Unlimited data plans

Can I get a SIM with unlimited data?

SIM only deals with unlimited data are available on 1 month, 12-month and 24-month plans.

Can I get unlimited data on a Pay As You Go plan?

Yes, unlimited data is available with two Pay As You Go bundles, one of which costs £35 and lasts 30 days, the other costs £90 and lasts 90 days. Both also include unlimited minutes and texts for the duration and include a free 1 month subscription to the likes of Xbox Game Pass, Rakuten or Headspace. Plus, you’ll also receive reward points which help you work towards additional subscriptions and discounts.

How much does the cheapest contract cost?

The cheapest Three unlimited data plans are available on SIM Only and start at just £20 per month on a 24 month plan, £22 per month on a 12 month plan, or £26 a month on a flexible one month rolling contract. Plans with a mobile phone included start from £25 a month, but to get a flagship smartphone you'll be looking at paying significantly more.

Which networks offer unlimited data?

Three is the only one of the UK mobile networks offering unlimited data without any major catches, so for those who love to browse the choice is pretty clear.

One other is GiffGaff, which offers unlimited data add-ons, but speeds are capped after using 20GB of data to just 384Kbits/sec, between 8am and midnight, which is slower than 3G download speeds. Virgin Mobile meanwhile offers an unlimited data SIM plan but only for existing Virgin Broadband and TV customers.

Then there’s Smarty, which has an unlimited data option but only for SIM Only, while Lycamobile offers unlimited data but caps you at speeds of 128kbps after 9GB and doesn’t allow tethering. Vodafone also offers unlimited data, but only on the most expensive max plan can you enjoy downloading without speed restrictions.

Can I tether unlimited data so I can share internet with my other devices?

Tethering is included on unlimited data plans. You can use any or all of your data allowance to tether in the UK, which with unlimited data means there’s no limit. You can also tether in Go Roam in Europe destinations, though there’s a 19GB 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).

Can I use unlimited data when roaming abroad?

Assuming you’re on an Advanced Plan (which you should be if you have unlimited data)  Three allows you to use your data abroad in 71 international destinations at no extra cost. However there are some minor restrictions, including the use of data, which is capped at 19GB 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. Note that if you’re on Pay As You Go then the cap in Europe is 15GB.

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 countries across the world. Find out more here.

Can I use Go Binge with an unlimited data plan?

Go Binge comes with all unlimited data plans, so you can tether Netflix, Apple Music, Snapchat, Soundcloud, Deezer and TV Player without using any of your tethering allowance. You can also use Go Binge in Go Roam destinations, although it will count towards your fair use roaming allowance, and tethering isn’t allowed when roaming beyond Europe, so you won’t be able to use Go Binge on other devices when travelling further afield.

Three has less control over speeds and availability of services when abroad though so can't guarantee the same level of performance as you would get in the UK.

Where can I use my data?

You can make use of your unlimited data plan anywhere in the UK, just as long as there’s coverage, which in most cases there will be, as 99.8% of the UK population receives Three 4G coverage and 98.3% can get a Three 3G signal at the time of writing. You can also use it outside the UK free in Go Roam destinations, subject to the cap detailed above. Go Roam is expanding its reach all the time, but if you want to use data somewhere where it isn’t currently offered roaming charges will apply.

Can you get unlimited mobile broadband plans?

The only UK mobile network to offer mobile broadband plans with unlimited data is Three. Currently, you can get unlimited data with a Huawei Mobile WiFi dongle, or a HomeFi Home Broadband router, both of which cost ust £22 per month on a 24 month plan, with the former being good for travel and the latter designed for use at home. 

Three also now offers the Huawei AI Cube, which is another device designed to replace conventional home broadband and is a bit more high tech than the devices above. It’s faster, supports up to 64 simultaneous connections, and even has Amazon’s Alexa assistant and a speaker built in, so you can use it as a smart speaker too.

There are also a couple of alternative solutions you might want to consider.

One is to order one of Three's unlimited SIM voice plans above and put them in a Mobile WiFi dongle purchased elsewhere to tether internet with other devices. You won't be able to use the minutes, or texts allowances but you will be able to tether unlimited data. You might want to do this is none of the MiFi devices sold direct by Three appeal.

Another option is to use your phone to tether unlimited data to other devices but be aware that tethering uses a lot of battery power, so you'll need to keep your smartphone plugged in or charge it frequently.

What is TrafficSense?

TrafficSense is Three's management of data traffic and is a way of ensuring the best possible mobile internet experience is given to users.

In general you won’t notice this at work, the aim is to give you a smooth experience and if that’s happening then TrafficSense is doing its job. However, in order to achieve that some types of data use will see small restrictions at certain times. For example, in Go Roam Around the World locations Three only offers streaming at standard definition, as well as reducing the speed of P2P and VPN services.

TrafficSense may also be noticeable in times of heavy congestion or network faults, at which point restrictions and prioritisations may be used to ensure the network continues to run smoothly.

Are there any restrictions?

The only restriction apart from the roaming ones outlined above is that unlimited data plans aren't permitted for commercial use. If data usage reaches 1000GB in a month Three may investigate whether commercial use is taking place. However for non-commercial use it’s very unlikely that you’ll ever get anywhere close to the cap, even if you use your phone as your main or only internet device.

The information contained on this website has been written to assist our readers. We do not represent Three or speak on its behalf and are entirely independent of Three.