O2 vs EE, which is better

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O2 VS EE

In a world with an ever-growing number of mobile phone network providers, it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Ditching your existing network provider and choosing a new one is a big deal as you have to check each and every feature before making a final switch.

While the internet is packed with tons of options, two names that have created a buzz in the market are O2 and EE. Both of them are counted among the UK’s main four mobile operators, alongside Vodafone and Three; thus holding a special significance.

Here, we’ll compare these two networks – O2 Vs EE, and see which one comes out on top.

EE Mobile

EE

EE has been promoting itself as the UK’s most advanced high-speed 4G network for years and it’s not just the talk, either. A recent study by RootMetrics claimed that the average download speed of EE across the country is twice as fast as that of its nearest rival.

While there’s stiff competition when it comes to 5G performance, EE is still the champion in terms of connection speed and phone plans.

Pros:

  • The fastest 4G and 5G speeds
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Superb Coverage
  • Offers a range of additional perks, including BT Sport, Apple TV+, Apple Music, and more.

Cons:

  • A bit expensive
Go to EE Mobile

O2 Mobile

o2 mobile

Long gone are the days when O2 used to be part of BT as now it has confirmed its position as one of the four major networks in the country. It is owned by Spanish multinational Telefonica and currently has more than 25 million customers.

This network is primarily known for its flexibility in terms of mobile plans and contract length. The shortest period you can choose is 30 days and the longest contract length is 24 months.

Pros:

  • Great 5G coverage and speed
  • Attractive sim-only plans
  • Several additional perks and extras
  • Flexible phone plans

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Customer Service could have been improved
Go to O2 Mobile

So now you are done with their individual introduction, let’s move on to the O2 and EE and find a detailed comparison guide here.

Compare O2 and EE Phone Plans

When it comes to O2 and EE, both of them offer a wide range of pay-monthly and pay-as-you-go plans to ease the customers. The two networks compare favorably in price when it comes to sim-only plans but if closely compared, then O2 tends to offer a better value at the lower end of the market while EE provides more data at the upper end.

When it comes to PAYG plans, both O2 and EE offer bundles of texts, calls, and data, and these packages are fairly similar in terms of cost and allowances. Let’s find out about these plans here so you can make an appropriate choice.

EE Mobile Plans

EE offers three contract lengths to the user, namely 1 month, 12 months, and 24 months. All plans are mentioned here in the table below. Compare them and pick the best option.

1-Month Plan

NetworkMinutesTextsDataMonthly
Cost
EEUnlimitedUnlimited1GB£22.00
EEUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£25.00
EEUnlimitedUnlimited25GB£28.00
EEUnlimitedUnlimited125GB£30.00
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
(max100 Mbps)		£35.00
EEUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
(Best Speed)		£38.00

12-Months Plan

PlansMinutesTextsDataSpeedMonthly Cost
5GB No FrillsUnlimitedUnlimited5GB 10 Mbps£25.00
25GB EssentialsUnlimitedUnlimited25GB100 Mbps£28.00
Unlimited No frillsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited10 Mbps£30.00
Unlimited EssentialsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited100 Mbps£35.00
Unlimited Essentials PlusUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited100 Mbps£39.00

24-Months Plan

PlansMinutesTextsDataSpeedMonthly
Cost
25GB EssentialsUnlimitedUnlimited25 GB100 Mbps£16.00
100GB EssentialsUnlimitedUnlimited100 GB100 Mbps£20.00
Unlimited EssentialsUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited100 Mbps£23.00
Unlimited Essentials Plus + EU RoamingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited100 Mbps£27.00
Unlimited All Rounder + EU RoamingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUncapped speed£42.00
Unlimited All Rounder for iPhone + EU RoamingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUncapped speed£42.00
Unlimited Full Works + EU and Beyond RoamingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUncapped speed£48.00
Unlimited Full Works for iPhone+ EU and Beyond RoamingUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimitedUncapped speed£48.00

O2 Mobile Plans

O2 has categorized its phone plans under three categories, namely 30 Days, 12 months, and 24 months. Scroll down the page and take a closer look at all categories.

