Looking to switch to a new mobile network? We outline some of the extras you can get from each of the UK’s major mobile providers.
Choosing a mobile network can be a daunting experience at the best of times.
Each offers its own set of unique perks and extras to attract you - from the generous data plans of Three to pre-sale tickets to events from O2 to courtesy phones from Vodafone if yours needs repairing.
While it's easy to compare prices, working out what extras each offers can be a dizzying experience. With that in mind, we've pulled out the selling points for each of the UK's major mobile networks to help you decide which appeals to you.
Smarty
What can you get from Smarty?
You can get 30-day SIM-only deals. There are no handsets available from Smarty - it deals just in flexible SIM plans.
There are a small handful to choose from, ranging from 4GB per month to unlimited data, so picking the best one for you is easy.
All plans come with unlimited minutes and texts too, as well as unrestricted tethering and WiFi Calling.
What's Smarty coverage like?
Smarty uses Three's network to reach you. That means 99% of the population can use fast 4G, and 300+ towns and cities have access to 5G too.
Why choose Smarty?
- Simple, straightforward plans
- All plans include unlimited calls and texts
- Excellent coverage
- Good value add-ons if you run out of allowance
- 30-day SIMs that can be changed or cancelled at any time
- 5G included
-
SMARTY sim only
5G- Exclusive
- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.00 per month
1 month contract From SMARTY -
SMARTY sim only
5G- Exclusive
- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.00 per month
1 month contract From SMARTY -
SMARTY sim only
5G- 80GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £8.00 per month
1 month contract From SMARTY
Vodafone
What can you get from Vodafone?
What can't you get? Vodafone has one of the widest choices of phones of any major UK mobile network, including iPhones, high-end Google and Samsung phones, and mid-range classics like the OnePlus 6T.
It's far from the cheapest option, but if you're looking for lots of choice, you won't find much better. Vodafone also has a handful of reasonably-priced SIM-only deals.
What's Vodafone coverage like?
Vodafone's coverage is excellent - 99% of the population have access to both 3G and 4G service - and it’s expanding it city by city. If it's currently not available where you live, it may be in the coming months.
To find out if you can get Vodafone in the areas you hang out in check out our guide to mobile phone coverage.
Why choose Vodafone?
- Incredibly wide choice of phones and plans
- Unlimited calls and texts on Vodafone Red plans
- Upgrade phones up to 60 days before the end of your contract with some Vodafone plans
- Free NOW TV, Spotify Premium or Sky Sports Mobile TV - Vodafone Red 4G plans come with up to 24-month subscriptions to Sky entertainment channels via NOW TV, Spotify Premium, or Sky Sports Mobile TV
- BT Wi-Fi hotspot access
Our recommended Vodafone deals
-
Vodafone sim only
4G- 6GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 40GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone -
Vodafone sim only
4G- 40GB of 4G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- VeryMe Rewards
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From Vodafone
O2
What can you get from O2?
O2 has a wide choice of phones, including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy models, OnePlus phones, and more. You can pick between new and refurbished models, and there's plenty of low-cost options if you're on a tight budget. Or, if you already have a phone, it has a broad selection of SIM-only plans too.
A plan with O2 is also brimming with perks, like O2 Priority that lets you nab tickets to events before they go on general sale.
What's O2 coverage like?
O2 has wide coverage across the UK, with both 3G and 4G available to 99% of the population.
To see if O2's available in your area, check out our guide to mobile phone coverage.
Why choose O2?
- O2 Refresh allows you to upgrade your phone at any time, provided you pay off the cost of your old one
- Easy-to-understand bills that separates calls, texts and data from the cost of your phone - so when you've paid off your phone, your monthly bill goes down
- Priority Tickets - get tickets for some of the hottest music, sport and entertainment events up to 48 hours before they go on sale to people who aren't on O2
- O2 Gurus - In-store help from O2’s customer service experts.
- Free access to O2 public Wi-Fi hotspots
Our recommended O2 deals
-
O2 sim only
5G- 10GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £6.99 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 40GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2 -
O2 sim only
5G- 40GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From O2
Three
What can you get from Three?
