EE alternatives: 2 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank All mobile carrier apps

Top picks

Best overall
O2
Classic plan: £18 a month (75GB, 24 months)

Common reasons people leave EE: fixed price rises every 31 March on contracts, and usually costs more than budget networks and MVNOs. We ranked 2 alternatives by how directly each one replaces EE, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. O2 currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#	App	Pricing	Verified price	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	O2	Paid	£18 a month (75GB, 24 months)	No	Web, iOS, Android	6 of 6	68.8
2	Vodafone UK	Paid	£2.50/month each April (airtime plans)	No	Web, iOS, Android	5 of 5	64.8

1. O2Top pick
Best for: UK users who go to gigs and events and want Priority presales, or households already on Virgin Media
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
68.8
score / 100
Why switch from EE
Free Priority rewards app with ticket presales, and EU roaming up to 25GB at no extra cost.
Pros
Free Priority rewards with 48-hour ticket presales
No extra charge for EU roaming up to 25GB
O2 Refresh lets you pay off or upgrade a phone anytime
Rolling plans available without a contract
Cons
EU roaming fair use caps at 25GB
Contract prices rise by a fixed amount each April
Best perks are aimed at gig-goers rather than general savings
Visit O2 Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.3100
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is O2 a good EE alternative?
Verified facts
6 of 6 verified
Rewards
Priority, free for O2 and Virgin Media customers
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Ticket presales
48 hours early via Priority Tickets
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
EU roaming
No extra charge up to 25GB
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Rolling plans
Yes, no contract
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Classic plan
£18 a month (75GB, 24 months)
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Unlimited Plus plan
£19.99 a month (24 months)
Checked Nov 8, 2026o2.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
2. Vodafone UK
Best for: UK users who travel in Europe and want roaming, broadband and phone plans from one network
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from EE
Roaming in its Zone A included on all pay monthly plans, and a large merged network after joining with Three.
Pros
Zone A roaming included on all pay monthly plans
Separate device and airtime plans, so you can pay off a phone early
Lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects for ongoing customers
Broadband, TV and smartwatch plans alongside mobile
Cons
Fixed price rise every April on monthly plans
Out-of-bundle charges rise each year by CPI plus 3.9%
Pay as you go roaming outside Zone A needs paid extras
Visit Vodafone UK Compare with EE Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Is Vodafone UK a good EE alternative?
Verified facts
5 of 5 verified
Owner
VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK merger)
Checked Nov 8, 2026vodafone.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
EU roaming
Zone A included on pay monthly
Checked Nov 8, 2026vodafone.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Annual price rise
£2.50/month each April (airtime plans)
Checked Nov 8, 2026vodafone.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
Device warranty
Lifetime Service Promise
Checked Nov 8, 2026vodafone.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)
5G
5G+ (standalone)
Checked Nov 8, 2026vodafone.co.uk(opens source in a new tab)

The best EE alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Best EE alternative for most people

Free Priority rewards app with ticket presales, and EU roaming up to 25GB at no extra cost.

Best EE alternative for iPhone and Android

Vodafone UK

Roaming in its Zone A included on all pay monthly plans, and a large merged network after joining with Three.

Best EE alternative for working in the browser

Free Priority rewards app with ticket presales, and EU roaming up to 25GB at no extra cost.

EE alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to EE?

O2 ranks first right now. Free Priority rewards app with ticket presales, and EU roaming up to 25GB at no extra cost.

EE vs O2: what's the difference?

Both EE and O2 are paid products. Verified prices: EE Up to £10 off, O2 £18 a month (75GB, 24 months). Both run on Web, iOS and Android.

Is EE free?

EE is a paid product. Multi-Line Discount: Up to £10 off. Checked on EE's own site, November 2026.

How much do EE alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked EE alternatives: O2, £18 a month (75GB, 24 months); Vodafone UK, £2.50/month each April (airtime plans). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to EE?

None of the 2 alternatives we track has a free plan; all are paid, though some offer trials.

Is there an open-source alternative to EE?

None of the 2 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from EE?

The complaints we hear most: fixed price rises every 31 March on contracts; usually costs more than budget networks and MVNOs; unlimited plans have a 600GB fair-use limit.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces EE, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.