Unlimited Data Plans
Unlimited data plans are available on 14 networks in the UK, including EE, O2, Three, Vodafone and many more.
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Unlimited data plans are available on 14 networks in the UK, including EE, O2, Three, Vodafone and many more.
Table of Contents |
If you’re looking for an unlimited data plan then there is no shortage of options, as most of the UK’s networks now offer this, but choosing the right network could still be tricky, and that’s where this guide comes in.
Below we’ve detailed exactly which networks offer unlimited data, along with the specific terms of their offerings.
We’ve also looked at exactly what ‘unlimited data’ really means, and answered all the common questions people have about these plans. So read on to find the right unlimited data plan for you, or if you’re not sure whether you even need unlimited data, we’ve got you covered there too – just head over to our how much data do I need guide for more on that.
Unlimited data is just what it sounds – the ability to use an unlimited amount of mobile data. So rather than having a specific data limit (such as 10GB per month) and then having to wait for it to refresh if you use it up, there are no restrictions to the amount of data that you can use.
So you can freely use as much data as you want each month, without any fear of running out or running up extra charges.
There are sometimes fair use policies or other restrictions, but these are usually minimal, and we’ve detailed each network’s terms further down.
An unlimited data SIM is a plan that comes with unlimited data. They work much like any other SIM, but allow you to use as much data on your device as you want without worrying about running out or getting a big bill.
Typically, these plans will also come with an allowance of minutes and texts (often also unlimited), unless it’s a plan for a mobile broadband device, in which case the SIM card might just come with data.
Unlimited data SIMs are available as SIM-only plans, which just include your SIM card and allowances, usually on a 30-day or 12-month plan, or you can get a Pay Monthly plan with a phone included as well, and these usually tie you in for 24 months.
Then there are unlimited data Pay As You Go SIMs, which give you unlimited data for a period of time (usually 30 days) but don’t tie you into a contract. You can also get unlimited data SIMs with mobile broadband devices, or a data-only SIM, which is like a SIM-only plan but doesn’t include minutes or texts.
An unlimited data plan is a great choice if you tend to use a lot of mobile data. This might be the case if for example you tether a lot, as devices like laptops and tablets can be more data-hungry than phones.
Unlimited data is also essential if you download lots of big apps or other files using mobile data. A single mobile game for example can use up well over 1GB to download in some cases.
Those who stream a lot of video, such as Netflix shows, while away from a Wi-Fi connection can also benefit from unlimited data, especially if you want to stream in high quality. Different services use differing data amounts, but if you’re a media fiend then you’re sure to eat through a huge quantity.
And unlimited data can also be a good choice for peace of mind, so you know you’ll never run short. It means you never need to even think about data or check how much you have left, and if there’s ever an unforeseen event like your Wi-Fi going down at home, you’ll be well equipped to keep your gadgets online through tethering.
Unlimited data costs a varying amount depending on the network you choose, whether you go SIM-only or get a smartphone on contract, and the length of your plan, among other factors.
Obviously, an unlimited data plan will usually cost more than a plan with a limited data allowance on the same network will though, so that makes these plans among the more expensive ones.
But they still don’t have to break the bank, with some networks charging as little as £20 per month for unlimited data.
Things that bring the price up include opting for a shorter-term plan, with a 30-day SIM-only plan typically costing more than a 12-month one for example. Getting a phone or tablet along with your unlimited data SIM will also substantially increase the price, as often will picking a plan with extras, like an entertainment service subscription.
So you’ve got to balance cost with flexibility and extras – if you don’t need extra perks and are happy to commit to a lengthy contract, then unlimited data doesn’t have to cost much at all.
And one thing that won’t generally add to the cost is 5G, as networks that offer this generally include it as standard.
Yes, in most cases unlimited data really means unlimited - at least in the UK, as many networks have roaming restrictions.
