Best Network for a high data user and mid (sometimes high) text user, but low (sometimes mid) call u

BuZ

BuZ

BuZ

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Hello all,

I am looking to switch network from my current provider which is T-Mobile and it is awful. I have 2 phones, one being the Samsung Galaxy S4 which is capable of 4G (although I'm not bothered about 4G, 3G/3G+ does me fine). My other phone is the Samsung Galaxy Fame, which is capable of 3G at max, so I am looking for a decent network with a good coverage.

I know about EE, but it is the backing of Orange and T-Mobile, so most likely the rates and charges will be the same. I dislike EE as a whole, it's too oversubscribed and their packages are very useless.

I also have a Motorola Moto G, but I have no purpose to use that with any SIM Card in. I just use it to watch films on and browse the internet plus test apps on and use for modification purposes.

I've spotted the following so far:

1. Virgin Mobile - (It has decent texts and data packages/rates). Top up £10 and get 3000 texts alongside 1GB of data.
2. Three Mobile - (It has decent texts and usage similar to Virgin Mobile). Top up £10 and get 3000 texts, 500MB of data and 100 minutes, which is great value if you ask me. Three also has good values outside of the 30 day package rates.
3. GiffGaff - All I can say this is a network run by people, not overpriced businesses, so the costs are similar to the others. Top up £10 and get something like 400 texts, 1GB of data and a few minutes. Although the outside of 30 day package rates, the prices can overdue the past 2 networks.

I've tried Orange and don't really like it, I've tried Vodafone and didn't like it due to their packages and coverage issues and I have tried O2, but didn't like how they always text you everyday with nonsense messages, which I tried to stop.

I've tried other networks such as Tesco as my mum has a Tesco Mobile phone, which only gives her a fraction of what I will/can get on most other networks. All other networks such as ASDA Mobile, etc aren't as good as the ones I have stated. I am thinking about joining Lebara or Lycan Mobile for the data usage, as they're pretty low.

As I said in the Thread's Title I am a high data user, mid/sometimes high text user and rarely ever go past a mid call user.
 
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Three :) I will be switching to them at the end of this month and going for one of the below:

Ultimate Internet SIM 200 1 month - £12.90
1 month
200 minutes
5000 texts
Unlimited Data

Ultimate Internet SIM 600 12 months - £15.90
12months
600 minutes
5000 texts
Unlimited Data

Not sure if the prices include VAT though, as I know Vodafone's dont.... (yeh pay £15 but comes out at £20..)
 
I'm very happy with my Three One Plan 4G with my S4 Mini, high data user, medium texter, pretty much no calls.
 
I think I'm about to switch into 3s 12.90 sim only 30 day contract deal. Have a look!
 
3's 3-2-1 PAYG tarriff. 3p a minute calls, 2p texts, 1p per megabyte. You get 150mb with each top up (£5 min).

You can then purchase optional 30 day add-ons. £5 gets 500MB (I think this is pointless though). £10 gets 3000 texts, 100 mins and 500MB. £15 gets 3000 texts, 300 minutes calls and unlimited data.

I typically use about 400-600 MB per month with only a handful of calls and texts so £5 lasts me about a month with no add-ins purchased.

Edit: There is also a 1 day only "Internet Daily" add-on. It's 50p for 120MB to use over 24 hours.
 
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Ee gets 4g everywhere I go it appears and it's fast where as 3 are patchy at best and very very low data speeds so it depends on signal in your area as what appears to be good on paper might not be and for a few quid a month more I'd be in 4g heaven if I'd gone ee over 3.
 
If you are not worried about 4G as you say then giffgaff offer a goodybag for £12 which offers 250 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data. This is 3G unlimited data.
I have no idea of where in the Galaxy you are, so giffgaff's coverage may be limited in your sector. It uses o2 masts but I would say is throttled in comparison to a real o2 user.
There is a coverage app which might show signal strength in your area.
 
Another three one plan user and very happy. If you tether you need the one plan, if you don't you can look at the cheaper ones. I get consistently high speeds throughout the south west region. Travel all over there for work. Even in the middle of nowhere it's still a couple of meg. Found it far better than EE 3g coverage when I was on virgin.

Trouble is o2 has a crap coverage for 3g and is very slow. Obviously there's some good areas, but on average it is shocking.

Uriel said:
3's 3-2-1 PAYG tarriff. 3p a minute calls, 2p texts, 1p per megabyte. You get 150mb with each top up (£5 min).

You can then purchase optional 30 day add-ons. £5 gets 500MB (I think this is pointless though). £10 gets 3000 texts, 100 mins and 500MB. £15 gets 3000 texts, 300 minutes calls and unlimited data.

I typically use about 400-600 MB per month with only a handful of calls and texts so £5 lasts me about a month with no add-ins purchased.

Edit: There is also a 1 day only "Internet Daily" add-on. It's 50p for 120MB to use over 24 hours.
Click to expand...

For a heavy data user forget pay-g, sim only 30d/12month depending how flexible you want to be, is the only way. 600mb is extremely light use.
 
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3 would be the best. I would go with them. If you find their coverage is pretty poor however, then giffgaff would be my next vote.
 
I find giffgaff's speed appallingly bad. I would never recommend it for heavy data use. But as always, I guess it depends where you are.
 
Glaucus said:
For a heavy data user forget pay-g, sim only 30d/12month depending how flexible you want to be, is the only way. 600mb is extremely light use.
Click to expand...

Hence the unlimited data for £15 option if needed?

Since going PAYG my usage has changed. When I had an unlimited contract I would typically use around 700MB to 1GB. Once or twice, I hit 3GB. I do use several GB a month but do it over wi-fi.

I realised that for the most part I'd be better off on PAYG. A tenner for example would get 1.3GB. It was only after switching off unlimted that I started to get a bit more careful.
 
The 3 PAYG option is cost effective up to around 1-1.5GB average use if you don't text or call much. Over that, I'd probably consider their £12.90 ultimate internet SIM 200. That has unlimited data, 200 minutes, 2000 texts on a rolling monthly contract.

If you text or call more and want unlimited data, either get the £15 PAYG add in (300 mins, 3000 texts, unlimited data) or the Ultimate Internet SIM 600 (600 mins, 5000 texts, unlimited data - £18.90 1 month rolling or £15.90 12 months).
 
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Many thanks everyone! :) Thanks for all the suggestions.

I'm going to try them out and see which is best.

Virgin seems to offer additional top-up rewards, while reserving the credit you top up by.

EE could be an option, although I have complications with their network.

Three seems good and GiffGaff will be an option once O2 extends their network across the UK even more.

I like all networks to be honest, but the ones that reserve topped up credit offer the most value (in my opinion).
 
If your a VirginMedia customer you can get the unlimited data, 30 day rolling contract for £12 a month
 
Glaucus said:
Really forget about top ups and do a 30day sim only contract. they are far cheaper for heavy data users.
Click to expand...

The most sensible thing is to work out what you actually use. There are plenty of apps that monitor data use. I tracked mine over a couple of months and then made my decision.

If I updated apps etc via the mobile data connection, I was using several GB a month. If I restricted large downloads to wi-fi I was using less than a GB a month. I deciced I was happy to restrict some usage types to wi-fi, further bringing data usage down. Quantifying usage and then getting something fits the bill seems the most cost effective way to chose a mobile plan.

Of course if you're regularly using youtube or iplayer while commuting and downloading a load of stuff all the time, getting a cheap data unlimited contract seems like a no-brainer.
 
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