Which UK Mobile Network Is Best? Three vs EE vs O2 vs Vodafone
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
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In this video, we've explained which mobile network operator in the UK is best, based on 4G/5G coverage and speeds, value for money, customer service, roaming allowances, and other benefits.
We've compared Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone, as well as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) such as GiffGaff, Smarty, iD Mobile, Voxi, Tesco Mobile, Lyca Mobile, and Sky Mobile. We've looked at the particular strengths of each network, to explain what they do best compared to other providers.
Discover which mobile carrier you should choose for a new pay monthly phone or pay as you go SIM deal, based on your specific needs.
0:00 Introduction
0:25 UK mobile networks explained
1:51 Three
2:19 EE
3:07 O2
3:51 Vodafone
4:39 Which network is best?
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personally EE have always treated me well and had great customer service. and i have good 4/5g speeds basically everywhere in the midlands
Been 5 years with three and considering switching to EE as my partner never runs into coverage issues but with three I struggle with reception in the buildings like gym cinemas etc
Question, Are you using 4g or 5g phone? I’m with three and use a 4g phone and have the same problems as you but was wondering if it was my phone ?
@@NM-yg7kj 5G PHONE
Get an extra EE sim put onto your plan and you can gift your partner data for upto 100gb.
It is only 11 pounds a month.
I've been with 3 for over 16 years, but looking to switch due to persistent network issues in recent years.
Three is the worst network......he is bias as its the cheapest
People need to understand that, Every network is different in every area. For example in a certain town O2 will be better, but in another EE will be better. Remember Signal and Speeds also depend on The location (Coverage), the device, weather and more. But Overall across the UK, EE has the most network masts and are placed in very precise positions to give users a constant smooth connection.
Exactly. Doesn't matter if you are with a network that has 99% UK population coverage when your house is in the other 1%.
@@UnitedKingdom-ix6zk 💯
That's not true, all networks are bad where I live, see my comments
@@brythonicman3267 My comment is true, but in your case its different it could be that you live in a rural area or its just that theres not enough demand of people for telecoms to build a mast.
@@mazz2001 Well yes I live in a small village, but as I said in my previous post, it's only 7 miles from Lincoln city centre, so not exactly out in the sticks. Further more, my village is in a popular commuter belt amongst many other villages for commuting to Lincoln, Newark and Nottingham and as is the trend today, many people including myself who live in these out of town commuter belts work from home.
Yes I obviously have broadband, but many businesses still use mobile phone signals (for some reason) and Vodafone's network really hasn't thought about this, all they want is to make cheap money by investing in urban networks. I haven't changed to any other networks because they all have the same short sighted mentality.
I've been using Three for over ten years now, but Ive had enough now. I think they have the worst coverage. My contract ends next month. Ill be done with this shitty network for good and I'd like to suggest others not to join Three. Yr welcome.
Agree same with me they are popular as they cater to the low income and job seekers market and they are very affordable but it’s the worst network. You always pay for what you get in life…you can’t break the premise
@@Raj-ul9my When their 5G works its not that bad, its mostly the fact that they're oversubscribed by the dossers round here, so network masts become congested and slow.
I'm with Vodafone now, hopefully they don't adopt three's coverage...
I’ve recently switched to EE which has great coverage in my area
I use EE for calls and three for data and its an amazing combo. But moving to Vodafone for calls and back up data and three for data
If you are in London and you want decent signals and speeds is most places and constant smooth speeds while browsing on social media or even streaming live then I recommend EE. 99% of the time this network will give you the best service compared to any other.
This is coming from a person who has tested every network in the UK over the 10 Years straight.
In my testing EE now struggles in London find three to be a little better on connection and 5g speed
@@karlellisdon4k Three have vastly improved in the last year and a half but I have tested in the last few months in majority parts in london and EE still came on top, second place Three with Vodafone and O2 after. However I 100% agree that Three have been doing fantastic on 5G. But still overall you will find that EE gives a smoother experience.
3 is my pick it's a modern network with new B28 indoor penetrating coverage. No other network has B28 coverage like 3 and this is new so expect far better service these days
@@game-fk3ru Three is much better than before but EE still wins when it comes to connection and signal even penetrating through walls.
Been with three for 10+ years in London. Data speeds decent when you can get it but signal coverage woeful. Especially in shopping centres and confined spaces. Finally looking to jump ship.
EE has the best internet data but their customer service is quite pompous and arrogant so you would never get a great deal. Vodafone has better internet reception than o2 and three. Thats a fact but Vodafone is also expensive. I would tell people get three or smarty(owned by 3) and get a backup cheap sim with vodafone or EE just in case your main network is down. Do not pay more than £20 for any sim only deal. Its definitely not worth it.
We'd generally agree with that. Three's 5G is on average better than Vodafone's though.
