Networks like Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY and Superdrug piggyback on Three’s network for coverage.
In the UK, it also possible to access a Three mobile signal when you’re using a SIM card from Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY and Superdrug Mobile. This is because they piggyback on Three’s mobile network coverage.
In this article, we’ll look at the mobile networks that offer coverage from Three. We’ll look at the best value deals with 4G and 5G coverage from Three, including SIM-only and unlimited data plans. We’ll also look at each mobile network in more detail, including the specific features and benefits they offer.
Three Coverage: | 99% UK population coverage |
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Networks Using Three: | |
5G Coverage: |
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Best Unlimited Data Plan: |
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Contents
Overview Of Networks Using Three
Besides Three themselves, there are also four other mobile networks that will give you access to Three’s coverage. These networks are Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY and Superdrug Mobile.
If you’re using one of these four mobile networks, you’ll have access to the same coverage as customers on Three. However, you might have different features included on your plan such as eco-friendly extras, greater flexibility or additional loyalty card points.
The following table shows a side-by-side comparison of mobile networks that use coverage from Three:
Mobile Network | Plans From | Three Coverage | Key Features |
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Honest Mobile | £12.15/month | 4G & 5G |
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iD Mobile | £6/month | 4G & 5G | |
SMARTY | £6/month | 4G & 5G |
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Superdrug Mobile | £10/month | 4G |
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Three | £5/month | 4G & 5G |
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At present, you’ll only be able to access Three’s 5G network if you’re using a plan from Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY or Three. You’ll be limited to 3G and 4G coverage if you’re using Superdrug Mobile.
SIM Only Plans
If you’re looking for a cheaper SIM-only deal with coverage from Three, it’s worth considering Three’s hidden SIM-only plans. Starting from £5 per month, the hidden plans have a lower monthly price or an increased data allowance compared to what you’ll get if you choose a plan that’s listed on Three’s website.
Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
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| 3GB data | £5.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1 | See deal |
| 3GB data | £5.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1 | See deal |
| 12GB data | £6.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.25 | See deal |
| 40GB data | £8.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.25 | See deal |
| 60GB data | £10.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.25 | See deal |
| 60GB data | £10.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.25 | See deal |
| 120GB data | £12.00 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.50 | See deal |
| 120GB data | £12.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.50 | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.50 | See deal |
In addition, it’s also possible to consider the plans from other low-cost providers such as iD Mobile and SMARTY. You won’t get Three’s normal customer benefits such as access to the Three+ app, but you’ll have access to the same underlying coverage on your phone:
Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
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| 10GB data | £6.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| 30GB data | £7.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| 50GB data | £8.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| 120GB data | £10.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £15.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
You can compare the full range of available SIM-only deals using our interactive comparison tool.
Unlimited Data Plans
If you’re looking for an unlimited data plan with coverage from Three, this is currently available from just £15 per month. The following table shows your available options:
Network | Data | Monthly Cost | |
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| Unlimited data | £15.00 per month 1 month contract | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £16.00 per month 1 month rolling | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £20.00 per month 24 month contract Monthly cost will rise each April by £1.50 | See deal |
| Unlimited data | £22.50 per month 12 month contract Monthly cost will drop by 5% each year | See deal |
You’ll be limited to 4G speeds if you’re using an unlimited data plan from Superdrug Mobile. Meanwhile, Honest Mobile offers up to 5G speeds on the first 650GB per month (beyond this, you’ll be restricted to 3G speeds).
For more information, see our full guide to unlimited data plans in the UK.
Pay As You Go Plans
If you’re looking for a Pay As You Go plan, you currently have the following options if you’re looking for coverage from Three:
- Three offers Data Pack bundles on Pay As You Go, with prices starting from £10/month. Alternatively, you can pay 10p/minute, 10p/text and 5p/MB without a bundle. They also offer a Data Reward SIM card with charges of 3p/minute, 2p/text and 1p/MB.
- iD Mobile offers Pay As You Go bundles with £6/month.
In addition, you can get a one-month rolling plan with no credit check required on Honest Mobile, SMARTY and Superdrug Mobile.
For more information, see our guide to the best Pay As You Go SIM cards in the UK.
Mobile Networks Using Three Coverage
In the following section, we’ll look in a little more detail at each of the mobile networks that offers coverage from Three.
