In this guide
- How we reviewed spusu
- What is spusu?
- Spusu vs Giffgaff
- Coverage
- Price
- Roaming
- Data rollover
- Customer service
- Verdict
- Spusu vs Smarty
- Coverage
- Price
- Roaming
- Data rollover
- Flexibility
- Customer service
- Verdict
- Spusu vs iD Mobile
- Coverage
- Price
- Roaming
- Credit check
- Data rollover
- Customer service
- Cancellation
- Verdict
- Spusu pros and cons
- Pros
- Cons
- How to get a spusu SIM only deal
- Is spusu worth it?
- Editorial policy
Spusu has quietly become one of the most talked about budget MVNOs in the UK. Plans start from £3.90 per month, run on EE's network, and come with no credit check, no annual price rises, and EU roaming included as standard. But how does it actually stack up against the competition? This review compares spusu directly with Giffgaff, Smarty, and iD Mobile to help you decide whether it is the right network for you.
Compare current spusu SIM only deals
Reviewed by Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. Before launching SIM Only Finder, Phil 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: March 2026. This review is updated regularly to reflect current plan pricing, network changes, and roaming policies.
How we reviewed spusu
To put this review together, we researched spusu's current plan lineup, terms and cancellation policy, and roaming conditions in March 2026. We cross-referenced coverage claims against the most recent RootMetrics UK Network Report and checked independent speed data from Ofcom's Connected Nations report. We also went through the sign-up process ourselves to assess how straightforward it is in practice.
When we went through the sign-up process, we found it genuinely quick. No credit check means no waiting around, and eSIM activation in particular takes only a few minutes from order to connected. The account portal is basic but functional, covering usage tracking, billing, and PAC code requests without unnecessary complexity.
What is spusu?
Spusu is a budget MVNO running on EE's network, with over 150,000 UK subscribers. Unlike many networks at this price point, spusu offers UK phone-based customer service, no credit check sign-up, and EU roaming included as standard across all plans. All plans are 1-month rolling, with no 12 or 24-month contracts available.
One thing worth knowing upfront is that while spusu markets itself as a flexible 1-month network, the cancellation process is slightly more involved than simply cancelling online. To leave, you need to submit a signed cancellation form by email or post, and your termination takes effect at the end of your current billing period. If you cancel within the first 30 days, a £4 early termination fee applies. It is not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing before you sign up.
Spusu vs Giffgaff
Giffgaff is one of the most well known budget MVNOs in the UK, running on O2's network. Here is how the two compare across the areas that matter most:
Coverage
Spusu runs on EE, which has ranked as the most reliable network in the UK in every RootMetrics RootScore Report since 2020, most recently in their H2 2025 report. Giffgaff runs on O2, which has slightly less consistent 4G coverage in rural areas. For most users this will not be noticeable, but if you spend time in rural or semi-rural locations, EE's coverage advantage is real. Edge: spusu.
Price
Spusu plans start from £3.90 per month. Giffgaff SIM only plans start from £6 per month for a similar data allowance. If you are comparing budget options, you may also want to look at our no credit check SIM only deals page, which includes both spusu and Giffgaff alongside other options. Edge: spusu.
Roaming
Spusu includes EU roaming as standard with 500 minutes from the UK to EU countries included. Giffgaff includes EU roaming but caps data usage abroad and charges extra once you exceed that cap. For anyone who makes regular calls to EU numbers from the UK, spusu's 500 included minutes is a standout feature. Edge: spusu for frequent travellers and EU callers.
Data rollover
Neither network offers data rollover. Draw.
Customer service
Giffgaff is community led with no direct phone support. Spusu offers UK phone customer service, which is unusual at this price point. Edge: spusu.
Verdict
Spusu wins on price, coverage reliability, and customer service. Giffgaff has a larger community and more brand recognition, but on the metrics that matter for most users, spusu has the edge.
Spusu vs Smarty
Smarty runs on the VodafoneThree network following the merger of Three and Vodafone in June 2025, which has significantly improved its coverage footprint.
Coverage
EE still edges VodafoneThree on 4G reliability according to the most recent RootMetrics UK data, though the gap has narrowed since the Vodafone-Three merger completed in June 2025. For most users in urban and suburban areas, both networks will perform similarly. Slight edge: spusu, but this is closer than it used to be.
Price
Smarty plans start from around £5 per month. Spusu starts from £3.90. Edge: spusu for entry level plans, though Smarty is competitive at higher data tiers.