I agree with you on b the Vodafone front. I has 3 contracts with 3. Cancelled the data plan as other 2 are mobile sim only monthly contacts till next year. I think I will go with Vodafone, depending on costs or try out SMARTY's monthly contract. I know they are tied to 3, but I can cancel easily if I'm unhappy with coverage.
I think you’re someone who I don’t want to know in life… a cheap scat judging services based on price……again u get what you pay for……u want crap cloths go to primark…..
Actually you can easily get a great deal with EE because their coverage is actually quite horrible in most places in and around the city.
All you gotta do is tell them that you always have coverage issues and you want a discount, they'll take off 50% off your bill for 3 months and you can just call every 3 months to get the same deal again and again.
I haven't paid EE a full months bill since 2021
Thanks for this it helped me can u also make video on the contract phones i m confused what this contract is and is it beneficial for any reason
Basically buying a contract phone is a way to get the device without paying a big upfront cost. Instead you commit to a 24 or 36 month contract for a certain monthly cost and a smaller upfront fee. At the end, you own the phone. You'll also get data/calls/texts included. Use greensmartphones.com to see what these contracts look like.
Since three hae started to used the B28 band indoor coverage is vastly better and it's widespread mixed with B20 which are both great. If you want the fastest speed, best 5G coverage and speed and great deals go with 3. Vodafone are also great in London only.
Three is the only network that has coverage where I live and work so I am kinda stuck with them.
EE seem to have a ‘signal’ everywhere but far too often I get 2 bars of 4g and literally can’t load a website or connect to WhatsApp. Now colloquially known as fake 4g
Three have been awful. Was with them for years, they kept saying it's the mast or something. Changed to 02. Not perfect but absolutely better.
People down here... I would suggest uh all should go for O2
Three is a disaster. No signal in central London.
I really distain Three but they are getting better. We just have to hope that 3 will overtake O2 in coverage
Visited uk this two week and three is horrible. I had three and couldn’t get service in leicester train station Liverpool street nor west field shopping center and Aldgate east station or in my Clayton city London hotell. Three internet not so fast in train stations. Three seem to be better in usa because it uses T-Mobile and version
I have been with EE a few times and I have had the worst experience with their customer service. I am currently with Voxi on a Payg SIM, but I am looking to get my first pay monthly contract for a Pixel 8. Which network though, I do not know at the moment. I have heard horror stories about Vodafone regarding contract cancellations, EE as detailed above, O2 I find to be slow on 4G speeds in my area, and Three I have never used before.
Three may be worth a shot, especially if you have any friends/family that use them and get good speeds in your area. Their prices are normally quite good on Google phones.
I am using lyca 1st months its good but it has bad network. Same area..thats y i watching this video
I’m in the market for a new contract. Currently with O2. However, Vodafone contracts (like for like) seem cheaper? What’s the catch?
Some Vodafone tariffs are speed limited, might be worth checking that.
You’ll find most providers have tariffs with different speed availability. The catch is you get what you pay for. EE are the most expensive because they have the most comprehensive service, most masts, most stores and most staff to support. EE also support the emergency services so it gives you an idea as to how wide spread their signal is. And yes if it wasn’t obvious, I work for them 😂
I switched to ID Mobile (Three Network) and ran into issues straight away. Decided to go with EE instead.
What issues did you experience with iD Mobile?
In my opinion Vodafone is well worth avoiding. The support seems to be non existent and after canceling you can get hit with charges they don't tell you about which you only find out if doing a credit reference check.
If you complain and persist they should refund however.
Vodafone is okay if you're in London or just want mainly calls as a priority
Lebara is the best and cheapest, the speed is 200mbps in my area, just for £9/month unlimited data sim calls
Lebara run on Vodafone works fine for me plus international minutes free 😮
Lyca best price but EE stops the data during the call, so it doesn't cannibalise EE. No Volts or Wifi calling on Lycamobile but great speed without calls
I have lyca and volts and wifi call works my friend 😂😊
Vodafone is horrendous. I live just 7 miles south east of Lincoln city centre. I've been here for 15 years and there is zero signal 99% of the time. You can't even get verification codes sent through without having to get into your car and drive 2 miles. Over the 15 years I've contacted Vodafone and they keep giving me the same bullshit every time I call. " We're working on making improvements to your area soon". Total bollocks they have no intention of doing anything. Its not as if I live miles out in the sticks, it's just 7 miles from a regional centre. Get a grip Vodafone and do what you say!
O2 has really really slow at 4G speeds. So today I have moved over to EE
Do your best to stay away from Three.
yep same here O2 slow where I live my partner is with EE and has great speed and coverage compared to my S23+ phone, Contacted EE and got a great SIM only deal, well worth contacting them and be persistent with them, also does help if you have any BT products. £9 pm for 10gb of data which is doubled to 20gb as I am with BT
Even 5g is very slow.
With three you need a newer phone supportjng B28/N28 which is the new 700 frequency. Without this your phone wont work well with three
I dont believe EE is any better than three especially in London. I would use three as a cheap main provider and use o2 as a back up sim if you travel a lot. The 5G network and coverage spread is likely better with three. They have also improved a lot lately!
