1pMobile Review 2026: How Does It Compare?

1pMobile is a prepay MVNO on EE’s network, best known for the tariff it is named after: 1p per minute, 1p per text and 1p per MB of data. Alongside that, it sells rolling monthly plans with no credit check and a pledge of no annual price rises. This review compares 1pMobile directly with Spusu, Giffgaff and Lycamobile to help you decide whether it is the right network for you. You can compare current plans on our 1pMobile SIM only deals page.

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Reviewed by: Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. Phil previously worked in UK mobile retail at Three UK, advising customers on SIM plans, contracts, and network choices. He has spent over a decade running consumer comparison platforms and reviews networks and SIM-only deals based on that hands-on industry background. About the author

Last reviewed: July 2026. Updated regularly to reflect current plan pricing, network changes, and roaming policies.

How we reviewed 1pMobile

To put this review together, we checked 1pMobile’s current plan lineup and pricing against live deal data in July 2026, verified the underlying network, roaming terms and fair use policies directly against 1pMobile’s own published terms and conditions, and reviewed its credit check policy and support arrangements. Coverage reliability assessments reference the most recent RootMetrics UK RootScore Report and Ofcom Connected Nations data.

What is 1pMobile?

1pMobile is a prepay MVNO that launched in 2016 and runs on EE’s network, with 5G included at no extra cost. It is operated by Telecommunications Management Limited, part of Telecom Plus PLC, the FTSE 250 group behind Utility Warehouse. It sells two things: a pure pay as you go tariff at 1p per minute, text and MB, and a range of rolling monthly plans it calls Boosts. Nothing requires a credit check, everything is one month rolling, EU roaming is included on all plans, and 1pMobile pledges not to raise its plan prices.

1pMobile vs Spusu

Spusu is the other budget MVNO on EE that competes hardest on price, so if you want EE coverage at the lowest possible cost, this is the comparison that matters.

Network

Both run on EE, which has ranked as the UK’s most reliable network in RootMetrics UK RootScore Reports for several years running. Coverage and speeds are identical, so this comparison comes down to price and features.

Edge: Draw.

Price

Spusu’s entry plan is £3.90 per month for 3GB with 500 minutes and 500 texts. 1pMobile’s entry plan is £5.00 per month for 5GB with 1000 minutes and 1000 texts. Spusu has the lower headline price; 1pMobile gives you more for slightly more money, and its value strengthens as allowances grow. Neither network applies annual price rises.

Edge: Spusu on headline price, 1pMobile on value per gigabyte.

Pay as you go option

1pMobile offers a genuine pay as you go tariff at 1p per minute, text and MB, subject to a minimum top-up requirement. No other UK network currently offers a comparable rate, and Spusu has no PAYG option at all. For very light users this is decisive.

Edge: 1pMobile.

Customer service

Spusu offers UK based phone support, which is unusual at this price level. 1pMobile has phone support on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, plus email and live chat, with account management handled through its web based online account rather than an app.

Edge: Spusu.

Verdict

1pMobile is the stronger pick for most users in this comparison because its allowances are more generous per pound as you move up the range, and its PAYG tariff has no equivalent anywhere on the market. Choose Spusu if you want the absolute lowest monthly cost for a small bundle or you value UK phone support.

1pMobile vs Giffgaff

Giffgaff is the best known no-contract network in the UK, so it is the natural benchmark for anyone considering a flexible prepay style provider like 1pMobile.

Network

1pMobile runs on EE, Giffgaff runs on O2. EE has ranked as the UK’s most reliable network in RootMetrics UK RootScore Reports for several years running, and it is generally the stronger network in rural areas. O2 coverage is solid in towns and cities but is more variable elsewhere.

Edge: 1pMobile.

Price

Giffgaff’s cheapest rolling plan is £6.00 per month for 2GB with unlimited minutes and texts. 1pMobile’s is £5.00 per month for 5GB with 1000 minutes and 1000 texts. On price per gigabyte 1pMobile is well ahead at the entry level, and the gap holds further up the range.

Edge: 1pMobile.

EU roaming

1pMobile includes EU roaming on all plans with a 14GB cap per monthly Boost. Giffgaff includes EU roaming with a 5GB cap that applies per plan rather than per month. For a typical two week holiday, 1pMobile’s allowance is nearly three times larger.

Edge: 1pMobile.

