Last updated: Monday 2 November 2026
Is Three any good? For data-hungry users in towns and cities, mostly yes. As of 2 November 2026, Three’s cheapest big-data plan is 120GB for £8 a month for the first six months of a 24-month Lite contract, half its £16 price, with fixed rises each April, and unlimited data costs £22 a month on 24 months. Since Three joined Vodafone as VodafoneThree, Three and Vodafone customers on more than 10,000 shared sites now connect automatically to whichever network gives the better signal, according to VodafoneThree. The catches are the 24-month term, a price rise every April and patchier coverage in some rural areas. This SwitchSquid review covers prices, coverage, 5G, customer reviews and how Three compares with EE, Vodafone and O2. If you join through the buttons on this page, we may earn a commission; it does not change the price you pay.
Sources: Three SIM only plans, Three 24-month SIM plans, VodafoneThree network update, 26 May 2026, Three UK on Trustpilot, Vodafone H1 FY26 results and SMARTY, all checked on 2 November 2026.
The buttons on this page go to SMARTY, the low-cost brand that runs on Three’s network, because Three’s own plans can’t be bought through this page. SMARTY’s plans are one month at a time, with no annual price rises.
SMARTY 40GB for £7 a month on Three’s network
- 40GB for £7 a month on a one-month plan, down from £8, checked on 2 November 2026
- No code needed: the offer is applied on the page this button opens; no credit check and no annual price rises
- Main limitation: SMARTY is online only, and EU roaming has a 12GB fair use limit
Three Mobile review: the verdict
Area | Verdict |
|---|---|
Price | Good on big data. 120GB for £8 a month for six months on 24 months, half of £16; unlimited for £22 |
Price rises | Fixed rises every 1 April: £1.80 a month on plans of 4GB or less, £1.90 on 5GB to 99GB and £2.30 on 100GB or more |
Network | Three’s network, now shared with Vodafone on more than 10,000 sites, according to VodafoneThree |
5G | 5G at no extra cost on every plan; VodafoneThree says up to 50 million people can reach its fastest 5G speeds |
Extras | Three+ Rewards on all plans; roaming and Paramount+ depend on whether you pick Lite, Value or Complete |
Trustpilot | 4.6 out of 5 from 70,476 reviews, checked on 2 November 2026; many reviews are about in-store service |
Main limitation | Long 24-month contracts with a price rise each April |
What network does Three Mobile use?
Three runs its own mobile network. Its merger with Vodafone to form VodafoneThree completed on 31 May 2025, according to Vodafone’s results, and the two networks are being brought together. In its 26 May 2026 update, VodafoneThree said that up to 28.6 million Vodafone and Three customers were “automatically connecting to the best available coverage, at no extra cost”, using more than 10,000 shared sites, and that it had removed 16,500 square kilometres of 4G not spots.
In practice, that means a Three customer in an area where Vodafone’s signal is stronger may now be carried by Vodafone’s masts without doing anything. It does not mean the networks are identical everywhere yet: VodafoneThree describes this as the first phase of its network integration.
Several cheaper brands also run on Three’s network, including SMARTY. VodafoneThree said more than 7 million Three UK and SMARTY customers had seen faster 4G speeds after the spectrum was combined.
Why is Three so cheap?
Three has long competed on data rather than extras. Its Lite plans keep the price down by leaving out things like inclusive roaming, which you can add by choosing a Value or Complete plan instead. Three’s headline prices also often include a discount for the first six months, such as 120GB for £8 a month, half its £16 price, before the full price applies.
The other reason the headline looks low is the contract length. Most of Three’s cheapest prices are on 24-month plans, and every plan rises by a fixed amount each April. Always work out the full cost over the contract, not just the first month.
Three SIM only prices in November 2026
These are Three’s own prices on its SIM only page on 2 November 2026, on 24-month Lite plans with unlimited UK calls and texts and 5G at no extra cost.
Plan | Price a month | From 1 April 2027 | From 1 April 2028 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
25GB, 24 months | £7 for six months (half of £14) | £15.90 | £17.80 | Six months half price |
120GB, 24 months | £8 for six months (half of £16) | £18.30 | £20.60 | Six months half price |
Unlimited, 24 months | £22 | £24.30 | £26.60 | Speeds of up to 100Mbps on Lite; £20 with code 2OFF |
The April figures are full prices from Three’s plan details. If an April rise falls inside your six half-price months, Three shows the half-price amount for those months.
Three also sells 12-month and 1-month plans, and Value and Complete versions of each plan. Value adds inclusive roaming in 49 Go Roam in Europe destinations, while Complete adds roaming in more than 160 worldwide destinations and 12 months of Paramount+, according to Three’s 24-month SIM page.
Is Three 5G any good?
Three includes 5G at no extra cost on every plan, as long as you have a 5G phone and are in a 5G area. VodafoneThree says that up to 50 million people, around 71% of the UK population, can now reach its fastest 5G speeds, helped by sharing its C-band spectrum across both networks.
Two points keep that in proportion. First, “up to” figures describe where the fastest 5G is available, not the speed you will see in your street. Second, Three’s unlimited Lite plan is listed with speeds of up to 100Mbps. If you want to check before you commit, enter your postcode in Three’s coverage checker, or try a one-month SIM on the same network first.
Why is my Three network so poor?
If Three’s signal is weak where you are, there are a few common causes worth checking before you leave.
Coverage at your address. Three’s coverage checker shows indoor and outdoor coverage by postcode. Thick walls and rural locations can make a big difference indoors.
Network work or faults. Three’s network status page shows known problems and planned work in your area.
