Compare Unlimited data is great because you never need to worry about overspending or running out of data as you endlessly use up gigaloads of the stuff. Below you’ll find details of all the networks offering it, along with any fair usage policies they have.
| Table of Contents |
Networks offering unlimited data
Unlimited data is currently available on 13 networks in the UK, which include BT Mobile, EE, GiffGaff, iD Mobile, Lebara Mobile, Lycamobile, O2, Smarty, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and VOXI.
Different networks have different restrictions and unique selling points, so it’s worth getting fully up to speed before choosing an unlimited data plan.
We have handpicked some of the best value unlimited data SIM deals below, all of which have no speed restrictions.
|
Three |
12 Month Plan Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£16 a month |
| 5G plan with no speed restrictions | ||
|
iD Mobile |
12 Month Plan Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£16 a month |
| 4G plan with no speed restrictions | ||
|
Smarty |
1 Month Plan Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£20 a month |
| 4G plan with no speed restrictions | ||
|
Vodafone |
12 Month Plan Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£33 a month |
| 5G plan with no speed restrictions | ||
|
O2 |
18 Month Plan Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£33 a month |
| 5G plan with no speed restrictions | ||
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Three
Three offers truly unlimited data on SIM Only, Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go phone plans, as well as unlimited Mobile Broadband plans.
There are no speed restrictions on Three's unlimited data plans, and you can tether as much data as you like. All plans are also 5G ready at no extra cost, so you can enjoy superfast speeds when 5G comes to your area.
| Pay Monthly contracts | ||
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
12 Month Plan |
£16 a month |
|
24 Month Plan |
£10 a month 6 months half price |
|
|
1 Month Plan |
£24 a month |
|
| Pay As You Go | ||
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
Pay As You Go Lasts for 30 days |
£35 |
|
Pay As You Go Lasts for 90 days |
£90 |
|
| All plans include 5G at no extra cost, Worldwide roaming in 71 destinations and unlimited tethering | ||
Three Unlimited Data SIM PlansData roaming also comes at no extra cost on all plans and covers 71 worldwide destinations in Europe and beyond. Data roaming on Three is limited to 20GB in Go Roam In Europe destinations and 12GB in Go Roam Around The World destinations.
At the time of writing there is no fair usage policy for unlimited data on Three. The network used to mention a 1000GB monthly soft cap (which is still far more than most people would ever use), but reference to this has been removed.
- Related reading: Three Coverage and Network Review
Vodafone
Vodafone also offers unlimited data SIM Only and phone plans including the option for unlimited 5G data.
A choice of 3 plan types are available, each of which offers different maximum download speeds.
Unlimited Lite plans offer max download speeds of 2Mbps (fast enough to browse and stream music), Unlimited plans offer speeds up to 10Mbps (fast enough to stream HD video), and Unlimited Max plans offer the maximum available speeds with no restrictions, and in reality are the only ones able to benefit from 5G speeds.
|
Unlimited Lite plans Max download speed 2Mbps |
||
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
24 Month Plan |
£11 a month 6 months half price |
|
12 Month Plan |
£24 a month |
|
|
1 Month Plan |
£36 a month |
|
|
Unlimited plans Max download speed 10Mbps |
||
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
24 Month Plan |
£13 a month 6 months half price |
|
12 Month Plan |
£28 a month |
|
|
1 Month Plan |
£40 a month |
|
|
Unlimited Max plans Fastest available speeds |
||
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
24 Month Plan |
£15 a month 6 months half price |
|
12 Month Plan |
£33 a month |
|
|
1 Month Plan |
£45 a month |
|
| Pay As You Go | ||
|
Pay As You Go Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
Pay As You Go Lasts for 30 days |
£50 |
| All plans include 5G, roaming Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
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Vodafone Unlimited data SIM PlansTethering is included and you can use up to 25GB of data per month when roaming in 51 European countries. On Unlimited Max plans free roaming is extended to a total of 81 countries, not all of which are in Europe.