Three lets you choose popular phones from the likes of Apple, Samsung, Google, OnePlus, Sony and more. That means you get quite the range of options - from all singing and dancing uberphones like the iPhone XR or Samsung Galaxy S10 to cheap 'n' cheerful budget devices like the Huawei P Smart.
One great thing about Three is that its phones are all sold unlocked, so if you want to switch networks, you can. Three also offers a decent selection of SIM-only plans.
What's Three coverage like?
Three's 4G network covers over 99% of the UK population. Its 3G coverage is a little less, around 98%.
Check out our guide for more about Three coverage.
Why choose Three?
- Has a reputation for reliability
- Unlimited data plans available - Three's the only major UK network to offer unlimited 4G to all
- Go Binge - Any streaming you do from selected apps doesn't come out of your data allowance - currently available on Netflix, SoundCloud, Deezer, Dave on demand, and more.
- Go Roam - Allows you to use your phone abroad at no extra cost - on certain plans you can use your calls, texts and data in 60+ countries, including Australia, Brazil, the US, and more
- Huge choice of Android and iOS phones
- Traditionally, Three has relatively low upfront costs for iPhones. If you want Apple's latest wonder-slab without having to shell out loads at once, it's a good choice - although you'll have pay for it through higher than average monthly charges
- Phones sold unlocked as standard, so you can use them on any network
Our recommended Three deals
-
Three sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile -
Three sim only
5G- 120GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Three+ rewards
- £12.00 per month
12 month contract From Three Mobile
giffgaff
What can you get from giffgaff?
giffgaff doesn't have the widest selection of phones, but it offers a fair selection of 3G and 4G handsets.
There are the big hitters like the iPhone X and Samsung Galaxy Note8, but there are plenty of older models and affordable phones too.
You can buy handsets outright, or pay monthly, alongside one giffgaff's rolling data plans - or 'goodybags' as it calls them. It also offers an excellent range of SIM-only plans.
What's giffgaff coverage like?
giffgaff uses O2's network, so it shares the same 99% 3G and 4G coverage.
Find out more in our guide to mobile coverage.
Why choose giffgaff?
- Owned by O2 and uses O2's network, so has near-total 4G coverage
- Decent choice of phones, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxies
- Flexible payment options for phones
- Choose from rolling monthly 'goodybags', comprising call, texts and data, which are flexible, so you can chop and change as you like
- Low-cost calls, texts, and data
- No high street shops and no customer service, which keeps costs low - most support is provided by the giffgaff community
- Payback - if you participate in the giffgaff community, doing stuff like promoting the network on social media, introducing friends or answering queries in forums, you'll earn Payback points which you can use to get cashback, more calls or make donations to charity
Our recommended giffgaff deal
-
GiffGaff sim only
5G- 6GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £8.00 per month
18 month contract From giffgaff -
GiffGaff sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £10.00 per month
18 month contract From giffgaff -
GiffGaff sim only
5G- 120GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- £20.00 per month
18 month contract From giffgaff
BT Mobile
What can you get from BT Mobile?
BT Mobile offers both SIM-only and pay monthly plans to suit all sort of types of user. The SIM-only options range from a low-cost 500MB plan to one with a hefty 40GB. If you already have a handset you like, or want to buy one outright, there's plenty of choice with BT.
BT also now offers new handsets on pay monthly contracts. It's a well-curated selection that include flagships like the latest iPhone and Samsung phone, as well as more affordable devices from Huawei. Different plans are available that range from a modest 1GB data per month to 60GB, so there's a plan to suit most types of user.
What's BT Mobile coverage like?
BT acquired EE in 2014, so its mobile coverage is excellent - with more than 99% 4G coverage in the UK and 98% 3G coverage.
To see if it's available where you are, check out our guide to mobile network coverage.
Why choose BT?
- Brilliant network coverage
- High-quality handsets available on pay monthly contracts
- All plans come with 4G
- £5 per month discount on any plan if you already have BT broadband
- Roam Like Home - Use your BT call minutes, texts and data in 47 international destinations - including Europe.
