If you're looking for a way to manage several mobile SIMs together, SMARTY's Group Plans let you combine between two and eight SIMs under one Group. There are two options to choose from: Everyone Unlimited and Mix & Match.
Everyone Unlimited gives every member unlimited data, calls and texts for a fixed monthly price, while Mix & Match lets each person choose their own SMARTY plan and gives every SIM 10% off.
But which one works out cheapest? And is Everyone Unlimited actually better if some people in your group don't use much data?
Here's everything you need to know about SMARTY Group Plans.
At a glance: SMARTY Group Plans
| Everyone Unlimited | Mix & Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of SIMs | 2–8 | 2–8 |
| Data | Unlimited for everyone | Each person chooses their own allowance |
| Calls & texts | Unlimited | Unlimited on eligible plans |
| Discount | Fixed Group pricing | 10% off each SIM |
| Group Owner | £20 per month | 10% off chosen plan |
| Additional members | £15 per month each | 10% off chosen plan |
| Payment | One payment for the whole Group | Members are paid individually by the Group Owner |
| Renewal date | One shared renewal date | Each SIM keeps its own renewal date |
| Best for | Groups where everyone uses lots of data | Groups with different data needs |
What is a SMARTY Group Plan?
A SMARTY Group Plan allows you to bring multiple SMARTY SIMs together into one Group.
You can have between 2 and 8 SIMs in total: one Group Owner and up to seven members.
The Group Owner manages the Group, including payments, members, plans and add-ons. This makes Group Plans useful for families, couples, friends, university housemates or anyone who wants to manage several SMARTY SIMs together.
You don't all have to live at the same address, either. A Group can include family and friends.
There are two types of Group Plan:
- Everyone Unlimited: every SIM gets unlimited data, calls and texts.
- Mix & Match: everyone chooses their own SMARTY plan and receives 10% off.
The two options work quite differently, so choosing the right one can make a noticeable difference to the total cost.
SMARTY Everyone Unlimited
Everyone Unlimited is the simpler of the two Group options.
The Group Owner pays £20 per month, while every additional member costs £15 per month.
Everyone gets:
- Unlimited data
- Unlimited calls
- Unlimited texts
- 5G and 4G access
- EU roaming, subject to SMARTY's 12GB fair-use limit
- A rolling monthly plan with no long-term contract
The important difference is that Everyone Unlimited uses one shared payment and renewal date for the entire Group.
How much does SMARTY Everyone Unlimited cost?
The price is:
£20 for the Group Owner + £15 for every additional member.
| Number of SIMs | Monthly Group cost | Saving vs individual £20 Unlimited plans |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | £35 | £5 |
| 3 | £50 | £10 |
| 4 | £65 | £15 |
| 5 | £80 | £20 |
| 6 | £95 | £25 |
| 7 | £110 | £30 |
| 8 | £125 | £35 |
For example, two individual SMARTY Unlimited plans would normally cost £40 a month. Put them into an Everyone Unlimited Group and the total falls to £35.
With eight SIMs, the Group costs £125 a month rather than £160 if all eight people bought the standard £20 Unlimited plan individually.
That means the maximum advertised saving is £35 a month, or £420 a year if the Group remains at eight active SIMs for a full 12 months.
Who is Everyone Unlimited best for?
Everyone Unlimited makes most sense when most or all of the people in the Group need a lot of mobile data.
For example:
- A family where everyone streams, games or uses mobile data heavily
- A couple who both want unlimited data
- University housemates who all use their phones heavily
- A family with teenagers who are likely to use substantial amounts of data
- A household that wants one simple monthly payment
The more people who genuinely need Unlimited data, the more attractive the fixed £15-per-member price becomes.
The downside of Everyone Unlimited
The obvious drawback is that everyone gets Unlimited data whether they need it or not.
If one person regularly uses only 5GB a month and another uses 150GB, you could potentially pay less overall with Mix & Match.
There's another important consideration: once you choose Everyone Unlimited, you can't simply change the Group to Mix & Match later.
SMARTY currently requires you to close the existing Group and create a new one if you want to switch between the two Group types.
So it's worth doing the maths before setting up the Group.
SMARTY Mix & Match
Mix & Match works differently.
Instead of giving everybody the same Unlimited plan, each person chooses whichever SMARTY plan suits their own usage.
SMARTY then applies a 10% Group discount to each SIM.
That means someone who needs only a small amount of data doesn't have to pay for Unlimited data just because another member of the family does.
How does the 10% discount work?
SMARTY applies 10% off the chosen plan.
For example, based on SMARTY's standard plan prices:
| Standard plan | Standard price | Group price after 10% discount |
|---|---|---|
| 5GB | £6 | £5.40 |
| 16GB | £8 | £7.20 |
| 20GB | £9 | £8.10 |
| 40GB | £10 | £9 |
| 100GB | £12 | £10.80 |
| 150GB | £15 | £13.50 |
| 200GB | £17 | £15.30 |
| Unlimited | £20 | £18 |
Prices and promotional allowances can change, so use the current SMARTY deals for the latest offers.
