Are you not happy with your current network operator and want to make a switch? Well, it’s not as simple as it may sound. There are plenty of factors to consider when making a choice, be it speed, WiFi hotspots, phone plans, and much more.
Here, we’ll be going to compare two of the industry leaders, namely O2 and Three so customers can make a wise decision. But before you get deep down into O2 and Three, let’s formally introduce these two operators individually.
O2 Mobile
One of the premium UK networks, O2 is synonymous with high-end quality and solid network coverage. In addition to a myriad of phone plans, O2 is also appreciated for offering some of the best perks available in the UK’s mobile market.
If you are looking for a mobile network with flexible packages and loads of classic handsets and a shed-load of perks, your search ends with O2. The best thing about this network operator is that it caters to absolutely everyone while offering a plethora of contracts, deals, and discounts.
Pros
- Priority Extras
- Flexible tariffs
- A wide range of plans
- Good 5G coverage and data speeds
- Thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots
Cons
- Pricey
- The slowest 4G internet speeds
Three Mobile
Tired of paying high bills and want to cut down the extra splurge without compromising on the network and data speeds? Turn to the Three Mobile and get the best of everything without putting a hole in your pocket.
You can enjoy unlimited mobile data on selected plans, along with some nice extras, such as roaming abroad and streaming audio and video benefits. Moreover, Three Mobile has earned a reputation for offering excellent SIM-only and phone contract deals.
Pros
- Offers the best 5G coverage in the UK
- Competitively priced
- 4G calling is available
- The international roaming facility is available in 71 destinations worldwide
Cons
- 3G and 4G coverage are slightly weaker than its competitors
- No data rollover
Keep scrolling the page and find out more about O2 and Three to check what separates them from each other. From their phone plans and network coverage to data speed and international calling, we have covered everything to help you decide which network is best for your needs
Compare O2 and Three Phone Plans
While O2 and Three offer a range of mobile plans, there are slight differences between them in terms of flexibility and price, which we have highlighted here.
Three Mobile Plans
In addition to these plans, Three also offers four different PAYG packs and these have significantly larger data allowances than most other networks.
1-month Plans
| Price | Data | |
| £19 | 4GB | View Plans » |
| £22 | 12GB | View Plans » |
| £24 | 30GB | View Plans » |
| £28 | Unlimited | View Plans » |
12-month Plans
| Price | Data | |
| £9 | 1GB | View Plans » |
| £10 | 4GB | View Plans » |
| £11 | 8GB | View Plans » |
| £14 | 12GB | View Plans » |
| £16 | 30GB | View Plans » |
| £18 | 100GB | View Plans » |
| £20 | 250GB | View Plans » |
| £24 | Unlimited | View Plans » |
24-Month Plans
| Price | Data | |
| £4 (6 months half price – £8 from month 7) | 1GB | View Plans » |
| £4.5 (6 months half price – £9 from month 7) | 4GB | View Plans » |
| £5 (6 months half price – £10 from month 7) | 8GB | View Plans » |
| £6 (6 months half price – £12 from month 7) | 12GB | View Plans » |
| £7 (6 months half price – £14 from month 7) | 30GB | View Plans » |
| £8 (6 months half price – £16 from month 7) | 100GB | View Plans » |
| £10 (6 months half price – £20 from 7th month) | 250GB | View Plans » |
| £12 (6 months half price – £24 from 7th month) + £100 cashback | Unlimited | View Plans » |
O2 Mobile Plans
O2 Plans tend to be on the pricer side but they certainly offer more value as compared to Three’s sim-only deals. It also offers plans for 3-contract lengths, namely 30-Days or 1-Month, 12 Months, and 24 months respectively. All O2 deals come with unlimited minutes and texts. It also features an unlimited data plan but for this, you’ll have to commit for a year or longer.
