Revealed: BEST and WORST mobile phone providers
Smaller and cheaper mobile providers come out on top for both customer service and network coverage, according to a poll by the UK’s biggest consumer website, MoneySavingExpert.com. Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and Plusnet all topped both lists, with firm favourite Giffgaff in pole position.
Interestingly, despite the top three all piggybacking on the O2 network, the telecoms giant itself came in way behind them for perceived coverage.
Turning to customer service, those with O2 could also benefit by switching to any of the top three while staying on effectively the same network. Overall, Three was voted as the best of the traditional networks while Vodafone came bottom of the pile.
Smaller providers often tend to be cheaper than the biggies too. Switching to Giffgaff from O2 could save £132/yr on a 3G plan with no contract.
RANK | PROVIDER (NETWORK IT USES) | 'GREAT' | 'OK' | 'POOR' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GIFFGAFF (O2) | 70% | 26% | 4% |
2 | TESCO MOBILE (O2) | 67% | 29% | 3% |
3 | SKY MOBILE (O2) | 63% | 35% | 2% |
4 | PLUSNET (EE) | 61% | 33% | 6% |
5 | THREE | 38% | 52% | 10% |
6 | ID MOBILE (THREE) | 36% | 53% | 10% |
7 | BT MOBILE (EE) | 35% | 53% | 12% |
8 | EE | 33% | 55% | 12% |
9 | O2 | 32% | 57% | 11% |
10 | TALK MOBILE (VODAFONE) | 34% | 43% | 23% |
11 | VIRGIN MOBILE (EE) | 30% | 50% | 20% |
12 | VODAFONE | 24% | 49% | 27% |
Results from the July mobile poll. There were 7,916 votes. Ranked based on two points for each 'great' %, one for each 'OK' % and zero for 'poor'. We've excluded providers with fewer than 100 votes.
RANK | PROVIDER (NETWORK IT USES) | 'GREAT' | 'OK' | 'POOR' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GIFFGAFF (O2) | 53% | 33% | 14% |
2 | TESCO MOBILE (O2) | 49% | 33% | 18% |
3 | SKY MOBILE (O2) | 48% | 28% | 24% |
4 | PLUSNET (EE) | 39% | 34% | 27% |
5 | TALK MOBILE (VODAFONE) | 36% | 40% | 24% |
6 | VODAFONE | 39% | 31% | 29% |
7 | EE | 35% | 31% | 34% |
8 | O2 | 33% | 34% | 33% |
9 | THREE | 29% | 40% | 31% |
10 | BT MOBILE (EE) | 34% | 29% | 37% |
11 | VIRGIN MOBILE (EE) | 23% | 40% | 37% |
12 | ID MOBILE (THREE) | 19% | 40% | 41% |
Results from the July mobile poll. There were 7,916 votes. Ranked based on two points for each 'great' %, one for each 'OK' % and zero for 'poor'. We've excluded providers with fewer than 100 votes.
Helen Saxon, Chief Product Analyst at MoneySavingExpert.com said: "These results reveal an opportunity for those loyal to the big networks to ditch and save, plus receive better levels of customer service.
"Why pay more for worse customer service? In fact the poll suggests those with O2, Vodafone and EE could pay less with a smaller provider using the same network, yet receive better customer care.
The savings can run into hundreds of pounds a year, so it could cost you to stick with a name you know."
If you're unhappy with your mobile provider, take action and switch. See MSE’s Best Sim only and Pay-as-you-go guides for the best deals and more information.
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