- Unlimited access to BT's 5 million public Wi-Fi hotspots
- Free BT Sport app with top-end plans, so you can watch sports including Premier League matches
- Free voicemail on all plans
- Get up to five SIMs on one monthly bill
Our recommended BT deal
ASDA Mobile
What can you get from ASDA Mobile?
Asda Mobile is best known for really keenly priced, good value SIM-only deals. At the time of writing, the cheapest plans start from about £5 per month and there are unlimited data plans for heavy users too.
It offers a decent range of phones at good prices. Choose from budget models from Alcatel and Nokia, or the latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices.
What's ASDA Mobile coverage like?
Since it's an MVNO on Vodafone's network, Asda Mobile's 4G coverage is very good, covering 99% of the population. It offers 5G in 124 locations across the UK (as of August 2021).
Find out more in our guide to mobile coverage.
Why choose ASDA Mobile?
- Simple and affordable pay as you go plans give you flexibility and value
- 5G for no extra cost (you'll need to own a 5G compatible phone)
- Selection includes budget phones and high-end models
- No credit check required
- Inclusive roaming in 36 locations
- Wi-Fi calling on all plans
- Auto-renewable 30-day bundles are available, to make life a little easier
- Fantastic network coverage, thanks to Vodafone
- SIM-only plans mean you can use whatever handset you want
- SIM card is free of charge when you sign up
Our recommended ASDA Mobile deals
-
ASDA Mobile sim only
5G- Exclusive
- 10GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 5G speeds up to 150mbps
- £5.50 per month
24 month contract From ASDA Mobile -
ASDA Mobile sim only
5G- Exclusive
- 10GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 5G speeds up to 150mbps
- £5.50 per month
24 month contract From ASDA Mobile -
ASDA Mobile sim only
5G- Exclusive
- Unlimited 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- 5G speeds up to 150mbps
- £15.99 per month
24 month contract From ASDA Mobile
Sky Mobile
What can you get from Sky Mobile?
With Sky Mobile, you can get a SIM-only plan with a choice of data allowances - all of which include unlimited calls and texts. If you've got Sky TV, you can get unlimited streaming included free.
Sky Mobile contracts are available with a variety of handsets, from the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy model to mid-range phones from Huawei - with data allowances up to 40GB. Oh, and you're not stuck with your allowance - you can change it whenever you like.
One pretty neat feature of Sky Mobile plans is that you can roll any data you don't use over to the next month. It'll get stored in your 'piggybank' to take out and use whenever you need it.
What's Sky Mobile coverage like?
It's O2, so it's good - 99% of the population get 4G and 3G coverage.
Why choose Sky Mobile?
- Roll over data for up to three years
- Lots of extras and goodies if you've got sky TV
- Option to get calls and texts on PAYG only
- Change allowance whenever you want
- Upgrade your phone every 12 or 24 months
Our recommended Sky Mobile deals
-
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile
EE
What can you get from EE?
If you're looking for a new phone, you'll find no shortage of choice from EE. You'll find a wide variety, including iPhones, Samsung Galaxys and more.
EE specialises in 4G - impressively fast mobile internet - and offers the fastest on the market, with speeds up to 90Mb in some cases. Amazing coverage also means you can be sure you'll be able to connect to the faster service almost anywhere.
Also, if you're after a SIM-only plan with a larger data allowance, EE is definitely worth a look.
What's EE coverage like?
EE has impressively wide 4G coverage, catering to more than 99% of the country's population.
To see if EE's available in the areas you frequent, check out our guide to mobile coverage.
Why choose EE?
- Widest UK 4G coverage - more than 80% population can get it
- Fastest 4G in the UK
- Six months’ free Apple Music and Amazon Prime
- Wide choice of phones, including the latest iPhones
- Exclusive EE low-cost phones and tablets available
iD Mobile
What can you get from iD Mobile?
Carphone Warehouse's network iD Mobile may be a fairly new kid on the block, but it's already making an impact with some of the most affordable 4G plans around. Its deals are built around basic value, flexibility, and simplicity, with a few little extras like capped plans and data rollover to let you save even more money.
