Plusnet Mobile vs SMARTY: how the low-cost networks compare

✔ Expect better 4G coverage on Plusnet Mobile than SMARTY

Plusnet use the EE network (the UK’s biggest). Whereas SMARTY use the Three network (the smallest).

In terms of 4G, more than 99% of the population is covered by Plusnet, which is slightly ahead of SMARTY, who bring 4G to a flat 99%. So there’s a better chance you’ll get Plusnet statistically.

Use the coverage checkers below to check you’re definitely in a 4G area with either networks before you sign up, to make sure you’ll have reception where you use your phone.

✔ 3G is more equal on SMARTY and Plusnet Mobile

While Plusnet Mobile have the advantage for 4G signal, 3G is more even. And we still think it’s important, because you’ll use it when you don’t 4G and for making calls and sending texts.

Plusnet Mobile’s 3G coverage is 98% of the population, compared to SMARTY with roughly the same99%.

Again, use the network maps below to make sure you’ll get it where you use your phone.

✔ Only SMARTY offer 5G of the two networks

SMARTY have recently introduced 5G to their customers, getting full access to Three’s brilliant 5G network. You’ll get it on all of their plans.

We can’t yet say what percentage of the population are covered, but with 300+ towns and cities getting 5G and decent coverage within those locations, we’d say there’s a good chance you’ll get 5G with SMARTY.

Plusnet still don’t have 5G, which is disappointing as their hosts EE offer what we think is the best 5G network in the UK. They haven’t said whether or not they’ll be introducing it, so don’t expect them to any time soon.

Despite their coverage being widespread, we still recommend using SMARTY’s coverage checker to see if you can get 5G in your area.

✔ Plusnet’s host network’s 4G is faster than SMARTY’s

On the face of it, Plusnet's host network EE is basically around 50% faster than SMARTY's host Three for the typical customer. But it's not so simple to say the same is true of Plusnet and SMARTY:

We'd expect SMARTY customers to get identical speeds on average to being on Three direct, around the 20 Mbps mark. But we wouldn't say Plusnet customers can expect to average exactly EE's speeds of 31 Mbps.

That's because Plusnet Mobile don't yet support EE's extra speed 4G, which means you'll never hit the dizzying heights of 90 Mbps you can enjoy directly on EE. The question is whether that's actually a problem.

Even if Plusnet's speeds topped out at 25 Mbps and SMARTY's averaged 20 Mbps, these are both comfortable for streaming HD videos without buffering and web pages like the one you're on would load in less than a second (depending on your phone).

✔ 3G speed differences unlikely to be noticeable

When it comes to 3G, we expect SMARTY and Plusnet’s hosts to deliver similar speeds to each other:

8 Mbps on SMARTY’s host Three. And 7 Mbps on Plusnet’s host EE.

Neither speed is enough to support buffer-free HD video watching but are both fast enough that loading general internet pages won’t be painfully slow when you’re not in a 4G area.

✔ SMARTY’s 5G speeds are lightning fast

Since Plusnet don’t offer 5G, SMARTY automatically win for 5G speeds. But even if Plusnet did offer the same 5G experience as their host EE they wouldn’t come close to beating SMARTY for 5G speeds.

According to independent network testers Speedtest by Ookla and Opensignal, 5G speeds on SMARTY can be between a decent 103.9 Mbps and a blistering 221.8 Mbps. You can download a HD movie in seconds with those speeds.

There’s a bit more variation in speeds on SMARTY than you’d get on EE, whose speeds were between 131.9 Mbps and 144.5 Mbps. But peak speeds are much faster on SMARTY.

It’s always great when a cheaper network gets access to 5G and offers it for no extra cost. It makes SMARTY even greater value for money than they already were.

✖ There’s no WiFi calling on either Plusnet or SMARTY

On any network, there are certain buildings and locations (like underground) where conventional mobile signal can’t reach, so normally you wouldn’t be able to make calls or send texts.

Some of the larger mobile providers (and low-cost rival iD Mobile) now offer WiFi calling (read our guide to the UK networks who have it here).

This lets your phone use WiFi signal instead of mobile signal to make/take calls and send/receive SMS text messages. It puts an end to indoor blackspots.

Unfortunately, it’s not something you’ll get on Plusnet Mobile or SMARTY. Although SMARTY do seem to hint here that WiFi calling and 4G calling may be coming in future.

Useful link: Read our guide to the best WiFi calling networks

✔ Tethering is allowed on both SMARTY and Plusnet Mobile

It’s not for everyone but it’s good to know whether tethering is allowed on a mobile network before you sign up. And the good news is you can do it on SMARTY and Plusnet.

Tethering is when you use the mobile data on your mobile phone to create a small WiFi hotspot around you. If you have laptops or tablets, you can then connect these to the internet.

It’s a handy feature, which some of the other cheaper networks like iD Mobile and Virgin Mobile don’t allow. But SMARTY and Plusnet do (read their tethering policies here and here).

One thing to note is that tethering can use your data up more quickly because the connected devices are often used for more data-heavy activities, so make sure you’re comfortable with the amount of data in your plan and costs for going over limits.

