Three Unlimited Data Plans

Unlimited Data Plans on Three

Three offer truly unlimited data plans with no usage limits or speed restrictions, and with lower prices than many rival networks.

Unlimited data is available on Three with Pay Monthly phones, SIM Only contracts, Home Broadband, Mobile Broadband and even on Pay As You Go. All plans come with 5G at no extra cost, unlimited personal hotspot and worldwide roaming in 71 destinations. 

What is unlimited data?

Unlimited data is exactly what it sounds – an unlimited amount of data to use for whatever you want, be it web browsing, streaming video and music, gaming, video calls, downloading apps, or whatever else.

Technically there are some limits but on Three they’re minimal and only apply in specific circumstances, such as when you’re roaming abroad, details of which you’ll find below.

So if you use a lot of data or want the freedom to do so, then an unlimited data plan is likely to be a great fit for you.

What is All-You-Can-Eat data?

All-you-can-eat data is an alternative name for unlimited data, which was introduced by Three in 2010 when they launched “The One Plan”. However, Three stopped referring to all-you-can-eat data in 2019 and switched instead to using the term unlimited data.

The two terms are still sometimes used interchangeably. Whichever term is used, you can rest assured that on Three you will get truly unlimited data with usage limits or speed restrictions.

Why choose Three?

No usage limits

There are no data usage limits on Three unlimited plans in the UK, so you can use as much data as like without having to worry about running out of data or unexpected bills. That applies even when tethering over a personal hotspot.

Three used to have a fair-usage policy of 1000GB a month, but that is no longer the case. The only caveat now is you can only use the plans for personal use (not commercial).

Although, it is important to note that when roaming abroad in Europe you can use up to 20GB a month, while in Go Roam Around the World destinations the limit is 12GB a month.

No speed restrictions

There are no speed restrictions on Three’s unlimited plans, so you will always be able to enjoy the fastest available speeds. That is not always the case on other networks which in some cases limit speeds based on plan type or reduce speeds after a certain amount of data usage is reached.

Three’s 4G network supports maximum downloads speeds of 300Mbps, while on 5G the maximum exceeds 1000Mbps (or 1Gbps). In the real world use your speeds will rarely be that high, but they should still be high enough. Current average Three 4G download speeds across the UK are 19.3Mbps according to April 2021 data from Opensignal.

On 5G meanwhile Three are reporting that you can expect to get average download speeds of around 130-240Mbps. Independent tests from Point Signal in September 2020 meanwhile reported average 5G speeds of 158.7Mbps, and a 2020 RootMetrics report found that maximum 5G speeds on Three were 478.1Mbps.

5G at no extra cost

All Three unlimited data plans are 5G-ready at no extra cost. Those with a 5G-ready device who are in a 5G coverage area will be able to access 5G without having to pay any extra.

5G brings a host of benefits including much faster download speeds and lower latency, and will offer a range of exciting new possibilities in the future.

Numerous 5G phones are already available to buy on Three, including the iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, OnePlus 9 Pro, Huawei P40 Pro 5G and many more. Three also offer a 5G hub home broadband router.

Unlimited personal hotspot / tethering

There are no tethering restrictions on Three unlimited data plans, so you can use as much data as you want over a personal hotspot. On Three plans purchased before October 2018 there was a 30GB data tethering limit, but this limitation has now been removed. However, you can’t tether when outside Europe unless you also purchase a Data Passport add-on.

Unlimited tethering is great because it enables you to use your smartphone to share internet with any other devices over Wi-Fi, such as your laptop, tablet, or games console.

Free worldwide roaming

All applicable Three unlimited data plans come with free roaming abroad in 71 worldwide destinations, including popular destinations such as the United States, Australia, Republic of Ireland and many more.

When roaming in a Go Roam in Europe destination, data usage is limited to 20GB per month, while if roaming in a Go Roam Around the World destination you can use up to 12GB per month. You can remove this cap by purchasing a Data Passport add-on.

Traffic management or throttling

Three have a traffic management system in place called TrafficSense, which is designed to ensure all customers get “the best possible experience” in all circumstances.

In general, you shouldn’t notice it being used as it’s designed to be seamless, but it will for example sometimes mean Three reroutes bandwidth from quieter places to places with increased demand.

The only times you might notice it are in extreme circumstances, namely in heavily congested areas, to support time-critical traffic, and in the event of network or equipment failure.

Three does not use TrafficSense to block or limit speeds on any of the following traffic types:  Peer to Peer (P2P), Gaming, VOIP, Audio Streaming, Video Streaming, Music Downloads or Video Downloads.

The exception to this is in Go Roam Around the World destinations, where streaming is provided at standard definition, tethering isn’t included, and P2P and VPN services are slowed. Though you can avoid these restrictions by buying a Data Passport add-on.

Unlimited data plans on Three

Three first began offering unlimited data back in 2010 and have continued to offer market-leading value ever since. They now have a wide range of truly unlimited data plans available with no usage limits or speed restrictions, and with a range of added extras.

SIM Only

Unlimited data SIM only plans come with a bundle of minutes, texts and data and are meant for those who are happy with their current phone. They are the cheapest of Three’s unlimited data plans with prices starting from just £16 a month.

24, 12 or 1-month unlimited data SIM plans are available, and they all come with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited tethering, free roaming abroad, and 5G at no extra cost.

