Complete giffgaff Guide: Setup, Plans & Number

What is giffgaff? The short answer first

giffgaff is a UK mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) owned by Telefónica UK (O2), operating within the Virgin Media O2 joint venture. In plain terms, a giffgaff SIM runs on O2's physical network, with both 4G and 5G coverage — and 5G is already included on every plan at no extra cost.

giffgaff's real appeal is that it gives you a genuine UK mobile number: you can get online, make UK calls and send UK texts. There's no contract and no monthly line rental — plans run on a 30-day rolling basis, so you can switch up, switch down or stop at any time. That makes it a strong fit for studying or living in the UK, short trips, and for anyone who wants to hold on to a UK number after they leave.

• check_circleOwner: an MVNO under Telefónica UK (O2), running on O2's network with 4G + 5G.
• check_circle5G is included on every plan at no extra charge.
• check_circleNo contract, no line rental, 30-day rolling plans — very flexible.
• check_circleGives you a real UK number for data, calls and texts.

The whole journey at a glance: six steps to being up and running

If giffgaff is new to you, breaking it into six steps keeps things simple: get a SIM, activate it and create your account, choose a plan, use it day to day, roam abroad, and keep your number long-term. Each section below gives the essentials for that step, with a link to the full guide when you want the detail.

• check_circle1. Get a SIM: a UK giffgaff physical card (or switch to an eSIM later in the app).
• check_circle2. Activate: at giffgaff.com/activate — enter the code, create your own giffgaff account, add a first £10 top-up.
• check_circle3. Choose a plan: pick one with unlimited minutes/texts and a set data allowance.
• check_circle4. Everyday use: get online, call and text normally in the UK.
• check_circle5. Roam: free EU roaming; mainland China needs a separate travel data add-on.
• check_circle6. Keep your number: use it at least once every six months and it stays live.

Step 1: How to get a giffgaff SIM (physical SIM vs eSIM)

giffgaff offers both a physical SIM and an eSIM. The physical SIM is a removable multi-size card that works in any unlocked, compatible phone, regardless of model. An eSIM is a virtual SIM written to your phone — it needs a phone that supports eSIM, and moving it to a new handset usually means re-downloading or transferring it. giffgaff eSIMs are requested and activated entirely in the official app (Account > SIM > Replace my SIM > Switch to a new eSIM), with no QR code to scan.

If you're not sure whether to choose a physical SIM or an eSIM — or whether giffgaff is right for you — see our physical SIM vs eSIM comparison, which breaks down the three ways to get online in the UK and the real difference between the two card formats. If you already know you want an eSIM, go straight to the giffgaff eSIM setup guide. If you'd rather not wait on international post, the easiest option from within China is to order an in-stock physical SIM locally and activate it yourself.

• check_circlePhysical SIM: insert and go, works in any compatible phone — best for most people and frequent handset-switchers.
• check_circleeSIM: needs a compatible phone; requested and activated in-app, no QR code.
• check_circleGetting a SIM in China: official orders ship internationally and can take a while — buying an in-stock SIM locally is quicker.

Step 2: Activate and create your own giffgaff account

Once you have the physical SIM, activation goes like this: insert the card, open giffgaff.com/activate, enter the 6-digit activation code from the packaging (or the 13-digit serial number on the back of the SIM if the packaging is gone), create your own giffgaff account, and complete activation with a minimum £10 top-up. It usually goes live within minutes, and up to 24 hours at most. Note that 'create an account' here means setting up your own giffgaff account to manage plans and credit.

The first top-up is a minimum of £10, after which you can add credit in £5 increments up to £30 per transaction. For the full walkthrough with screenshots, top-up and renewal details, and what to do if there's no signal after activation, see our giffgaff activation and top-up guide.

• check_circleWhere: giffgaff.com/activate — enter the 6-digit code or the 13-digit serial on the back of the SIM.
• check_circleFirst top-up: minimum £10, then £5 increments, up to £30 per transaction.
• check_circleGoes live: usually within minutes, up to 24 hours at most.
• check_circleActivating in mainland China: possible over Wi-Fi via the official site, though local network conditions can make it fiddly.

Step 3: Choosing a plan — plans, credit and the latest prices

giffgaff billing has two parts: the plan (formerly called a 'goodybag', a term still used in the community and on some pages) and your credit balance. A plan is a 30-day rolling bundle with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and a fixed data allowance, with no line rental; once the data runs out, usage continues from your credit balance at standard pay-as-you-go rates. Credit is a separate top-up balance, charged by usage.