Cheap cheap like your self
I hope the 3 and vodafone merger gets blocked, it'd be bad for everyone, higher prices and less competetion, plus ofcom would likely make them auction off some of the spectrum the 2 own if they merged
We agree. Also Three is generally quite good (although their customer service isn't perfect) - after a merger, Vodafone would own them, which might lead to worse service/prices.
Indeed. Healthy competition brings the most benefits to consumers.
Can I get 4G+ on Vodafone in Bristol uk
It depends on the exact area, but generally you should be able to.
3:52Vodafone has 5G in EU
Tried Lyca, Giffgaff and Three, none of them have network signal where i live, i turn airplane mode on i get a bar sometimes than is gone...all uk networks suck in the village side
Which is best for London
For 5G, Three is pretty good. Being in London mostly just means you don't need to consider 4G connectivity that much (why some people choose EE).
@@greensmartphones bro could you recommend any MVNO provider may i know which is better Lycamobile and Lebara
@@shyamsasi47 It depends which network has the best signal where you are. If Three is good near you, Smarty is an MVNO worth looking at.
Avoid using three
3 are rapidly improving. 2 years ago I wouldn’t have considered them but these days, I am thinking of switching. They’re putting 5G poles up in lots of places.
please don’t
Why don't⁉️... Whinge about Cancer and such, Karen⁉️.. 5G has been around in most Developed countries since 2018. And now,..7G is around in Norway 🇳🇴 , Netherlands 🇳🇱 , and Sth Korea 🇰🇷.
and its still crap
Ngl 5g poles are up in some places in London but they still continue to be so bad. 8 years with them, come to a point where I might be cancelling them
3 is brilliant. New signal band B28 has made it so good on recent times
Hi dear hope you’re very well.
Dear tomorrow i will come to GB from Dubai on a skill work visa.
I have few questions i believe you will guide me very well.
1: i need unlimited 5G Data sim with Unlimited Calls and Text to all networks.
2: also if possible international calls facility.
3: the network which work smoothly everywhere in GB.
Which Data Sim you strongly recommend to me ?
Will be waiting for your response,
Thanks
Regards
Three is the best choice in terms of price for an unlimited data/calls/texts SIM. You can pay them £5 extra per month to call international numbers. EE is the best in terms of coverage, but this isn't an issue unless you are regularly travelling to very remote areas.
@@greensmartphones thanks dear for your support and honest response
If I move my number to another network, will people who call me know about it?
No, the functionality will be the same once you transfer the number to a new network. It's easy to keep your number when switching.
@@greensmartphones Thanks a lot :)
Vodafone is the most awful network I ever dealt with. Vodafone keeps giving me poor speeds. I left for EE lol 😔
What about gifgaf?
They're OK but they use the O2 network, which has some limitations in terms of speeds.
Don't forget 3 is planning to merge with Vodafone but take note 2 shit firms together don't make a good one - but 3 is simply shite full stop
When they do that I'll switch to Smarty at the minute here 3s coverage is terrible
3 without doubt is the best value for money network and has excellent 5g speed and coversge similar to EE
O2 is wank! EE by far!
This is probably the most pointless comment section on all of CZcams 😂 I'm sure every single one of these networks has customers that hate their experience.. doesn't mean a lot 🤷🏼♂️
You have a point, to an extent - most people don't leave positive reviews either, which skews things. The best thing to do generally is do actual tests of the network in your area, such as using friends' phones, and use Ofcom data to assess how good a company's customer service is.
EE network is a terrible network
so what's the best network Vodafone?
I've found Vodafone and O2 have very good indoor coverage much better than EE or Three.@@benben4537
I've tried all over the last 5 years and three's 5G is brilliant but standard call coverage is worse than vodafone/o2, EE are very fast when they work, mainly rural but in cities and suburban areas I've found they are lacking in coverage compared to vodafone/O2.
At least EE, Vodafone and three are way way way better than O2.
@Brosgod7171true only o2 has horrible customer service so they added a chat customer service 😂😂😂😂😂 like bro
This is so true in some areas my data doesn't even work @Brosgod7171
To confirm
Vodafone and Three are NOT merging companies
They are merging masts for better coverage
Incorrect. The proposal is a new company that Vodafone owns 51% of and Three owns 49% of. Likely called Vodafone Three, like how Virgin Media and O2's merger is called Virgin Media O2.
@@greensmartphones the companies are staying separate
@@Davidvrjsullivan No they're not, they're planning a new entity that Vodafone owns 51% of and Three owns 49% of.
Tbh, I wish that was the case but it is not. 😢
They’re merging their operations. Both companies might still exist separately but they’re merging their operations thru a new entity. in substance, they’re merging.
Threeis the best network❤❤
You're delusional
In your dreams 😂