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 |
12GB roaming limit |
Smarty |
12GB roaming limit |
O2 |
Fair usage policy of 650GB per month and maximum 11 tethering devices at once, 25GB roaming limit |
EE |
Fair usage policy of 600GB per month and maximum 11 tethering devices at once, 50GB roaming limit |
Vodafone |
Speeds restricted on Unlimited Lite (2Mbps) and Unlimited (10Mbps) plans, 25GB roaming limit |
iD Mobile |
Variable roaming limit and must demonstrate UK ties if roaming extensively |
BT Mobile |
BT Halo customers only, 50GB roaming limit |
Lebara Mobile |
None |
Giffgaff |
Fair use policy of under 650GB per month and 11 tethered devices, 20GB roaming limit |
Lycamobile |
20GB roaming limit |
Tesco Mobile |
More data must be used in the UK than abroad |
Virgin Mobile |
Variable fair usage when roaming |
VOXI |
General fair usage policy, 20GB roaming limit |
Asda Mobile |
Speed restrictions on all plans, 25GB roaming limit |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Great value plans | Coverage not as widespread as some networks |
5G included and no speed restrictions | |
Shorter contract lengths and PAYG plans available |
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.
Data roaming also comes at no extra cost on all plans until May 23rd, 2022, and covers 71 worldwide destinations in Europe and beyond. Free data roaming on Three is limited to 12GB though, above which you’ll be charged £3 per gigabyte.
Plus, free roaming is being removed on May 23rd, 2022 – though customers who signed up for a plan or upgraded before October 1st, 2021, will keep this perk for the duration of their contract.
Beyond these roaming restrictions there is currently 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.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Great coverage and speeds | Premium prices |
5G included and no speed restrictions | Lengthy contract durations |
Data sharing and Smart Benefits |
EE offers unlimited data plans on SIM Only and with Pay Monthly phones.
Currently they offer three unlimited data SIM plans, two of which are on 24-month contracts and one of which is on a 12-month plan. They come with 5G data, and unlimited minutes and texts, with the main difference between them being whether you get any Smart Benefits included.
Smart Benefits are currently available to choose on a 24-month plan. You can choose 3 benefits which include Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, BT Sport Ultimate and a Roam Abroad Pass (which lets you roam for free outside Europe, and removes the £2 daily European roaming charge once EE adds it in March 2022).
Those 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 5G 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 ‘unlimited data fair use policies’ chart elsewhere in this article.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
5G included and no speed restrictions | Premium prices |
Shorter contract lengths available |
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.
Free 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.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
5G plans available | Speed restrictions on plans other than Unlimited Max |
Shorter contract lengths and PAYG plans available | Premium pricing for Unlimited Max plans |
Option to add Entertainment Bundles |
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 are the only ones able to benefit from 5G speeds.
Tethering is included and you can use up to 25GB of data per month when roaming in 51 European countries (though in most cases you’ll still have to pay a £1 or £2 daily fee to use your allowances abroad). On plans with ‘Xtra’ in the name though roaming is free, and unlimited plans with ‘4 Xtra benefits’ also let you roam for free in additional locations, for 83 in total.
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. 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.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Flexible Pay As You Go plans | Speed restrictions on all plans |
Uses Vodafone network | |
5G included |
Asda Mobile launched unlimited data plans later than most, but they’re available now, alongside 5G speeds using Vodafone’s infrastructure.
At the time of writing the network sells three different unlimited data 30-day SIM Only plans, and while they all let you use 5G signals, only the one listed at ‘150Mbps’ will offer 5G speeds – the other two options are slower, and even the top option is presumably capped, since 5G is capable of higher speeds than 150Mbps.
Asda Mobile also allows tethering and free roaming in much of Europe (up to a 25GB limit), but there aren’t any handset plans – you can only go SIM Only or pay as you go.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Great coverage and speeds | Only available to BT Halo customers |
5G included and no speed restrictions | |
BT Wi-Fi hotspots included |
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 on a 12-month or 24-month contract and includes unlimited minutes and texts. It also includes free roaming in Europe (up to 50GB) and tethering. As part of the package you also get access to BT’s network of Wi-Fi hotspots. The plan also includes 5G.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses O2 network | Speed restrictions after 80GB usage on 4G plan |
5G plans available | |
Flexible Pay As You Go plans |
Giffgaff, which use O2's network, offers an unlimited data goodybag (add-on) or a golden goodybag (add-on) which also has unlimited data included. They can both be purchased on SIM Only or with a mobile phone, and both include 5G.
There are some restrictions with the standard goodybag though (called ‘Always On’), with only the first 80GB of use per month being at full 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 golden goodybag has no such speed restrictions, but it costs more and there is a fair usage policy stating that you should use under 650GB of data a month, and shouldn’t tether with 12 or more devices at once.
