Business eSIMs compared:
Vodafone, O2 & beyond
We reviewed the leading providers of business eSIMs — looking at real costs including VAT, contract flexibility, features, and activation speed — so you can make an informed choice for your business.
Side-by-Side Comparison
A factual breakdown of plans, pricing, and features across five providers. All advertise prices excluding VAT — the real cost including VAT is shown in the first row.
Sponsored
EE BusinessAll prices as of July 2026. Subject to change. * Vodafone pricing varies by plan and number of SIMs — check their site for the latest.
Compare YBN against:
SponsoredAll prices as of July 2026. Subject to change. * Vodafone pricing varies by plan and number of SIMs — check their site for the latest.
Provider Breakdown
Each provider has strengths. Here is an honest look at who each one is best suited for.
YourBusinessNumber
Purpose-built for small business
- Strong value at £11.99/mo — with rolling monthly flexibility
- Monthly rolling — no long-term commitment
- Access to both O2 and Vodafone networks
- WhatsApp Business support built in
- No annual price increases
- Active in under 15 minutes via QR code
- —Smaller brand than the major networks
- —No in-store support (online-only service)
Vodafone Business
Enterprise-grade infrastructure
- Excellent enterprise-grade account management
- Large data plans (up to Unlimited)
- Roaming in 83+ worldwide destinations (add-on)
- Multi-SIM discounts for larger teams (up to 9)
- —Higher starting price than most other providers
- —Typically requires 24-month contract
- —Prices increase by £2.08/mo each year
- —EU roaming requires a paid add-on
O2 Business
Strong coverage with EU roaming
- EU roaming included (up to 25GB)
- 5G coverage in 750+ locations
- 99%+ coverage in major cities
- Teams management included
- —Contracts typically 12–24 months
- —Annual price increases (CPI + 3.9%)
- —Higher real cost once VAT is applied
EE Business
Largest network, BT-backed
- Largest 5G network by coverage
- BT enterprise support infrastructure
- EU roaming included
- Unlimited data plans available
- —Best value on longer 12 or 24-month contracts
- —Fixed annual price rise of +£2.08/mo
- —Higher real cost once VAT is applied
Sky Business Mobile
New entrant on O2 network
- Lowest entry price of all five providers
- EU roaming included via O2 network
- Flex plans reduce long-term lock-in
- Well-known brand with SME billing support
- —New entrant — launched October 2025
- —O2 network only — no network choice
- —Annual price increases confirmed for 2026
- —Bundle discounts require existing Sky services
Our Verdict
All five providers offer a legitimate business eSIM. For most small businesses, though, the data points consistently in one direction — here is why.
Lowest real-world cost
Vodafone, O2 and EE all advertise prices excluding VAT. Once 20% is added, O2's £16 becomes £19.20, EE's £17 becomes £20.40, and Vodafone's plans start from £21/mo excl. VAT (from ~£25.20 incl.). YourBusinessNumber at £11.99 excl. VAT (~£14.39 incl.) is still meaningfully cheaper than any of them — a significant difference over 12 months.
No long-term commitment
Vodafone and O2 require 12–24 month contracts; EE offers 12 or 24-month terms as standard (with a 30-day option at a higher price). YourBusinessNumber is month-to-month with no exit penalties — useful if your team size or circumstances change.
WhatsApp Business integration
YourBusinessNumber explicitly supports WhatsApp Business, making it straightforward to keep a dedicated professional number on WhatsApp separate from your personal account. Vodafone, O2 and EE do not specifically offer this as part of their business eSIM plans.
Network flexibility
YourBusinessNumber lets you choose between O2 and Vodafone at signup — giving you the best of both coverage maps. Buying directly from either network naturally limits you to just one.
Built around small business needs
Vodafone, O2 and EE all focus primarily on larger enterprises. YourBusinessNumber targets sole traders and small teams, offering multi-line management without enterprise pricing or minimum commitments.
No annual price rises
Vodafone and EE each increase by £2.08/month per year. O2 applies CPI + 3.9% annually. YourBusinessNumber has no scheduled price increases, making it easier to budget accurately over time.
For small to medium-sized businesses, YourBusinessNumber offers the best overall package — particularly on price, flexibility, and SMB-focused features.
Vodafone remains a strong choice for larger enterprises with complex account needs. O2 is worth considering if EU roaming is a core requirement. EE suits businesses that prioritise the widest 5G coverage and BT enterprise support. Sky Business Mobile is worth a look if you want a named brand at a competitive entry price and are already in the Sky ecosystem — though its annual price increases and O2-only coverage are real trade-offs.
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Straightforward answers about business eSIMs.
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Based on our comparison, YourBusinessNumber offers the strongest overall package for small businesses.
Plans from £11.99/month excl. VAT (~£14.39 incl. VAT). QR code delivered by email in under 15 minutes.
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