The UK has four main mobile network brands – EE, O2, Vodafone and Three – but they are now controlled by just three companies. EE is owned by BT Group, O2 is part of Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone and Three are both owned by Vodafone Group.
In July 2026, Vodafone paid £4.3 billion to acquire CK Hutchison’s remaining 49% stake in VodafoneThree, taking full ownership of the combined business. Vodafone and Three continue to offer mobile plans under their separate brand names while work continues to integrate their networks.
Our network reviews
- EE review: the network that wins most independent tests, with the widest 5G availability and the richest extras, at a higher price.
- O2 review: the best overall coverage experience in Opensignal’s latest UK report, free EU roaming and a 5G+ rollout that is still spreading city by city.
- Vodafone review: the brand gaining most from the Three merger, with faster 5G than a year ago but the lowest 5G availability of the four.
- Three review: the fastest 5G speeds in the UK and a growing reach through shared masts with Vodafone.
Which network suits whom
- Choose EE if you want strong 5G availability, reliable day-to-day performance and a subscription bundled into your plan, and you can accept a premium price.
- Choose O2 if overall signal matters more than peak speed, or you travel in Europe often and want roaming included.
- Choose Vodafone or Three if you live where the combined network has already improved, want top 5G speeds in covered areas, or want a SIM-only plan with a lower annual rise.
- Think twice about any network until you have checked your own postcode. Ofcom’s free Map Your Mobile checker shows which networks reach your area and how each performs in your postal district.
Coverage, 5G and speeds
Opensignal’s January 2026 report covers 1 October to 29 December 2025 and is the latest full UK comparison. EE won 11 of the 15 awards, including reliability and consistent quality, while O2 won the award for overall coverage experience.
- Average download speed, all connections: EE offers 53.2Mbps, Three 51Mbps, Vodafone 37.5Mbps and O2 32.8Mbps.
- Average 5G download speed: Three leads with 187Mbps, then Vodafone at 130.9Mbps, EE at 92.2Mbps and O2 at 89.9Mbps.
- 5G availability: EE 77.4 per cent, O2 57 per cent, Three 38.9 per cent and Vodafone 29.6 per cent.
- Time connected to the network: Three 99.4 per cent, EE 99 per cent, O2 98 per cent and Vodafone 97 per cent.
Standalone 5G, which gives better uploads and lower latency, is branded 5G+ by EE and O2. By April 2026 EE’s 5G+ covered more than 50 million people across more than 610 towns and cities. O2 is switching it on town by town, with Tyne and Wear following in September 2026 and Bristol in October. VodafoneThree has pledged £11 billion over ten years and aims for 99 per cent standalone 5G population coverage by 2030.
Vodafone and Three customers can already use each other’s masts automatically at no extra cost. A report commissioned by Vodafone says this removed more than 16,500 square kilometres of not-spots by February 2026 and lifted 5G population coverage from 59 to 64 per cent for Vodafone and from 65 to 72 per cent for Three between May 2025 and March 2026. Treat those figures with care, as the sponsor supplied the brief.
EE, Vodafone and Three have closed their 3G networks, and O2 was the last to follow, finishing in early 2026. Coverage figures here are shares of the population, not of land area, so rural postcodes need a separate check.
Types of Mobile Plans Available in the UK
EE, O2, Vodafone and Three offer a range of mobile phone contracts, SIM-only deals, 30-day rolling plans and pay-as-you-go services. Data allowances, download speed limits and included extras vary between plans, so our reviews explain what each network offers.
Several smaller mobile providers use the same networks. giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile use O2, while VOXI and Talkmobile use Vodafone. SMARTY uses Three’s network, and BT Mobile uses EE. These providers generally share their host network’s coverage, although prices, data allowances, speed restrictions and additional benefits can differ. Comparing individual plans is therefore just as important as checking network coverage.
Annual Price Changes Across UK Mobile Networks
Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has required mobile networks to disclose any annual price increases in pounds and pence before customers sign a new contract. EE, O2, Vodafone and Three all apply fixed annual increases, although the amount depends on the network, plan and contract start date.
