Both launched in 2017, VOXI and SMARTY are relative newcomers to the mobile network scene. But both pack a powerful punch when it comes to good value, flexible plans.
Read on for our comparison review of these two budget networks.
Overall Winner in snapshot: It depends
Both VOXI and SMARTY offer flexible, SIM-only plans at very affordable prices. As a result, the best network for you really depends on what you're looking for in a SIM plan.
VOXI's main selling point is the promise of unlimited social media. So if you spend a lot of time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even WhatsApp messaging (among others), you can happily browse away without eating into your monthly data allowance. Some plans even offer unlimited music and video – perfect for power users who regularly stream media on the go.
On the other hand, if you don’t scroll through your social media feeds regularly, you might want to consider SMARTY. Plans start out cheaper – and for the price you pay, you get more data than VOXI.
And if you don’t use data that much in general, it’s worth looking into its Data Discount plans, where you can get money back for any unused data at the end of the month.
Furthermore, one huge tick for SMARTY is that it still offers inclusive EU roaming – which may very well sway you towards this network, particularly if you often travel within Europe.
VOXI vs SMARTY: plans and pricing
Both networks are focused on straightforward SIM-only plans that won’t break the bank. They operate on a monthly rolling basis, giving you the flexibility to change or cancel whenever you like.
All plans from VOXI and SMARTY come with unlimited calls and texts in the UK as standard. For the data and flexibility you get, they’re really good value.
VOXI has a smaller selection of SIM-only plans, starting at 15GB of data for £10 a month. Not to mention, all plans come with a unique selling point: unlimited social media usage on certain apps.
Spend a bit more to get to the next plan and VOXI also throws Unlimited Music in the mix, letting you freely listen to Spotify and Apple Music. The next plan up gets you Unlimited Video, too, which is a huge bonus – especially if you’re regularly watching videos on TikTok, YouTube, Prime Video or Netflix on the go.
Although SMARTY doesn’t have these kinds of attractive features, it’s still highly competitive thanks to its extremely low prices. It has a slightly bigger range of SIM plans, starting at 5GB for £6 a month. It also offers Data Only plans, which come with no calls or texts – just a monthly allowance of data (useful for tablets or MiFi devices).
SMARTY also has the unique option of a Data Discount plan – if you choose this, you’ll get money back for any unused data at the end of the month, saving you even more money.
Overall, when looking at the amount of data you get for the price you pay, SMARTY comes out cheaper than VOXI. Not to mention, it has a bigger range of plans to choose from – which is great if you’re a light phone user and don’t need as much data as the plans at the higher end of the scale.
But taking into account VOXI’s endless social media, plus music and video streaming with its more expensive plans, it may be the case that VOXI works out as a better deal for you.
It really depends on how you use your phone, and whether you’re often on social media or streaming apps.
VOXI vs SMARTY: Mobile phone contracts
When it comes to mobile phone contracts, VOXI and SMARTY do offer options – though these aren't as comprehensive as pay-monthly contracts from big-name networks.
With VOXI, you can get the latest and greatest phones from the likes of Apple and Samsung, as well more affordable, refurbished devices. You’ll pay this off over 30 months via PayPal Credit, for no upfront cost.
However, this is only for the handset. You’ll need to buy a SIM-only plan – whether it’s from VOXI or another network – on top of the phone.
Meanwhile, SMARTY customers do get discounts on refurbished phones via reboxed®, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxies. However, that's the extent of SMARTY's offering – there's no choice of spreading the cost over a monthly contract. Plus, you'll still need to get a separate SMARTY SIM-only plan to go with it.
For better deals that come with a handset and phone plan bundled together, as well as other incentives, you should check out major networks like Three, EE, Vodafone and O2.
VOXI vs SMARTY: coverage
VOXI and SMARTY are powered by Vodafone and Three respectively, meaning their coverage is excellent. Both have strong 4G networks that cover pretty much the whole of the UK – just run your postcode through their coverage checkers.
VOXI vs SMARTY: 5G coverage
Both networks offer 5G coverage with all SIMs, so you can enjoy superfast speeds at no extra cost.
As for speed, though, SMARTY has the edge. Three often comes out top in independent mobile speed tests, and is touted as the UK's fastest 5G network.
VOXI vs SMARTY: customer service
Unlike the big-name networks, neither VOXI or SMARTY have a helpline or in-person support – their customer service is 100% online.
Both have a 24-hour web chat service. You can also get in touch with SMARTY by email, although it may be a little slower. True to its spirit of social media, VOXI can also be contacted via Facebook or Twitter.
At the time of writing (September 2023), SMARTY comes out ahead of VOXI when it comes to Trustpilot scores (4.1 out of 5, compared to 3.7).
VOXI vs SMARTY: Wi-Fi hotspots
Both VOXI and SMARTY customers can enjoy Wi-Fi Extra on London’s TfL network, thanks to their respective parent networks. It’s really handy if you’re a regular commuter on the underground.
VOXI vs SMARTY: Roaming
Here, SMARTY wins, as it still offers free EU roaming across all its SIM plans. If you're travelling in the EU, you'll be able to call, text and go online at no extra cost. You'll be subject to a fair use limit of 12GB of data a month, but that should be more than enough to cover your holiday.
On the other hand, VOXI has reintroduced roaming charges for those travelling in Europe. You have to buy a European Roaming Pass, which starts from £2.25 for one day and goes up to £15 for 15 days. These allow you to use your UK data allowance or a 20GB fair usage cap – whichever is less.
On the plus side, VOXI offers a couple of plans for international roaming. For either £15 for 8 days or £25 for 15 days, you can get a set amount of minutes, texts and data to use in international locations. While allowances aren't so generous, at least there's the option to use your phone internationally.
In contrast, SMARTY doesn't offer any international roaming plans at all – if you do use your phone abroad, you'll need to pay out of your nose with pay as you go rates.
VOXI vs SMARTY: Bonuses and rewards
Being budget networks, neither VOXI nor SMARTY offer tempting incentives for customers: their main draw is affordable plans with ample data allowances.
Still, both have a pretty decent ‘refer-a-friend’ scheme. For every friend you refer to VOXI, both of you will get up to £20 in Amazon.co.uk, PayPal or JustEat vouchers. And sometimes it runs time-limited deals on select SIM plans, where you get double or triple data for the same monthly price.
With SMARTY, for every friend you refer, both of you get a £10 gift card for Amazon.co.uk, John Lewis Partnership or Uber. Plus, it has a Group plan, where you can save 10% on up to eight SIMS.
Both also offer exclusive SIM-only deals for students at certain times of the year, such as at the beginning of term.
How do other networks compare against each other?
Take a look at our other comparison guides, where we weigh up which network works best for you:
For a closer look at VOXI and SMARTY, read our full VOXI and SMARTY reviews.
