SIMs we recommend

SIMs that fit a child's first phone.

Four UK SIMs, ranked. ParentShield is the one we put alongside a Nokia 3210 most often, because the whitelist actually works. The others are cheaper and fine, with the trade-offs each one carries.

Last updated: 22 May 2026
SIMs in this list: 4
Affiliate links?: Yes, on the buy buttons. How we choose.

ParentShield

From £9 a month

The only UK SIM built specifically for a child's phone. Whitelist incoming and outgoing numbers. See call and text logs. Set quiet hours. The most on-brand SIM for the audience.

Our verdict. ParentShield is the SIM we put alongside a Nokia 3210 for a first phone. The whitelist plus the quiet-hours feature is genuinely useful. Worth the £9 a month for the peace of mind.

Data: From 250 MB to 5 GB
Minutes: From 100 to unlimited
Texts: Unlimited on most tariffs
Parent controls: Whitelist numbers, set quiet hours, see all call and text logs
Contract: Rolling monthly, no minimum
Network: EE

Where to buy

ParentShield direct

Smarty (Three)

Smarty

From £6 a month

The cheapest sensible SIM on a quality UK network. No frills, no parental controls, no contract.

Our verdict. Smarty does the job at the price. On the Nokia 3210 or 235, the network does the heavy lifting, not the SIM. Smarty is what we put on a second phone in our own house.

Data: From 2 GB to unlimited
Minutes: Unlimited
Texts: Unlimited
Parent controls: None
Contract: Rolling monthly
Network: Three

Where to buy

Smarty direct

Lebara

From £4 a month

The cheapest mainstream SIM on Vodafone's network. Strong on data, weaker on parental features.

Our verdict. Lebara is fine. If price is the deciding factor, this is the SIM. Affiliate-wise it is one of the better-paying programmes in the niche, which we mention here in the interest of disclosure (see /affiliate-disclosure).

Data: From 1 GB to unlimited
Minutes: From 100 to unlimited
Texts: Unlimited
Parent controls: None
Contract: Rolling monthly
Network: Vodafone

Where to buy

Lebara direct

giffgaff

From £6 a month

Owned by O2. Long-running, ethical-by-positioning, and the one a lot of older readers know. We list it for completeness.

Our verdict. Honestly, Smarty does the same job for about the same money. We list giffgaff because plenty of readers ask. The affiliate rate is also low (about £2 a SIM via their public scheme), which we mention for transparency, not as a reason to avoid it.

Data: From 2 GB to unlimited
Minutes: Unlimited on most goodybags
Texts: Unlimited
Parent controls: None
Contract: Monthly "goodybags", cancel anytime
Network: O2

Where to buy

giffgaff direct

How to pick

If your child is eight to eleven and this is their first phone, take ParentShield. The whitelist saves you the "who is this calling on a number we don't recognise" worry from week one. £9 a month, no contract.

If your child is older, or already on a basic phone and you're just looking to cut the cost, Smarty or Lebara are fine. The network does the heavy lifting at that point.

If you'd like the affiliate detail, see the disclosure page. Lebara has the highest commission rate of the four, which we mention because honesty is the brand's job.

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