You might have seen the news that O2 is increasing its monthly prices again for lots of customers, with a new rise planned for April 2026. 

 So if you’re an O2 customer (or know someone who is), we're here to cut through the jargon, explain exactly what's happening, and show you what your options are. 

 By the end of this article, you'll understand your right to leave O2 penalty-free, and how you could switch to an iD Mobile plan that gives you great features at no extra cost. 

O2 originally informed some customers that their airtime bills would increase by £1.80 per month from April 2026. However, a recent announcement confirms that many customers will now see a higher increase of up to £2.50 per month.

On top of this, out-of-bundle charges (the cost for using minutes, texts, or data outside your allowance) are increasing by 5% from April 1st. 

Because O2 is changing the specific price increase you agreed to when you signed up, you have the right to cancel your airtime contract without paying an early termination fee. If you want to leave, you must act within 30 days of O2 officially notifying you of the price change.

In January 2024, we made changes to the way iD Mobile approach price rises for all new and upgrading customers to make them more transparent and fairer, so that our customers always know what to expect each month and year they’re with iD Mobile:

• On Pay Monthly Phone Plans: We moved away from CPI and RPI inflation-linked increases to a simpler and fixed annual price rise of £1.50 each April whilst the person is in contract with us (no annual price rises once the contracted period is over).
• On SIM only plans: These remain at a fixed price with no annual price rise, as they don’t have the same associative costs as handset plans, which often come bundled with a heavily subsidised handset.   

Leaving O2 doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use the Text-to-Switch process. Simply text ‘PAC’ to 65075 (for free) from your O2 SIM. You’ll then receive a code to give to your new provider, letting you switch while keeping your phone number. 

This is the perfect moment to check out iD Mobile. Our fixed price SIM Only plans guarantee that the price you sign up for remains fixed for the entire length of your contract. No nasty surprises, complete peace of mind!

Switching to iD Mobile isn’t just about avoiding a price rise – it’s about getting more from your plan. Here’s what makes us different:

• Roam with ease – Use your data, minutes, and texts in 50 international destinations (up to 30GB) without extra fees. Perfect for holidays, work trips, or keeping in touch with friends abroad.
• Data rollover – Didn’t use all your data this month? It rolls over to the next one, so nothing goes to waste.
• Loyalty perks – Enjoy discounts, offers, and savings from big-name brands just for being with iD Mobile.
• 5G as standard – Stream, game, and browse faster with reliable and super-speedy 5G.
• Reliable coverage – Our plans run on a network that covers 99% of the UK, so you’re connected almost everywhere.
• Flexible add-ons – Need a bit more data or texts some months? You can top up easily without changing your plan.
• No hidden fees – Everything is included in your plan. No surprises, no nasty charges.
• Support you can count on – Our customer service team is friendly and helpful, and our Community blog is full of tips to make the most of your phone plan.

Unexpected mid-contract price rises are never welcome, but the good news is you don’t have to accept them. You have the right to switch to a provider that offers better value, extra features, and price certainty. 

With iD Mobile, you get great-value plans, useful features, and peace of mind all included. Check out our award-winning fixed price SIM Only deals and see how much you could save by switching today.

Got questions about the O2 price rise or how to switch? Ask away in the comments below -our Community team is here to help!