There aren’t many unique offerings from mobile networks, with most SIMs and plans being quite similar in what they give you, but Honest Mobile does offer something that’s genuinely quite different.
Called the Smart SIM, this is a separate offering to the network’s standard ‘Classic SIM’ and is designed to sit alongside that – or a SIM card from another network – as a secondary offering.
So why would you want two different SIM cards and plans? Well, not everyone will, but below we’ve explained exactly what the Honest Mobile Smart SIM is and who it’s for.
What is the Honest Mobile Smart SIM?
Honest Mobile’s Smart SIM is an eSIM that works across all four of the UK’s major networks, so as long as one of them has coverage where you are, this will too, giving it better coverage than most alternative SIM cards – though there are a handful of other multi-network SIM providers.
In any case, you also get unlimited data, and inclusive roaming in over 180 destinations. But the catch is that the Honest Mobile Smart SIM only works with select apps. At the time of writing, there are over 500 such apps, including the likes of WhatsApp, Google Maps, Uber, Citymapper, Monzo, and many others. But there will be some apps that don’t work with it.
You also can’t use the Honest Mobile Smart SIM for social media or streaming apps, and nor can you browse the web with it. Because this is a data-only SIM you also can’t make calls or texts using your standard dialler or SMS app. Though you can call and message over WhatsApp.
So the idea is to give you access to most of the essential apps, whenever and wherever, without having to worry about losing signal. For the most part you’ll rely on your main SIM (i.e. something other than the Smart SIM), but if signal drops on that, the Honest Mobile Smart SIM will kick in so you aren’t stuck offline.
Price and value
Honest Mobile Smart SIM
| Plan |
Plan length |
Monthly cost |
| Unlimited data |
Annual |
£3.75
Buy Now
|
| Unlimited data |
Monthly |
£10.00
Buy Now
|
There are two different Smart SIM plans currently – you can either pay £10 per month on a rolling monthly contract, giving you the option to cancel whenever you want. Or you can pay £45 for a year, with this being billed annually but working out at £3.75 per month.
Frankly, £10 per month seems quite steep for a secondary SIM card, but you might want to start with that to make sure this is the right fit for you before switching to an annual plan.
At £3.75 per month, the annual plan is far better value though, and makes this quite a tempting proposition.
Can this be used as your primary or only SIM?
While there’s technically nothing stopping you from using the Honest Mobile Smart SIM as your main or only SIM, it isn’t recommended.
As noted above, not every app and service will work — most notably you won’t be able to make standard phone calls, send texts, use social media or streaming services, or browse the web.
So it would make for a very limited experience if you don’t have a more conventional SIM too, and you’d be restricted to Wi-Fi for a lot of things.
Who is this for?
Honest Mobile’s Smart SIM most makes sense for people who are often in areas where they lose signal, such as more rural locations – and especially ones where there’s no Wi-Fi to fall back on.
Even if you don’t often lose signal, it could be worth it if a lack of signal is a major annoyance to you.
And it’s a solid option for travel, giving you a restricted but cheap data-only option when roaming abroad.
If however most of your daily life is spent connected to Wi-Fi networks or in places with reliable coverage, and you either don’t travel abroad much or would rather have a more full-featured roaming option, then the Honest Mobile Smart SIM probably isn’t for you.
Verdict
If you’re in one of the groups above that might benefit from a service like this, then the Honest Mobile Smart SIM comes highly recommended — just as long as your phone supports eSIMs, since there’s no physical SIM option.
The £10 monthly price feels a bit steep, but the £45 annual option is a bargain if and when you’re sure this service is right for you.
However, it is likely to be a bit niche, so think carefully about whether this will actually benefit you before signing up. That said, the network does offer a 14-day money back guarantee, so there’s no real risk in giving it a try.