30-Days Plan
| Data | Minutes | Texts | Cost |
| 1GB | 1000 | Unlimited | £20/ mo |
| 5GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £23/ mo |
| 20GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £26/ mo |
| 50GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £30/ mo |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £36/ mo |
12-Months Plan
| Data | Minutes | Texts | Cost |
| 1GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £12/ mo |
| 5GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £15/ mo |
| 20GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £18/ mo |
| 100GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £20/ mo |
| 150GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £24/ mo |
| 250GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £28/ mo |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £32/ mo |
| Unlimited Plus | Unlimited | Unlimited | £34/ mo |
24 Months Plan
| Data | Minutes | Texts | Cost |
| 3GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £11/ mo |
| 6GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £12/ mo |
| 30GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £15/ mo |
| 75GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £18/ mo |
| 120Gb | Unlimited | Unlimited | £20/ mo |
| 150GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £22/ mo |
| 250GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | £25/ mo |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £30/ mo |
| Unlimited Plus | Unlimited | Unlimited | £32 / mo |
Similar to Three, O2 also features two different PAYG alternatives, in the name of Big Bundles and UK & International Bundles.
Finally, when it comes to O2 and Three phone plans, there’s no second thought that Three offers more valuable monthly rolling plans with great perks and reliable 5G coverage.
O2 vs Three Network Coverage
Network Coverage is one of the major things that can make or break your choice because there’s no point in switching to the network that offers low or patchy coverage in your area.
Three and O2 covers 99% of the population with their 4G coverage and fortunately, their landmass coverage is also similar to a great extent. Both of them get the basics done right by offering decent 3G coverage to keep you connected always.
But here comes a catch. Three doesn’t offer a 2G spectrum while O2 does. Maybe it sounds unnecessary at once, but 2G is still a good option for texts and voice messages and ensures extra network security.
No matter how fast and reliable 5G these networks are offering, they all rely on 2G at a certain point; hence, the absence of the 2G spectrum in Three makes a big difference while making O2 an indisputable winner.
O2 vs Three Mobile Data Speeds
In addition to the network coverage, what other thing must be included in the O2 and Three comparison is the mobile data speed.
According to a 2021 OpenSignal test, Three offers an average download speed of 19.3Mbps followed by an upload speed of 6.8Mbps. Meanwhile, O2 is slightly behind in this race as its download speed is tracked at 17.3Mbps and upload speed is measured at 6.7Mbps.
| Carriers | Download Speed | Upload Speed |
| O2 | 19.3Mbps | 6.8Mbps |
| Three | 17.3Mbps | 6.7Mbps |
Similarly, there’s a speed difference in their 5G coverage also. Three has 140MHz of usable 5G spectrum. On the contrary. O2 features only 40MHz 5G spectrum, thus offering the slowest data speeds out of the four major operators in the UK.
O2 vs Three Wi-Fi Hotspots
Both O2 and Three offer access to their WiFi hotspots so customers can keep connected to the world without using their data allowance. With Three, you can onlly get free WiFi hotspots at over 250 stations on London UnderGround.
On the other hand, free WiFi is a forte of O2 and it gets the job done right. O2 customers can automatically connect to over 16K free WiFi hotspots. Around seven thousand of them support O2’s WiFi extra feature, which further improves the voice quality.
O2 vs Three International Calls
Do your loved ones live abroad? Well, in that case, you must have to check the International call feature while drawing a comparison between O2 and Three.
O2 offers plenty of ways through which you can make an international call from the UK. You can opt for the Pay Monthly option and pay international calling charges on the monthly basis.
In addition, you can get International Bolt-On and International Bundles to get extra minutes or discounted rates.
Three, on the other hand, offers various international plans at an affordable price, such as Call Abroad 100 and Call Abroad Unlimited. Pick an option based on your requirements and stay in touch with your family and friends overseas.
O2 vs Three International Roaming
When it comes to international roaming, Three clearly wins the round as it offers the Go Roam feature on all its sim-only plans that allows you to travel like home in around 71 countries worldwide.
However, O2 isn’t much behind in the race as it allows you to enjoy your data, minutes, and texts at no extra cost across 45 counties in the Europe Zone. However, if you are traveling outside Europe, then opt for the O2 Travel Bolt On to stay connected when you are on holiday.
O2 vs Three: which should you get?
The comparison guide between O2 and Three ends here. We hope you have found it informative and resourceful. Unarguably, Three and O2 give neck-to-neck competition to each other; hence, choosing between the two is slightly arduous and time-consuming.
While Three’s prices are more competitive, O2 offers great flexibility and weekly deals. But Three has a slight edge over O2 as it offers 5G at no extra cost and also includes the Go Roam feature on its phone plans.