EE UK Launch New 4G and 5G Pay Monthly Mobile Plans and WiFi Boost
Mobile operator EE (BT) has today launched a refreshed range of Pay Monthly ‘Essentials‘, ‘All Rounder‘ and ‘Full Works‘ mobile plans for SIM-Only, handset bundles and connected device customers, which add various new features (e.g. a WiFi Coverage Boost, the Apple One subscription plan and a Multi-Line SIM discount etc.).
Under the new approach, all of the three classes of Pay Monthly plans mentioned above are now fairly similar between Android and iPhone based users. The only real difference between those platforms – in respect to EE’s new plans – is that iPhone users benefit from a few key extras, which we’ve marked below.
Most of the refreshed plans below also promise “max” mobile broadband download speeds of up to 100Mbps, EE’s Wi-Fi Coverage Boost (i.e. free WiFi access across BT and EE’s 150,000 UK hotspots and on the London Underground) and a Multi-Line Discount (up to 20% off “additional lines“, such as family members). Take note that the new Wi-Fi Boost is available to all new and existing pay monthly and pay as you go mobile customers.
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Key Features of EE’s Refreshed Mobile Plans
Essentials Plans
➤ 6 months free Apple Services – Apple Music, Apple TV+
➤ Data allowances from 1GB to unlimited, and unlimited minutes and texts
➤ Stay connected if your data runs out (speed capped to 0.5Mbps)
➤ Gift data to all the family
➤ Device Care Extras to keep your device in tip-top condition for longer
➤ Wi-Fi Coverage BoostNOTE: iPhone users also get Apple Arcade & Apple News.
All Rounder Plans
➤ Choose 1 Smart Benefit from Apple Music, BT Sport, Microsoft 365 Personal and more
➤ Data allowances from 1GB to unlimited, and unlimited minutes and texts
➤ Stay connected if your data runs out (speed capped to 0.5Mbps)
➤ Gift data to all the family
➤ Device Care Extras to keep your device in tip-top condition for longer
➤ Upgrade your phone anytime
➤ Wi-Fi Coverage BoostFull Works Plans
➤ Choose 3 Smart Benefits from Apple Music, BT Sport, Microsoft 365 Personal and more
➤ Unlimited data (fastest speeds possible), minutes and text allowances
➤ Gift data to all the family
➤ Device Care Extras to keep your device in tip-top condition for longer
➤ Upgrade your phone anytime
➤ Wi-Fi Coverage Boost
➤ Roam Abroad Pass (use your allowance in the EU as well as the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand).NOTE: From August 31st, customers who take out the Full Works Plan for iPhone will also get gain access to the new Apple One service (a bundle including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade with 200+ games and iCloud+ with 50GB).
But if you’d rather adopt a simpler approach then you can always take one of their revised EE SIM Only plans – these offer the usual allowances and the ability to gift spare data to family members, while promising “max” speeds of 100Mbps and their Stay Connected Data promise (unlimited data after your allowance is consumed, but the speed is capped to 0.5Mbps). The top SIM Only plans also allow you to add some Smart Benefits of your choice.
Speaking of Smart Benefits, EE has added a couple of new options from Microsoft – Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (video game subscription) and Microsoft 365 Personal (office software for up to 5 devices, as well as 1TB OneDrive storage).
Finally, EE has extended their Device Care Extras feature – usually only offered to smartphone customers – to include those with Connected Devices, including laptops, tablets and watches. From today, those taking a connected tablet from EE will also benefit from the option of an Annual Device Check-Up, and those taking a connected tablet, laptop and smartwatch will receive a £10 discount on EE’s Minute One protective bundle, as well as a new Extended Warranty covering against any manufacturer faults for the lifetime the customer is on their EE plan.
EE’s store repair service expansion has also continued, offering Manufacturer Approved repairs within 23 stores, or next day in over 300 stores nationwide (which is said to cover 76% of the UK population).
