VOXI vs giffgaff: which has the better network and benefits?

✔ Coverage is generally better on giffgaff than VOXI

Both giffgaff and VOXI are smaller providers that piggyback off a larger network for signal. While giffgaff use O2’s network, VOXI are owned by Vodafone and use theirs. So what are the differences?

Well, the two are very close when it comes to 4G signal. Particularly in the areas where people live. But VOXI have better 4G in rural locations, giving them an advantage for 4G.

3G and 2G are becoming a thing of the past on both networks. But if you’ve got an older phone, giffgaff are clinging onto the technologies for longer than VOXI. So have better coverage for regular calls/texs.

Best current SIM only deals on VOXI and giffgaff

For 5G, it’s advantage giffgaff too. They have it live in a huge 3200+ UK locations compared to VOXI’s 318+ locations. And giffgaff’s 5G coverage is better in their locations than VOXI’s. Overall, giffgaff have their noses ahead.

Useful link: Check giffgaff 5G in your area

✔ Data speeds are much faster on VOXI than on giffgaff

Our tests have only ever found the same speed on VOXI vs Vodafone and giffgaff vs O2. Though some giffgaff users do report slower data than O2 directly.

In urban areas, we’ve hit over 100 Mbps on giffgaff and VOXI’s 4G. Though we’d say VOXI are the more consistent once you move out of big city centres. Both slow right down to even 5 Mbps rurally.

Best current SIM only plans on VOXI and giffgaff

For 5G, Opensignal and Speedtest’s latest reports show faster typical speeds on VOXI of 138.7 Mbps or 162.63 Mbps. That beats giffgaff’s results of 80.1 Mbps or 85.08 Mbps.

And VOXI’s peak 5G speeds of 354.83 Mbps blow giffgaff’s peaks of 229.54 Mbps right out of the water. For both 4G and 5G, VOXI consistently offer the better, more consistent data speeds.

Useful links: Read more about VOXI’s network experience in their FAQs

✔ VOXI have better WiFi/4G calling and eSIM

WiFi calling and 4G calling let you connect to calls and texts via WiFi and 4G signal rather than conventional “call” signal (2G/3G). It’s now more important than ever to get these as 2G and 3G are being removed.

Both providers now have it. But in our testing we couldn’t get either to work on giffgaff, while it worked well on a wide range of phone models on VOXI without issue. It’s a new feature on giffgaff and it shows.

Best SIM only plans on giffgaff and VOXI

You can get an eSIM on both networks. VOXI is much slicker. You can join on an eSIM immediately. On giffgaff, you have to take a conventional SIM card, then switch to eSIM later, which defeats half the point.

However, giffgaff do offer free access to a network of 8000+ WiFi hotspots including some on the Underground. And giffgaff also include call forwarding. Only VOXI out of the two offer visual voicemail.

Out of the two, we’d say VOXI have the better of the extra features.

Useful link: Read VOXI’s guide to their WiFi calling

✔ Only giffgaff include EU roaming between the two

Between the two providers, only giffgaff still offer inclusive EU roaming. That means you can use your plan in these EU countries at no added cost on giffgaff, while you have to pay around £2 a day for this on VOXI.

You can use up to 5GB of your plan’s data in the EU on giffgaff before incurring extra data charges. That’s not the largest amount, but is still more than your average person would use on a short trip.

Best EU roaming plans currently on giffgaff

VOXI do hold an advantage when it comes to going beyond the EU with their Global Roaming Extras. These give you a small allowance of mins, texts and data to use for 8 or 15 days in non-EU countries.

That’s better than paying for your usage at VOXI or giffgaff’s steep roaming rates. But most people will care about using their plan to the EU on a short trip without having to pay extra, so giffgaff take this one.

Useful link: See all of giffgaff’s inclusive EU destinations

✔ VOXI’s Unlimited benefits are very generous

VOXI offer different benefits that will stop you eating through your data depending on the plan you take. All plans include Unlimited Social Media. This lets you use all these social media apps without using up your data.

That’s quite generous already, but it gets even better with VOXI’s Unlimited Music. This lets you use apps like Spotify without eating up your data. You get this on mid-range plans as well as Unlimited Social Media.

Finally, on VOXI’s higher end plans you’ll also get their Unlimited Video benefit, letting you stream Youtube, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix and three other streaming apps without eating into your data.

Best SIM only plans with Unlimited Video on VOXI

All of these benefits can save you a massive amount of data per month. There are downsides like not being able to use them abroad or when you’re completely out of data, but overall these are very generous benefits.

Useful link: Read more about VOXI’s Unlimited benefits

✔ VOXI offer some other better benefits too

When you refer a friend or family member onto VOXI you’ll be rewarded for your loyalty to the network. VOXI do this by giving you and the person you referred Amazon gift cards after they join.

After your friend joins VOXI using a special link you’ll both get a £10, £15 or £20 gift card depending on the cost of your friend’s plan. giffgaff do have a similar scheme, but the rewards aren’t quite as generous.

Best SIM only plans currently on VOXI

VOXI also offer good value international minute extras. Last we checked it was 100 international mins for £3 to a long list of countries. This works out to 3p per min, beating giffgaff’s rates to many countries.

Finally, VOXI have some decent value data add-ons of 1GB for £3 if you run out in the middle of the month. giffgaff make you pay 10p per MB for this, which would work out to £100 per GB!

Useful link: How VOXI’s refer-a-friend scheme works

✔ giffgaff offer a some nice unique benefits themselves

giffgaff give you the choice of joining on a super flexible 1-month deal (which are similar to VOXI’s) or on a longer 18-month contract. This comes with some benefits, the first being an even lower monthly cost.

Best 18-month SIM only contracts on giffgaff

The second is that the cost of your plan won’t go up during your contract, whereas VOXI can increase your plan’s cost at any point. Not only do you get a lower plan price on giffgaff, but you can keep it for longer.

And you don’t have to pass a credit check for these, so it’s not like you’re excluded from joining one. It can definitely be worth it if you like the lower price and don’t mind being on giffgaff for the long haul.

giffgaff users also get some smaller benefits like extra credit for answering questions in the community help forum and some special offers called “member perks”. These can be handy now and again.

Useful link: See giffgaff’s full range of 18-month contracts

✔ VOXI and giffgaff offer similar phone contracts

VOXI and giffgaff offer very similar phone contracts in terms of how they work. They both offer “split” contracts where the cost of paying back for your phone and usage plan (mins, texts, data) are separate.

These two payments are bundled together to make your monthly bill. What’s good about this is that you’re free to leave or change your usage agreement to fit your budget.

That can technically save you money in the end. On a regular phone contract you’d have to stay on the same usage plan until your contract is over, which means you could be paying for more than you actually use.

As they both offer phones on credit agreements, you can pay lump sums to reduce your monthly payment or pay the whole sum whenever. Use our comparison tool above to see which network offers the better deals.

Useful link: Compare phone deals with our comparison tool