Zero-rated websites are sites that mobile networks allow users to access without it counting against their data allowance. The network absorbs the data cost, meaning someone with no credit or an exhausted data plan can still reach those specific sites. In the UK, this typically covers things like NHS services, gov.uk, and certain educational platforms. It’s a form of sponsored access, either the network funds it as a public good, or the site owner pays the carrier to be included. The practical effect is that for people living in data poverty, zero-rated sites may be the only parts of the internet they can reliably reach.
| Network | Category | Zero-Rated Sites / Services | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| O2 / Virgin Mobile | Health | nhs.uk, 111.nhs.uk, NHS App | Introduced during COVID; retained |
| Financial / Debt | Citizens Advice, StepChange, National Debtline, Business Debtline, Turn2us, Debt Advice Foundation, National Energy Action, Money Advice Service, Money Helper | Expanded during cost-of-living crisis | |
| Wellbeing | Mind, Samaritans (via partnerships) | ||
| EE / BT | Health | nhs.uk, 111.nhs.uk | Introduced during COVID; status ongoing — confirm with EE directly |
| Education | Oak National Academy (classroom.thenational.academy) | Zero-rated across EE, BT Mobile | |
| Vodafone | Health | nhs.uk, 111.nhs.uk | Introduced during COVID; confirm current status |
| Education | Oak National Academy | ||
| Three | Health | nhs.uk | |
| Financial / Debt | StepChange, National Debtline, Business Debtline, Citizens Advice, Money Advice Plus, Money and Pensions Service, Money Helper | Expanded Sept 2022 | |
| Safeguarding / Support | Samaritans, Refuge, National Domestic Abuse Hotline, Rape Crisis, GALOP, NSPCC, Women’s Aid, Male Survivors Partnership, Survivors Trust | Pre-existing commitments | |
| VOXI (Vodafone sub-brand) | Social Media | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter/X, Pinterest, Viber, TikTok | Commercial zero-rating — doesn’t count toward data allowance. VPN use disables this. |
| Video / Music (add-on) | YouTube, Netflix, Spotify (via passes) | Plan-dependent | |
| Sky Mobile | Entertainment | Sky TV streaming (for Sky subscribers) | Commercial zero-rating for own services |
| Tesco Mobile / giffgaff / SMARTY | Education | Oak National Academy | Confirmed zero-rated across these O2-network MVNOs |
| Note: Networks do not publish complete zero-rated lists publicly. This table reflects confirmed announcements. COVID-era zero-rating was sometimes time-limited — verify current status directly with each network. VOXI’s social media zero-rating is commercial; all others above are public-benefit. | |||