There is also the option to add an Entertainment bundle to the 12 or 24-month Unlimited and Unlimited Max plans for an extra £7 per month, which gives you a choice of a subscription to Amazon Prime, Spotify Premium, or YouTube Premium for the duration of the contract. Entertainment packages are also available on Pay Monthly with a handset.
Vodafone now also has an unlimited Pay As You Go plan, which costs £50 a month. It’s a 5G plan that comes with roaming in 51 European countries (with a 25GB monthly roaming limit), and you will also get VeryMe Rewards – which include things like free movie rentals and tasty treats.
- Related Reading: Vodafone Coverage and Network Review
O2
O2 was the last of the major networks to begin offering unlimited data, but unlimited data is now available on SIM Only and Pay Monthly handset plans.
There are no speed restrictions and all of O2's unlimited plans come with 5G data included.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
18 Month Plan |
£33 a month |
|
12 Month Plan |
£35 a month |
|
| Both plans include 5G, roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
O2 Unlimited data SIM PlansFree data roaming in Europe has a 25GB limit per month, however some plans also let you roam further afield. Plans also include unlimited tethering, so you can share internet with other devices over a personal hotspot.
O2’s fair usage policy states that you shouldn’t use 650GB of data twice within a six month period, or regularly tether 12 or more devices.
- Related reading: O2 Coverage and Network Review
EE
EE offers unlimited data plans on SIM Only and with Pay Monthly phones.
EE offers two unlimited data SIM plans, which are on 24-month contracts. Both plans come with 5G data, and a 50GB roaming allowance in 48 European countries, with the main difference between them being whether you get 1 or 3 Smart Benefits included.
Smart Benefits currently available to choose from on the plan that comes with 1 are Apple Music, Amazon Prime Video, BT Sport Ultimate, BritBox, and Roam Further Pass, while the plan with 3 benefits (designed for iPhone customers) has the options of Apple TV Plus and Apple Arcade in place of Prime Video and BritBox.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
18 Month Plan Includes 5G data + 1 Smart Benefit |
£37 a month |
|
24 Month Plan Includes 5G data + 3 Smart Benefits |
£41 a month |
|
| Both plans include roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
EE Unlimited data SIM PlansThose who have multiple plans on their account can also gift up to 100GB of data per month to another EE plan (or 120GB if you have a Smart handset plan), which is good for those with children who run out of data.
There is a small premium to pay for choosing EE, but the network offers higher average speeds and has more widespread coverage than its rivals. There are some slight fair usage terms though, which you can see in the chart at the end of this article.
- Related Reading: EE Coverage and Network Review
Smarty
Smarty, which uses Three's network, offers a great value unlimited data SIM plan which comes with no speed or tethering restrictions.
Smarty's unlimited plan is a 1-month rolling plan that comes with 4G included, but you will not currently get access to 5G as you would on Three – though this is planned to happen in the future.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
1 Month Plan |
£20 a month |
| Includes roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
Smarty Unlimited SIM PlanCurrently, Smarty only offers SIM only plans, so no unlimited Pay Monthly phones or Mobile Broadband plans are available.
Data roaming is limited to 20GB per month and you can only roam for free in 35 European destinations, which is another key difference with Three's plans, as these include roaming in 71 worldwide destinations.
- Related Reading: Smarty Mobile Review and Coverage
iD Mobile
iD Mobile, which uses the Three network and is owned by Carphone Warehouse, now offers an unlimited data plan on a 12-month SIM Only contract, or as part of a 24-month handset plan.
Roaming abroad in 50 European countries is included and you can also tether as much data as you like. When roaming there’s a fair usage policy applies which states that if you spend more time abroad in a 4-month period than in the UK you may be asked to prove you have strong ties to the UK.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
12 Month Plan |
£16 a month |
| Includes roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
iD Mobile Unlimited SIM planUnlike Three's unlimited plans, iD Mobile's unlimited plan is not currently 5G ready, so you will only be able to enjoy 4G speeds. At the current time iD Mobile does not specify a fair usage policy with regards to data usage in the UK.
