Phones on contract from under £14 a month.
upfront
Mobile networks offer mobile phones on contracts which come with a bundle of minutes, texts, and data. This is usually – though not always – over a 24-month period, with Three additionally offering 12 and 36-month plans, and it may involve having to pay something upfront for the phone, or the device itself may be free.
This effectively spreads the large upfront cost of a new mobile phone over a longer period, which you can pay off in monthly instalments. This can be a huge bonus with the cost of modern flagship smartphones now well over £1000.
The advantage of taking out a pay monthly contract is that you do not have to pay as much upfront for a new smartphone – in fact, you will sometimes get the phone itself free, which can make the whole cost a lot more manageable, particularly if you are after a high-end phone which would usually cost hundreds of pounds.
All contracts come with a bundle of inclusive minutes, data, and texts to use per month. Most modern contracts are taken out over 2 years, after which you are free to switch to a SIM Only deal to save money or upgrade to a new smartphone. Those looking for even more flexibility should consider a Pay As You Go phone.
The disadvantages of a phone contract are that you get locked into a contract for an extended, usually 24-month period. If you want to leave your contract early and switch network, you will have to pay an early exit fee, which on Three is the total of the monthly charges remaining during the minimum term of your agreement, minus a variable discount that’s currently 3%.
If you buy a phone outright and get a SIM Only plan then along with 24-month plans you can choose from 12-month or even 1-month plans, giving you more flexibility. Those looking for even more flexibility can go on a Pay As You Go plan.
There are numerous reasons to choose Three, but one of the most important is the great value deals that are available, with plans starting from under £14 per month, and the phone itself often being included for as little as £10 upfront.
There are also a number of additional benefits on Three that you won't get elsewhere, including free or cheap worldwide roaming in 163 destinations, truly unlimited data and unlimited tethering.
Some plans also come with a subscription to Paramount Plus, and you’ll benefit from access to Three+, which includes rewards, discounts, and freebies from various brands.
All plans on Three also come with 5G at no extra cost, so if you have got a 5G phone you will be able to enjoy breakneck speeds without paying a penny more.
Three doesn’t currently offer free phones on Pay Monthly contracts, but upfront costs are often very low – sometimes as little as £10, and there are a wide range of phones available with fairly low upfront costs, including the latest iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and more.
Bear in mind though that it’s sometimes better value to pay a higher upfront cost for a phone, which helps reduce the cost to the network and lowers monthly costs.
Yes, all Pay Monthly phone contracts require a credit check due to the value of the phones being offered to consumers.
Those with bad credit might want to consider choosing a Pay As You Go phone, or getting a SIM Only deal as they have less strict credit checks.
Yes, Three offer unlimited data phone contracts on every mobile phone they sell, including the latest Apple and Samsung smartphones.
What’s great about Three’s unlimited data plans is that they have no speed restrictions or usage limits, so they are truly unlimited.
Yes, Three have a range of 5G phones available to buy. Those lucky enough to live in an area with 5G coverage can enjoy superfast speeds, while those still waiting will be future-proofed for when it does arrive in the area.
Three stock a range of the latest phones, including the latest flagship from Apple and Samsung. They are available on a range of Pay Monthly contracts and Pay As You Go plans.
At the time of writing, the latest flagship phones include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Samsung Galaxy S25, Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Google Pixel 10, among others, though newer phones may well have released by the time you read this. There are also a range of mid-range and affordable phones to suit every budget, and you can see and filter them all at the top of this page.
Every phone sold on Three supports 4G and the vast majority of them also support 5G, making them future-proofed for years to come.
Three’s network has won numerous awards over the years, and it particularly excels for data speeds, with for example Three being rated the fastest 5G network by Speedtest at the time of writing.
There are also several other reasons to choose Three, including 5G at no extra cost on all plans. Also, all plans come with cheap or free roaming abroad, inclusive tethering, and they even offer truly unlimited data plans with no speed restrictions.
Coverage has also been improving rapidly in the last couple of years with huge investments being made in the network infrastructure.
Absolutely, just opt for a SIM Only plan and stick the new SIM card in your old phone. Your phone will have to be unlocked or on Three though.
