Topping up an EE Pay As You Go SIM is straightforward, and there are five ways to do it: online through your EE account, in the My EE app, with a top-up voucher from a UK shop, in person at an EE store or partner retailer, or by setting up auto top-up so credit is added on a schedule. EE is one of the four UK mobile network operators (MNOs), so unlike the MVNOs that run on its mast network, you are paying EE directly when you top up. That matters in practice: EE PAYG users get the network's full 4G and 5G coverage, the largest 5G footprint in the UK, and direct access to EE's customer service, retail stores and EE Pack pricing. The trade-off is that EE PAYG can sometimes work out a little more expensive than equivalent allowances on an MVNO using the same EE masts.
PAYG users on EE can either spend credit pay-per-use, where you are charged per minute, text and MB at standard PAYG rates, or convert credit into an EE Pack, which is a 30-day bundle of data, minutes and texts that usually offers far better value than paying as you go. Packs include 5G access on supported phones at no extra cost, plus EU roaming within fair use limits on the higher tiers. Credit on EE PAYG lasts 6 months from your last top-up, so you only need to add a small amount twice a year to keep the SIM and number active.
If you find yourself topping up the same amount every month, switching to a SIM-only contract almost always works out cheaper for the same allowance, and you can keep your current number by getting a free PAC code from EE first. This guide walks through every top-up option, the current Pack pricing, voucher locations and the most common questions EE PAYG users have.
Tired of topping up every month?
If you find yourself buying a £15 or £20 EE Pack every month, a SIM-only contract usually works out cheaper for the same data and minutes - often by £5 to £10 a month. Compare current SIM-only deals on EE and other UK networks, including rolling 30-day plans you can leave any time.