Useful links: SMARTY extra data costs | Plusnet extra data costs

✔ Plusnet’s Roam Like Home offers free EU roaming

If you didn’t already know, every mobile provider in the UK now has to let you use any minutes, texts and data in your plan for no extra costs while you’re abroad in the EU (effectively free roaming).

And Plusnet Mobile are no exception. They call it Roam Like Home and it lets you use your plan’s allowance in all these EU countries without paying extra.

If you’re going somewhere else, Plusnet operate what we’d call a traditional roaming scheme, where you pay per minute, text or MB data used (check you're happy with the rates here).

It’s not the greatest inclusive roaming scheme (we rate all networks’ roaming here). But if you’re going on the occasional holiday in the EU, you’re in a good place with Plusnet Mobile.

Useful link: Plusnet's own guide to roaming from their help section

✔ There’s now free EU roaming on SMARTY too

When SMARTY first launched they didn't offer any roaming whatsoever. That meant if you were going abroad, Plusnet Mobile were the clear winner. Now SMARTY offer roaming too.

You can now use your plan's regular allowance of minutes, texts and data for no extra cost while you're in any of these EU countries on SMARTY.

You can also take your phone outside Europe and pay per minute, text and MB data out. You'll need to add credit before and the costs vary per country (see SMARTY's full price guide here).

Just like Plusnet, SMARTY's inclusive roaming isn't world-beating but low-cost means low-frills.

Useful link: SMARTY's full guide to roaming and costs

✔ SMARTY’s have the UK’s fairest policy on unused data

This is the first major advantage that SMARTY have over Plusnet Mobile. And it’s all to do with what happens when you don’t use all of the data in your monthly plan, something practically everyone will do.

On most networks, you'll lose that data. Some let you keep it for later with data rollover schemes. SMARTY go much further and pay you back the money that data cost, in the form of a discount on your next bill.

And because the data’s paid back at the same cost as you paid for it in the first place, you really can’t lose. You could take SMARTY’s biggest 8GB plan and even if you don’t use it all, you’ll never be out of pocket compared to taking a smaller plan.

It’s SMARTY’s main selling point. And Plusnet don’t offer anything similar.

Useful link: How SMARTY's data discount works at SMARTY.co.uk

✔ You’ll lose data you haven’t used on Plusnet Mobile

This is one area that Plusnet probably underachieve on compared to their lower-cost rivals. iD Mobile, SMARTY, Sky and Virgin Mobile all have schemes that let you keep your unused data.

On Plusnet Mobile, any data you don’t use is gone at the end of the month, just like practically every other mobile network in the UK.

So it’s best you join on a plan that doesn’t come with massively more data than you need (else you’ll end up paying for data you won’t be using).

The good thing though is Plusnet's SIMs are all on 30-day contracts, which means you can switch easily between plans month-to-month to find the right one for your needs.

Useful link: How changing plans works on Plusnet

✔ Plusnet Mobile’s flexible Smart Caps stop you overspending

On any network, there are extra charges that you’ll pay if you go over your monthly plan’s limits for minutes, texts or data. Or use other chargeable services like premium numbers or roaming.

If you’re not careful, you can end up with a bill for more than you expected if you use these. But every Plusnet Mobile SIM only plan comes with what’s called a Smart Cap (read Plusnet’s guide here).

These set a limit on how much extra you can spend above and beyond your normal monthly charge befo. When you first join this is set at £10 but it can be changed down to £2. But not £0.

If you hit the cap, any services that would cause you to spend more will be blocked. But anything that won’t cost you extra will continue to work as normal.

Useful link: Plusnet's Smart Caps explained in full at Plus.net

✔ SMARTY’s deals are effectively capped at £0 extra spend

While Plusnet's SIMs are classic pay monthly ones, where you set up a direct debit and pay at the end of the month for your plan and any extras, SMARTY's work a bit differently:

You pay for just your plan at the beginning of the month (you register a credit / debit card for this). To use anything not included in your plan (like more data or premium services), you have to buy credit or add-ons first.

This means it's impossible to spend extra on SMARTY accidentally, without actively purchasing your extra usage upfront (here's how much you'll pay for extras on SMARTY).

It's basically a cap at £0.

Useful link: How to buy add-ons for extra usage at SMARTY.co.uk

✔ Both networks are set up for cheap 30-day deals

We'd say both networks are consistently among the cheapest in the UK.

And they both offer exclusively 30-day plans, which gives you flexibility to chop and change whenever you feel like it.

Use our price comparison tool below to find the cheapest deal with the minutes, texts and data you want:

✔ There's no credit check on SMARTY but there is on Plusnet

If you've not lived in the UK long, or you have been declined for mobile contracts before, you might want to think about which mobile network is most likely to accept you for a deal.

Plusnet's SIMs are on pay monthly deals, which means you set up a direct debit with your bank and are charged for usage in a monthly bill. This means there is a credit check to pass.

We have no information on how hard this is. If you've had pay monthly contracts with other networks, it'd be unusual if Plusnet didn't accept you.

SMARTY's deals come with no credit check, because you're paying for all your usage up front with a debit/credit card. So as long as you have one of those, you're good to join SMARTY.

Useful link: Billing on Plusnet | Billing on SMARTY