giffgaff mobile plans review

Finder score
★★★★★

Expert analysis

Great customer service

No phone support

giffgaff was born in 2009 as one of a new breed of digital-first “virtual” network operators. The firm, which uses the existing O2 network, doesn’t have any high street branches or call centres, but instead focuses on carrying out its sales and customer support online. According to company founder Gav Thompson, the name “giffgaff” comes from an old Scots phrase which means mutual giving.

The firm offers a range of monthly bundles, called “goodybags”, that provide data, call minutes and texts for an upfront charge. These can be bought as often as needed, with no fixed-term contract tying you in. These bundles typically cost between £6 and £35 per month, depending on the data and usage allowance you need. giffgaff offers discounts on certain goodybags if you allow your plan to recur each month.

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giffgaff tariffs and service

How can giffgaff customers manage their account?

giffgaff customer reviews

Regulator Ofcom carries out a survey of mobile network customers every year to gauge their satisfaction with their provider. The last year for which full data is available, 2020, suggests that 93% of giffgaff customers told Ofcom that they were satisfied with the overall service they received, the best score among large mobile providers last year.

The same survey found that a whopping 95% of giffgaff customers questioned felt they received value for money from their carrier, again the best score on this measure among larger providers over the same period.

This positive response is matched on the reviews site Trustpilot, where the firm gets an overall customer score of 4.1 stars out of 5, based on more than 21,000 reviews posted. A great majority of reviewers (67%) rated giffgaff “excellent” – the best rating available. A further 11% described their provider as “great”, with only 12% giving “bad” or “poor” scores (last updated: November 2023).

Pros and cons of giffgaff

Our verdict: Is giffgaff any good?

giffgaff is a great choice because it offers a good range of cheap and flexible call and data plans. Plus, giffgaff consistently gets great reviews for the quality of its customer service.

Whether you’re trying to lower your mobile phone costs, get more flexible call plans, or need a strong short-term pay-as-you-go option, giffgaff will almost certainly offer a plan to suit you.Ready to compare mobile plans?

Frequently asked questions

• How easy is it to switch mobile plans and providers?

  It’s very easy to switch mobile plans. Sometimes all it takes is sending one text message! Once you’ve decided to switch and you’ve found a new contract or pay-as-you-go (PAYG) option that works for you, you can switch using Ofcom’s “text to switch” process. This is the best option if you want to switch networks while keeping your mobile number.

• Will I always be credit checked when applying for a new mobile plan?

  The short answer is no. PAYG SIM deals and the majority of SIM-only contracts do not require a credit check as nobody is lending you any money. Taking out a contract for a new handset will require a credit check, as you’re essentially renting the phone until you’ve paid off its cost.

• Can I claim compensation from my mobile network operator if things go wrong?

  There is no legal entitlement to compensation if you encounter problems using your phone due to provider fault. However, it’s always worth speaking to your provider to ask them to remedy the situation. The terms and condition of your contract may entitle you to refunds or account credit if there is a problem. If your service is down for an extended period of time, you may also be entitled to leave your contract without any penalty fees.