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Sharon Meadows, Director of Propositions, EE says:
“As part our journey to become the most personal customer-focussed technology brand in the UK, we continually look for ways to make our great value plans and the network experience we offer as compelling as possible. Already the UK’s most reliable network, we’re extending coverage for all customers with WiFi Coverage Boost, delivering amazing content including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and iCloud+ with Apple One Individual Plan in the Full Works package, and providing market-leading support by extending our Device Care Extras to connected laptops, tablets and watches. We’re also continuing to evolve our position as number one network for families, with our new multi-sim discount, helping them stay connected in more places for less.”
Personally, we prefer our mobile plans to be simple and affordable, ideally with any premium additions being only offered as optional add-ons. But EE has long taken a mixed approach, which can make it hard to keep track of all the changes they make over time and to compare different plans between operators, yet this does clearly suit some customers and there’s certainly no shortage of choice.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Anything on e-sims, still something of a palaver on uk networks?
I have been using an E-Sim on EE since 2019 no issues..
same here, use an EE esim with no issues, really easy to swap over too!
So are they limiting speeds to 100mbps if an area can do better?
So,
You are not getting 5g speed ?
I moved from EE to VODAFONE few months ago. Speed ok with vodafone.
Reason I left EE because of voice calls quality terrible and calls drops almost every call and drains batteries as well.
Check device with apple and got no problem and using same phone with vodafone.
I have no idea what you’re on about. None of the networks where I live exceed 5mbps including EE. I asked whether they were now going to limit plans in areas which can support higher speeds.
I have no idea what your on about I have always got over 100 meg on EE 4G and 5G… You must be in an area with awful coverage.
Well Sam re-read the article. The new plans as Mark has listed show as Max speed of 100mbps (this is the same on the EE website). It didn’t say this before, so again, my point is are EE now going to be limiting speed to their new plans.
I thought what I was asking was clear based on the article above, but clearly not!
I think it’s complete codswollop.. Why would they cap speeds to go faster thought that was the whole point of building a super fast 5G network.. hey I might be wrong but I don’t think they will.. even when they used to cap it at 60 meg it never actually happened not for me anyway..
@Gary the answer to your question “are they limiting speeds to 100mbps if an area can do better?”, which noone else has answered with regards to these new tariffs, is quite simple – by the looks of it, yes they are.
They’re just doing their version of what Vodafone have done for some while with the latters Lite Mid and Max speed levels (2Mbps, 10Mbps and uncapped (150Mbps on MVNOs, well, on Asda anyway)).
What do you expect them to do. People on those plans as well as essential should have a speed cap. You want more, you pay for more. No good offering cheaper 4G/5G with faster speeds than Full Fibre Broadband. They still need people to get broadband.
Adding MS Office Personal into a mobile plan is actually a good idea with the current climate- nice to see someone finally do that.
Indeed, it’s quite useful to have as to WiFi, I’m thankful that they’ve included PAYG customers to use it too.
EE should be paying customers to use Microsoft 365 for the inevitable data loss, day 0 vulnerabilities and broken features that occur.
I hasten to add that I’ve been using MS Office Personal since it was first available, I have yet to encounter so called claimed data loss or any problems etc…
Am I missing something here. Where are the 160/120 allowance plans for £20 like they have been offering in line with other networks? Something around that price only seems to get you around 25gb now?
Yes I get 190GB (160GB standard tariff plus a 30GB bonus) for £20/month. No speed caps. The new prices are price rises.
Also that £20 price point was often on offer with 200GB instead. And no speed cap.
Big downside for me with EE is that they have re-introduced charges when in the EU. Their mobile phone packages appear expensive when compared to others. I’ve just joined O2 having been with EE for many years and am not disappointed with my decision
The higher prices have meant better 4G speeds in most areas as it keeps the penny pincher away.
Of course speeds will be better, Mike. You can’t use it for anything serious without using the few GBs they give you.
The worst of all is that even with high prices and low data caps, EE is still oversubscribed in parts of the country.