Customer service

Giffgaff has no phone support at all; help comes from its community forum and online agents. 1pMobile offers weekday phone support alongside email and live chat. Giffgaff’s app and community are genuinely good, but if you ever want to speak to a person, only one of these networks lets you.

Edge: 1pMobile.

Verdict

1pMobile wins this comparison on network, price, roaming and support. Giffgaff’s strengths are its brand, its app and its community, and its 18 month plans carry a no price rise guarantee for customers signing up before the end of 2026. But on the measurable basics, 1pMobile is simply the better value network.

1pMobile vs Lycamobile

Lycamobile is the other big budget name on EE’s network, so the two are often shortlisted together by price focused switchers.

Network

Both run on EE, so coverage and speeds are identical.

Edge: Draw.

Price and pricing transparency

Lycamobile advertises plans from £4.00 per month, but much of its pricing is promotional, with low introductory rates that step up after the first few months. 1pMobile’s pricing is flat: the price you join at is the price you pay, with no introductory periods and a pledge of no price rises. Lycamobile can work out cheaper if you commit to a fixed term and track the price steps; 1pMobile is cheaper to understand.

Edge: Lycamobile on headline cost, 1pMobile on transparency.

International calling

Most Lycamobile plans include 100 international minutes to over 40 countries as standard. 1pMobile’s monthly Boosts include no international calling allowance at all; calls abroad are charged from your credit balance at published rates.

Edge: Lycamobile.

Customer service

Lycamobile’s UK Trustpilot rating stands at 2.7 out of 5 as of our April 2026 review, reflecting recurring complaints about billing and porting. 1pMobile offers weekday phone support, email and live chat, and its support reputation is considerably better.

Edge: 1pMobile.

Verdict

1pMobile is the better choice for most users because its pricing is honest and flat and its service reputation is stronger. Choose Lycamobile if you regularly call family abroad, since its included international minutes are something 1pMobile cannot match. You can read our full Lycamobile review for the complete picture.

1pMobile pros and cons

Pros:

• Runs on EE’s network with 5G included at no extra cost
• No credit check on any plan
• Pledges no annual price rises, with flat non-promotional pricing
• Genuine 1p per minute, text and MB pay as you go tariff, unique in the UK market
• Every plan is one month rolling, so you can leave at any time
• EU roaming included on all plans across 46 destinations, including Switzerland
• eSIM available on all plans at no extra cost for new customers
• Additional unlimited data SIMs available at £12.50 each for households

Cons:

• PAYG data works out at roughly £10 per GB, so it is poor value for regular data use
• A minimum top-up requirement applies to keep the PAYG tariff active
• EU roaming is capped at 14GB per month regardless of plan size, with excess charged at 1p a MB
• Phone support is limited to weekday office hours
• Account management is web based only, with no dedicated app
• The unlimited plan carries a fair use policy allowing slowed speeds beyond 500GB per month
• Monthly plans include no international calling allowance

How to get a 1pMobile SIM only deal

Every 1pMobile plan is available as a physical SIM or an eSIM with no credit check, so joining takes minutes. Compare current plans and prices on our 1pMobile SIM only deals page, then order directly. To keep your existing number, request a PAC from your current network by texting PAC to 65075 and hand it to 1pMobile during sign up. Our PAC code transfer guide walks through the full process.

Is 1pMobile worth it?

Yes, for two specific kinds of user. If you are a very light user who makes occasional calls and rarely touches mobile data, the 1p PAYG tariff is the cheapest way to run a phone in the UK, full stop. And if you want EE coverage on a monthly plan without credit checks, contracts or annual price rises, 1pMobile’s flat pricing beats Giffgaff comfortably and holds its own against Spusu and Lycamobile.

The honest caveat is data. PAYG data at 1p a MB is expensive the moment you use it regularly, the monthly plans include no international minutes, and the 14GB EU roaming cap applies however large your plan is. Heavy data users who travel a lot, or anyone who calls abroad often, will find better fits elsewhere. For everyone else, 1pMobile is one of the most straightforwardly good value networks in the UK. Compare current plans on our 1pMobile SIM only deals page.

Editorial policy

This guide is produced by the SIM Only Finder editorial team to help SIM only switchers compare 1pMobile with rival UK networks. Network terms, pricing, and roaming availability are checked regularly and updated to reflect current offers. Always confirm current terms directly with the network before signing up.