Smarty vs. Three, Which is Better?

If you’ve been thinking about switching your mobile network, you’re probably considering two of the most popular options: Smarty and Three mobile. But which one is the best? While both offers reliable coverage and affordable plans, choosing between them can be overwhelming.

But there’s no need to worry about it, as we are here to assist. Our experts have reviewed both network operators and created a comparison guide between Smarty Vs Three based on their ins and outs. So, without further ado, let’s find out the significant differences and choose accordingly.

Smarty

Smarty is an online-only provider, there are no stores. It runs on network of Three Mobile, Smarty is a low-cost sub-brand and attracts customers by offering affordable deals and flexible plans. The main selling point of the Smarty Mobile is that the carrier proposes to buy back unused data, thus helping you save money.

Smarty is not just the best low-cost MVNO but also an excellent all-around operator for customers searching for well-priced sim-only deals.

Three

Three is one of the UK’s top four mobile network providers, offering a variety of mobile phone contracts and SIM-only deals. It has many physical shops on many UK high streets – you can find nearby shops using the Three store locator.

While it is one of the newest, Three still has managed to establish itself as one of the major network operators in the country, alongside Vodafone and EE Mobile. It is known for its budget-friendly prices and unlimited plans with no restrictions or speed caps.

Are you done with knowing these network operators individually? It’s time to enlist the significant differences between Smarty Vs Three mobile so you can make the better choice. Scroll down the page, compare these operators in terms of plans, network coverage, international calling, and roaming features, and choose accordingly.

Compare Smarty, and Three phone plans price

Plans and pricing are the major and foremost concerns when comparing the two operators. Let’s find out the pricing structure of each mobile network separately.

Smarty

Smarty Mobile is well-known for offering the best-unlimited plans at the lowest price. It is often referred to as the new king of the no-frills network, owing to its super-cheap plans.

Price	Data	Learn More
£6	5GB	View More
£7	8GB	View More
£8	16GB	View More
£10	40GB	View More
£12	100GB	View More
£15	150GB	View More
£17	200GB	View More
£20	Unlimited	View More

Its pricing starts from £6 for 5GB of data to £20 a month for unlimited data. All plans include unlimited minutes and texts.  In between, you can find some fantastic limited-time offers. All the sim-only plans are available on a one-month rolling contract that you can cancel at any time. 4G and 5G connections are available, and you can enjoy data with no speed caps.

In addition, you must remember that Smarty also includes data-only plans for laptops and tablets. This network operator also provides the hotspot tethering feature, so you can share your data with others. However, you must remember that there’s not much data rolling and family features available with the Smarty Mobile.

it also offers three unique “data discount” plans, instead of rolling over unused data to the next month, it refunds the cost of the unused data at a rate of 1 penny per megabyte (1p per MB).

Three

Compared to Smarty, Three’s pay-monthly plans include data packages that range from 1GB to unlimited data. It offers Go Roam Around The World, which allows you to use up to 12GB of data for £2 per day in the EU or £5 per day in other parts of the world.

Its unlimited plan is unarguably the best and the cheapest option of the equivalent packages from Vodafone and EE. The Three mobile also offers two different pay-as-you-go plans with better rates.

Three Mobile 1 Month Plans

Price	Data
£19	4GB	View Plans »
£22	12GB	View Plans »
£24	25GB	View Plans »
£31	Unlimited	View Plans »

Three Mobile 12 Months Plans

Price	Data
£11	1GB	View Plans »
£13	4GB	View Plans »
£14	12GB	View Plans »
£16	25GB	View Plans »
£18	120GB	View Plans »
£22	250GB	View Plans »
£28	Unlimited	View Plans »

Three Mobile 24 Months Plans

Price	Data
£9 (6 months half price – £8 from month 7)	1GB	View Plans »
£7	4GB	View Plans »
£6 (6 months half price – £12 from month 7)	12GB	View Plans »
£10	25GB	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 »
£13 (6 months half price – £26 from 7th month)	Unlimited	View Plans »

All plans include unlimited text and minutes, so you can stay connected with your near and dear ones in the country. Advanced plans come with the Go Roam Passes feature that lets you call, text, and use data in over 160 destinations .