That’s why I went with BT, same network, but roam like home and cheaper if you have their broadband. It’s a better deal even with BT’s 10% discount on EE. Of course, they might discontinue that feature in the future, but hopefully not for those on long-term contracts.
@Mike “The higher prices have meant better 4G speeds in most areas as it keeps the penny pincher away.”
Thats not the only reason, one other reason EE got better speed, EE had quite a bit more 4g spectrum then other networks.
Re bailing out of EE to O2, I made exactly that choice (see below for why) and not only was the O2 network better here but on a careful sidebyside comparison of a full price O2 service against ‘GiffGaff’ – an MVNO resold offering – there was absolutely no detectable difference. Except of course the prices; I haven’t rechecked O2’s monthly costing but it dwarfed Giff’s £15/30GB £20/100GB or £25 ‘Always On’ (.5MB once over 100GB I think).. Note you need the ‘golden’ versions where you set up a no-notice cancellable auto-rebuy. Slightly more expensive if you’re a cash only customer as I was for several years but not by much.
Oh, also a /Genuine/ unlimited data offering for £35. I empirically multiplied the average data rate by 24,7 and 60 and didn’t get cut off though I’d not see that as a guaranteed offering ;~)
As for why I’ve proven to myself that O2 is locally the less overloaded network, I’m currently staying in the worst propagation blocking geographical quirk I’ve come across ever. What’s more, it has collected a clique of (unfortunately WRT stereotypes) women who’ve perhaps read about mobiles attempting to counter communication difficulties by boosting their RF output. I wonder what benefits they imagine could come from superficial RF warming? Dreams of a year round sun-tan?
I’ve no idea who told them that the (failed) proposed additional cell tower would spoil their experiment but I hope whomever it was enjoys HD video and MMO gaming!
WOW. These new SIMO plans are absolutely horrendous!
25Gb for £21
Max 100mbps speed
What!?
The cheapest ‘Unlimited Speed’ is £26 for 5GB
They really do seem to have lost s grip on reality however 25gb for £21, that’s positively cheap when you look at this monstrosity: 1GB @ £22 monthly
@gary
Suppose, but I’m currently paying £15 for 25GB on EE on a 12 month deal. Uncapped speeds.
Yeah typical EE pricing, plus of course don’t forget that price will increase mid contract too by around 5% or more. But they are among the best of the networks, still Three has better 5G speeds.
What you’re failing to realise is the real price is only £15 a month. The plan comes with a smart benefit, so if you take a service like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, that itself is usually £11 a month directly from Xbox
These new plans are horrendous. I’ve been with EE since getting my first phone and with these new plans and lack of EU roaming it’s making it very hard to justify staying with them. The only reason I haven’t changed yet, even though I’m out of contract, is that I’m dubious about the speed and reliability of the other three networks. If anyone has any thoughts I’d appreciate it.
Hi em
I’ve just gone through process of changing from EE. I bought a 1 month SIM from the other 3 main networks to try them out before committing to a contract. So I’d recommend you give that a go. Be mindful some required a hard credit check. Other option is to get a cheaper 30 day SIM with mvnos like Lebara, Lyca, Smarty, which covers the 3 other major networks.
Good luck
125GB with a 100Mbps speed cap for £23 a month? Are they mad?
When I re-contracted there were no offers so got 160GB for £20 a month (plus a 30GB bonus carried over from my old plan). No speed caps. EE seem to go through phases of selling with speed caps and not. They used to differentiate older plans as “4GEE Max” which meant uncapped speed.
I have been a customer of EE from day 1 and prior to this was with orange and t mobile at various intervals.
I had a huge row with EE over a Samsung promotion and cancelled with them. After 1 month I was back with EE as all the competition was awful. Coverage was poor to non existent and data speeds were horrendous and unstable. I tried Vodafone, O2 and Three with little to no success.
Orange and T Mobile Merger should never have been allowed to happen as competition between these 2 was excellent in driving coverage and competitive pricing. EE should be broken up in my view.