The network's focus on simplicity means there aren't many bells and whistles - you won't find priority tickets, free BT Sport, or Netflix subscriptions here - but that just means a much, much lower price for you.
What's iD Mobile coverage like?
Since iD Mobile uses Three's, coverage is excellent - over 99% of the UK population can get 4G coverage.
To see if iD Mobile is available in the areas you frequent, check out our guide to mobile coverage.
Why choose iD Mobile?
- Affordable, flexible 4G plans that don't cost a bomb
- Simple tariffs that don't hide behind jargon
- Can roll your unused data over to the next month
- Can set a monthly cap on plans to prevent overspending
- Great if you go abroad - can use your allowance in the EU and EEA
- SIM plans available on flexible 30-day terms
- Decent range of handsets available, including iPhone XR, Samsung Galaxy S10, and Google Pixel 3 XL
Our recommended iD Mobile deal
-
ID sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £6.00 per month
1 month contract From iD Mobile -
ID sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £7.00 per month
12 month contract From iD Mobile -
ID sim only
5G- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £7.00 per month
1 month contract From iD Mobile
Virgin Mobile
What can you get from Virgin Mobile?
Virgin Mobile doesn't have the biggest choice of phones, but it does have most of the ones you'd expect to see from a major network. iPhones, Samsung Galaxies, and Sony Xperias are all present and correct. There's also mid-range goodness and a few budget options, along with a tablet or two. They're available on regular contracts or on Freestyle, which separates your bill into the handset cost and tariff cost.
As for SIM-only deals, you're in luck. Virgin Mobile offers a very nice range of plans, all on 'Flexible Freestyle' so you can upgrade or downgrade your allowance whenever you want. There's also the classic pay-as-you-go option if you don't want to commit.
What's Virgin Mobile coverage like?
Virgin Media is a virtual mobile network, which basically means that it uses another network to deliver its services - specifically EE. That means it has more than 99% 4G coverage.
For more information, check our guide to mobile phone coverage.
Why choose Virgin Mobile?
- Uses EE's network, so coverage is widespread
- Using WhatsApp and Messenger doesn't count towards your data usage
- Wide choice of handsets, including iPhones
- Plans with lots of data available, including unlimited data for Virgin Media broadband customers
- Data rollover: any data in your allowance you don't use will roll over to the next month
- Free calls to other Virgin Mobile numbers for Virgin Media TV and broadband customers
- Flexible Freestyle plans let you change your calls, texts and data - and what you pay - each month according to your requirements
Our recommended Virgin Mobile deals
Tesco Mobile
What can you get from Tesco Mobile?
Despite being a relatively small network, Tesco Mobile does the lot. You can get phone contracts on a decent range of handsets, including everything from the latest iPhones to cheap mobiles; and a nice spread of SIM-only plans. That includes 12-month deals, 30-day rolling ones, and PAYG - though you get more choice and better value if you pick a 12-month plan.
Tesco Mobile's dedicated to being budget-friendly, and along with low-cost deals, it offers plenty of extra ways to keep your bill down too.
What's Tesco Mobile's coverage like?
It uses O2's network, which has almost 100% population coverage for 3G and 4G.
Why choose Tesco Mobile?
- Good value
- Lots of choice
- Get Clubcard points for every £1 you spend
- Up to 50GB data per month
- Family members can get extra allowance or discounts if you add them to your plan
- Upgrade your phone whenever you want with Anytime Upgrade
Our recommended Tesco Mobile deals
-
Tesco Mobile sim only
5G- 2GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £7.50 per month
24 month contract From Tesco Mobile -
Tesco Mobile sim only
5G- 12GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £10.00 per month
24 month contract From Tesco Mobile -
Tesco Mobile sim only
5G- 30GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £12.50 per month
24 month contract From Tesco Mobile
VOXI
What can you get from VOXI?
