Cheapest SIM-only deals that could save you £100s as millions of BT, EE, Vodafone and Three customers to be hit by April price hike

Millions of mobile customers in the UK look set to be hit with price rises of up to 7.9% in a matter of weeks in the latest cost of living hurdle facing struggling families. As many mobile companies use CPI inflation data to determine mid-contract price rises, today's announcement that the figure has risen to 4% could mean rises of up to 7.9% for customer bills.

Under current rules, broadband and mobile companies are allowed to increase prices mid-contract in line with inflation, plus up to 3.9% extra on top of this. EE, Plusnet Mobile, Three and Vodafone are among the networks which have confirmed so far that they will apply the maximum 7.9% rise, with other networks yet to confirm, according to Mirror Online.

While there is little that can be done if you are mid-contract, savings can be made if you're out-of-contract and unhappy with the planned price hikes.

READ MORE: Where to buy Samsung's newest Galaxy S24 range

READ MORE: Best time to switch energy provider in 2024 to slash the most money off your electric bills after Martin Lewis advice

If you're attached to your big-brand network because you value the signal coverage, it's worth noting that most smaller virtual networks use one of the big four network providers' infrastructure to piggyback signal from EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, so you could get similar coverage from a smaller network for less if you shop around. Here, we've rounded up some of the cheapest SIM-only plans available now, and the networks they use, so you can find a provider that offers the best coverage in your area:

Giffgaff, which uses the O2 network, offers 3G, 4G and 5G coverage. It currently offers three monthly rolling contracts for £10 or less per month. The beauty of the rolling