Mobile Phone Networks in the UK

The immense competition among phone networks has greatly improved customers’ options. Most people are aware of the ‘big four’ - EE, Vodafone, O2, and Three - but these are not the only UK networks looking for your business. Here is what to consider to make sure you choose the best mobile network for your needs. Use our coverage checker to make sure you can get phone signal from your chosen network.

BT Mobile

Best for: loyal BT customers who are happy with their current handset or prefer a cheaper phone.

Apart from being well known across the UK for its home phone and broadband services, it also offers mobile deals. BT Mobile is a little unusual in that it doesn’t offer the latest handsets. BT also offers customers access to the latest fast mobile internet technology in the shape of 5G SIM-only deals.

BT customers can get money off and double data if they have BT broadband and BT Halo. The latter unlocks the unlimited data plan.

Compare the best BT mobile deals.

EE

Best for: those who want streaming perks.

EE is known for being one of the best networks when it comes to providing 4G and 5G network coverage. EE pay-monthly phone contracts come with a tonne of additional benefits like access to Apple Music, Netflix, BT Sport, and unlimited video streaming. These benefits come in the form of swappable perks. EE also offers its customers one to three benefits depending on the type of plan they choose.

Compare EE mobile deals.

O2

Best for: those who like concert tickets and freebies.

Those who subscribe to O2 mobile phone packages get access to exclusive presales at O2 venues. So if you like concerts, you will have plenty of time to get those all-important tickets.

They also offer freebies and discounts at popular high street retailers like; Gregg’s, Strava, Odeon and Caffè Nero.

Like most major networks, O2 offers 4 and 5G across its network. O2’s customer service comes across as friendly and will do their best to resolve any queries and issues.

O2 have also recently promised not to reintroduce roaming charges for customer travelling to Europe, unlike many of the other major mobile networks.

Compare O2 mobile deals.

Sky Mobile

Best for: Sky TV customers, who want to switch their handset and plan.

Sky Mobile has both SIM-only and phone contracts. The TV giant allows its users to switch up and down between data plans when they want to. Each plan has unlimited calls and texts, but it won’t be good for those who need a lot of data. The highest data plan we could find offered just 50GB.

The good news is that unused data rolls over for up to 3 years and Sky apps, like sports and entertainment don’t count against your limit. Sky’s phone contracts also allow you to exchange your phone for free once during your contract term. Two and three year handset contracts offered by Sky Mobile mean you won’t be tied into a long term deal.

Compare Sky superfast broadband to keep your home connected.

Compare Sky mobile deals.

Plusnet

Best for: Plusnet customers who have broadband deal and want a cheap rolling mobile contract.

Plusnet’s main selling point is that it sells affordable 30-day rolling contracts. This means that you can exit the contract when you’re ready and won’t have to top up your mobile as with pay-as-you-go.

Plusnet Mobile’s main focus is a limited range of SIM-only plans. Packages are cheap but don’t offer a lot of data allowance. Some options don’t even offer unlimited minutes. Plusnet offers one or two extra perks, such as a 2GB data bonus for its broadband customers.

Compare Plusnet mobile deals.

Three

Best for: those who want to avoid data slow down.

Three prides itself on its network speed. It claims not to slow down speeds in the UK even if you’re a heavy user.

Unlimited data Is available on certain contracts from just £20 on a SIM only deal. Pay-as-you-go and SIM packages are available too. 

If you enjoy exploring the world around you, then Three’s roaming offer might be appealing to you. ‘Go Rome’ allows you to use your plan in 71 countries around the world. This must be included as part of your plan, though. Unlike in the UK, you will be subject to fair use limits. Although, Three are charging customers for the ‘Go Roam’ service from May 2022.

Compare Three mobile deals.

Virgin Mobile

Best for: those who want no upfront cost when buying a handset.

Virgin Mobile offers both phone and SIM-only contracts. The network has access to both 4G and 5G and customers can rollover unused data. 

