Three
Fastest 5G
193.8 Mbps
Hosts: Three, SMARTY, iD, Honest
Compare SIM & eSIM Providers in the UK
Independent 2026 ranking of every UK SIM and eSIM plan. 25 brands, 60+ active plans, prices verified weekly. Updated May 9, 2026 by Jules de Bruin.
Updated May 2026. The UK runs on four networks — EE, O2, Vodafone, Three — and prices are national. The cheapest mainstream SIM is spusu 5 GB at GBP 4.90/month; the cheapest unlimited is Lebara at GBP 22.50/month. Revolut Mobile bundles unlimited UK plus 20 GB EU/US roaming for GBP 12.50/month. London differs only on network performance — see the London overlay.
- table_view Comparison
- cell_tower Network quality
- subway London nuance
- tune Best for...
- menu_book How to switch
- help FAQ
Master Comparison — All UK Plans
26 plans · click any column header to sort · prices in GBP/month
| Provider | Data | Price | EU Roam | Network | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EE — 30 GB |
30 GB | GBP 16 | daily | EE | Claim Deal |
O2 — 10 GB |
10 GB | GBP 7 | 25 GB | O2 | Claim Deal |
| London 5G Pick O2 — 100 GB |
100 GB | GBP 12 | 25 GB | O2 | Claim Deal |
O2 — Unlimited |
∞ Unlimited | GBP 23 | 25 GB | O2 | Claim Deal |
| Social Tariff O2 — Essential |
10 GB | GBP 10 | UK only | O2 | Claim Deal |
Vodafone — 11 GB |
11 GB | GBP 7 | add-on | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Vodafone — Unlimited |
∞ Unlimited | GBP 16 | add-on | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
| Fastest 5G Three — 60 GB |
60 GB | GBP 8 | 20 GB | Three | Claim Deal |
giffgaff — 75 GB |
75 GB | GBP 10 | 5 GB | O2 | Claim Deal |
Tesco Mobile — 12 GB |
12 GB | GBP 9.50 | 20 GB | O2 | Claim Deal |
Sky Mobile — 40 GB |
40 GB | GBP 10 | add-on | O2 | Claim Deal |
VOXI — 80 GB |
80 GB | GBP 10 | add-on | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Talkmobile — 100 GB |
100 GB | GBP 8.95 | 20 GB | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
| Best Value Lebara — 50 GB |
50 GB | GBP 7.99 | 20 GB | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Lebara — Unlimited |
∞ Unlimited | GBP 22.50 | 20 GB | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Asda Mobile — 50 GB |
50 GB | GBP 7.95 | 15 GB | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Lyca — 50 GB |
50 GB | GBP 8 | 12 GB | EE | Claim Deal |
| Top Travel Pick 1pMobile — 50 GB |
50 GB | GBP 10 | 46 countries | EE | Claim Deal |
spusu — 80 GB |
80 GB | GBP 12.90 | 20 GB | EE | Claim Deal |
SMARTY — 100 GB |
100 GB | GBP 10 | 12 GB | Three | Claim Deal |
| Social Tariff SMARTY — Social Unlim. |
∞ Unlimited | GBP 12 | 12 GB | Three | Claim Deal |
iD Mobile — 80 GB |
80 GB | GBP 8 | 30 GB | Three | Claim Deal |
Honest Mobile — Unlim. |
∞ Unlimited | GBP 22.50 | 20 GB | Three | Claim Deal |
Talk Home — 50 GB |
50 GB | GBP 7.49 | 20 GB | EE | Claim Deal |
CMLink — 100 GB |
100 GB | GBP 15 | 20 GB | EE | Claim Deal |
| EU + US Roam | ∞ Unlimited | GBP 12.50 | 20 GB EU+US | Gigs / EE | Claim Deal |
Source: Operator pricing pages, verified May 2026 · Network performance differs in London — see the dedicated London overlay
Which UK Network Is Best in 2026?
There is no single best network — each leads on a different metric in Opensignal's January 2026 London report.
EE
Best consistency
80.4%
Hosts: EE, 1pMobile, spusu, Lyca, Revolut
O2
Highest 5G availability
77.8%
Hosts: O2, giffgaff, Tesco, Sky
Vodafone
Best reliability
916 pts
Hosts: Vodafone, VOXI, Talkmobile, Lebara, Asda
Source: Opensignal London Mobile Network Experience report, January 2026
London nuance — read the city overlay
UK SIM tariffs are national. London differs only on 5G coverage on the Tube, 5G availability, and Elizabeth line reach. EE, Three, Vodafone and VMO2 are all supported on the Underground.
Open London report arrow_forwardBest UK SIM by Use Case
Cheapest
Best UK SIM under GBP 10
spusu, 1pMobile, Talkmobile, Asda, Lebara, SMARTY ranked.
International
Best for calling abroad
Lebara, Lyca, CMLink, Talk Home compared.
EU Roaming
Best for EU roaming
After Brexit, who still includes free EU data?
London
Best for London commuters
Tube, Elizabeth line, and bus connectivity ranked.
London Hub
London SIM & eSIM overlay
Network performance, Tube coverage, postcode tips.
eSIM How-to
Get an eSIM in London today
Heathrow, central shops, and online activation in 5 min.
UK Head-to-Heads
How Do I Get a UK SIM or eSIM?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mobile network is best in the UK in 2026?expand_more
It depends on your priority. Three leads 5G download speed at 193.8 Mbps. EE leads consistent quality at 80.4%. O2 leads 5G availability at 77.8%. Vodafone leads reliability.
What is the cheapest SIM-only deal in the UK?expand_more
In May 2026 the cheapest mainstream entry is spusu 5 GB at GBP 4.90/month, followed by Talkmobile 5 GB at GBP 4.95 and Lebara 3 GB at GBP 4.49. SMARTY 15 GB at GBP 6 is the cheapest with mid-tier data.
Are SIM prices different in London vs the rest of the UK?expand_more
No. UK SIM-only tariffs are national. London differs only in network performance, 5G availability, Underground coverage, and shop access.
Does my UK SIM work on the London Underground?expand_more
Increasingly yes. TfL has rolled out 4G and 5G across sections of the Circle, District, Central, Jubilee, Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Victoria and Northern lines, plus the entire Elizabeth line. EE, Three, Vodafone and VMO2 are all supported.
What is Revolut Mobile?expand_more
Revolut Mobile is a UK eSIM-first plan on the Gigs platform — GBP 12.50/month for unlimited UK plus 20 GB EU/US roaming, cancel-anytime. Speed capped at 100 Mbps.