Three Mobile’s new social tariff plan - save more than £200 a year

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published 20 February 2023

Three joins other mobile and broadband providers in offering customers a social tariff plan, saving them hundreds of pounds.

Broadband help packages are available to four million households who are on a low income, and with the providers like Sky Mobile and Virgin Media hiking their broadband prices from April, these plans will prove to be popular.

Here are all the details about the new Three social tariff plan.

Mobile provider Three is offering customers a social tariff plan (opens in new tab) under their sub-brand ‘SMARTY’.

It costs £12 per month and it includes unlimited data, calls and texts (plus superfast 5G at no extra cost) on a one-month rolling contract. This means you are not tied into a contract and can leave at any time without paying an exit fee.

You also do not need to undergo a credit check to get the tariff and you can apply for it online. (opens in new tab)

Three believe 4.2 million households across the UK could benefit from this new tariff. Elaine Carey, Three’s CCO said “More than ever, people are in need of support and that should include access to affordable connectivity without restrictions.”

To able to get the tariff, you must be claiming one of the following benefits:

Income-based employment support
Income-based job seekers
Income support
Pension credit
Universal credit

The Three plan comes at the top of the table as the cheapest offering. Vodafone’s social tariff plan is also £12 per month, but only for 12 months. After that customers pay £22 per month (£10 more monthly).

Three’s average download speed is 30.7Mbps which ranks them higher than Virgin Media and BT, but these providers are charging more in their monthly plans.

Social tariff plans go up to £25 per month, but as the price increases so does what you get- some providers' average download speeds are high (they go up to 150Mbps).

When it comes to the price of a standard Three mobile plan, a Three SIM-Only plan that offers the same as the social tariff plan (unlimited calls, texts and data) costs £30 per month.

With the social tariff plan you’re saving £18 per month and £216 over the course of 12 months.

For more view our full table on all of the social tariff plans and what providers are offering.

Vaishali graduated in journalism from Leeds University. She has gained experience writing local stories around Leeds and Leicester, which includes writing for a university publication and Leicester Mercury.

She has also done some marketing and copywriting for businesses.

When she is not writing about personal finance, Vaishali likes to travel and she's a foodie.

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