Review with flair: a fuss-free, adaptable network

In the UK, Smarty is a relatively new network provider that appeared out of nowhere in 2022. Three is owned by Hutchison 3G, the company that manages the network. Despite not being one of the UK's top four network providers, Smarty has grown in popularity since its debut. Consistently ranked among the top UK phone providers, SmartyBeing a sim-only network provider, it doesn't give any new gadgets with a Smarty contract, therefore thus lacks value. For many consumers, who still have flagship smartphones and are looking for a low contract, that is not an issue.Are you considering switching to Smarty?I've studied the network's roaming, coverage, and customer support, and I'll talk about my own experience as a Smarty user for the last three years.

Plans and costs

Voice plans, data-only plans (that don't include calls or texts), and data discount plans (that reimburse you for wasted data) are all available from Smarty. No matter how much data you choose, you are assured of having an unlimited number of calls and messages with all phone plans. For £6 a month, the lowest plan presently available offers 5GB of data, which is plenty for infrequent web browser use. For £18 a month, the most costly plan provides limitless data, making it the perfect choice for streamers and gamers who often consume video while on the road. 2024's Smarty Voice PlansThe ability to modify your data every month is provided by Smarty's 30-day rolling plans, which is one of its main advantages. This is very useful; I normally choose an unlimited package so I know I have enough data for anything I could need throughout the month whether I'm away or traveling.

Coverage and velocity

Smarty provides 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile coverage via Three's network, which has had major upgrades in the last 12 months. With over 60% of the UK covered by their 5G service, Three's coverage (which Smarty also enjoys) is competitive with EE's in the 5G space. The expected maximum download and upload speeds are 70 Mbps and 22 Mbps, respectively, according to the Smarty website.I personally use Smarty, and I've always found the speeds to be really fast, with 5G consistently being sufficient for productive online surfing. Furthermore, it performs well when it comes to streaming music and video. I seldom have to wait for buffering while using 4G or 5G on my phone to view Netflix and other streaming services. I appear to have sufficient signal strength in most situations, with a tendency toward pretty equal signal intensity. That being said, like other network providers, there are moments when it may be a bit hit or miss and sometimes drop out.

Wandering

Plans from Smarty come with free EU roaming, albeit there is a 12GB cap. If you need more data than that, you may purchase a data add-on, which costs between £1 and £15, depending on how much you need to add. Alternatively, you can purchase a one- or three-day EU Roaming Data Pass, which gives you complete access to your normal data allotment while you're away from home.You will have to pay an additional fee, top-up with credit, if you are traveling outside of the EU. Depending on the destination country, the cost of calls, texts, and data can range from 50p to £2.50 per minute, 10p to 40p per text, and 2p to £5 per MB.Although I haven't personally used Smarty overseas yet, friends of mine who have visited EU nations have had positive experiences with its functionality.

Benefits and customer service

One drawback of selecting a low-cost virtual network provider such as Smarty is that there may not be as many options for in-person customer support. The only way to contact customer support at Smarty is via live chats and forums; calling the network provider is not an option.Since Smarty is a simple network, there aren't many benefits available to users. However, there are seasonal sales all year round, especially for pay-as-you-go subscribers. In addition to their standard pay-as-you-go bundles, Smarty often offers a few package choices that include more data at a reduced cost. Additionally, they provide refer-a-friend programs where customers may earn gift cards for successfully signing up new members.Although Smarty doesn't have spending limits or eSIMs, you can't go over your pre-paid allotment, therefore you can't overspend. Wi-Fi calling is a useful feature that It has shown to be a dependable method of communication when I'm in an area with insufficient signal strength.

Conclusion

Selecting Smarty as your network provider makes sense for a number of reasons. When visiting the EU, you may have free coverage along with fast coverage. In addition, you may take advantage of really low-cost contract offers and make use of Wi-Fi calling if necessary.It's an excellent option if you're searching for a means to save expenses because of its very reasonable pricing point, which includes a variety of pay-as-you-go packages and a ton of fantastic low-cost contracts.However, there are a few important disclaimers, such as the fact that Smarty is a network provider that only supports sim cards, which is a deal breaker if you want a brand-new phone included in your phone contract.

Options

If you're searching for a phone contract that includes a new handset, we suggest checking out these providers: