VOXI vs Giffgaff vs SMARTY – Which is the overall better MVNO
You’ll only be able to enjoy high-quality mobile services at affordable prices if you subscribe to the best virtual operator. In this case, you can’t go wrong if you purchase VOXI, giffgaff, or SMARTY.
VOXI, giffgaff, and SMARTY are all mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) who will offer you low-cost mobile plans without contracts. This works out for all of them since they all have quality host networks. Besides, they all have various plans that last for 30 days and you can cancel them at any time.
When to use VOXI
This virtual operator is a great choice to consider if you are looking for flexible SIM-only deals with a 30-day rolling period at low pricing. VOXI offers mobile services using the Vodafone network. You get unlimited calls & texts on all the plans and access to extra goodies and freebies. It’s known for its Endless Social Media plan giving you access to several social media platforms.
When to use Giffgaff
This MVNO is best suited for you if you are looking for a cheaper network operator running on O2’s network. In addition, the operator offers decent phones with flexible payment options, low-cost calls, data, and texts with the option to roll-over monthly. You also earn payback points when you participate in their forums.
When to use SMARTY
This is the cheapest MVNO and ideal for someone looking to save on costs and maintaining ThreeUK’s network. SMARTY offers cheaper monthly SIM-Only rolling deals. It’s the only virtual operator that supports Wi-Fi calling. Besides, it not only rolls over your unused allowance but discounts your bill based on the amount rolled over.
VOXI vsgiffgaffvs SMARTY Feature comparison
Feature |
VOXI |
giffgaff |
SMARTY |
Network |
Vodafone |
O2 |
Three |
Average download speeds |
22.4 Mbps
|
18.2 Mbps |
22.2 Mbps
|
Wi-Fi calling |
No |
No |
Yes |
Wi-Fi hotspots |
No |
Yes |
No |
5G |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Roaming destinations |
47 |
41 |
47 |
Price range |
£10 – £35/month |
£6 – £35/month |
£6 – £20/month |
How to evaluate VOXI, giffgaff, and SMARTY
Network coverage – The network infrastructure, types of networks supported, and the coverage across the country.
Plans: The different plans offered by the network.
Download speeds: The rate at which you can download a file over the network.
Prices: How much do the planscost.
Extras and benefits – These are the incentives and benefits besides the plans that the operator has to offer.
VOXI vsgiffgaffvs SMARTY overview
VOXI overview
This is a popular virtual operator across all age groups and one of its best features is unlimited social media access, unlimited YouTube and Netflix video streaming, and 5G at no extra charges. VOXI uses Vodafone’s network which is available across the UK even in remote areas. They offer flexible 30-day rolling plans and all the plans come with unlimited data, calls & texts at no extra cost.
Tariff |
Data |
Monthly Price |
Contract period |
Details |
VOXI plan |
12 GB |
£10 |
1 month |
|
VOXI plan |
15 GB |
£15 |
1 month |
|
VOXI plan |
45 GB |
£20 |
1 month |
|
VOXI plan |
Unlimited |
£35 |
1 month |
All VOXI plans come with unlimited calls, texts, and MMS to UK numbers. Besides, most of the plans come with 5G and are accessible across the UK and 70 other locations across the EU. VOXI doesn’t do credit checks, all you have to do is get a free VOXI SIM and then purchase a plan. This mobile operator offers gifts like Amazon gift cards of up to £20 when you refer a friend/family to join the network
Pros
- Flexible 30-day rolling plans that you can cancel anytime
- Unlimited social media on all plans
- Unlimited video streaming on most plans
- Amazon gift cards worth between £10 and £20
- Unrestricted tethering
Cons
- Limited plans
- No rolling over of data
- No Wi-Fi calling
giffgaff Overview
This virtual operator is powered by the O2 network in the UK. They offer various plans including unlimited plans. giffgaff is flexible and easy to switch between its SIM-Only plans. You can also go with a PAYG option which you can get without undergoing the many credit checks. Giffgaff has flexible goodybags which lets you use more than one plan in a month with no contracts.
Tariff |
Data |
Monthly Price |
Details |
GiffgaffGoodybag |
500 MB |
£6 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
2 GB |
£8 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
6 GB |
£10 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
10 GB |
£12 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
15 GB |
£15 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
80 GB |
£20 |
|
GiffgaffGoodybag |
Unlimited with reduced speeds |
£25 |
|
Giffgaff golden goodybag |
Unlimited |
£35 |
Giffgaff’s pricing is relatively low for most plans and the SIM cards can stay active for up to 6 months even without top-ups or chargeable activity. When you buy one of the £10 to £20 goodybags, you get a 1 GB data boost which is automatically added to your account when you use the network consecutively for 3 months. Giffgaff rewards its customers using its payback time reward programme. Customers earn Payback Points when they bring their family or friends to join the network or when they actively participate in the giffgaff forum. When it comes to customer support, the network operator has an active online community open to all.