From 5 February 2026 giffgaff refreshed its plan line-up: the entry plan dropped to £6 and several mid-range plans gained more data. For most people the best setup is a plan plus a little credit as a safety net (MMS, special-rate numbers and other out-of-bundle items come from credit). The detailed difference between plans and credit, and how to pick the right size, is covered in our giffgaff plans and pricing guide.

• check_circlePlan: 30-day rolling, unlimited calls/texts plus a set data allowance, no line rental.
• check_circleCredit: a separate top-up balance charged by usage — useful as a fallback.
• check_circleLatest prices: from February 2026 the entry plan is £6, with more data on several mid-range plans.
• check_circleWhen plan data runs out: usage continues from credit at PAYG rates.

Steps 4 and 5: Everyday use and roaming abroad

In the UK, just get online, call and text as normal after activation — no special setup needed. Abroad, there are two cases. In Europe: giffgaff's EU Zone covers around 37 destinations (the EU27 plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and certain French overseas territories — some sources say 38, so treat the official page's count as final), included in your plan with no daily fee. Calls and texts are unlimited in the EU Zone, while data has a fair-use cap: if your plan has more than 5GB, EU Zone roaming is capped at 5GB, after which it's 10p/MB.

Mainland China is the key exception: it is not in the EU Zone, so plan data doesn't cover use there. giffgaff offers a separately purchased travel data add-on for China, but coverage isn't guaranteed and some services may be affected by local network conditions. Calls and texts are charged from your credit at the 'Rest of World' pay-as-you-go rates.

• check_circleIn the UK: data, calls and texts work normally once activated.
• check_circleEU roaming: ~37 destinations included with no daily fee; unlimited calls and texts, data capped at 5GB in the EU Zone, then 10p/MB.
• check_circleMainland China: not included — buy a travel data add-on, with coverage not guaranteed.

Step 6: Keeping your UK number after you leave

To hold on to your UK number long-term — say, to keep receiving notifications from UK banks or your university after you go home — there's just one rule: complete at least one 'active use' within every six-month period (roughly 180 days). Active use means making an outgoing call, sending an SMS/MMS (not to emergency services or giffgaff member services), actively using mobile data (not Wi-Fi), or buying credit or a plan. Simply receiving incoming calls or texts does not count.

giffgaff emails reminders before deactivation: a first email around a month before, and a second around 5 days before if there's still no activity. Once a number is deactivated, you have 30 days to request a PAC code to transfer it to another UK network; after 30 days you can no longer request one and the number is recycled. For the full habit, the reminder timeline and what to do if you're close to the deadline, see our keep-your-number guide, or use the keep-number calculator to create a calendar reminder.

• check_circleCore rule: one active use within every six months (about 180 days).
• check_circleActive use: an outgoing call/text, mobile data, buying a plan or credit, and more.
• check_circleJust receiving incoming calls or texts does not keep the number alive.
• check_circleAfter deactivation, you have 30 days to request a PAC code; after that the number is recycled.

Who is giffgaff for, and what to read next

If you're studying or living in the UK and need a real UK number to open a bank account, receive university notifications or register for local services, giffgaff's contract-free, low-barrier, keep-your-number setup is a great fit. It works for short trips too if you only need data — but if you plan to return to the UK, or want to keep receiving UK texts after you go home, it's worth using giffgaff to hold the number from the start.

For the bigger picture of staying connected as a student in the UK, see our overview of UK study connectivity. If you already have no service, mobile data, login or top-up trouble, work through the giffgaff troubleshooting guide. Ready to begin? Choose Self-Setup if you already have a supported top-up method, or Full-Service with an official £10 voucher when you do not have an overseas bank card for the first top-up.

• check_circleStudying/living in the UK: ideal when you need a real UK number for accounts and notifications.
• check_circleShort trips: fine for data only; use giffgaff early if you want to keep the number.
• check_circleNext: read the UK study connectivity overview, then choose a SIM on the product page.

FAQ

官方来源 / Official sources

• Roaming charges: China · giffgaff
• Switching to an eSIM with giffgaff · giffgaff Help
• Understanding why your number has been deactivated · giffgaff Help

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