Pay Monthly phone contracts

Those looking for a new phone will be pleased to hear that Three offer a range of Pay Monthly phones with unlimited data, with prices starting from just £22 a month at the time of writing.

There is a wide range of phones available, including the latest Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. Current best selling 5G phones include the Apple iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21 and Apple iPhone 12 Mini.

All these plans come with free roaming abroad, unlimited tethering, 5G at no extra cost and have no speed or general usage restrictions.

Pay As You Go

Pay As You Go plans are the ideal option for those looking for ultimate flexibility, or individuals with a bad credit rating because no credit check is required.

Three offer two unlimited data Pay As You Go add-ons, one of which costs £35 and lasts 30 days, the other costs £90 and lasts 90 days. They both come with unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, 5G at no extra cost, unlimited tethering, and worldwide roaming abroad in 71 destinations.

Mobile broadband

Mobile broadband enables you to stay connected to the internet at home or on the move using a battery-powered mobile Wi-Fi device.

Three currently offer unlimited mobile broadband with the Huawei 4G Plus MiFi device. It supports 4G speeds of up to 300Mbps, enables you to share internet with up to 10 devices at the same time, and has 350 hours of standby time.

Plans with unlimited data are available on 12-month or 24-month durations, with prices starting from £23 a month.

Home broadband

4G or 5G home broadband enables you to get internet for your household using a mains-powered router. It is an alternative to traditional fibre broadband with the advantage being that you do not require a landline or engineer visit.

At the time of writing, Three currently offer unlimited 4G home broadband with the 4G Hub with prices starting at £22 a month.

It supports speeds of up to 300Mbps and can share internet with up to 64 devices at the same time.

A 5G Hub with unlimited data is also available on Three, with prices starting at £23 a month at the time of writing,  Average download speeds vary by region, but will likely be roughly in the range of 100-200Mbps.

Data Only SIMs

Data only SIM plans are for use in tablets, mobile Wi-Fi and home broadband devices. They are available with unlimited data and do not include minutes or texts.

Unlimited plans are available in 1-month, 12-month and 24-month durations from just £22 a month. You also get free roaming abroad in 71 destinations and like all Three unlimited plans they have no speed or general usage restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does unlimited data cost?

Unlimited data plans on Three start from £16 a month on SIM Only, with the first six months being half that. You can also get mobile phones with unlimited data from just £22 a month and home and mobile broadband plans with unlimited data start from just £22 a month.

Is Three unlimited data really unlimited with no usage or speed limits?

Yes, Three’s unlimited data is truly unlimited with no speed or usage restrictions in the UK, so you never have to worry about unexpected bills or running out of data again. However, it should be noted that the plans are for personal use only, not commercial usage.

When roaming you can only use 20GB of data per month in Europe and 12GB of data in Go Roam Around the World destinations.

What speeds can I expect on a Three unlimited plan?

Average download speeds on Three 4G across the UK are 19.3Mbps according to Opensignal's Mobile Network Experience Report from April 2021 . However, in a lot of major towns and cities you can expect speeds significantly above that and if you can access 5G then you can expect to hit download speeds of around 100-200Mbps on average, based on the available data.

Average 4G upload speeds on Three come in at around 8.0Mbps according to Opensignal, while 4G latency can be expected to be around 48ms (milliseconds). On 5G, Three’s latency could be as low as 17ms according to RootMetrics.

Can I use unlimited data when roaming abroad?

Three allows you to use your data abroad in 71 international destinations at no extra cost.

However there are some restrictions, including the use of data, which is capped at 20GB when in a Go Roam in Europe destination or 12GB when in a Go Roam Around the World destination. But in most cases that should still be more than enough for even the longest of holidays. 

Those who need unlimited data when abroad have the option of purchasing a Data Passport add-on which costs £5 a day. That gives you unlimited data in 89 destinations across the world.

Is tethering allowed on Three's unlimited data plans?

Yes, unlimited tethering over a personal hotspot is included on unlimited data plans. You can use any or all of your data allowance to tether in the UK, which means with unlimited data means there’s no limit.

You can also tether in Go Roam in Europe destinations, though there’s a 20GB cap there. Tethering isn’t allowed in Go Roam Around the World locations unless you purchase a Data Passport (at a cost of £5 per day).

Are Three's unlimited data plans 5G-ready?

Yes, all Three's Pay Monthly, SIM Only plans and Pay As You Go plans including those with unlimited data are 5G-ready at no extra cost.

All existing and new customers will be able to access 5G, although they will need to have a 5G phone and be in a 5G coverage area.

Can you get unlimited mobile broadband?

Yes, Three offer unlimited mobile broadband plans as well as unlimited home broadband plans.

Currently, you can get unlimited data with a Huawei 4G+ MiFi, Three 4G Hub and the Three 5G Hub.

What SIM card size do I need?

In almost all cases you’ll need a nano SIM (which is the smallest size), but Three actually supplies Trio SIMs, which are all three possible sizes in one – you just pop out the size you need. The other two sizes are micro SIM, which some older devices use, and Standard SIM, which almost nothing uses anymore.

Can I keep my number if switching to Three?

Yes, and doing so is easy. Once you’ve ordered your Three phone or SIM card just request your PAC code from your old network (or text ‘PAC’ to 65075 from the number you want to keep) and then fill in Three’s number transfer form.