Quick Overview
giffgaff is one of the UK's oldest and most trusted budget MVNOs, known for its community-run model, flexible goodybag bundles and no-contract approach. SMARTY is a newer MVNO owned by Three that prides itself on transparent pricing and unlimited data value.
| Category | giffgaff | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | O2 | Three |
| APN | giffgaff.com | smartymobile.co.uk |
| Contract | No contract (monthly) | No contract (monthly) |
| Unlimited plans | Yes | Yes |
| Roaming | EU incl. on most plans | EU incl. (Three Go Roam terms) |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| Community support | Yes (forums) | No (standard CS) |
Host Networks
giffgaff uses O2's network. O2 has strong 4G coverage across the UK, including good rural performance via its Shared Rural Network participation. giffgaff customers get the same signal quality as O2 subscribers.
SMARTY uses Three's network. Three has strong urban 5G but slightly thinner rural 4G coverage than O2. In most UK cities and towns, SMARTY's signal is excellent. If you live or work in a rural area, giffgaff's O2 backbone may serve you better.
Pricing
giffgaff's goodybag plans offer flexible monthly bundles — typically £6–£15 for 5–50 GB and £25 for unlimited. Plans are purchased monthly with no minimum term. SMARTY plans are similarly structured, with unlimited data starting from around £16–£20/month. SMARTY also offers a unique data discount credit on lower-tier plans: if you don't use all your data, a proportion is credited back.
APN Settings Compared
| Setting | giffgaff | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| APN | giffgaff.com | smartymobile.co.uk |
| Username | giffgaff | (none) |
| Password | password | (none) |
| Host MCC/MNC | 234 / 10 (O2) | 234 / 20 (Three) |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.mediamessaging.co.uk:8002 | http://mms.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc |
| MMS Proxy | 82.132.254.1 | 212.137.86.109 |
| MMS Port | 8080 | 8799 |
Full guides: giffgaff APN settings · SMARTY APN settings
Data Value
SMARTY is typically better value for unlimited data. Its plans are straightforward and cheap. giffgaff competes well on mid-range (15–50 GB) goodybags, especially with promotional pricing. For very light users (5 GB or less), giffgaff often has cheaper entry-level options.
Roaming
Both operators include EU roaming on most plans. SMARTY benefits from Three's Go Roam programme covering 71 destinations, though individual plan terms should be checked. giffgaff includes EU roaming across its goodybag range. For non-EU destinations, Three's wider Go Roam list gives SMARTY an advantage in theory, though plan-specific terms vary.
⭐ Verdict
giffgaff is the better choice for users who value O2's rural coverage, the community support model, and flexible small goodybags. SMARTY wins on unlimited data value and is the go-to for heavy data users who want to stay on Three's 5G network at the lowest possible price.