Honest MobileIf you’re looking for an ethical provider, Honest Mobile promises to remove the carbon footprint of your phone, two times over. They also offer a loyalty discount of up to 30% on their plans, along with an app that has real-time usage updates and controls. At present, you can get a one-month rolling plan from £13.50 per month on Honest Mobile. This comes with access to Three’s 4G and 5G network coverage.
If you commit to a 12-month plan, you’ll get a 10% discount on the above price. This would bring, for instance, the 4GB data plan down to £12.15 per month.
For more information, see our Honest Mobile review. |
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iD MobileIn the UK, iD Mobile is the budget mobile network from Currys Mobile (previously known as the Carphone Warehouse). iD Mobile offers 4G and 5G coverage from Three on a range of SIM-only plans starting from £6 per month:
You’ll get data rollover included on all iD Mobile price plans, along with bill capping and inclusive roaming in 50 destinations. It’s also possible to get an unlimited data plan on iD Mobile.
For more information, you can read our iD Mobile review. |
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SMARTYSMARTY is a low-cost sub-brand of Three, offering price plans from £6 per month without the need for a contract or credit check. On SMARTY, you’ll get access to Three’s 4G & 5G network. You’ll also get unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and a choice of data plans from 2GB per month to fully unlimited data:
In particular, SMARTY’s unlimited data plan tends to be a popular choice. Costing £16 per month, it’s one of the best value ways of getting unlimited data with no contract and no credit check. The following table shows the key things to know about SMARTY:
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Superdrug MobileIf you’d like to earn some additional Superdrug Health & Beautycard points, you can get a Superdrug Mobile SIM card with 4G coverage from Three. Available with no contract and no credit check, you’ll get the cost of your first month’s plan back in Superdrug Health & Beautycard points (e.g. you’ll get £20 back if you choose the £20 unlimited data plan). You’ll also earn double points on all of your shopping at Superdrug for as long as you remain a Superdrug Mobile customer.
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ThreeIt’s also possible to get a SIM-only plan directly on Three for as little as £5 per month. The advantage of going directly to Three is that you’ll get 5G at no extra cost. You also won’t have any download speed limits on Three. As a Three customer, you’ll also benefit from access to Three+ rewards app which comes with a range of inclusive discounts and offers. You’ll also be able to roam in 71 destinations for a fixed daily charge with the Go Roam Around The World service. As a new customer, you can save money by choosing one of Three’s hidden SIM-only deals:
It’s also possible to use Three on a Pay As You Go basis (either with a Data Pack bundle or with a Data Reward SIM card).
For more information, see our Superdrug Mobile review. |
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Other NetworksThere are also a number of a specialist mobile networks offering coverage from Three:
Until 2019, The People’s Operator (TPO Mobile) offered coverage from Three. |
Compare Three Coverage Deals
If you’d like to compare all of the SIM-only deals using coverage from Three, you can use the following interactive comparison tool.
Start by choosing how much data you’d like, followed by the contract length you’d be happy to sign up for, and the networks you’re considering. You’ll then be shown a list of available deals that match your criteria.
If you’d also like to compare deals using a different coverage provider, see our full guide to SIM-only deals in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses the Three network? | In the UK, the following mobile networks offer coverage from Three:
Alongside these, there are a number of niche mobile networks using coverage from Three. These include FreedomPop and Gamma Mobile. |
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Will I get the same coverage on another network that piggybacks on Three? | If you’re using a mobile network that piggybacks on Three for coverage, you’ll have access to the same 3G and 4G coverage as customers on Three.
In addition, you’ll have access to Three’s 5G network if you’re using a SIM card from Honest Mobile, iD Mobile or Three. |
Which mobile networks offer 5G coverage from Three? | At present, you can access Three’s 5G network on plans from the following providers:
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What coverage does Three offer in the UK? | Three currently offers the following coverage in the UK:
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More Information
For more information, read our full guide on Three’s network and coverage. You can also read our in-depth reviews of Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, SMARTY Mobile and Superdrug Mobile.
Grahame Thomson said:
We are currently in Gozo, Malta and have been unable to connect to 3 since yesterday lunch time….we purchased a 12 gb bundle on Thursday and currently c9 gb left….all we get when we try to connect is cannot connect to server try again later. Seriously not impressed with the service. I do hope our month will be extended by this delay.