- Related reading: iD Mobile Review and Coverage
VOXI
VOXI, which is a network run and owned by Vodafone, is now offering a 5G unlimited data plan that’s been branded Endless Data.
Importantly, VOXI's unlimited data plan comes with 5G as standard and has no speed restrictions. Tethering is also included so you can share data over a personal hotspot, and you also get free roaming in Europe (up to 25GB per month).
Overall, VOXI's unlimited data plan is a slightly more affordable alternative to Vodafone, and it comes with ultimate flexibility, as there is no contract, meaning you can leave at any time.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
1 Month Plan |
£30 a month |
| Includes 5G, roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
VOXI Unlimited SIM plan- Related reading: VOXI Network and Coverage Review
Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile, which uses O2's network, offers unlimited data on both SIM Only and Pay Monthly, and on both 4G and 5G plans (but at the time of writing 5G doesn’t come as standard, so make sure you’re on a 5G plan if you want it).
The plans are available in 12 or 18-month varieties on SIM Only, or variable lengths with a handset, and they also include 5,000 minutes and texts. You can also roam for free in Europe and tether.
|
Unlimited 4G data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
18 Month Plan |
£28 a month |
|
Unlimited 5G data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
12 Month Plan |
£30 a month |
| Includes roaming in Europe and tethering | ||
- Related reading: Tesco Mobile Review and Coverage
Lebara Mobile
Lebara (which runs off Vodafone’s infrastructure) offers a 30-day SIM Only plan that comes with unlimited 4G data, minutes, and texts.
The network additionally lets you roam for free across the EU and use your data to tether, but the big selling point if you also get unlimited international calling to 41 countries, including Australia, United States, Canada, India, New Zealand, China and many more.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts + Unlimited international minutes |
1 Month Plan |
£17.50 a month 3 months half price |
| Includes roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
-
Related reading: Lebara Mobile Review and Coverage
Giffgaff
Giffgaff, which use O2's network, offers an unlimited data goodybag (add-on) with 4G data, or a golden goodybag (add-on) with unlimited 5G data included. They can both be purchased on SIM Only or with a mobile phone.
There are some restrictions with the 4G plan, with only the first 80GB of use per month being at full 4G speeds. After that speeds are capped at 384kbps between 8am and midnight, which is quite slow. You can tether, but the same speed restrictions apply.
The 5G plan has no such speed restrictions, but there is a fair usage policy stating that you shouldn't use more than 650GB a month, or tether with 12 or more devices at once.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
4G Plan * speeds restricted after 80GB use |
£25 a month |
| 5G Plan |
£35 a month |
|
| Includes roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
GiffGaff Unlimited Data GoodybagFree roaming meanwhile is fully capped at 20GB per month on both plans and the only way to use your data beyond Europe is to pay for the roaming data separately.
- Related reading: GiffGaff Review and Coverage
Lycamobile
Lycamobile, which uses O2's network, has launched unlimited data plans, and these also give you unlimited minutes and texts.
One of these plans gives you unlimited data at 4G speeds, one does the same while also giving you unlimited international minutes to dozens of locations, while on a third plan speeds are capped after the first 9GB of usage per month to just 128kbps, which is only around 5-10% of normal 4G speeds. You also cannot tether on Lycamobile.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
Pay As You Go |
£20 a month |
Lycamobile Unlimited Data SIM- Related reading: Lycamobile Review and Coverage
BT Mobile
BT Mobile, which shares a network with EE, is offering an unlimited data SIM plan, but only to BT Halo customers (previously called BT Plus).
The plan is available in a 12-month or 24-month flavour, and includes unlimited minutes and texts. It also includes tethering and free roaming in Europe. As part of the package you also get an unlimited home phone plan worth £12 a month. The plan also includes 5G.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
24 Month Plan |
£20 a month |
| 12 Month Plan |
£25 a month |
|
| Includes unlimited home phone plan worth £12, roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
- Related reading: BT Mobile Review and Coverage
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile, which uses EE's network, also offers unlimited data, but only to customers who have Virgin TV or Virgin broadband.
