Quick Overview
EE is the UK's largest network by coverage; Three is the smallest of the Big Four by subscriber count but punches well above its weight with unlimited data pricing and an industry-leading international roaming package. Three is owned by CK Hutchison and has been merging with Vodafone UK (regulatory approvals pending as of 2026).
| Category | EE | Three |
|---|---|---|
| Parent company | BT Group | CK Hutchison |
| 4G population coverage | ~99% | ~99% (less rural depth) |
| 5G cities | 150+ | 150+ |
| APN | three.co.uk | three.co.uk |
| Unlimited data plans | Yes (premium tier) | Yes (all main plans) |
| Roaming | EU incl. on most plans | Go Roam: 71 destinations incl. |
| MVNOs | BT Mobile | SMARTY, iD Mobile |
Coverage & 5G
EE's 4G network has deeper rural penetration, particularly in Scotland, Wales, and rural England. EE's 700 MHz low-band spectrum gives excellent building penetration and long-range outdoor signal. If you live or work in a rural area, EE is the safer choice.
Three has invested heavily in 5G and now covers 150+ UK towns and cities on 5G, comparable to EE. In urban areas, Three's 5G performance is strong, using 3.4 GHz n78 spectrum. Three's 4G rural coverage is improving but still lags EE in many areas outside major towns.
Data Speeds
On 4G, Three and EE perform similarly in cities, averaging 25–45 Mbps. EE typically wins in areas with fewer masts. On 5G, Three's performance is competitive in city centres, often matching EE download speeds of 150–400 Mbps in strong signal areas. Three's network architecture also supports good latency figures, useful for gaming and video calls.
Plans & Pricing
Three leads on price for data-heavy users. Its SIM-only unlimited plans start from around £12–£16/month, with truly uncapped data and no speed throttling advertised beyond fair-use policies. EE's unlimited plans start higher — approximately £20–£35/month — but include streaming perks and broader device compatibility guarantees.
For lighter users, EE has more flexible smaller data bundles (5–30 GB). Three focuses more on larger and unlimited tiers, so smaller plans may feel limited in comparison.
APN Settings Compared
| Setting | EE | Three |
|---|---|---|
| APN | three.co.uk | three.co.uk |
| Username | (leave blank) | (none required) |
| Password | secure | (none required) |
| MCC / MNC | 234 / 30 | 234 / 20 |
| MMSC | http://mms/pict | http://mms.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc |
| MMS Proxy | 149.254.201.135 | 212.137.86.109 |
| MMS Port | 8080 | 8799 |
Full guides: EE APN settings · Three APN settings
Roaming
EE includes EU roaming on most plans. Three's Go Roam programme is more generous: 71 destinations including the EU, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and many popular holiday countries, all using your UK allowance at no extra charge. If you travel internationally often, Three's roaming coverage is hard to beat at the price.
⭐ Verdict
Choose EE if reliable coverage everywhere — especially rural and in-building — is your priority. Choose Three if you want maximum data at minimum price, or if you travel frequently to destinations covered by Go Roam. For pure value on unlimited data, Three is one of the best deals in the UK market.