30-Days Plan

DataMinutesTextsCost
1GB1000Unlimited£20/ mo
5GBUnlimitedUnlimited£23/ mo
20GBUnlimitedUnlimited£26/ mo
50GBUnlimitedUnlimited£30/ mo
UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£36/ mo

12-Months Plan

DataMinutesTextsCost
1GBUnlimitedUnlimited£12/ mo
5GBUnlimitedUnlimited£15/ mo
20GBUnlimitedUnlimited£18/ mo
100GBUnlimitedUnlimited£20/ mo
150GBUnlimitedUnlimited£24/ mo
250GBUnlimitedUnlimited£28/ mo
UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£32/ mo
Unlimited PlusUnlimitedUnlimited£34/ mo

24 Months Plan

DataMinutesTextsCost
3GBUnlimitedUnlimited£11/ mo
6GBUnlimitedUnlimited£12/ mo
30GBUnlimitedUnlimited£15/ mo
75GBUnlimitedUnlimited£18/ mo
120GbUnlimitedUnlimited£20/ mo
150GBUnlimitedUnlimited£22/ mo
250GBUnlimitedUnlimited£25/ mo
UnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£30/ mo
Unlimited PlusUnlimitedUnlimited£32 / mo

So, all in all, there’s no shortage of O2 and EE mobile plans but when both of them cater to a different audience. While O2 mainly focuses on cheap phone plans and variety, EE sticks to its high-end data allowance.

O2 vs EE Network Coverage

While comparing O2 and EE, it is mandatory to understand the network coverage of both carriers to make an informed decision. No matter how many phone plans a carrier can offer, there’s no point in investing your time and money in it if it cannot provide excellent network coverage.

o2
O2 Network Coverage Map
EE network coverage map
EE Network Coverage Map

Simply put, EE has the best 4G and 5G coverage when compared to any of the UK mobile operators. Its basic LTE service is available to more than 99% of the population in the country; however, the fact cannot be neglected that its 4G+ is restricted to certain parts of major cities only.

EE is now making a good deal about geographic coverage to push its advantages. Its network is currently available to 85% of the UK landmass; hence operators want to increase it to 95%. 

O2, on the other hand, has made significant improvements in recent years. It covers 99% of the UK population indoors and working to boost its landmass coverage from 64% to 88% for 4G.

So, overall, it is comfortable for EE as it offers better network coverage and has the least complaints about call dropouts and other similar concerns.

O2 vs EE Mobile Data Speeds

There’s no denying that EE offers faster speed as compared to the O2 network. With EE, customers can enjoy an average download speed of 32.5Mbps, which is way higher than O2’s 14.1Mbps.

The speed of EE’s 4G network is unparalleled within the country. It was the first operator to launch 5G services in the UK and its services are still available in more towns and cities than any other network. Superfast 5G speeds are now enrolled on all EE plans and it has the potential to reach up to 1000Mbps.

O2, on the contrary, has no such restriction on speed; however, it is slower than EE. So, whenever you take into account the mobile data speeds, EE is a clear winner and is worth investing in.

O2 vs EE Wi-Fi Hotspots

When it comes to Wi-Fi hotspots, both O2 and EE offer millions of free-to-use hotspots around the UK, so customers can easily save their paid data allowance and get online in areas where reception is not up to the mark.

EE Customers can access the BT WiFi network comprising 5 million hotspots free of charge and O2 customers can connect to thousands of free hotspots. The locations where you can enjoy this service are Starbucks, Hastings, Hilton Hotels, shopping centers, and more.

So, in the nutshell, it’s a clear draw in terms of WiFi hotspots and you can enjoy free data at various locations while using O2 and EE.

O2 vs EE International Calls

Want to stay in touch for less? Well, then you must invest in the mobile network operator that offers a cheap international calling facility.

EE offers international packs and add-ons, that give great rates to keep you in touch with your family and friends. You can enjoy international calls from 1p a minute. Opt for EE’s International Extra Pack to call landlines and mobiles in 100 countries.

On the contrary, O2 offers International Bolt On that lets you make international calls to mobile and landline from just 1 p per minute.

O2 vs EE International Roaming

Roaming is one of the major factors to consider and cannot be overlooked when comparing O2 and EE. EE charges customers a £2 per day roaming fee; however, O2 still offers free services across over 45 countries in O2’s Europe Zone.

If you are traveling beyond Europe, then EE offers a handy roaming calculator to check how much you’ll pay while roaming around the world. O2, on the other hand, offers an optional “Travel Bolt On” plan that covers roaming in most countries beyond Europe for an additional charge of £5 per day.

So, if roaming is an important choice, then you should opt for O2 unless you desperately need high-end 4G or 5G services.

O2 vs EE: Which should you get?

There is no simple answer as to which network is the best. Both O2 and EE have pros and cons, and it depends on your individual needs as to which one is the best for you.

If you need a lot of data, then EE might be the better option. However, if you are looking for cheaper prices, then O2 could be a better choice. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which network works best for your requirements and budget.

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