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The best mobile phone networks in the UK right now

There are loads of companies to choose from
Anyron Copeman
By Anyron Copeman
Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor SEP 23, 2024 2:08 pm BST
Someone using a smartphone
Image: Shutterstock / insta_photos

Whether you’re looking to buy a new phone or simply switch providers, the network you go with is crucial.

Many providers offer some of the best phones on contract, allowing you to split the total cost into more manageable monthly payments. In return, you’ll get an allocation of calls, texts and data to use, and usually own the handset once the contract comes to an end.

And as it’s a legal requirement for all phones to be sold unlocked in the UK, you can then easily swap to a different provider. That also applies if you’ve bought a phone outright, where a simple SIM-only deal (offering calls, texts, data and sometimes other perks) is the way to go.

However, even if your choice of phone has narrowed things down, deciding which provider to go with can be difficult. There are only four main networks in the UK, but lots more so-called ‘piggyback’ operators rent network space and offer deals of their own.

In this article, we’ll run through all of the ones worth considering, helping you to decide which is right for you. But if you haven’t decided which new phone to buy yet, see our guides to the best budget phones, best mid-range phones and best flagship phones first.

What’s the best phone network in the UK?

First, let’s have a look at the options. There are actually only four phone networks in the UK:

That could go down to three, if the proposed Vodafone and Three merger goes through. The UK has conditionally approved it, pending the results of an investigation, though initial findings (via The Guardian) indicate concerns over higher bills for customers.

However, there are lots of ‘piggyback’ providers, officially known as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). They rent network space from one of the companies above, but offer their own set of contracts and specific perks. Learn more in our separate article on piggyback phone networks.

Here are the most popular piggybackers and the network they use:

It’s worth keeping this in mind when considering which provider you’d like to use, as coverage for the network you use may differ depending on where you are in the UK. Ofcom’s coverage checker is a useful guide, but that doesn’t guarantee good signal.

If possible, ask friends and family for their experience, or try a pay-as-you-go SIM from one of the main four networks first.

Of course, the problem with having only four networks is that if one goes down, all of its piggybackers are likely to suffer the same fate. According to RootMetrics, EE offers the most reliable service in the UK, followed by Vodafone, Three and O2.

Below, we’ll run through each of the ‘big four’ phone networks and all the providers which use their service.

EE (including BT Mobile, Lycamobile, Utility Warehouse & more)

EE
EE
EE

EE’s network is comprised of the old T-Mobile and Orange frequencies, so there’s a lot of coverage nationally.

According to Uswitch, 99% of the UK population are covered by 4G – the best of any network. Meanwhile, 5G is available in 50 towns and cities. Use EE’s coverage checker to see what the service will be like where you are.

EE itself offers iPhone, Google, Samsung, Motorola, Sony, Nokia, TCL Doro phones on contract. There are also lots of SIM-only deals, with prices currently starting at £16 per month and going all the way up to £39 per month. You can also choose between one-month, 12-month and 24-month plans.

However, EE does charge a fixed £2.47 per day to use your data for roaming in the EU and a few other countries – see the full list on the EE website.

But there are lots of other piggyback providers which use the EE network:

O2 (including Giffgaff, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile & more)

O2
O2
O2

O2 has been operating as a phone network in the UK since 2002. And according to Uswitch, you can expect almost 99% UK 3G and 4G coverage.

Understandably, 5G is more limited, and generally only available in larger towns and cities. Use O2’s coverage checker to get an idea of what to expect.

O2 merged with Virgin Media (to make Virgin Media O2) in 2021, but there’s been no change to the core service. In fact, there are benefits available if you’d like to combine an O2 mobile contract with Virgin Media broadband in what’s known as Volt.

That’s on top of the existing perks for all O2 customers: priority booking at O2 venues, shopping and experience offers and thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots.

Then there’s the big one – free EU roaming up to 25GB. O2 is the only one of the four main networks to have not reintroduced charges after the UK left the European Union, though plenty of piggybackers offer the same perk.

O2 offers iPhone, Doro, Google, Motorola, HMD, Honor, Nokia, Samsung, Sony and Xiaomi phones on contract. While SIM-only deals range from £15 to £44.49 per month, there are often free subscriptions included.