One positive about the Virgin Mobile experience is that there is no upfront cost on handsets, meaning you can get the latest iphone, without a large upfront fee. This means that you’ll only need to pay the monthly cost and won’t have to pay an upfront lump sum.

For those who want a mobile plan but aren’t sure how much data they need, Virgin has them covered. Your calls, texts, and data are on a 30-day rolling basis. This means that you can switch up or down each month.

Whether you’re going for a monthly phone contract or just a SIM-only option, contracts come in 12 and 24-month variants. If you buy a phone from Virgin and wish to pay it off early, you also have that option.

Virgin Media also offer superfast broadband.  

Vodafone

Best for: those who want entertainment included in their package.

The Vodafone network offers streaming and free subscriptions to content channels. If you like the sound of YouTube Premium, Amazon Prime, or Spotify Premium being included in your package, then Vodafone might be for you. 

The mobile phone deals offered by Vodafone include both pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go options, as well as phones from the top brands. Vodafone also offers unlimited data plans to its customers with unlimited calls and texts starting from £22 a month. The unlimited plans provided by Vodafone differ based on download speed.

Put simply, downloading things like music and video will take longer, depending on the type of plan that you choose. 

Vodafone offers perks like a 15% discount on mobile, or a £3 monthly discount on your broadband bill for having a Vodafone mobile contract and Vodafone broadband contract together. Vodafone also offers several mobile broadband plans worth considering.

Compare Vodafone mobile deals.

Tesco Mobile

Best for: those who want to gain Clubcard points.

Tesco Mobile Allows you to choose between pay-as-you-go, SIM-only and pay monthly phone deals. You can gain Clubcard points when paying your bill and you can also use them to pay off debt from your account. 

Contract lengths range from 12 to 36 months and Tesco promise not to raise prices during you contract term. For those who need a lot of data, Tesco provides an unlimited package for just under £30.

Get the best Tesco Mobile contract here.

giffgaff

Best for: those who want short-term flexibility.

giffgaff isn’t the cheapest but it does offer flexibility. It does this with a pay-as-you-go SIM setup. You can amend or cancel your plan each month.

4G and 5G are on offer, but the latter is only available on certain plans. Calls and texts are limitless, but unlimited data will cost you £35 per month. Mobiles are available to purchase outright or for a monthly fee.

GiffGaff also offer perks and freebies through their Extras app. Including discounts on services like Fiit and Uptime. 

Get the best GiffGaff contract for your usage needs.

Lebara

Best for: those making frequent calls to international destinations.

Lebara Mobile is geared to those who want to make international calls. It offers inclusive coverage in over 40 countries. You can choose to take out a SIM plan on a 30-day basis with no contract or save money over a 12-month period.

Contracts start from just £5 per month with unlimited international minutes from just £15 per month. Contracts are available on a 30-day basis, however you can also choose to go pay-as-you-go.

Compare Lebara mobile deals.

VOXI

Best for: those who spend a lot of time on social media.

VOXI is geared towards those who love social media. Each of the company’s plans allow unlimited social media use. According to the company website, “Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Messenger, and Pinterest” won’t affect your data allowance. This only applies to the UK, though.

This all-you-can-eat approach also applies to certain video apps on plans starting from £15. These apps include Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

You can choose to purchase SIM and phone packages. Plans operate on a 30-day rolling basis so you can cancel it without paying a penalty. You can even choose to cancel your SIM plan while continuing to make payments on a handset.

With so many contract options, tariffs, and phones to choose from, it’s essential you gather the right information to pick a deal that suits you. You don’t want to end up paying for a phone package that doesn’t suit your needs.

The ease of renewing your existing contract might save you hassle in the short term but could ultimately see you losing money in the long run.

Whether you’re an Apple iPhone disciple, a Samsung Galaxy fan, or a budget boss, here is why it pays to check the options available to you carefully. Here are some of the top tips to help you consider whether each network operator is right for you.

Why Compare deals from Different Network Providers? 

