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Three review: a high-speed, reliable network

I've joined Three. Here's what I think of its mobile coverage, plans and perks

A woman's hand holding an iPhone with the Three app displayed

Our Verdict

Three offers offers a wide range of contract deals that come complete with flexible prices and data allowances. If you’re looking for a high-speed, reliable phone service, and physical shops, Three is worth considering. But for low-cost roaming or high-quality customer service, it isn’t the best UK phone network out there.

Reasons to buy
  • Fantastic 5G
  • Budget-friendly phone and SIM-only deals
  • Physical high street shops
Reasons to avoid
  • Not the best customer service
  • Roaming can be expensive

Throughout my teenage years, Three was the phone network I was tethered to, thanks to my parents wanting a phone plan that was reasonably priced and offered plenty of data. Since then, I’ve swapped around from network to network and tried out various providers, most recently opting to go with the SIM-only network, Smarty – also owned by Hutchinson 3G, the company that operates Three.

I decided to switch to Three after realizing that my old iPhone 13 was on its last legs and it might be time for an upgrade. Three is one of the big four phone networks in the UK, and one of the best UK phone providers offering great network coverage and a good range of deals, from device and SIM combos to SIM-only plans.

According to Three, it offers widespread 4G coverage and has also rolled out 5G in over 650 cities and towns, for 60% coverage across the UK. If you’re thinking of swapping to Three, I’ve shared my first-hand experiences of the network, including its coverage, roaming, and service.

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Plans and Prices

Three was always known as the only network offering unlimited data plans at low prices, whereas other network providers tended to charge exceptionally high prices for this perk. However, Three’s low-cost unlimited data plans are no longer unique to the network.

Three’s plans range from 1GB to unlimited data, with contracts ranging from one month up to 12 months, 24 months, and even 36 months, to help spread the cost further and ensure lower payments.

All Three contracts are 5G ready without an added cost, and you can create personal hotspots and provide access to Three’s Go Roam service, which comes in handy if you’re planning on traveling.

Three SIM-Only Plans 2024

Plan Price (monthly) Data allowance Contract length
1GB £9 1GB + unlimited calls & texts 24 months
1GB £11 1GB + unlimited calls & texts 12 months
1GB £31 1GB + unlimited calls & texts 1 month
4GB £7 4GB + unlimited calls & texts 24 months
4GB £13 4GB + unlimited calls & texts 12 months
4GB £19 4GB + unlimited calls & texts 1 month
25GB £10 25GB + unlimited calls & texts 24 months
25GB £16 25GB + unlimited calls & texts 12 months
25GB £24 25GB + unlimited calls & texts 1 month

Three’s device contracts cover a range of data allowances, and three plan types: Lite, Value, and Complete. The Lite plan offers 5G at no extra cost, Three+ Rewards, and unlimited calls and texts, the Value plan offers all of that, plus an extended device warranty and 28 1-day roaming passes, and the Complete plan offers the addition of a free screen repair and 56 1-day roaming passes.

A woman's hand holding an iPhone with the Three app displayed

Coverage and Speed

Three was previously known as a network with slightly poor coverage and speed, but that’s no longer true. Over the past few years, Three has significantly enhanced and improved its network coverage and speed, transforming the once unreliable network. Today, its 5G services reach over 60% of the UK, to compete with network giant EE. You can check its coverage in your area before you buy.

In terms of signal strength, it tends to be fairly reliable; I have yet to encounter a location where I don’t have at least some signal. What I have noticed though is that sometimes the signal has dropped out completely, which has resulted in me needing to switch my device on and off again to reconnect. However, this issue is common across all networks from time to time.

Four screenshots from the Three app on a pink gradient background

Roaming

Free roaming is included in some Three plans, depending on whether you’ve opted for a Lite, Value, or Complete. For Lite plans no roaming is offered, whereas for Value plans customers benefit from 28 1-day roaming passes, and Complete plan holders benefit from 56 1-day roaming passes.

Go Roam allows customers to call, text, and use data in over 160 countries. There are three bands to the service; Go Europe, Go Roam Around the World, and Go Roam Around the World Extra. If your plan comes with free data roaming passes, you can use these to access your data abroad.

If your plan doesn’t come with roaming passes, you have to purchase additional passes. Three operates a fair usage limit per 24-hour period, which differs depending on how much data your plan comes with. If you exceed this limit, you get charged an additional fee.

Customer service and perks

Three’s approach to customer service is centered around a well-designed online customer service system and Live Chat. While you can also call Three between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday, and 9 am to 6 pm on the weekend, the Live Chat system is the network’s preferred way to connect with customers. You can also contact Three via social media, using Facebook or Twitter.

Before I moved to Three I had heard rumors that the customer service was poor, and so far I haven’t been that impressed. I requested to swap my mobile number to my new Three SIM and was given a switch date of two days later, but that date came and went and no switch was made. When I reached out to the customer service team I found it very difficult to contact them for an answer. The provider scores just 1.2 out of 5 from customer reviews on Trustpilot (65% being 1 star), but it’s worth noting that O2 has the same low rating.

A close-up of the Three mobile app on an iPhone screen

Verdict

Three is one of the best UK phone providers, particularly if you value speed. Its prices are in line with or better than rivals, particularly when there’s a special deal, but in rare cases, contracts are more expensive by comparison. Three offers a wide selection of plans and phone or SIM-only contracts, and its physical high street shops might be a dealbreaker for some. Overall, its coverage is fast and reliable, but the network is let down by its customer service.

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