My Mobiles

Menu

Phones Tablets Brands Networks Vouchers SIM Only News PAC Code Guides Top Up Guides
Type to search phones, brands, and deals
esc to close

How to Top Up giffgaff Pay As You Go

giffgaff is the largest Pay As You Go mobile operator in the UK and a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) running on the O2 network.

giffgaff PAYG Min top-up £5 Updated May 2026

giffgaff is the largest Pay As You Go mobile operator in the UK and a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) running on the O2 network. Owned by Virgin Media O2 but run as a community-driven brand, giffgaff is built around its goodybags - 30-day bundles of UK data, calls and texts that you choose each month. The community angle is more than marketing: giffgaff has no traditional call centre, and most customer support comes from an active member forum where experienced users answer questions, often within 90 seconds. The network has won Uswitch's Mobile Network of the Year award in multiple years, including 2025, and is consistently ranked highly for value, flexibility and customer satisfaction.

Topping up a giffgaff SIM is a little different from a traditional MNO. You can either keep credit on the SIM and pay per use at giffgaff's standard PAYG rates (25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB of data), or use that credit to buy a goodybag, which always works out far cheaper if you use your phone at all regularly. There are five ways to top up: online at giffgaff.com, in the giffgaff app, with a top-up voucher from a UK shop, in store at most major retailers, or by setting up auto top-up so credit is added on a schedule. All goodybags include 5G access on supported phones at no extra cost. Goodybags by default do not auto-renew, so when one expires you fall back to PAYG rates and choose a new goodybag manually - many users prefer this control, but you can switch on auto-renewal if you want a fresh goodybag every 30 days.

If you find yourself buying the same goodybag every month, giffgaff also offers longer-term SIM-only plans with more data for the same money - and switching is easy if you want to compare other UK networks too. Keep your existing number when switching by getting a free PAC code from giffgaff first. This guide covers every top-up method, current goodybag pricing, voucher locations and the most common questions giffgaff PAYG users have.

How to top up giffgaff

There are five ways to add credit to a giffgaff PAYG SIM. Pick whichever suits you - they all credit your number within a minute.

1

Top up giffgaff online

The simplest way to top up giffgaff is at giffgaff.com/topup. Enter the giffgaff mobile number you want to top up, choose an amount between £5 and £50, and pay by debit or credit card. Credit is normally added within a minute and you do not need to log in to top someone else up. If you have a giffgaff account, signing in lets you save card details, view top-up history and convert credit straight into a goodybag in the same flow. Online top-up accepts Visa, Mastercard and Maestro and at most checkouts also PayPal. There is no fee, and you can top up your own number or any other giffgaff PAYG number from the same page.

Visit giffgaff top-up page

2

Top up via the giffgaff app

The giffgaff app is the easiest way to manage a giffgaff SIM. Download giffgaff from the App Store or Google Play, sign in with your giffgaff number, and tap Top Up on the home screen. You can pay with a saved card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with credit applied straight away. The app also shows how much data, minutes and texts are left in your current goodybag, when it expires, and lets you change goodybag for next month. You can switch on auto top-up, view your usage in detail and access the giffgaff community forum from the same screens.

3

giffgaff top-up voucher

giffgaff top-up vouchers are sold at thousands of UK shops and let you add credit without using a bank card. Vouchers come in £10, £15, £20, £30 and £50 amounts, with £5 vouchers also available at some retailers. To redeem, dial 43430 free from your giffgaff phone or visit giffgaff.com/topup and enter the 16-digit code. You can also redeem in the giffgaff app under the Top Up section. Vouchers are useful if you do not have a debit card, want to give credit as a gift, or are topping up a phone that is not yours.

£5 £10 £15 £20 £30 £50
4

Top up in store

giffgaff does not have its own high-street stores, but its top-ups are stocked across the UK at major supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience shops including Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, the Co-op, the Post Office and most PayPoint outlets. Tell the cashier the giffgaff mobile number and the amount, pay in cash or card, and credit is loaded electronically to the SIM at the till. The voucher code is also printed on your receipt for redemption later if needed.

5

Auto top-up

Auto top-up automatically adds a fixed amount of credit to your giffgaff PAYG number on a schedule, paid from a saved debit or credit card. You can configure it to renew your current goodybag automatically every month, top up at a set date, or top up whenever your balance drops below a threshold. Set it up in the giffgaff app or your online account under Top Up settings. You can change or cancel it at any time. Auto top-up suits people who renew the same goodybag every month and want renewal to happen without thinking about it.

Where to buy giffgaff top-up vouchers

giffgaff top-up vouchers are sold at most major UK retailers. Look for them at the till, the customer service desk, or any PayPoint counter.

Post Office Tesco Sainsbury's ASDA Co-op Morrisons WHSmith PayPoint shops Independent newsagents

giffgaff PAYG bundles

A snapshot of the most common 30-day bundles. Always check giffgaff's website for the latest pricing before topping up.

Bundle Price Data
Goodybag £6 £6 2GB
Goodybag £10 £10 25GB
Goodybag £12 £12 40GB
Goodybag £15 £15 80GB
Goodybag £20 £20 160GB
Unlimited Goodybag £35 Unlimited

Bundle pricing and allowances are indicative and may change. See the giffgaff website for the most current details.

Buying the same goodybag every month?

giffgaff is already great value, but if you renew the same goodybag every month, longer-term SIM-only contracts can give you more data for the same price - including giffgaff's own 18-month plans. Compare current SIM-only deals across giffgaff, the major UK MNOs and other MVNOs.

See SIM-only deals Compare giffgaff plans

giffgaff PAYG top-up FAQs

How long does my giffgaff PAYG credit last?
giffgaff credit and your number stay active as long as you make at least one chargeable activity (top-up, call, text or data use) every 6 months. If your SIM is inactive for longer than 180 days, giffgaff may deactivate it and reuse the number. Topping up at least twice a year is the simplest way to keep everything live.
Can I top up someone else's giffgaff SIM?
Yes. On giffgaff.com/topup or in the giffgaff app, enter the giffgaff number you want to top up rather than your own. The credit is applied to their account immediately, and you do not need to be logged in. You can also buy a voucher in any participating shop and pass on the code so they can redeem it themselves.
What is the difference between credit and a goodybag?
Credit is flexible balance you can spend pay-per-use at standard PAYG rates - 25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB of data. A goodybag is a 30-day bundle that you buy with credit, giving you a defined data allowance plus unlimited UK calls and texts at a much lower per-minute and per-MB cost. For anyone using their phone regularly, a goodybag is far better value.
How do I check my giffgaff balance?
Dial *100# free from your giffgaff phone for a balance update. The giffgaff app shows your balance, current goodybag remaining allowance and expiry on the home screen. You can also see this on giffgaff.com under My Account.
Will my giffgaff goodybag auto-renew?
giffgaff goodybags do not auto-renew unless you switch on auto-renew in your account. By default, when a goodybag expires, you fall back to standard PAYG rates and need to choose a new goodybag manually. Many users prefer this control. To enable auto-renew, go to My Goodybag in the giffgaff app or online and turn on auto-renewal.
Can I get 5G on a giffgaff SIM?
Yes, 5G is included on all giffgaff goodybags at no extra cost, provided you have a 5G-capable phone and are in an O2 5G coverage area. giffgaff customers get 5G on the same terms as O2 direct customers, since giffgaff runs on O2's network.