That makes it quite restrictive, but if you fit into that camp then it is truly unlimited, now includes 5G and comes in at a competitive price.
|
Unlimited data Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts |
12 Month Plan (for Virgin TV or Broadband customers only) |
£25 a month |
|
24 Month Plan (for Virgin TV or Broadband customers only) |
£20 a month |
|
| Includes roaming in Europe and unlimited tethering | ||
You also get unlimited data for tethering – or at least, according to a customer service agent we spoke to you do, however at the time of writing there is no confirmation of this on Virgin Mobile’s website.
However, unlimited data is not available on mobile broadband plans. There are also restrictions when roaming. This cap changes though, so for an up to date figure, use Virgin Mobile’s fair use calculator.
- Related reading: Virgin Mobile Review and Coverage
What about the other UK networks?
The other UK networks currently do not offer unlimited data. However, many do have high data limits which you can see in the table below.
|
Operator |
Max data |
Tethering |
Roaming |
|---|---|---|---|
|
FreedomPop |
4GB |
4GB |
N/A |
|
Plusnet Mobile |
22GB |
22GB |
15GB |
|
Sky Mobile |
25GB |
25GB |
25GB |
|
Asda Mobile |
15GB |
15GB |
15GB |
|
Ctrl Mobile |
30GB |
30GB |
30GB |
|
Talkmobile |
100GB | 100GB | 100GB |
FreedomPop
FreedomPop has a range of SIM Only plans offering up to 4GB of data. You can use this data to tether if you also subscribe to its Premier service.
The network doesn’t currently offer any Pay Monthly, Pay As You Go or mobile broadband plans, and you can’t roam on any of its current plans. All plans come with 4G speeds as standard.
Plusnet Mobile
Plusnet Mobile only has SIM Only plans and these come with up to 22GB of data (though it tops out at 20GB if you are not a Plusnet broadband customer) at the time of writing.
You can use any or all of this for tethering and up to 15GB for free roaming. 4G is included as standard, but there’s no 5G.
Sky Mobile
Sky Mobile offers both Pay Monthly and SIM Only plans and these include up to 25GB of monthly data. You can use as much of this as you want for tethering or roaming. Sky Mobile also supports 5G.
Asda Mobile
Asda Mobile’s SIM Only plans come with up to 15GB of data, all of which can be used for tethering. You can also Pay As You Go.
The network offers standard 4G speeds and provides free EU roaming.
Ctrl Mobile
Ctrl Mobile briefly offered an unlimited data plan, but that is no longer available, with the maximum available data now being 30GB a month. EU roaming is included.
Talkmobile
Talkmobile offers SIM Only plans with up to 100GB of data, and you can use this to tether and roam.
Is unlimited data unlimited?
Yes, in most cases unlimited data really means unlimited.
Most networks do have a fair usage policy, but they are only in place to identify commercial or illegal usage. Therefore, those using the plans for personal usage don't need to worry about them.
However, you should note that some networks implement speed restrictions on unlimited plans. You can view any restrictions or significant fair usage policy for each network in the table below.
These were up to date to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing, but it’s always worth checking with a network directly if in doubt. Also note that where there’s ‘none’ listed, it’s still likely that the network doesn’t allow commercial use.
|
Network |
Restrictions |
|
Three |
None |
|
Smarty |
None |
|
O2 |
Fair usage policy of 650GB per month and maximum 11 tethering devices at once |
|
EE |
Fair usage policy of 600GB per month and maximum 11 tethering devices at once |
|
Vodafone |
Speeds restricted on Unlimited Lite (2Mbps) and Unlimited (10Mbps) plans |
|
iD Mobile |
None |
|
BT Mobile |
BT Halo customers only |
|
Lebara Mobile |
None |
|
Giffgaff |
Speed restrictions after 80GB on 4G plan, fair use policy of 650GB per month |
|
Lycamobile |
Tethering not permitted and on some plans speeds restricted to 128kbps after 9GB usage |
|
Tesco Mobile |
None |
|
Virgin Mobile |
Existing Virgin Media customers only |
|
VOXI |
General fair usage policy |