Phone settings. Turning Wi-Fi calling on helps indoors, and a restart or a new SIM can fix a SIM that is failing.
Plan speed limits. Lite unlimited plans are listed at up to 100Mbps, which is fine for streaming but slower than the network’s top speeds.
If the signal is still poor, Ofcom’s text-to-switch rules let you leave quickly. If you are still in contract, check your early exit charges first, and remember that VodafoneThree’s shared sites may improve coverage over time.
Three vs EE vs Vodafone vs O2
The UK has four mobile networks. Here is how they line up, so you can test coverage cheaply before you sign a long contract.
Network | Owned by | Cheaper brands on the same network | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
Three | VodafoneThree | SMARTY | Now shares sites with Vodafone; strong on data-heavy plans |
Vodafone | VodafoneThree | VOXI, Talkmobile | Shares sites with Three under the same company |
O2 | Virgin Media O2 | giffgaff | giffgaff gives O2 coverage without a credit check |
EE | BT Group | EE’s own plans | Check EE’s coverage checker for your postcode |
SMARTY is the easiest way to try Three’s network without a contract. On 2 November 2026 its offers through the buttons on this page were 40GB for £7 a month and 50GB for £8 a month, both on one-month plans you can cancel at any time. Over 24 months, SMARTY’s 50GB at £8 would cost £192 if the price stayed the same. Three’s 120GB plan gives far more data, but once the six half-price months finish its full price is £18.30 from April 2027 and £20.60 from April 2028. If you need more data, SMARTY’s 100GB plan was £10 a month through the button below.
SMARTY 50GB for £8 a month, one-month plan
- 50GB for £8 a month, £192 over 24 months if the price stays the same, checked on 2 November 2026
- No code needed: cancel or change at any time, eSIM available
- Main limitation: far less data than Three’s 120GB plan if you stream a lot
What are the downsides of Three?
April price rises. Every plan rises by a fixed amount each April, from £1.80 to £2.30 a month depending on the data.
Long contracts. The best prices are on 24-month plans, so you are committed for two years.
Introductory prices. Half-price offers last six months, then the plan returns to its full price.
Roaming costs extra on Lite. Inclusive roaming comes with Value and Complete plans.
Coverage varies. The shared network is still being built, so rural signal can be patchy.
How to switch to Three or SMARTY and keep your number
Check coverage. Use Three’s coverage checker for your home and work postcodes.
Get your PAC code. Text PAC to 65075 from your current phone. It is free.
Order your SIM or eSIM. Choose Three for a long contract, or SMARTY for a one-month plan on the same network.
Give your PAC to your new network. Your number usually moves within one working day, and your old contract ends when the switch completes.
For more Three plans, see our Three SIM only deals, our guide to Three deals for existing customers and Three phone deals. Seasonal offers are on our Black Friday SIM only deals page, and our SMARTY review covers the budget option.
Fit summary
Good for: heavy data users in towns and cities who are happy with a 24-month plan.
Good for: anyone who wants 5G at no extra cost and Three+ Rewards.
Consider alternatives if: you want no price rises, or you live where Three’s coverage is weak.
Consider SMARTY if: you want Three’s network on a one-month plan with no annual price rise.
Important conditions
Three’s prices rise each 1 April by £1.80, £1.90 or £2.30 a month, depending on the data allowance.
Half-price offers last for the first six months only.
The £20 unlimited price needs the code 2OFF, as shown on Three’s plan page.
5G needs a 5G phone and a 5G area.
SMARTY’s offers apply on the pages its buttons open; SMARTY lists a 12GB EU roaming fair use limit.
Prices were checked on Three’s and SMARTY’s websites on 2 November 2026 and can change.
Final decision card
Three is a good choice if its coverage is strong where you live and you want lots of data on a long contract. Budget for the April rises and the end of any half-price period. If you would rather avoid both, SMARTY gives you Three’s network on one-month plans with no annual price rises, from 40GB for £7 a month. Not sure which suits you? Ask Squid AI.
SMARTY 100GB for £10 a month, one-month plan
- 100GB for £10 a month, down from £12, on Three’s network, checked on 2 November 2026
- No code needed: no contract, no credit check and no annual price rises
- Main limitation: costs £2 a month more than 50GB, so only worth it if you use over 50GB
FAQ
Is Three a good network?
Three is a good network for data in towns and cities, and it now shares more than 10,000 sites with Vodafone, according to VodafoneThree. Coverage still varies in rural areas, so check your postcode first.
What network does Three Mobile use?
Three runs its own network, which is now part of VodafoneThree. On shared sites, Three and Vodafone customers connect automatically to whichever network gives the better signal.
Why is Three so cheap?
Three focuses on data rather than extras, and its cheapest Lite plans leave out inclusive roaming. Many headline prices are half price for six months on a 24-month contract, with a fixed rise each April.
Is Three 5G any good?
Three includes 5G at no extra cost, and VodafoneThree says up to 50 million people can reach its fastest 5G speeds. Your own speed depends on your location and plan, and Lite unlimited plans are listed at up to 100Mbps.
How much do Three’s prices go up in April?
Three’s prices rise every 1 April by a fixed amount. It is £1.80 a month on plans of 4GB or less, £1.90 on 5GB to 99GB and £2.30 on 100GB or more.
Is SMARTY the same as Three?
SMARTY runs on Three’s network and is part of the same group, but it sells one-month plans with no annual price rises. It suits people who want Three’s coverage without a long contract.
Can I keep my number if I move to Three?
Yes. Text PAC to 65075 to get a free code, give it to Three or SMARTY when you order, and your number usually moves within one working day.
