve not already paid off your phone, you’re free to leave O2 with no extra charges.

O2 will deliver your phone within 1-3 working days depending on your location. If you live in the mainland UK and order before midnight, you should get your phone the next day at no extra cost.

If you want to keep your number when switching from another network to O2 you can request a PAC from your old network and give it to O2 at any point after you’ve joined. They’ll then port your number over for you.

Useful link: What to do if you fail a credit check on O2

Other benefits of being on O2

Widespread coverage, good 5G signal and other nice benefits

O2 coverage checker

Check signal near you before joiningSee coverage map

at O2.co.uk
(opens in new window)

O2 own the network they use to provide signal for calls (3G/2G) and data (4G/5G). They’re the joint-largest network for calls and offer excellent data signal, giving you a good mix of coverage.

You get 5G in these 2000+ UK towns and cities on every O2 plan. They have more live locations than any other network and coverage in these locations is typically good, but still only on a street-by-street basis.

Speeds are a downside of O2. Opensignal put typical 4G speeds on O2 at 19.3 Mbps, while typical 5G speeds sit between 75.0 Mbps - 78.88 Mbps according to Opensignal and Speedtest, with peak speeds of 208.14 Mbps.

But O2 do have a brilliant WiFi calling scheme that is helpful for eliminating indoor blackspots. And you can join O2 on an eSIM right away. All of this might make their slower speeds more bearable for some.

Useful link: Our full review of O2’s network and benefits

Other networks' phone contracts

See our other O2 guides