giffgaff vs Three: compare coverage, 4G/5G speeds and benefits

✔ giffgaff win for calls and 5G, Three have better 4G

giffgaff piggyback off O2’s network for signal, while Three run their own. This gives giffgaff an immediate advantage for 2G/3G call signal as Three have largely removed their own 3G and never had 2G to begin with.

But Three have overtaken giffgaff’s hosts when it comes to 4G data signal. Urban users won’t notice a big difference, but 4G will usually be noticeably better in rural areas on Three (check their coverage maps here).

For 5G, giffgaff have 5G live in a long list of 3200+ UK towns and cities compared to Three’s 580+ locations. But both providers are equally good when it comes to actually covering their locations with signal.

Best 5G plans on Three and giffgaff

Three’s massive 4G improvements are very impressive, but giffgaff give you a more complete package with strong call signal and better 5G. Still, it’s worth checking signal using both networks’ maps here.

Useful link: Check giffgaff’s network map | Check Three’s coverage map

✔ 5G/4G data speeds are much faster on Three than giffgaff

We test networks’ 4G speeds in different areas to see what you can expect. We found urban 4G up to 90 Mbps on giffgaff and 70 Mbps on Three, while rural 4G downloads went down to 5 Mbps on giffgaff and 7 Mbps on Three.

More often we sat around 20 Mbps on giffgaff and 30 Mbps on Three. That lines up with Opensignal’s typical speed results of 38 Mbps on Three and 23.1 Mbps on giffgaff, the lowest 4G result of any UK network.

For 5G, Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla show typical speeds of 80.1 Mbps and 85.08 Mbps, peaking at 226.14 Mbps. Three got much higher results of 208.9 Mbps and 276.17 Mbps, with blistering peaks of 680 Mbps.

Best 5G SIM only deals on giffgaff and Three

Both handle HD streaming, browsing, and social media well, but if you need fast speeds for gaming or anything else Three are much better. giffgaff are fine for everyday use, but you may find their speeds limiting.

Useful link: Our guide to the best 5G networks

✔ WiFi calling is better on Three than giffgaff

Both networks include WiFi/4G calling on all plans, so you can make and receive calls over WiFi/4G when call signal is weak. But it’s a relatively new feature on giffgaff, meaning it’s not as good as Three’s yet.

Three’s scheme is easier to use, with lots of compatible devices and the ability to send texts over WiFi and 4G. Calls can also move from WiFi to 4G without dropping. We couldn’t even get it working on giffgaff.

In time giffgaff’s device support should get better, but if you need WiFi calling as a backup now then Three are better. At least giffgaff still have reliable call signal, so you can still connect to calls that way.

Best current WiFi calling plans on Three and giffgaff

Three customers can connect to over 250 free hotspots on the Underground. giffgaff have around 8000 O2 WiFi hotspots across the country and Underground. Other than that the two have the same network features.

Useful link: Three's network features guide

✔ giffgaff’s EU roaming is slightly better than Three’s

giffgaff include EU roaming on every plan, letting you roam in these EU destinations at no extra cost. But your data usage while there will be limited to 5GB if your plan has more than that.

Three also include EU roaming, but only on their premium Value or Complete plans not on their cheaper Lite deals. But their new scheme is better than it was, as you no longer have a limited number of roaming passes.

Best EU roaming plans on Three and giffgaff

And you can use up to 12GB of your data in the EU if your plan has more than that on Three. Still, we don’t like that you have to pay extra for a premium plan to get inclusive roaming on Three.

But Three are much better for roaming outside the EU. You can roam in these 160 worldwide destinations on a premium Complete plan, while on giffgaff you have to pay as you go which gets expensive fast.

Useful link: See Three’s roaming destinations

✔ Get free credit for referring friends to giffgaff

giffgaff have always offered customers £5 for every friend they bring to the network. Your friend only needs to top up £10 credit, and you’ll both get £5 extra credit added on top.

You can take your reward as credit, cash paid twice a year into PayPal, or donate it to charity. You can also earn extra payback by helping other users on giffgaff’s community forum.

Best current SIM only plans on giffgaff

It’s a win for everyone. You can earn a little extra, your friend benefits from free credit, and giffgaff gain new paying customers in return.

On top of that, giffgaff offer “member perks”. These are free offers on mobile products and apps, but some are only temporary, so remember to cancel trials before they convert into paid services.

Useful link: Make money recruiting for giffgaff

✔ Three have a nice rewards app and more

Three don’t offer the same wide range of extras they once did, but you still get a few ways to add value to your plan. Every customer has access to the Three+ rewards app.

Through this, you’ll unlock exclusive discounts for high street shopping, online deals, restaurants and entertainment. It also gives you presale access to certain events at arenas sponsored by Three.

On their higher-end Value and Complete plans, there are more extras. These include a Paramount+ subscription as standard and up to three years’ extended warranty on your phone if it was bought on a Three contract.

Three’s current Value and Complete plans

We’d still argue the main reason to choose a Complete plan is the roaming, but these additional perks do add more value. They help make Three’s plans feel more competitive against rival networks.

Useful link: Our guide to all free streaming data schemes

✔ Both giffgaff and Three offer flexible phone deals

Both giffgaff and Three base their phone contracts on finance, splitting the cost of your phone and your usage plan into monthly payments. You can lower costs with an upfront payment or clear your balance early.

With giffgaff you can leave or change your usage plan at any time. On Three you’re tied to your usage plan until it ends, but both networks let you pick 12, 24 or 36-month contracts at a fixed cost.

Price-wise, giffgaff’s smaller data plans are usually cheaper, while Three compete strongly on bigger allowances, especially unlimited data. But giffgaff hold the edge for low-data users looking for budget contracts.

You can also find cheaper Three contracts through resellers like Fonehouse and Buymobiles.net. They bulk-buy phones and pass the savings on, with the same user experience as buying direct.

Useful link: Compare phone deals