UK mobile networks compared
The UK has four mobile networks (EE, O2, Vodafone and Three) and dozens of brands that run on them. Smaller brands use the same masts as their host network, so coverage matches; what differs is price, credit checks, roaming and whether prices rise every April. giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara, VOXI and iD Mobile don’t raise SIM only prices mid-contract.
Facts checked: 24 October 2026 · Page updated: · Prices update daily
At a glance
EE, O2, Vodafone and Three own the masts. Vodafone and Three now share one network as VodafoneThree.
Source: Ofcom, network announcementsgiffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara, VOXI and iD Mobile don’t raise SIM only prices mid-contract.
Checked 24 Oct 2026Average complaints about pay monthly mobile. EE, giffgaff and Vodafone had 1; Sky Mobile had 4.
Source: Ofcom, Q1 2026Since this date, mid-contract rises must be stated in pounds before you sign.
Source: OfcomPrice rises, credit checks and complaints
| Network | Runs on | Yearly rise | Credit check | eSIM | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | EE | +£2.50 SIM only · +£4 phones | Hard check | Yes | 1 |
| O2 | O2 | +£2.50/mo | Hard check | Yes | 3 |
| Vodafone | Vodafone | +£2.50/mo | Hard check | Yes | 1 |
| Three | Three | +£1.80 to £2.30 | Hard check | Yes | 2 |
| giffgaff | O2 | None | No check | Yes | 1 |
| SMARTY | Three | None | No check | Yes | — |
| Lebara | Vodafone | None | No check | Yes | — |
| Lycamobile | EE | Not confirmed | Pay monthly | Yes | — |
| VOXI | Vodafone | None | No check | Yes | — |
| iD Mobile | Three | None | Hard check | Yes | 3 |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone | Not confirmed | ID check | Yes (2026) | — |
| Tesco Mobile | O2 | about 6% | Hard check | Not confirmed | 2 |
| Sky Mobile | O2 | +£1.50/mo | Credit check | Yes | 4 |
| Asda Mobile | Vodafone | Not confirmed | No check | No | — |
Cheapest SIM only on each network today
EESee live deals
O2SIM only from £7.00/mo
VodafoneSIM only from £12.00/mo
ThreeSIM only from £7.00/mo
No yearly risegiffgaffSIM only from £6.00/mo
No yearly riseSMARTYSIM only from £6.00/mo
No yearly riseLebaraSIM only from £4.50/mo
LycamobileSIM only from £10.00/mo
No yearly riseVOXISIM only from £10.00/mo
No yearly riseiD MobileSIM only from £8.00/mo
TalkmobileSIM only from £4.95/mo
Tesco MobileSIM only from £6.00/mo
Sky MobileSIM only from £6.00/mo
Asda MobileSIM only from £5.00/moBig network or smaller brand?
Smaller brands rent space on one of the big networks, so your signal is the same as the host: SMARTY and iD Mobile use Three, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile use O2, Lebara, VOXI, Talkmobile and Asda Mobile use Vodafone, and Lycamobile uses EE.
The differences are price, customer service, roaming and whether your price rises every April.
How to switch and keep your number
- Get your PAC. Text PAC to 65075 from your current phone. It’s free.
- Order your new SIM and give the PAC to the new network.
- Your number moves in one working day and your old plan closes.
When does your plan end?
Add your network and end date. We’ll email you before every April price rise and three weeks before your plan ends, with cheaper deals already lined up.
Mobile network questions
Which UK networks don’t raise prices mid-contract?
giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and VOXI don’t raise prices mid-contract, and iD Mobile doesn’t raise SIM only prices. EE, O2 and Vodafone add £2.50 a month every April (checked October 2026).
Which network has the fewest complaints?
EE, giffgaff and Vodafone each had 1 complaint per 100,000 pay monthly customers in Q1 2026, against an average of 2. Sky Mobile had the most, at 4 (Ofcom).
Is a smaller network worse for signal?
No. Smaller brands use the same masts as their host network: SMARTY uses Three, giffgaff uses O2, Lebara uses Vodafone and Lycamobile uses EE.
Which networks don’t run a credit check?
giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara, VOXI and Asda Mobile run no credit check. Talkmobile checks ID only. EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, iD Mobile and Tesco Mobile run a hard check on pay monthly.