The following increases apply to newer mobile contracts:
- EE: £2.50 a month for SIM-only and airtime plans taken out from 31 July 2025, or £4 for handset plans from 10 September 2024. Prices increase each 31 March.
- O2: £2.50 a month for pay-monthly airtime plans, following changes introduced in October 2025. Data-only and smartwatch plans increase by 75p. The increases apply each April.
- Vodafone: £2.50 a month for standard pay-monthly and SIM-only plans taken out from 12 November 2025, or £1.50 for Vodafone Basics. Increases take effect on 1 April.
- Three: £1.80 a month for plans with up to 4GB of data, £1.90 for 5GB to 99GB, and £2.30 for 100GB or unlimited data. These rates apply to contracts from 9 November 2025, with increases each 1 April.
Older contracts can have different terms. Some EE, Vodafone and Three customers had inflation-linked increases based on CPI plus 3.9%, while older O2 contracts used RPI plus 3.9%. Under the Telecoms Consumer Charter, the major networks have agreed that April 2026 was the final inflation-linked increase for these older plans.
Customers cannot normally cancel without an early termination charge when an annual increase was clearly included in their contract. However, if a network raises prices beyond the agreed amount, customers must be given notice and the opportunity to leave without penalty.
Not every plan has an annual increase. EE has frozen prices for Mobile Basics and pay-as-you-go customers, while Vodafone excludes its social tariffs and customers registered as financially vulnerable from annual price rises. Handset finance payments on separate device agreements are generally unaffected by these airtime price increases.
Wi-Fi calling, 4G calling and eSIM
All four networks offer Wi-Fi calling and 4G calling on compatible phones, with no app and no charge beyond your normal minutes. All four also sell eSIM on contract plans. For pay as you go, O2, Three and Vodafone offer eSIM, while EE does not.
Roaming abroad
- O2: EU roaming is included, subject to a fair-use data limit.
- EE: £2.72 a day in Europe unless your plan includes roaming, which Essentials Plus, All Rounder and Full Works do.
- Vodafone: £2.57 a day unless you are on a plan that bundles roaming.
- Three: £2 a day on newer contracts.
Outside Europe, passes and included destinations differ widely, with EE’s Full Works plans and O2’s higher plans covering the most. Check the destination before you fly.
Extras and perks
EE offers a choice of subscription into its All Rounder and Full Works plans, such as Netflix, Apple Music, Apple One or TNT Sports. O2, Vodafone and Three run their own reward and bundle schemes, covered in their reviews.
Customer service and switching
Ofcom’s complaints figures for April to June 2026, reported in late October, list EE, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and iD Mobile as drawing the fewest pay monthly mobile complaints. O2 and Sky Mobile drew the most, with O2 mainly facing complaints about faults, service and connections.
To switch and keep your number, text PAC to 65075 and give the code to your new network. If you are still inside your minimum term, check the early termination charge first, and time the move for the end of your contract to avoid paying two bills.
FAQs
Are Vodafone and Three now the same company?
Yes. Both networks are owned by Vodafone Group following the merger. However, Vodafone and Three continue to offer separate mobile plans, SIM-only deals and customer services while their networks are gradually integrated.
Will my phone show a roaming symbol when using the shared Vodafone and Three network?
Normally, no. Your phone automatically connects to the available shared network coverage without additional roaming charges. You can continue using your existing SIM and mobile plan.
Have mobile prices increased since the Vodafone and Three merger?
The impact on prices remains disputed. Research commissioned by Vodafone found that SIM-only prices had remained broadly unchanged in real terms, while other analysis reported increases. Prices still vary between networks and individual plans.
Which UK mobile network offers the best coverage?
EE performed best overall in Ofcom’s October 2026 mobile performance findings, while O2 led Opensignal’s January 2026 overall coverage rankings. However, reception varies between locations. Check your postcode using Ofcom’s Map Your Mobile tool before choosing a network.
Are cheaper mobile networks as good as EE, O2, Vodafone and Three?
They can offer similar coverage because they use the same network infrastructure. However, download speeds, data allowances, roaming benefits and customer support may differ. A cheaper SIM-only deal can offer better value if it includes everything you need.