SMARTY SIM review

SMARTY is a no-frills SIM only network owned by Three, now part of VodafoneThree, offering rolling 30-day plans with no credit check, no annual price rises and no long-term contract. Plans start from £6 a month for 18GB and include unlimited UK calls and texts on all tiers.

Here’s everything you need to know before signing up.

MoneyHQ verdict

SMARTY is one of the best value SIM only networks in the UK for people who want flexibility and a low monthly cost. There’s no credit check to sign up, no contract to lock you in, and no mid-term price rises meaning your price stays the same until you choose to change it.

However, there are trade-offs for going budget. There’s no phone line for customer support, rural coverage can be patchy, and EU roaming is capped at 12GB. If you’re a heavy data user in a city, SMARTY is hard to beat at the price. If you need reliable rural coverage or want to call customer service when something goes wrong, it’s worth weighing those gaps first.

SMARTY is best for: Budget-conscious smartphone users who want flexibility, no credit check and a low monthly cost on a reliable network.

Think twice if: You need strong rural coverage, frequently use EU roaming above 12GB, or prefer phone-based customer support.

SMARTY pros and cons

Pros

• Rolling 30-day contracts so you can cancel any time with no exit fee
• No credit check to sign up
• No annual price rises
• 5G included at no extra cost
• Unlimited calls and texts on every plan
• Tethering included on all plans so you can use your phone as a hotspot freely
• Group plan discount offering 10% off when multiple SIMs share one account
• Runs on Three’s network which has 99% 4G population coverage
• eSIMs available on all plans

Cons

• There is no phone line support instead being live chat, a chatbot and community forum only
• EU roaming capped at 12GB fair use
• Coverage can be patchy in some rural areas
• No handset deals

SMARTY plans and prices

SMARTY’s plans are rolling monthly, paid upfront, with unlimited UK calls and texts included on every tier. Prices start from around £6 a month for smaller data allowances and go up to £17 a month for unlimited data.

A few things worth knowing:

• Extra data: Additional data add-ons start from £1 per GB for small packs, with larger packs working out slightly cheaper. Unused add-on data doesn’t expire while you remain with SMARTY.
• Group plans: Add multiple SIMs to one account and everyone gets 10% off their individual plan. Members can be on different plans and can join or leave at any time.
• Referral: Refer a friend and both of you can earn up to £20 depending on the plan chosen.

Is SMARTY’s network coverage good?

SMARTY runs on Three’s network, which covers around 99% of the UK population on 4G. 5G is available in many towns and cities at no extra cost however you will need a 5G-capable handset.

Coverage can be patchier in some rural areas and on motorways, and Three’s network can get congested at busy events or in dense urban areas during peak times. If you live or work in a rural location, check SMARTY’s coverage map with your postcode before signing up.

Three and Vodafone now share their networks since merging as VodafoneThree, and SMARTY customers can already pick up Vodafone masts where they give a better signal, which should improve reach in some areas over time.

Can I use SMARTY abroad?

SMARTY includes EU roaming with a 12GB fair-use data cap. Calls and texts to and from EU destinations are included within your allowance.

If you travel frequently within Europe and use more than 12GB of data, SMARTY may not be the best fit. Providers like iD Mobile include roaming with a larger allowance (up to 30GB) on all plans which is worth comparing if roaming matters to you.

How good is SMARTY’s customer service?

SMARTY scored 4.1 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Great) from over 50,000 reviews.

Support is available through live chat with the team from 8am to 8pm, a chatbot around the clock, the help centre and a community forum. There is no customer service phone line with all contact being handled digitally. Response times can vary at busy periods.

SMARTY does not currently appear in Ofcom’s quarterly complaints data, which only publishes figures for providers above a certain market share threshold.

Does SMARTY do a credit check?

No. SMARTY doesn’t run a credit check when you sign up. Because plans are paid upfront each month with no handset finance involved, there’s nothing to assess since you pay before you use the service.

This makes SMARTY a strong option if you’ve been declined elsewhere, have a thin credit file, or simply want to avoid a hard search on your credit record. See our full no credit check SIM page for more on how this works and other providers who offer no credit check SIMs.

How do I keep my number when switching to SMARTY?

To keep your existing number, text PAC to 65075 on your current network and you’ll receive a PAC code by return text. Give that code to SMARTY when you sign up and your number will transfer across, usually within one working day.

You don’t need to cancel your old plan beforehand as the switch happens automatically when the PAC code is used, and your old contract ends at that point.

Who is SMARTY best for?

SMARTY suits you if:

• You want a low monthly cost with no contract commitment
• You’ve been refused a SIM elsewhere due to credit history
• You’re out of contract and looking to cut your monthly bill
• You want 5G without paying extra for it
• You use your phone mainly in urban or suburban areas

Consider alternatives if:

• You need reliable rural coverage (check the coverage map at your postcode first)
• You travel frequently in Europe and regularly use more than 12GB of data abroad
• You want to speak to someone on the phone when you have a problem
• You want to bundle your SIM with a new handset

How does SMARTY compare with other networks?