Compare Networks
Side-by-side data on coverage, speeds, pricing, and roaming — based on Ofcom, Opensignal, RootMetrics, and umlaut independently published 2026 data. Not sponsored by any network.
Coverage, 5G, speed, roaming, and approximate pricing. Every major UK network in one place.
| Network | Type | 4G Coverage | 5G Cities | Best For | Free Roaming | SIM from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O2 | MNO | 99%+ | 500+ towns | Coverage + Satellite + Priority | 75 countries (Plus/Ultimate) | ~£8/mo |
| EE | MNO | 99.6% | 610+ towns | Fastest Speeds + Best Coverage | All Rounder + plans (EU free) | ~£9/mo |
| Three/VodafoneThree | MNO | 99% | 370+ towns | Value + Widest Worldwide Roaming | 163 countries (Complete) | ~£6/mo |
| Vodafone | MNO | 99% | 130+ cities | Business + International | 83 countries (Xtra Global) | ~£10/mo |
| Tesco Mobile | MVNO | 99% (O2) | Same as O2 | Best Service + Clubcard Value | 48 destinations (Home From Home) | ~£8/mo |
| Giffgaff | MVNO | 99% (O2) | Same as O2 | Budget / No Contract / Payback | 5GB EU fair use | ~£6/mo |
| SMARTY | MVNO | 99% (Three) | Same as Three | Cheapest Unlimited + Data Refund | EU included (12GB cap) | ~£5/mo |
| Sky Mobile | MVNO | 99% (O2) | Same as O2 | Sky TV Customers / Data Rollover 3yrs | £2/day 55+ destinations | ~£6/mo |
| iD Mobile | MVNO | 99% (Three) | Same as Three | Budget + Rollover + Currys Retail | EU included | ~£5/mo |
| Lebara | MVNO | 99% (Vodafone) | Same as Vodafone | International Calls | EU on most plans | ~£5/mo |
| Your priority | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best indoor & rural signal | EE | umlaut #1 for 11 consecutive years; 77.4% 5G availability; consistently highest indoor scores |
| Best UK landmass (hills, coast) | O2 + Satellite | O2 Satellite extends coverage to 95% of UK landmass; £3/month bolt-on; Samsung S25 at launch |
| Fastest 5G (no speed cap) | EE | 730+ Mbps peak; Three new plans speed-capped at 100 Mbps from April 2026 |
| Cheapest unlimited data | SMARTY or iD Mobile | Both on Three network; ~£5–8/month with no contracts; SMARTY refunds unused data |
| Free EU roaming on every plan | O2 | Only major UK MNO not to reintroduce EU charges after Brexit; 49 destinations standard |
| Widest worldwide roaming | Three Complete plans | 163 Go Roam destinations globally — more than any other UK operator |
| Best customer service | Tesco Mobile | 5× Uswitch Best Service 2022–2026; 8th UK Customer Satisfaction overall (Jan 2026) |
| Frozen prices guaranteed | Tesco Mobile Clubcard deals | Clubcard Price deals freeze your base monthly price for the full contract duration |
| Best enterprise & business | Vodafone (VodafoneThree) | Dedicated enterprise plans, IoT, fleet management, 83-country roaming, SLAs |
| Best for Tesco shoppers | Tesco Mobile + Clubcard Plus | Earn points on bill, double data, double points, double grocery savings |
| Best for budget international calls | Lebara or Lycamobile | Very competitive per-minute international rates to South Asia, Middle East, Africa |