No definity not, I don’t agree on EE being broken up just provide false economy of competition as such already exists as you have choice of EE, Vodaphone, Three and O2 which is enough, having two more operators would simply worsen the market and lead to less investment.
What should happen is the UK coming into line with the rest of the world and just have three operators.
up to 100mbps, thats a joke
I’ll stick with my up to 600mbps on three thanks.
EE’s pricing it compeltely out of touch with the rest of the industry.
ee?? i’d rather go wihtout
Those prices are terrible. Last month I bought an S22 Ultra for £20 up front and £71 a month for 100gb data, unlimited calls, and texts. Today, I would be forced to buy an unlimited plan at closer to £100 a month if I wanted to keep the same speeds.
Have EE just given up on competing?
“Have EE just given up on competing?” EE stopped competing years back, EE simo pricing has been crap for a long time, the new pricing is just a total joke plans with speed limit.
The prices they are asking are horrendous in comparison to what you could get before and speed caps are a stupid idea that I hope go away soon!
OMG!!! EE should now mean “Everything Expensive”
You buy cheap you buy twice! I’ve tried services from Three, O2 and Voda and they’ve all been rubbish in comparison. EE might be expensive (although can be made cheaper if you get a deal through places like USwitch) but I feel the price is justified by the far better service you get!
Ee is expensive but it’s worth it imo as I am getting no drop calls or text going through
4g plus speeds in my postcode is over 400 mpbs
Good service so far on ee better than three .
I travel many places in uk. EE is good for 4g/5g speed. Voice calls quality is very bad and calls drops.
I have explained to EE many times and they have agreed and terminate my contract 8 months before end.
They know about the issues and they can’t do anything because of high frequency they used 1800mhz for voice calls. Sometimes they use 800mhz but it’s very congested.
02 and Vodafone speed ok and they use 900mhz for voice calls and it’s cover wider.
These plans are terrible.
But those above moaning about a speed cap at 100meg, what would you actually need more for?
These are mobile data plans, nobody is really downloading the full internet or Netflix catalogue at the same time.
100meg is plenty.
Also, capping with 5G too, 5G isn’t just about speed, it’s about response times/latency etc which also dramatically improve so the service is overall better.
Ain’t nobody needing 600meg to scroll Facebook.
Carl O – my thoughts too.
The speed cap to 100 meg isn’t going to impact 99.9% of customers. They won’t even notice a difference.
People who shall notice are those who use their mobile as a hotspot for everything in their household or use it to download massive files or updates for games and software.
It won’t be great for them but actually their usage case is not what EE or any other operator intends anyway. As you say, benefits of 5G extend beyond speeds, there is greater spectrum and better latency and response times. These aren’t mutually exclusive for higher speeds a 50meg connection with low latency and quick response would be better for video conferencing than a 100meg connection with a really high ping and huge jitter.
People just see numbers though and think oh it’s lower so it’s worse.
I just moved to EE a few days ago and all I can say is… Lol.
Frankly it was to be expected; the previous lineup was actually competitive (I switched to EE purely for cost reasons, their network in my area is okay but Vodafone is miles better), and that’s clearly not where EE see themselves in the market. Still though, despite the confusing melange of plans, this is blatantly a price rise and that’s what it should be called.
Get what you pay for in my eyes 100mbps is all you need it’s a phone not your home broadband if you have a good look you can see that what EE have done is made it so that you don’t need to get that 40GB or 100GB no longer as not everyone needs that some prices might look steep but if you happy with them you would pay. EU yes it’s not the best but get the all rounder plan if you go away lots if not in most cases it’s £10 for 30 days it’s not the end of the world really is it most people might go away 1-2 a year that £20 remember you paid 100s for a COVID test to go away
Just switched from EE to Vodafone in brighton, guys in the our local store made the switch super easy.. get signal in a lot of places where I didn’t before.. top speeds are not as good but general coverage and call quality seems better. Super happy