All its plans are 30-day rolling SIM-only deals - you can't get handset contracts from VOXI - and, best of all, you can use some of the most popular social media apps free of charge. Eight apps are covered, including Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, and WhatsApp, and using them won't use up any of your monthly data allowance.
Unlimited calls and texts are included in every plan too.
What's VOXI coverage like?
Since it comes from Vodafone, VOXI's coverage is excellent - with 99% population coverage for 3G and 4G.
Why choose VOXI?
- Flexible 30-day SIMs
- Free use of social media apps that doesn't come out your allowance
- Low price
- Unlimited calls and texts with all plans
- Chance to get extra goodies and freebies
Our recommended VOXI deals
-
VOXI sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media
- £10.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI -
VOXI sim only
5G- 140GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited social media, music & video
- £15.00 per month
1 month contract From VOXI
Talkmobile
What can you get from talkmobile?
talkmobile is a SIM-only specialist, with a selection of 30-day, rolling contract and 12-month plans that stand out for being affordable and simple.
In fact, with prices that start at £5 per month, it's one of the UK's cheapest SIM only networks.
All plans come with unlimited calls and texts.
What's talkmobile's coverage like?
talkmobile's service is based on Vodafone's network, which offers 99.9% coverage across the UK.
Why choose talkmobile?
- Very keenly priced SIM only plans
- You can cancel with 30 days' notice on rolling contract deals
- Great coverage across UK, with Vodafone's network
- Tethering is included on all plans
- Inclusive roaming in 41 European locations
Our recommended talkmobile deals
-
Talkmobile sim only
5G- 5GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £4.95 per month
1 month contract From Talkmobile -
Talkmobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £6.95 per month
1 month contract From Talkmobile -
Talkmobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Free EU Roaming
- £6.95 per month
1 month contract From Talkmobile
Lebara Mobile
What can you get from Lebara Mobile?
Lebara deals in SIM-only plans. It works as a pay-as-you-go system, only you can use your credit to buy bundles of calls, texts, and data that last either seven days or a month. Best of all, the bundles you can get include ones with minutes and texts to numbers in countries around the world. It's a great way to phone friends and family abroad nice and cheaply.
Its SIMs work in any unlocked phone, and you can get minutes to call countries like China, Pakistan, Nigeria, and countries in the EU - as well as plenty to use at home too.
What's Lebara Mobile coverage like?
It uses Vodafone's network, so coverage for calls and texts reaches around 90% of the population, with 3G coverage not far behind. There's no 4G on Lebara right now though - only 3G.
Why choose Lebara Mobile?
- Excellent value for calling international numbers
- Super flexible plans
- Free calls and texts to other Lebara Mobile numbers
- Doesn't require a credit check
Our recommended Lebara Mobile deals
-
Lebara Mobile sim only
- Exclusive
- 3GB of 5G data
- 250 minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £4.49 per month
1 month contract From Lebara Mobile -
Lebara Mobile sim only
- Exclusive
- 10GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £5.99 per month
1 month contract From Lebara Mobile -
Lebara Mobile sim only
- Exclusive
- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- EU roaming included
- £9.99 per month
1 month contract From Lebara Mobile
Plusnet Mobile
What can you get from Plusnet Mobile?
Plusnet Mobile only does one thing, but it does it well - and that's SIM-only deals. The smallest has 500MB of data a month and a wonderfully low price, while the largest has 4GB with unlimited calls and texts.
In its bid to help you save money on your mobile plan, each deal is great value, and you can set a Smart Cap so you don't spend too much over your monthly allowance. You'll also get an added discount if you're already a Plusnet broadband customer, along with all the benefits of the company's award-winning customer service.
What's Plusnet Mobile coverage like?
It uses EE's network, so coverage is very good - even 3G reaches over 99% of the UK population, and 4G reaches 97%.
For more info, check out our guide to mobile coverage.
Why choose Plusnet Mobile?
- Good value SIM-only plans
- Fantastic nationwide coverage
- Plans are all 30-day, so you change your tariff around whenever you want
- Smart Caps to eliminate bill shock, and extra discounts for Plusnet broadband customers
- UK-based call centres and award-winning customer service
