What is Superdrug Mobile?
Superdrug Mobile is a SIM only provider run by the high street health and beauty chain. It does not own a network. Its own help centre describes its network as powered by Three, so your signal depends on Three’s coverage where you live.
Most of us know Superdrug for shampoo, not mobile data. That is fair, but a cheap SIM from a brand you recognise is exactly the sort of thing that gets people off an expensive plan they have been rolling for years.
This guide uses Superdrug Mobile’s own plans page and its estimated speeds help page. We have not tested the service, so treat what follows as a summary of what the provider says, plus what to check yourself.
Key takeaways
- Superdrug Mobile sells SIM only plans with no contract and no credit check, according to its website.
- It runs on Three’s network, so check Three coverage at your address first.
- When we looked, its site listed five plans from £7 to £20 a month. Prices can change.
- The Health & Beautycard points are the extra, not the main reason to choose a plan.
What plans does Superdrug Mobile offer?
When we looked, the Superdrug Mobile website listed five SIM only plans. Four have a data allowance and one is unlimited, priced between £7 and £20 a month. Those are the provider’s own figures, they can change, and the plans page has the current prices and data allowances.
Every plan includes unlimited UK calls and texts, according to Superdrug Mobile. It also lists some EU roaming data, a rollover of unused data into the next month on the capped plans, 5G and a “contract free, cancel anytime” promise.
Its help centre says there are no UK data caps and no speed restrictions on the unlimited plan. As with any provider, read the fair usage policy if you plan to use a lot of data, because that is where the small print tends to sit.
If you run out of data, its help centre says you can buy a data add-on without changing plan. There are also cash add-ons for anything outside your plan, such as international calls and roaming data. You need an active plan to use either, so a lapsed plan means no service at all, add-ons included.
If you would rather pay as you go, our PAYG mobile deals guide covers that option, and the button further down lets you compare SIM only deals.
Which network does Superdrug Mobile use?
Superdrug Mobile uses Three’s network. Its estimated speeds page says speeds are based on what customers are likely to experience on Superdrug Mobile’s network, powered by Three.
That page gives estimated maximum speeds of 597 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up on 5G, and 70 Mbps down and 22 Mbps up on 4G. It also says 3G has been switched off. These are maximums, not promises, and Superdrug Mobile says they may not be available at all locations.
The practical point is simple. A cheap SIM is only good value if it gets a signal where you live and work. Check coverage at your home, your commute and the places you spend time before you buy. Our mobile coverage checker guide shows how, and our best mobile network guide explains why the answer differs by postcode.
Is Superdrug Mobile worth it for the Beautycard points?
The points are a nice extra, but they should not decide which SIM you buy. According to Superdrug Mobile’s website, customers get points worth 50% of their first month’s plan cost when they activate and link a Health & Beautycard. A further 50% follows after the first successful renewal.
Superdrug Mobile also says customers get double points on shopping at Superdrug, and its help centre describes a VIP scheme with 10% off Superdrug own brand products. You need a linked Health & Beautycard, and the scheme is subject to change.
If you already shop at Superdrug, the points add up to a small bonus. If you do not, ignore them. A perk you will not use is not a saving, and staying on an overpriced plan out of habit can cost more than a few points are worth.
Who might Superdrug Mobile suit, and who should look elsewhere?
A SIM only plan with no contract suits people who want to stay flexible, who have their own phone, and who are happy with Three coverage. Because there is no contract, you can in theory leave whenever you like, which is a useful safety net.
It may suit you less if you want to spread the cost of a new handset over a contract, or need a network other than Three. Superdrug Mobile sells SIM only plans, so a handset deal means looking elsewhere.
Before you switch, check three things. First, that your phone is unlocked. Our unlock your phone guide explains how. Second, that you can keep your number, which Superdrug Mobile says you can by texting. Third, whether your current deal has an exit fee or minimum term still to run.
Spending two minutes on a comparison beats staying put out of habit. The Do-Nothing Default is rarely the cheapest plan on the shelf, and that is true whichever network you are on.
Frequently asked questions about Superdrug Mobile
- Which network does Superdrug Mobile use?
- Three. Superdrug Mobile’s help centre describes its network as powered by Three, so check Three’s coverage at your address.
- Is Superdrug Mobile a contract?
- No. Its website describes its SIM only plans as contract free with no credit check, and says you can pause or cancel at any time.
- Does Superdrug Mobile include 5G?
- Superdrug Mobile says its plans include 5G where coverage allows. Its help centre gives an estimated maximum 5G download speed of 597 Mbps, which is not guaranteed.
- Can I keep my phone number?
- Yes. Superdrug Mobile says you can keep your number when you switch and that the process starts with a text.
- Does Superdrug Mobile have unlimited data?
- Yes, one of its five plans is unlimited. Its help centre says there are no UK data caps or speed restrictions on that plan, so check its fair usage policy.
