EE 5G plans explained

If you’re buying a 5G phone or 5G SIM-only plan on EE then you’ll be able to choose between six different standard types of plan, each with their own perks, so it’s worth being aware of your options.

The options are a No Frills plan, an Essentials plan, an Essentials Plus plan, an All Rounder plan, a Full Works plan for Android, or a Full Works plan for iPhone, and many of them include Inclusive Extras, which is something we’ll explain further in this article too.

On top of those, EE also offers Safer SIMs, which are designed specifically for children and teenagers.

So read on for an explanation of exactly what all these options are, how to get Inclusive Extras, and everything else you need to know.

EE 5G plans compared

As you can see from the table above, there are quite a few differences between EE’s various standard 5G plans, and you can read more about them below.

No Frills plans

EE’s No Frills plans are the network’s most basic, and as such they’re quite limited – most notably in terms of speed, with these topping out at 10Mbps.

These plans do let you gift data to other plans on your account though, and they can be had with up to unlimited data. They also allow for tethering.

If you purchase a No Frills plan with a 5G Standalone-compatible handset then you’ll also get access to 5G Standalone (called 5G+ on EE), though given the 10Mbps speed cap, you won’t be able to make the most of that.

Essentials plans

Next up there’s Essentials plans. With these, speeds are capped at 100Mbps, meaning you can’t make the most of 5G, though that’s still fairly fast.

Otherwise, these are similar to No Frills plans – you can tether and gift data, you can get plans with up to unlimited data, and you get access to 5G Standalone (if bought as part of a handset plan with a compatible phone), but there’s little in the way of extras.

Note that there are also ‘Essentials Max’ plans, which give you uncapped speeds but are otherwise the same as Essentials plans.

Essentials Plus plans

An Essentials Plus plan is quite a big upgrade on an Essentials plan, as while you have the same 100Mbps speed cap and all the other same extras as an Essentials plan, here you can also roam across the EU at no extra cost.

Additionally, Essentials Plus plans come with unlimited data for a connected smartwatch.

And you can also get ‘Essentials Plus Max’ plans, which uncap your speeds.

All Rounder plans

Next up there’s All Rounder Plans. These don’t cap your speeds, and they let you choose one ‘Inclusive Extra’ from the following selection:

Netflix Standard with adverts or Google AI Plus 2TB (if choosing a SIM Only ‘All Rounder’ plan or an Android phone plan), or a choice of Apple Music or Apple TV (if you buy this plan alongside an iPhone or choose the SIM Only ‘All Rounder for iPhone’ version).

They’re the main additional features of All Rounder plans, but – as well as all the stuff on Essentials Plus plans – you also get 5G Standalone even if going SIM Only, and if you pair this with a phone then you get priority coverage in busy areas, sometimes referred to as ‘Network Boost’.

Full Works for Android

Next up there’s Full Works for Android, which is very similar to All Rounder, except that you can choose from a different selection of Inclusive Extras.

These include: Netflix Premium, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Google AI Pro, or TNT Sports.

You can also roam at no extra cost in 85 worldwide destinations, including most of Europe plus Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and the US, among other locations.

Full Works for iPhone

Finally, Full Works for iPhone is a bit different. This is aimed at iPhone users, and lets you choose from the following Inclusive Extras:

TNT Sports or Apple One (which includes subscriptions to Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and 50GB of iCloud Plus storage).

Otherwise, you get the same here as in a Full Works for Android plan – meaning you can roam in 85 global destinations, and you get everything else that’s found in an All Rounder plan.

What is 5G Standalone?

5G Standalone – which EE offers on many of the above plans under the name ‘5G+’ – is worth knowing about, as this can transform your 5G experience.

Essentially, this refers to a 5G network where every element is designed with 5G use in mind, whereas 5G Non-Standalone – which is what most 5G services still are – has some 4G infrastructure in the mix.

Removing these 4G-era components can lead to enhanced speed and reliability, among other improvements, so it’s another step forward in performance.

Of course, since some of EE’s plans have speed limits, the increased speed of 5G Standalone won’t benefit those so much, and in any case, you need to have a compatible device and be in an area with 5G Standalone coverage, which is still not everywhere, since not all of EE’s 5G network has been upgraded to Standalone yet.

What are Safer SIMS?

As well as the standard SIMs above, EE also sells Safer SIMs, but we’re detailing these separately because they’re designed specifically for children and teenagers, so they’re a fundamentally different offering.

You can get these on SIM Only (but not with a phone) and will choose between three options.

There’s a ‘Protected plan’, which includes unlimited data, minutes, and texts, but that data is capped at a very slow 0.5Mbps speed – which is enough for things like WhatsApp and Google Maps, but not really up to the task of streaming video or allowing for online games. This plan also includes strict parental controls.

Then there’s a ‘Guided plan’, which comes with unlimited minutes and texts, along with 3GB of data at 10Mbps speeds, and moderate parental controls.

Finally, there’s ‘Trusted plan’, which gives you unlimited minutes and texts, 10GB of data at 100Mbps speeds, and moderate parental controls.

Those latter two plans will drop to 0.5Mbps speeds once the allowance is used up, rather than cutting off data access completely. All three of these plans also technically support 5G, despite the speed caps.

FAQs

Can I get EE 5G without Inclusive Extras?

Yes. No Frills, Essentials, and Essentials Plus plans technically also include 5G. However, speeds are capped at either 10Mbps or 100Mbps, which means you won’t get the highest possible 5G speeds.

Do all EE plans come with 5G?

All currently available SIM-only and handset plans come with 5G – though of course you’ll also need a 5G phone to take advantage of it. Note also that Essentials and Essentials Plus plans limit your speeds to 100Mbps, and No Frills to a slow 10Mbps.

Can I get unlimited data with an EE 5G plan?

Yes. Data allowances on EE’s standard plans vary from 5GB to unlimited data.

Can I get more than one Inclusive Extra?

No, you can only choose one Inclusive Extra with any of EE’s plans.

Can I get Inclusive Extras with a tablet?

Yes, EE also offers Inclusive Extras with tablets.

Can I get Inclusive Extras on pay as you go?

No, Inclusive Extras aren’t available on EE pay as you go.