Network reviews
Four sets of masts, fifteen brands
EE, O2, Vodafone and Three own the UK’s mobile masts. Every other brand rents capacity from one of them — same coverage, different prices, extras and customer service.
bemobiles tips
Are cheaper brands on worse coverage?
No. giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and the rest use the same masts as EE, O2, Vodafone or Three.
Which networks don’t raise prices every April?
giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and VOXI have no annual rise, and iD Mobile has none on SIM only plans.
How do I check coverage at my address?
Use the postcode checker of the network that owns the masts — EE, O2, Vodafone or Three — for your home and workplace.
April rise- Runs on Vodafone
- 30-day rolling plan
- ID check only
- EU roaming included, 5 GB
£6.95 a month
Get this dealTalkmobile review →The cheapest 30-day plan with 30GB or more on any network — check the price-rise label before you buy.
If one of the big four works well where you live, every brand on that network will too, usually for less. The main differences are price rises (the big four raise prices every April; giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and VOXI don’t), EU roaming allowances and whether there is a credit check.
Updated 25 October 2026 · bemobiles editorial team · How we compare
Every network at a glance
Facts checked 28 October 2026. Price rises apply to contracts signed now; your own contract shows the exact amount.
| Network | Runs on | Price rise | EU roaming | Credit check | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Own network | SIM only +£2.50, phone plans +£4 every 31 March | EU roaming is a paid add-on on most plans | Credit check applies | Yes |
 O2 | Own network | +£2.50 every April | EU roaming included, 25 GB | Credit check applies | Yes |
 Vodafone | Own network | +£2.50 every April | EU roaming is a paid add-on on most plans | Credit check applies | Yes |
 Three | Own network | +£1.80 to £2.30 every April | Go Roam is a paid add-on on most plans | Credit check applies | Yes |
 giffgaff | O2 | No annual price rise | EU roaming included, 5 GB | No credit check | Yes |
 SMARTY | Three | No annual price rise | EU roaming included, 12 GB | No credit check | Yes |
 Lebara | Vodafone | No annual price rise | EU roaming on every plan | No credit check | Yes |
 Lycamobile | EE | No annual price rise announced | EU roaming included, 5 to 35 GB by plan | No credit check on PAYG | Yes |
 VOXI | Vodafone | No annual price rise | EU roaming by pass, from £2.60 a day | No credit check | Yes |
 iD Mobile | Three | No rise on SIM only | Roaming in 50 countries, 30 GB | Credit check applies | Yes |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone | Check the rise at sign-up | EU roaming included, 5 GB | ID check only | Yes |
 Tesco Mobile | O2 | Fixed rise of about 6% every April | Home From Home roaming in 48 countries | Credit check applies | Check |
 Sky Mobile | O2 | +£1.50 from Feb 2026, not fixed in contract | Roaming Passport Plus, £2 a day | Credit check applies | Yes |
 Asda Mobile | Vodafone | No annual price rise | EU roaming included, 5 GB | No credit check | Check |
Which brands use which masts
EE
Own masts. Also used by Lycamobile and 1pMobile.
O2
Own masts. Also used by giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile.
Vodafone
Own masts. Also used by Lebara, VOXI, Talkmobile and Asda Mobile.
Three
Own masts. Also used by SMARTY and iD Mobile.
Vodafone and Three merged in 2025 as VodafoneThree and are combining their networks, so Three, Vodafone, Talkmobile and iD Mobile customers increasingly use both sets of masts.
Choosing a network in brief
- Coverage first: check the mast owner’s map for home and work.
- Every brand on the same masts gets the same coverage.
- Then compare the annual rise, roaming and credit check.
- EE, giffgaff and Vodafone had the fewest Ofcom complaints in Q1 2026.
Which is the best mobile network in the UK?
There isn’t one answer: the best network is the one with strong signal where you live and work, at a price that doesn’t rise every year. Because only EE, O2, Vodafone and Three own masts, start by checking their coverage maps for your postcodes. If one works well, every brand that uses its masts will too — usually for less.
Complaints by network
Ofcom publishes complaints for networks with at least 1.5% of the market. In the first quarter of 2026 the industry average was 2 per 100,000 customers:
| Network | Complaints per 100,000 | Masts | Annual rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 1 | Own network | SIM only +£2.50, phone plans +£4, every 31 March |
| giffgaff | 1 | O2 | No annual rise |
| Vodafone | 1 | Own network | +£2.50 every April (Basics +£1.50) |
| Three | 2 | Own network | +£1.80 to £2.30 every April by data |
| Tesco Mobile | 2 | O2 | Fixed rise of about 6% every April |
| O2 | 3 | Own network | +£2.50 every April |
| iD Mobile | 3 | Three | None on SIM only; phone plans +£1.80 |
| Sky Mobile | 4 | O2 | +£1.50 from Feb 2026, not fixed in contract |
Ofcom, pay monthly mobile complaints, Q1 2026 (industry average 2). Networks below Ofcom’s reporting threshold aren’t listed.
The best network for…
- A fixed price: giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and VOXI have no annual rise; iD Mobile has none on SIM only.
- Travel in Europe: O2 includes EU roaming up to 25GB; iD Mobile covers 50 destinations with 30GB. Compare roaming.
- No credit check: giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara, VOXI and Asda Mobile. See deals.
- Fewest complaints: EE, giffgaff and Vodafone, each with 1 complaint per 100,000 customers in Q1 2026.
The VodafoneThree merger
Vodafone and Three merged in 2025, and in May 2026 Vodafone agreed to buy CK Hutchison’s stake to become the sole owner. The brands are run separately for now, but Three, Vodafone, Talkmobile and iD Mobile customers are moving onto a shared network, with VOXI and SMARTY planned to follow.
Compare networks head to head
Popular comparisons: EE vs O2, Vodafone vs Three, giffgaff vs SMARTY, EE vs giffgaff and O2 vs SMARTY. All network comparisons.
FAQ
Common questions
Which UK network has the best coverage?
It depends on where you live and work. Check each network’s postcode checker for your home and workplace before you choose; all four have strong coverage in towns and cities.
Is giffgaff the same as O2?
It uses O2’s masts, so coverage is the same. Prices, extras, customer service and price-rise policy differ.
Which networks don’t raise prices every April?
giffgaff, SMARTY, Lebara and VOXI have no annual rise, and iD Mobile has none on SIM only plans.