Who is Mix & Match best for?
Mix & Match is usually the better option when people in the Group have noticeably different data requirements.
For example:
- Parent 1: 5GB
- Parent 2: 20GB
- Child 1: 40GB
- Child 2: 100GB
There's little reason to pay for four Unlimited plans when everyone uses their phone differently.
Mix & Match lets each person choose the amount of data they actually need while still receiving a 10% Group discount.
The downside of Mix & Match
Mix & Match isn't as simple to administer as Everyone Unlimited.
The Group Owner still makes the payments, but each SIM keeps its own renewal date. That means there can be several payments at different points during the month.
It's also possible for the total Group cost to be higher than Everyone Unlimited if several members choose Unlimited or high-data plans.
Everyone Unlimited vs Mix & Match: which is cheaper?
This is the key question.
There isn't one answer because it depends on how much data everyone uses.
Choose Everyone Unlimited if:
- Everyone needs a lot of data
- Two or more people would otherwise choose Unlimited
- You want one simple monthly payment
- You don't want to worry about different data allowances
- You want the biggest possible saving on multiple Unlimited SIMs
Choose Mix & Match if:
- Some people use considerably less data than others
- One or more people only need a small or medium data allowance
- You want everyone to choose their own plan
- Keeping individual renewal dates isn't a problem
- You want the flexibility to change individual plans
A simple example
Imagine two people.
Person A needs Unlimited data.
Person B only needs 20GB.
With individual SMARTY plans, the cost would be:
£20 + £9 = £29
With Mix & Match, both plans receive 10% off:
£18 + £8.10 = £26.10
Everyone Unlimited would cost:
£20 + £15 = £35
In this example, Mix & Match is considerably cheaper.
But if both people need Unlimited data:
Individual plans: £40
Mix & Match: £36
Everyone Unlimited: £35
Here, Everyone Unlimited wins.
That's why the cheapest SMARTY Group Plan depends on what everybody actually uses.
What happens to payments?
This is one of the biggest differences between the two Group Plans.
Everyone Unlimited
Everyone Unlimited has one monthly payment for the whole Group.
The Group Owner pays:
£20 + £15 for every additional member.
Everyone shares the same renewal date.
If a new member joins part-way through the billing month, the Group Owner initially pays the full £15. SMARTY then calculates the unused days and automatically applies a credit at the next renewal.
Mix & Match
Mix & Match has separate renewal dates for each SIM.
The Group Owner pays for every member, but payments can therefore happen on different dates throughout the month.
This is less tidy than Everyone Unlimited, but it means each person retains their existing billing cycle.
SMARTY Group Plans: pros and cons
Everyone Unlimited
Pros
- Unlimited data for everyone
- £15 per month for every additional member
- Up to £35 monthly saving with eight SIMs
- One payment for the whole Group
- One shared renewal date
- Unlimited calls and texts
- No long-term contract
- Particularly good for families with heavy data users
Cons
- Everyone must have Unlimited data
- Can cost more than Mix & Match if some members use little data
- Existing promotional discounts don't carry over
- Group Owner controls payments and much of the account management
- You can't switch directly to Mix & Match later
Mix & Match
Pros
- 10% off every SIM
- Each person chooses their own data allowance
- Better for households with mixed data usage
- Individual plans can be changed
- Eligible direct SMARTY promotions may sometimes stack with the Group discount
- No long-term contract
Cons
- More complicated billing
- Each SIM can have a different renewal date
- The Group Owner is responsible for payments
- Not necessarily cheaper than Everyone Unlimited for several heavy data users
- You can't combine Mix & Match and Everyone Unlimited within the same Group
Who controls a SMARTY Group?
The Group Owner has the most control.
They can:
- Manage payments
- See members' plans and usage
- See members' call history
- Change members' plans
- Buy add-ons for members
- Pause or cancel member services
- Add new members
- Remove members
- Manage account settings
Standard members retain access to their own account and can leave the Group.
This is worth considering before joining a family Group. The Group Owner can see usage and call history, so a Group isn't quite the same thing as everyone simply receiving a discount on separate, independent accounts.
Which SMARTY Group Plan should you choose?
Everyone Unlimited is the better choice if everyone in your Group needs a lot of data.
At £20 for the Owner and £15 for every additional member, the saving becomes increasingly valuable as you add more Unlimited SIMs.
Mix & Match is the better choice if your Group has different data needs.
If one person uses 5GB, another uses 20GB and someone else needs 100GB, paying for Unlimited data for everyone doesn't make much sense.
The easiest way to decide is to look at what each person actually uses rather than simply choosing the plan with the biggest headline discount.
In short:
Everyone Unlimited = best for multiple heavy data users.
Mix & Match = best for mixed data usage.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SMARTY Nickname SIM?
SMARTY also allows the Group Owner to create a Nickname Member.
