spusu vs VOXI: which of the two networks is better?

✔ Call signal is better on VOXI, 4G data better on spusu

VOXI and spusu are both budget providers that piggyback off larger networks to provide signal. VOXI are a sub-brand of Vodafone and get access to their signal, while spusu use EE’s network. So what are the differences?

For call signal (3G/2G) VOXI hold a clear advantage. They’re on the joint-largest network for calls, while spusu don’t even get access to 3G any more, just 2G. Indoor call signal is also much better on VOXI too.

But 4G data signal is another story, with spusu coming out ahead. They’re on the most widespread 4G network, meaning you’re more likely to stay connected to 4G while in the countryside vs being on VOXI.

Best current SIM only deals on VOXI and spusu

In our eyes it’s better for networks to provide strong 4G signal as this not only gives you fast data connection, but can also be used for calls on newer phones. Still, it’s worth checking both providers’ signal maps here.

Useful link: Check VOXI’s signal map | Check spusu’s signal map

✔ 5G coverage is much better on spusu than on VOXI

Both providers offer full access to their host networks’ 5G signal on all their plans at no added cost. However, there’s a pretty big difference in terms of coverage between the two of them.

spusu offer 5G access in 383+ UK towns and cities compared to VOXI’s 141+ locations. But spusu’s hosts only count a location as covered once 5G is available in 50% of its area. So you can get 5G in even more places than that.

This also means that spusu generally offer better coverage in their covered locations than VOXI. In fact, VOXI’s hosts are the worst network at covering their 5G locations, but this does vary depending on the area.

Best SIM only plans currently on spusu and VOXI

In all, spusu’s 5G coverage is just much more widespread than VOXI’s. But you may get 5G coverage near you on one network and not the other, so it’s still important to check signal on both before joining either.

Useful link: Read spusu’s guide to their 5G

✔ 4G data speeds are much faster on spusu

Both providers gave us identical speeds to being on their host networks in our tests, but there are big differences in speeds between them. We use results from Opensignal to show what typical speeds look like on both:

Typical 4G data speeds on spusu sit at 40 Mbps and VOXI’s typical 4G speeds sit at 27.9 Mbps. That difference will be noticeable in real life, as things like HD streaming will usually be smoother on spusu.

That lines up with what we found in real life. In rural areas, speeds went as low as 5 Mbps on both. But in the city speeds went up to 110 Mbps on VOXI and 130+ Mbps on spusu. So we can see how it averages out.

Best current SIM only deals on VOXI and spusu

In all, spusu offer the healthier 4G data speeds between them. It may not be as noticeable in rural areas, but for gaming, streaming or file sharing in the city, spusu’s 4G will be noticeably smoother.

Useful link: Read VOXI’s network FAQs

✔ 5G data speeds are healthier on VOXI than spusu

Again, both providers get full speed access to their host networks’ 5G signal as well as their 4G signal. We use results from Opensignal and Speedtest to show what typical 5G speeds you can expect on either.

spusu’s typical 5G data speeds sit between 99.5 Mbps - 106.61 Mbps, with peak speeds up to 316.68 Mbps. But VOXI speed ahead of them with typical speeds between 114.3 Mbps - 155.90 Mbps with peaks of 354.83 Mbps.

Best 5G ready SIM only plans on spusu and VOXI

It’s interesting to see the complete opposite of the 4G speed picture when it comes to 5G. spusu’s speed results are starting to recover after having trended downwards, while VOXI’s have only been going up and up.

That suggests that VOXI’s host network are better at dealing with the increasing number of people using 5G than spusu’s. In any case, for heavier data activities VOXI will noticeably be the smoother choice.

Useful link: Read spusu’s network FAQs section

✔ VOXI have the better WiFi calling scheme

You can run into issues making calls indoors on either network, so it’s good they both offer WiFi/4G calling to deal with this. These let you make calls via WiFi or 4G signal instead of conventional call signal.

Between them, VOXI have the longer list of supported devices (it’s the same as Vodafone’s). There are a lot of older models missing from spusu’s list, but we’re not entirely sure if devices not listed won’t work.

Best SIM only plans currently on VOXI and spusu

We think it’s just a bit easier to get it working on VOXI. And VOXI let you transfer a call from WiFi signal to 4G signal without it dropping, whereas if you lose WiFi signal on spusu your call will drop.