Roaming
Spusu includes EU roaming and 500 UK to EU minutes as standard across all plans. Smarty includes EU roaming but users have reported needing to manually activate it before travelling, which some find inconvenient. Edge: spusu for ease of use.
Data rollover
Smarty does not offer data rollover. Neither does spusu. Draw.
Flexibility
Both networks offer 1-month rolling plans only. Draw.
Customer service
Smarty is online only. Spusu offers UK phone support. Edge: spusu.
Verdict
Spusu has the edge on price at the lower end and is simpler to use for EU roaming. Smarty's improved network coverage following the VodafoneThree merger makes it more competitive on reliability than it was, but spusu still comes out ahead on overall value.
Spusu vs iD Mobile
iD Mobile is one of the most popular budget MVNOs in the UK, also running on the merged VodafoneThree network.
Coverage
EE versus VodafoneThree. Both are strong networks nationally. EE has a slight edge on 4G reliability, but iD Mobile customers now benefit from access to both Vodafone and Three infrastructure. Marginal edge: spusu, but the difference is small.
Price
iD Mobile plans start from £6 per month. Spusu starts from £3.90. Edge: spusu.
Roaming
This is where iD Mobile pulls ahead. iD Mobile offers a flat 30GB roaming allowance across 50 destinations. Spusu's roaming data is a separate, smaller allowance than your UK data, scaling by plan from 3GB up to 20GB: for example the spusu 30 has 30GB of UK data but 10GB for EU roaming. For heavy data users abroad, iD Mobile's flat 30GB is more generous, though Spusu includes Switzerland and 500 EU minutes that iD does not. Our full Spusu roaming guide explains the per-plan allowances in detail. Edge: iD Mobile for heavy roamers, spusu for light roamers and EU callers.
Credit check
iD Mobile requires a credit check for all plans. Spusu does not. If a no credit check plan is important to you, our no credit check SIM only deals page shows all current options. Edge: spusu.
Data rollover
iD Mobile offers data rollover. Spusu does not. Edge: iD Mobile.
Customer service
iD Mobile is online and chat only with no phone support. Spusu offers UK phone support. Edge: spusu.
Cancellation
Both networks are 1-month rolling. iD Mobile's cancellation is straightforward online. Spusu requires a signed cancellation form by email or post, which adds a small amount of friction. Edge: iD Mobile.
Verdict
Spusu wins on price and accessibility, particularly for anyone without a strong credit history. iD Mobile wins on data rollover and is better for heavy data users who travel in Europe frequently. If you are choosing between the two purely on value for money for everyday UK use, spusu is the stronger option.
Spusu pros and cons
Pros
- One of the cheapest entry points in the UK market at £3.90 per month
- Runs on EE, the UK's most consistently top-ranked 4G network per RootMetrics
- No credit check required
- No annual price rises
- EU roaming and 500 UK to EU minutes included as standard
- International roaming now available in 115 countries from 2026
- UK phone customer service, rare at this price point
- eSIM support available
- Fast, frictionless sign-up process
Cons
- No data rollover
- Speeds can dip at peak times compared to buying direct from EE
- Cancellation requires a signed form by email or post rather than a simple online process
- £4 early termination fee if you cancel within the first 30 days
- No physical stores or in person support
- No bundled entertainment or loyalty rewards
How to get a spusu SIM only deal
You can compare current spusu plans and click through directly from our spusu SIM only deals page, where deals are sorted by monthly cost by default and can be filtered by data allowance and price.
When you are ready to switch, you can keep your existing number by requesting a PAC code from your current network. Text PAC to 65075 and give the code to spusu when you sign up. Your number will transfer within one working day. There is no credit check, so the process is quick from order to connected.
5G
5G
5G
Is spusu worth it?
For most users, yes. It is one of the few budget MVNOs where the reality matches the marketing. The sign-up process is as frictionless as advertised, the lack of a credit check is genuinely useful for anyone who has been turned away elsewhere, and the inclusion of EU roaming and 500 minutes to EU countries as standard means there are no nasty surprises if you travel. If you do travel, our Spusu roaming guide breaks down exactly how much data each plan gives you abroad and what it costs beyond the EU.
The EE network backing is the strongest argument in spusu's favour. Independent data from RootMetrics consistently places EE ahead of the other UK networks on reliability, and in our testing that translates to consistent everyday performance rather than the peak-time dips you sometimes see with smaller MVNOs.
The lack of data rollover is worth noting, and the cancellation process has slightly more friction than rivals. But for straightforward, affordable monthly SIM-only plans, spusu is one of the best options available in the UK right now.
Tell your friends.