This can be useful if you're adding:
- A child's SIM
- A spare SIM
- A SIM for a tablet
- A SIM for another device
A Nickname SIM is managed entirely by the Group Owner and doesn't have its own separate dashboard.
There is an important catch: a Nickname SIM can't later become a standalone SMARTY account.
If the user eventually wants their own SMARTY account, the number would need to be ported out and a new SMARTY account created.
For that reason, Nickname SIMs make the most sense for children or devices that don't need their own account management.
Does SMARTY Group Plans include roaming?
Yes. EU roaming is included, with data subject to a 12GB monthly fair-use limit. Outside the EU, an Out of Plan add-on is required.
This is particularly worth remembering if you're considering Everyone Unlimited because the UK Unlimited allowance does not mean unlimited data while roaming abroad.
Can children join a SMARTY Group?
Children aged 13 or over can join, or younger users can join with parental or guardian permission. Nickname SIMs are available for children under 16 who don't need their own account.
Can the Group Owner be changed?
No. SMARTY does not currently allow Group ownership to be transferred to another member.
Are there credit checks?
No, SMARTY says it doesn't perform credit checks on its rolling monthly plans. Because the service is paid for in advance, you don't need to pass a traditional credit check to take out a SMARTY SIM.
Do SMARTY Group Plans have a contract?
No. SMARTY Group Plans are based on rolling monthly plans rather than long-term contracts.
Does SMARTY Group Plans include 5G?
Yes, SMARTY's plans include 4G and 5G access at no additional cost where coverage and a compatible device are available.
Can I add family and friends?
Yes, a SMARTY Group doesn't have to be restricted to people in the same household. You can create a Group for family members, friends or other people you trust to be part of the same account arrangement.
Can existing SMARTY customers join a Group?
Yes.
An existing SMARTY customer can join a Group using an invitation from the Group Owner, provided they aren't already part of another Group.
You can also invite someone who isn't currently with SMARTY. You can normally keep an existing mobile number when switching to SMARTY by using a PAC.
Can I change plans later?
Yes, but how this works depends on the Group type.
With Mix & Match, the Group Owner can change a member's plan. The new plan takes effect from the member's next renewal.
With Everyone Unlimited, there isn't an individual data allowance to change because everybody is already on Unlimited.
However, you can't switch the entire Group from Everyone Unlimited to Mix & Match, or vice versa, without closing the existing Group and setting up a new one.
This is one of the most important things to understand before choosing your Group type.
What happens if someone leaves the Group?
The answer depends on the Group type.
With Mix & Match, a member can leave and arrange their own payment details to continue their SMARTY plan.
With Everyone Unlimited, a member leaving the Group needs to either move to a standalone SMARTY account or leave SMARTY.
This is another reason why the Group Owner should be someone who is likely to remain responsible for the Group.
What network does SMARTY use?
SMARTY is owned by Three and operates as a standalone brand.
Following the Vodafone and Three merger, SMARTY customers can also access Vodafone network infrastructure where network sharing has been deployed.
How many people can be in a SMARTY Group?
A SMARTY Group can contain up to eight SIMs: one Group Owner and up to seven members.
Is SMARTY Everyone Unlimited really unlimited?
Yes, the UK plan includes unlimited data, calls and texts. Roaming abroad is different, with EU data subject to a 12GB monthly fair-use limit.
How much is SMARTY Everyone Unlimited?
The Group Owner pays £20 per month and each additional member costs £15 per month.
How much can you save with SMARTY Everyone Unlimited?
The maximum saving is £35 per month with eight SIMs, compared with eight individual £20 Unlimited plans.
Does SMARTY Mix & Match save 10%?
Yes. Each eligible SIM in a Mix & Match Group receives 10% off its chosen plan.
Is SMARTY Mix &; Match cheaper than Everyone Unlimited?
It depends on the plans chosen. Mix & Match is generally better when people use different amounts of data, while Everyone Unlimited can be cheaper when several members need Unlimited data.
Can I have some people on Unlimited and others on smaller plans?
Yes, with Mix & Match. Everyone in an Everyone Unlimited Group must have the Unlimited plan.
Can I switch from Everyone Unlimited to Mix & Match?
Not directly. You need to close the existing Group and create a new Group using the other plan type.
Can a Group Owner see what other members are doing?
The Group Owner can see members' plans, usage and call history, as well as managing payments, plans and add-ons.
Bottom line
SMARTY's Group Plans are worth considering if you're paying for several mobile SIMs, but don't automatically assume Everyone Unlimited is the cheapest option.
If everyone wants Unlimited data, Everyone Unlimited is very competitive: the first SIM is £20 and every additional SIM is £15.
If your household has mixed data requirements, Mix & Match can work out cheaper because everyone gets to choose their own plan and receives 10% off.
The best option is therefore simple:
Lots of data for everyone? Choose Everyone Unlimited.
Different data needs? Choose Mix & Match.