Here are the piggyback providers which use the O2 network:

  • Giffgaff – iPhone, Samsung, Motorola, Sony, Nokia, Doro, Google phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £6 to £35 per month, free EU roaming up to 5GB per month, 10p per MB thereafter, includes ‘best plan advice‘ which suggests different plan that might suit you better (including those which are cheaper)
  • Sky Mobile – iPhone, Samsung, Google, Doro, Fairphone and Nokia phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £5 to £40 per month, all spare data rolls over for up to 12 months (previously three years), roaming for £2 per day in EU and some other countries, including USA and Australia
  • Tesco Mobile – iPhone, Samsung, Google, Nokia, Motorola, Doro, IMO, HMD, Honor and TCL phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £7.50 to £30 per month, cheaper Clubcard prices on some plans, free EU roaming

Three (including iD Mobile, Smarty, Honest Mobile & more)

Three
Three
Three

As its name suggests, Three launched back in 2003 with 3G as its big selling point. That will be turned off at the end of 2024, but the company has long since shifted to the newer connectivity standards.

It has an estimated 99% of 4G coverage, while Ookla has rated it as the UK’s fastest 5G network. Use the Three coverage checker to get an idea of what the service is like where you are.

Three agreed to merge with Vodafone in June 2023, but nothing is changing for customers until the UK government makes a final decision on whether to approve it.

Three offers iPhone, Samsung, Google, Honor, Motorola, Xiaomi and Nokia phones on contract, plus SIM-only deals ranging from £9 to £31 per month. All plans include Three+ rewards for access to event pre-sales and discounts.

However, it costs £2 per day for roaming in Europe (up to 12GB per month), or £5 or £7 per day elsewhere, depending on the country. But that’s not the case for all the piggyback providers which use Three’s network:

  • iD Mobile – iPhone, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Motorola, Nothing, Honor and Nokia phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £6 to £18 per month, unused data rolls over to next month, free EU roaming up to 30GB per month
  • Smarty – SIM-only deals from £5 to £20 per month, get money back for unused data on some plans, free EU roaming up to 12GB per month
  • Honest Mobile – SIM-only deals from £12.15 to £25 per month, loyalty discount of 5% per year (up to max 30%), five days of free EU roaming each month, then £2 per day thereafter (max 20GB)
  • Superdrug Mobile – only two SIM-only deals available (£10 or £20 per month), unused data on the non-unlimited plan rolls over to next month, free EU roaming up to 12GB per month

Vodafone (including Voxi, Asda Mobile, Lebara Mobile & more)

Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone

Vodafone was the UK’s very first cellular telephone network all the way back in 1985, but a lot has changed since then.

Its 4G service currently covers around 98% of the population, with its 5G in 46 towns and cities across the UK (plus 70 more in Europe for roaming). Use Vodafone’s service checker to get an idea what it’ll be like for you.

Three agreed to merge with Vodafone in June 2023, but nothing is changing for customers until the UK government makes a final decision on whether to approve it.

You can buy phones on contract from plenty of brands at Vodafone: iPhone, Samsung, Google, Motorola, Honor, Fairphone and Doro. SIM-only deals range from a £7 per month Basics plan (4G only) to £48 per month for a premium option.

Some include extra benefits, such as free subscriptions or included EU roaming. Most people will have to pay £2.42 extra per day for EU roaming, though you can get 8-day (£12) or 15-day (£17) passes that work out cheaper.

But not all of Vodafone’s piggyback providers charge extra for roaming:

  • Voxi – iPhone, Samsung, Google, Honor and Motorola phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £10 to £35 per month, unlimited use of selected social media apps (also music and video streaming services on some plans), EU roaming from £2.45 per day, though two-day (£4.50), eight-day (£12) and 15-day (£17) passes are also available (all up to 20GB per month)
  • Asda Mobile – iPhone, Samsung, Doro, Nokia, Motorola, HMD and TCL phones on contract, SIM-only deals from £5 to £24 per month (all eligible for Asda Rewards), free EU roaming up to 5GB per month, 10p per MB thereafter
  • Lebara – SIM-only deals from £4.50 to £30 per month, free roaming in EU and India (up to 30GB per month)
  • Talkmobile – SIM-only deals from £5.95 to £32 per month, free EU roaming

, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor

Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.

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