However, one thing you must know before getting convinced or signing up with Three Mobile is that you have signed up for a contract of 12 months to get the discounted price. No one-month deals are available with Three Mobile.

Verdict: Undoubtedly, Smarty Mobile plans come with better prices and options, making them an ideal choice for all. Also, these plans won’t bind you in any contract unlike Three Mobile, thus giving you the freedom to come out of the same at any time. However, if you don’t mind signing up for a long-term contract, then you should consider the Three Mobile deals and enjoy some extra perks, like international roaming.

Smarty vs. Three coverage

The network coverage is the next important thing to consider when comparing Smarty Vs Three mobile. While both use the same infrastructure, they are still different in terms of data speed and signal strength.

Since the Three Mobile covers 97% of the population, you can expect the same from the Smarty as it piggybacks off the same network. Both network don’t offer 2G coverage, so you can expect the least signal strength in rural areas.

While the Three mobile comes with excellent population coverage, it doesn’t give the exact information. According to the study conducted by OpenSignal, Three appears in third place among the four major networks in the UK. Its average 4G download speed is around 19.3Mbps, and the upload speed is approximately 6.8Mbps. These are more than enough to stream the HD content.

Since Three’s infrastructure powers Smarty, they share the very same network coverage and data speed. However, the major difference lies in their 5G. While Three’s 5G spectrum is the largest in the country with 140Mhz, Smarty doesn’t offer any 5G coverage yet, making Three a clear winner.

Let’s now compare Smarty Vs Three mobile in voice call quality. Neither Three nor Smarty offer 2G coverage; hence, their voice quality might suffer at times, especially in rural areas.

Verdict: While Three and Smarty are powered by the same infrastructure, Three still wins this round owing to its largest 5G coverage. Hence, if you are more included in the uninterrupted network and speed than price and contract, turn to Three Mobile and enjoy seamless streaming, irrespective of your location.

Smarty vs. Three International Calls

Do your family and friends live abroad? Well then, you should consider the international call rates before signing up for a contract with any network operator. Unfortunately, both Smarty and Three don’t include any international calling feature in their pre-built plans; however, they allow you to make an international call at standard rates.

When it comes to Smarty, you can simply choose the country where you want to place the call and pay the standard price for the same. The rates vary for landlines and Mobile, so you should check them before proceeding further.

On the other hand, Three Mobile offers two international add-ons to facilitate the user. You can either opt for Call Abroad 100, which offers 100 international minutes a month. It is available for £6 and is valid for 55 destinations worldwide. However, if you place frequent international calls, then you should go for Call Abroad Unlimited, which is available for £12 and offers unlimited international minutes to 55 countries each month.

Verdict: Three Mobile comfortably wins the round by offering two international add-ons at an affordable price. So, if you want to connect with your family and friends overseas, simply turn to Three Mobile, credit your phone with any of these international plans, and stay close to everyone beyond geographic boundaries.

Smarty vs. Three International Roaming

Travel frequently? Choose the network operator with a free international roaming facility and travel around the world with ease. Thankfully, both Smarty and Three mobile offer international roaming features to facilitate the customers; however, the difference lies in the number of destinations they cover.

When it comes to Smarty, it offers free EU roaming, so you can travel to all countries included in the European Union and use your plan as you would normally do in the UK. However, this roaming facility is subject to the fair use limit policy, and you can only use up to 12GB of data each month in roaming. Also, if you travel outside of the EU, you must credit your phone with an out-of-plan add-on to continue services.

That’s where Three mobile comes into effect. It includes free roaming to 160 destinations worldwide, so you can roam freely without worrying about the extra charges. This roaming feature is included in all Three Mobile plans, so you don’t have to spend extra bucks for it.

Verdict: So, Three also wins this round and serves as the best option for those who travel frequently.

Smarty vs. Three: Which should you get?

That’s it, folks. We hope our comparison guide between Smarty Vs Three will help you decide the best option for your requirement. Both network operators work on a similar network but differ in various other aspects. Hence, you are advised to be aware of their key differences and choose accordingly. Do not make any decision in haste, and take your time before signing up for a contract.

Article Updates

• Aug 13, 2024: Update Smarty and Three Plans