Whether dealing with work, family, or just a busy social life, finding the best deal on a mobile package could be easier if you use our mobile phone deals comparison.

You should take the time to compare deals offered by different networks because it will almost certainly save you money in the long run. If savings alone don’t do it for you, perhaps the extra perks will.

O2 offers presale windows on events at the O2; EE offers BT Sport for free with some of its packages; while VOXI provides social media access which doesn’t eat away at your data plan. These are just a few examples that demonstrate the wealth of opportunity open to you should you choose to explore.

While you’ve probably heard of major UK mobile networks like O2, EE (formerly Orange), and Vodafone, you might not know that there are actually tonnes more besides.

TV providers like Sky and Virgin have stepped in to compete in the mobile sector, while supermarket chain Tesco also offers moile deals. Fresh players like giffgaff also offer competitive rolling contracts for those who don’t wish to be tied down.

Whether running on their own network or renting network space from a competitor, there are plenty of vendors to choose from in this busy marketplace.

You also need to make sure your chosen operator provides good coverage in your area. Check mobile coverage here to make sure you’ll be able to use your phone at home.

Here’s an overview of mobile phone and handset deals vs SIM-only deals. Knowing the benefits and drawbacks of each can help you understand which type of deal will best suit your needs. 

A phone and plan contract

With this type of deal you’re buying both a phone and a plan at the same time. Billing is handled monthly, typically over two or three years, however, shorter contract terms are available from some networks. If you wish to exit, you must pay the remaining balance on your contract. The things you will need to look for in a plan are the number of minutes, texts, and the data limit. The first two are usually unlimited.  

If you would like this type of deal then you should find it advertised under either pay monthly or pay monthly phone contract.

Compare the best mobile phone deals.

SIM only-plans          

SIM-only plans are similar to an all-inclusive contract but do not include a handset. With this type of option, you pay a monthly rate for the minutes, texts, and data you use. As with an all-inclusive contract, lengths vary. You can choose to opt for a rolling contract, which you can leave at the end of any month, or commit to a longer term deal.

The former allows for flexibility but is likely to work out more expensive, while the latter should work out cheaper in the long run but you will be locked into the contract.

The advantage of the SIM-only plan is that you can easily transfer your SIM card from phone to phone and keep your plan.

Compare sim only deals.

Pay-as-you-go

There is no monthly contract with this type of deal: you are responsible for topping up your account. You should expect to be charged per minute, per text, and per megabyte of data used. 

Get the Right Contract Term

With two-to-three-year contracts now the standard within the industry, apathy is not your friend. Making sure you get the right contract term will help ensure you can switch to a better deal when the opportunity arises. 

Mobile operators also tend to raise their prices each year due to inflation and other costs increasing. The longer your contract term, the more of these mid term contract price rises you will suffer.

Keep the following tips in mind when looking for a good mobile phone deal:

• If possible, pay for your new handset upfront and get a separate SIM-only deal. This approach can make things cheaper because you’re only paying for your data, minutes and texts and won’t be paying off the cost of the handset each month. If you’re considering entering a contract that offers a new handset, check the price of different networks and contract deals so you can get the phone you want at the best price.
• If your old phone is in good shape, consider selling it. You can either do this separately at a second-hand shop, like Cex, or you can often exchange it with the phone provider. If you’re not in a rush to sell, you may find that you get the best value by selling it on an auction site like eBay. When selling your phone, try to find out its current market value in second-hand shops (located over the UK), as well as on resale websites, so that you’re in a better position to negotiate a fair price.
• Try to not exceed the limits on your data allowance and calling minutes. This will incur extra charges on top of your set bill. The same goes for when roaming outside of the UK, for which the charges will be even higher.
• Switch your mobile phone deal as soon as you are able to. Once your contract comes to an end the phone is yours. If you don’t switch mobile deals immediately, you will continue paying the same amount each month. Switch to a new contract or a sim only deal to save money as soon as your contract is up.