Pros
- Flexible network operator
- Wide variety of plans to choose from
- Unlimited data plans
- Active online community
- Payback points
Cons
- Limited roaming destinations
- 4G data speeds capped at the 80 GB limit
- Not the best 4G network coverage or speeds
- No customer service
- No inclusive roaming beyond the EU
- No Wi-Fi calling
SMARTY Overview
SMARTY is an MVNO that runs on Three UK’s network in the UK as the network’s sub-brand. The network operator is low on costs and mainly targets customers looking for cheaper monthly deals within the Three UK network. SMARTY offers monthly rolling SIM-Only deals and you can buy back your unused data at a discount.
Tariff |
Data |
Monthly Price |
Contract period |
Details |
SMARTY (Money Back) |
1 GB |
£6 |
1 month |
|
SMARTY (Money Back) |
2 GB |
£7 |
1 month |
|
SMARTY (Money Back) |
3 GB |
£8 |
1 month |
|
SMARTY |
30 GB |
£10 |
1 month |
|
SMARTY |
50 GB |
£15 |
1 month |
|
SMARTY |
Unlimited |
£20 |
1 month |
As you can see, SMARTY offers customers affordable plans with one of the best unlimited plans which are priced at £20 for a month. This MVNO doesn’t do credit checks before joining the network. All you have to do is get yourself a SIM and buy a plan and you’re good to go. You can switch to a new plan or network easily since the plan doesn’t come with commitments to tie you down.
SMARTY has a data-rollover feature that allows its customers to keep using their data leftover from a month to the next. This then reduces a customer’s bill making it one of its kinds in the UK. SMARTY has a spending cap that limits your from going past your plan’s data allowance unless you buy add-ons. This helps keep your monthly bills in check. There’s a family/group plan where you can have a maximum of 8 SIMs and get to save on each SIM an extra 10%. When you refer family or friends who get to use their SIM for at least 14 days, you both get a free month. There’s no limit to how many people you can refer.
Pros
- Cheapest prices
- No credit checks
- Monthly plans without commitments
- In case of unused data at the end of the month, you get a discount
Cons
- No 5G network
How does VOXI, giffgaff, and SMARTY compare?
Network coverage
Network coverage, performance, and the types of networks supported are important when choosing an MVNO. In this comparison, VOXI has the better and most reliable network than both giffgaff and SMARTY. They have a wide coverage both indoors and outdoors across the UK even in very rural areas. giffgaff, on the other hand, uses the O2 network which falls behind Vodafone while Three UK is a recent major network and SMARTY doesn’t support 5G yet.
Plans
Mobile network operators usually offer their customers a number of plans from which they can choose what best suits them. However, giffgaff offers you the most number of plans which you can choose from depending on your needs and how much you’re willing to spend. VOXI offers a limited number of plans while SMARTY doesn’t fall very behind giffgaff.
Download speed
Without a doubt, we all want a virtual operator that will consistently offer us fast download speeds throughout. Here, VOXI offers you slightly faster speeds compared to SMARTY. This is because its plans come with an average download speed of 22.4 Mbps. SMARTY comes close with an average download speed of 22.2 Mbps and giffgaff comes third with 18.2 Mbps.
Prices
Most virtual operators usually offer their customers plans at different prices. In this comparison, SMARTY offers you more affordable plans than both VOXI and giffgaff. They provide you with plans whose monthly prices range from £6 to £20 which is cheaper. VOXI on the other hand offers you plans whose monthly cost ranges between £10 and £35. giffgaff plans range from £6 to £35 a month.
Extras & benefits
Most mobile network operators offer incentives and extra benefits to attract new customers and retain the existing ones. Here, VOXI offers you more worthy extras and benefits compared to giffgaff and SMARTY. VOXI offers unlimited social media on all its plans, unlimited video streaming on most of its plans, and Amazon gift cards of up to £20 when you refer someone to join VOXI. giffgaff on the other hand automatically gives you a 1 GB data boost when you use the network for 3 consecutive months and has a reward programme where customers earn points when they refer someone to join the network or actively participate in the network’s forum. SMARTY has a data rollover feature that ensures that you maximize your data in a new month at a discount. It also encourages families and groups at a 10% discount on every SIM and you both get a free month when you successfully refer someone to join the network.
Conclusion
For sure you’ll end up spending less if you choose SMARTY and you will have a wider variety of plans to choose from in giffgaff. However, VOXI is the overall winner compared to both giffgaff and SMARTY. This is because it runs on a more reliable network with a wider penetration and comes with faster speeds.
FAQs
Which Wi-Fi hotspots does giffgaff use?
giffgaff is powered by O2 which has Wi-Fi hotspots around the country. giffgaff allows its customers to access these hotspots for free.
Why doesn’t SMARTY support 5G yet the host network Three UK has the fastest 5G network in the UK?
SMARTY and Three UK are not the same mobile networks. SMARTY has to first upgrade both its 3G and 4G services to ensure the best coverage possible before rolling out 5G.
