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Some networks keep things simple when it comes to smartphone plans – but not EE. The network offers essentially four different types of plan that you can get with a new phone, on SIM-only, or with a connected device.
That’s no bad thing as it means you have more options and can find the perfect fit, but it does mean the network’s offerings take some explaining.
That’s where this guide comes in. Below, we’ll talk you through the four plan types on offer, namely Essentials plans, All Rounder plans, Full Works for Android plans, and Full Works for iPhone plans. Then, at the end we’ve compared them all directly, so you can see at a glance how they stack up – and which one is right for you.
What are Essentials plans?
- Up to unlimited data
- Unlimited minutes and texts
- Up to 100Mbps
- Stay connected if your data runs out
- Six-month Apple subscriptions thrown in
Essentials plans are EE’s most basic plan type, and as such they come with fewer extras than the others.
The biggest limitation with these is that data tops out at 100Mbps, so in other words they can’t take advantage of the full potential speed of 5G – though 100Mbps is still very fast.
Some extras are included too, such as Stay Connected – a feature which allows you to continue using data at speeds of 0.5Mbps when you’ve used up your allowance. So you’ll never truly run out of data, you’ll just be limited to very low speeds once you use it up – until your allowances reset, you buy a data add-on, or are gifted data.
Plus, at the time of writing you also get a six-month subscription to Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade and Apple News Plus with these plans. These are quite significant perks for the most basic plan to offer.
What are All Rounder plans?
- Up to unlimited data
- Unlimited minutes and texts
- Unrestricted 5G
- 1 Smart Benefit
- Upgrade Anytime
- Stay connected if your data runs out
All Rounder plans are EE’s middle option, and might well prove to be the most popular. These come with unrestricted speeds, so you can make the most of EE’s 5G network.
On top of that, they also come with a choice of ‘Smart Benefit.’ These are a selection of inclusive subscriptions and other perks, which you can choose one of for the duration of the plan. The current selection is as follows:
Netflix, Apple Music, BT Sport, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft 365, a Roam Abroad Pass (letting you roam in numerous countries at no extra cost), or an Entertainment Data Pass (letting you stream video and music from a number of services without it coming out of your data allowance).
All Rounder plans also come with Stay Connected, just like Essentials plans do, so you can keep on using data at a reduced speed when your allowance runs out.
Plus, if you get a Pay Monthly handset plan then you’ll also get Upgrade Anytime, which allows you to upgrade to a new smartphone at almost any point in your contract – from 15 days in to 45 days before the end. However, there will be a fee to upgrade if you’re still in the first year of your plan.
What is a Full Works for Android plan?
- Unlimited data
- Unlimited minutes and texts
- Unrestricted 5G
- 3 Smart Benefits
- Upgrade Anytime
Full Works for Android is one of EE’s two top plans, along with Full Works for iPhone, which we’ll get to below.
With a Full Works for Android plan, you get to choose three Smart Benefits from the same selection as All Rounder plans, listed above. You also get the Upgrade Anytime perk if you buy a handset on one of these plans.
Stay Connected isn’t included, but currently Full Works plans all come with unlimited data, so it also isn’t needed. Of course, data speeds are also unrestricted.
What is a Full Works for iPhone plan?
- Unlimited data
- Unlimited minutes and texts
- Unrestricted 5G
- Inclusive roaming
- Apple One
- Upgrade Anytime
A Full Works for iPhone plan is actually somewhat different to a Full Works for Android plan, despite the similar name. Though both plans include unrestricted data speeds, Upgrade Anytime (if you get a smartphone) and – currently – unlimited data.
Where they differ is in the Smart Benefits, as with a Full Works for iPhone plan you don’t choose your own, but you functionally get more, as it includes both a Roam Abroad pass and Apple One, which itself comes with subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud Plus storage.
How do EE’s plans compare?
| Essentials | All Rounder | Full Works for Android | Full Works for iPhone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max data | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Max minutes and texts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Max speed | 100Mbps | Uncapped 5G | Uncapped 5G | Uncapped 5G |
| Inclusive roaming? | No | Yes, optionally | Yes, optionally | Yes |
| Other perks | Stay Connected, 6-month Apple subscriptions | 1 Smart Benefit, Stay Connected, Upgrade Anytime | 3 Smart Benefits, Upgrade Anytime | Apple One, Upgrade Anytime |
As you can see, the main reason to pick an All Rounder or Full Works plan over an Essentials one is that you get uncapped data speeds. You also get a range of additional possible perks – including inclusive roaming.
However, these plans also therefore come at a higher cost, so if you don’t need the top speeds of 5G and won’t be roaming a lot, then an Essentials plan is worth considering. You can still get unlimited minutes, texts and optionally data, and you still get a taste of some subscriptions through it, they just don’t last as long.
For the ultimate smartphone plan though, you’ll have to go for a Full Works one. These are packed full of extras and arguably have the top plans from rival networks beat.