Free 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.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses Three network | Coverage not as widespread as some networks |
5G data included and no speed restrictions | |
Shorter contract lengths available |
iD Mobile, which uses the Three network and is owned by Dixons Carphone, now offers an unlimited data plan on a 1, 12 or 24-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 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.
There’s also a variable fair use limit on data, which depends on the cost of your plan. You can find it here.
Like Three's unlimited plans, iD Mobile's unlimited plans are 5G ready, so you will be able to enjoy 5G speeds. At the current time iD Mobile does not specify a fair usage policy with regards to data usage in the UK.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses Vodafone network and now has 5G | A little more expensive than you might expect |
International calling to 41 countries included | |
Short contract durations |
Lebara (which runs off Vodafone’s infrastructure) offers 30-day SIM plans that come with unlimited 5G data, minutes, and texts.
The network additionally lets you roam for free across the EU and India, and use your data to tether, but the big selling point is you also get either 100 or unlimited minutes of international calling to 41 countries, including Australia, United States, Canada, India, New Zealand, China and many more locations.
Related reading: Lebara Mobile Review and Coverage
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses O2 Network | No Wifi calling or VoLTE |
International calling included | |
Pay As You Go plans |
Lyca Mobile, 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 5G speeds plus 100 international minutes to dozens of locations, while one does the same but with unlimited international minutes. You can tether on Lyca Mobile too, and you can roam within the EU at no extra cost – though there’s a 20GB cap when doing that.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses Three network | Coverage not as widespread as some networks |
Great value 1 month plan | |
No speed restrictions |
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 5G included.
Currently, Smarty only offers SIM only plans, so no unlimited Pay Monthly phones or Mobile Broadband plans are available.
Data roaming is limited to 12GB per month, and you can only roam for free across the EU, which is another key difference with Three's plans, as these include free roaming in a number of places further afield too – although only until May 23rd, 2022.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses O2 network | Long contract durations |
5G plans available with no speed restrictions | Prices not significantly lower than O2 |
Tesco Mobile, which uses O2's network, offers unlimited data on both SIM Only and Pay Monthly, and it supports 5G.
The plans are available in 12 or 24-month varieties on SIM Only, or variable lengths with a handset. You can also roam for free in Europe and tether.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses Vodafone network | No short-term plans |
5G included and no speed restrictions |
Virgin Mobile, which uses Vodafone's network, also offers unlimited data, and while this used to only be available to customers of other Virgin products, it’s now available to everyone at the time of writing.
It’s also truly unlimited, includes 5G and comes in at a competitive price, whether you opt for a 12 or 24-month plan.
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.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Uses Vodafone network | Only slightly more affordable than Vodafone |
5G included and no speed restrictions | |
Short contract duration |
VOXI, which is a network run and owned by Vodafone, is now offering a 5G 30-day 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 20GB per month).
Overall, VOXI's unlimited data plan is a more affordable alternative to the equivalent plan on Vodafone, though Vodafone gives you more options in terms of duration and speed.
Pay As You Go plans with unlimited data are currently available on Asda Mobile, GiffGaff, Three and Vodafone. They offer even more flexibility and don't require a credit check, but you will have to pay a little more than a pay monthly plan.
Asda Mobile |
Unlimited 5G data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 150Mbps max speeds |
£15 Lasts for 30 days |
Three |
Unlimited 5G data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£35 Lasts for 30 days |
Vodafone |
Unlimited 5G data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£40 Lasts for 30 days |
GiffGaff |
Unlimited 5G data Unlimited mins Unlimited texts |
£35 a month Lasts for 30 days |
There are currently 14 networks offering unlimited data plans with 5G, which are EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, Asda Mobile, BT Mobile, Giffgaff, iD Mobile, Lebara Mobile, Lyca Mobile, Smarty, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile and VOXI. Compare 5G SIM only plans.
FreedomPop, Plusnet Mobile, Sky Mobile and Talkmobile don't currently offer unlimited data. However, some do have high maximum data limits, which you can see in the table below.
In most cases there will be a fair use policy when using data abroad, which limits how much you can use, though the exact limits vary from network to network. However, Lebara and Tesco Mobile don’t appear to list a specific roaming limit at the time of writing. That said, if you’re hoping to use a lot of data abroad with one of these networks then we’d recommend checking with the network directly that this is allowed.
Yes, in most cases you can tether with no limits (other than a network’s general fair use limits) with an unlimited data plan. Check the network details and fair use policies chart above for the specific terms of each network.