One nice extra feature on spusu is their eSIMs, which lets you install your SIM over the internet rather than needing a physical SIM. VOXI don’t offer this, but their better WiFi calling gives them the win here.

Useful link: See VOXI’s list of supported WiFi calling devices

✔ spusu are the only one between them to include EU roaming

As you may know, many UK providers have removed inclusive EU roaming from their plans. However, spusu have kept their scheme in place, letting you roam in these 38 EU/EEA destinations at no added cost on all plans.

But there are limits on your allowance while you’re there. Each plan has a different limit while roaming, ranging from 10GB on their smallest plan and 15GB on their largest. And you’re limited to 500 mins and texts.

SIM only deals with EU roaming on spusu

Those shouldn’t be an issue if you’re going on a short trip. But if you’re going away for longer or need to use more data, spusu offer some “Travel” plans that don’t limit your data at a slightly higher plan cost.

spusu don’t offer inclusive roaming outside the EU or any extras for roaming further afield. Instead you’ll have to pay at these rates to roam beyond the EU. But that’s what we expect from a smaller network anyway.

Useful link: See spusu’s list of inclusive EU destinations

✖ VOXI don’t include EU roaming

VOXI scrapped their inclusive EU roaming a while ago, so you have to pay per day to roam in the EU with them. You can pay £2 per day, or get longer passes of £4 for 2 days, £8 for 8 days or 15 days for £15.

It’s a bit of a frustrating system as paying £2 a day can add up quickly, but you might end up paying for days you won’t even use with their longer passes. And it’s an extra cost you don’t need to make on spusu.

And even though you’re paying to access your allowance on VOXI, they still limit you to 20GB in the EU. That’s a flexible amount, but it’s more annoying than anything considering you still have to pay.

Best SIM only deals currently on VOXI

Where VOXI have an upper hand is for roaming outside the EU. Their Global Roaming Extras give you a small daily allowance to use in lots of worldwide countries. But spusu’s EU roaming will appeal to more people.

Useful link: Read about VOXI’s Global Roaming Extras

✔ VOXI offer unlimited social media, music and video data

By far the best part of being on VOXI is their unlimited data benefits. You get unlimited social media data on all their plans and unlimited music and video streaming data on their mid to high-end plans.

Each of these benefits works by zero rating your data usage on certain social media, music and video streaming apps meaning it won’t come out of your allowance. And each one can save you a lot of data.

Even their unlimited social media data benefit can save you a lot as it zero rates videos on social media apps like Twitter. And you can even tether to larger devices and it still won’t come out of your allowance.

Best SIM only deals currently on VOXI

The only real downsides are that you can’t use these while roaming and you need to have some data left for them to work. But, in all, these benefits are the main reason we think most people would want to join VOXI.

Useful link: See VOXI’s guide to their unlimited data benefits

✔ spusu are the better choice for international calls

If you’ve got friends or family in the EU, you’ll love the inclusive minutes and texts to EU numbers from the UK that spusu include on all of their plans. You get 500 of them on every spusu plan, even their smallest one.

What’s great is that if you don’t have to pay anything extra to get these, they’re included as standard. And unless you call and text abroad very often, we think you’re safe from using them all up each month.

But if you do go over your limit, or if you want to call a number outside the EU, spusu’s international rates are quite low. So while you have to pay, it won’t set you back as much as it would on other networks.

VOXI don’t offer any inclusive international calls at all, but do let you buy bundles of 100 mins to EU and worldwide numbers. This is better than paying VOXI’s international rates, but costs more than on spusu.

Useful link: See spusu’s international calling rates

✔ spusu offer a handful of other useful benefits

There are a few other smaller benefits spusu offer that VOXI don’t that are worth knowing about. The first is that they let you set very flexible caps on your overspending for things like international calls or extra data.

You can set your cap in £1 increments between £0 - £100. And you can change this any time if your needs change. On VOXI you have to top up to use extras, but you can’t limit how much of this credit you can use.

spusu also promise not the increase the cost of their plans until 2026. That’s excellent as one of the main reasons people would join them is their low costs. So you can get the same great value for a long time.

This is something that VOXI haven’t promised one way or the other. Instead, they reserve the right to up the cost of your plan at any point. So, spusu give you the added security of knowing your bill won’t go up.

Useful link: Read spusu’s no price increase promise