Is it better to pay upfront or monthly for a phone?

If you can afford to, buying the handset at the cheapest price you can find and pairing it with a cheap SIM only deal is a great option. It’s often cheaper over two years than getting a contract with a network and gives you flexibility to choose which network and plan suits you best. However, it’s sometimes difficult to pay upfront and particularly when the latest phones are typically quite expensive. Therefore, paying monthly will help make your bill more manageable.