iD Mobile has super cheap deals compared to bigger and better known networks. But does that mean sub-par speeds and low usage allowances? Read on as we take a look...
"So many of us pay too much for our phone packages because we don’t use all our data. But iD mobile offer data rollover - meaning if you have data left over that month, instead of just losing it, it gets used first in the next month. This means you can try and get a package with a smaller amount of data than you’d usually consider, because you can plan ahead and save data for busier months." - Charlotte Burns
Our iD Mobile review in summary
iD Mobile likes to shout about how it's cheap, has flexible SIM deals and its monthly contract phone plans undercut bigger-name rivals. But that's not all it's got to offer.
In fact, it's got quite a bit more going for it besides price. Coverage and speeds on iD Mobile are good as well, as you'd expect given that the bedrock of iD Mobile's service is Three's nationwide network.
Not to mention, there are some decent value-adding features, such as data rollover and inclusive roaming too.
But in a bid to keep prices low, you won't get quite the same level of customer benefits and freebies that the likes of O2 and EE offer.
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ID sim only
5G- 20GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £6.00 per month
1 month contract From iD Mobile -
ID sim only
5G- 50GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £8.00 per month
12 month contract From iD Mobile -
ID sim only
5G- 60GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- No annual price rise
- £8.00 per month
1 month contract From iD Mobile
iD Mobile SIM only plans
iD Mobile is a low-cost network, with good-value SIM only plans that start from £6 per[1] month.
You can get flexible one-month plans that operate on a rolling-contract basis. Or if you're happy to commit for a longer term, there are 12-month and 24-month options available too.
Monthly allowances range from 4GB[2] per month, which is enough for light users, to unlimited data.
And you get unlimited calls and texts on all plans too, as well as the option to switch to a higher or lower data allowance with 30 days' notice.
iD Mobile SIM plans don't offer the same breadth of freebies that you get with the likes of O2 Priority. But they have some notable incentives that are appealing.
Not least of which is data rollover, which allows you to roll over unused data from month to month. It all happens automatically, so you won’t need to faff around in your settings or call up customer services.
During a time where most providers are charging you extra to use your phone in the EU, EEA and beyond - iD Mobile includes roaming, like you’re at home in 50 destinations. You will need to enable this on your online account.
And at the time of writing (June 2023), you can get 5G for no extra charge (assuming you own a compatible phone and are in range of iD Mobile's 5G service).
iD Mobile phone contract plans
At the time of writing, iD Mobile's range of phones that you get get on monthly contracts include the latest iPhone and Samsung models, as well as smartphones from Oppo, Alcatel, Motorola, Huawei, Nokia, Doro and Google.
That means you've got a range of price points to choose from, with the cheapest, at the time of writing,starting at £11.99 per month.
If you're looking to cut your outgoings a bit, you might also want to consider a refurbished, pre-owned phone. All of which come with a 12-month warranty from iD Mobile (new phones have the same warranty), so you can buy with confidence.
iD Mobile coverage
iD Mobile uses Three's network. That means you can expect a 4G service that covers 99.8%[1] of the population, which is broadly in line with its household-name rivals such as EE, O2 and Vodafone.
iD Mobile also has a growing 5G network, with more than 487 locations across the UK getting these super-fast speeds.
iD Mobile roaming
All iD Mobile plans still offer inclusive roaming in the EU. That means you can use your UK allowances in 50 locations, including a smattering outside Europe, for no extra charge.
You’ll need to enable this feature on your phone or via your online account before you go.
A number of household-name networks have recently reintroduced roaming charges in the EU and it's possible that iD Mobile could follow suit.
iD Mobile customer service
Like other budget networks, iD Mobile doesn't offer telephone-based customer support – its customer service is 100% online.
Like other budget networks, iD Mobile doesn't offer telephone-based customer support – its customer service is 100% online.
You can talk to a chatbot for help with simple queries, or speak to an online adviser. It's available between the hours of 9am-8pm on weekdays, and 9am-9pm on weekends and bank holidays.
For 24/7 support, you can browse iD Mobile's Help & Support section on its website, which has useful tips, FAQs and guides to help troubleshoot common problems.
Customers are also encouraged to tap into its active online community of well over 50,000 members, who are happy to help resolve problems on iD Mobile's online forums.
What is brilliant about iD Mobile is its useful services for people with disabilities and their vulnerable customer policies (such as those with difficulty hearing/speaking, mental health issues, learning disability etc). If you are a vulnerable customer, you can contact iD Mobile in a number of different ways - it has a dedicated team. All the information you need is on their accessibility page.
It's hard to assess how highly iD Mobile customers rate their network. That's largely because qualitative Ofcom studies into UK networks focus solely on the larger operators, such as Vodafone, O2, Three and EE.
However, if review scores on Trustpilot are anything to go by, iD Mobile customers certainly seem to be pretty satisfied with their service.
As of June 2023, iD Mobile has a score of 4.0 stars. That's leagues ahead of Three (1.3 stars)and O2 (1.2 stars).
iD Mobile stores and customer experience
iD Mobile doesn't have a retail network. But you can pick up iD Mobile SIMs and phone plans from Currys stores, where staff are well informed and can advise you on your purchase and provide on-the-spot support.
iD Mobile deals and incentives
As well as affordable plans that give you a lot of data for the price you pay, iD mobile also provides a few useful perks that add real value.
Among them is data rollover, which lets you roll over unused data from month to month, as well as the option to cap your monthly spend. So it's easier to keep a lid on your outgoings, if you exceed your monthly usage allowance.
Customers also benefit from inclusive roaming in 50 locations for no extra charge and can make calls over Wi-Fi. Which comes in handy if you're in a location with weak mobile signal.
iD Mobile pricing
iD Mobile is a budget-friendly network, with the onus very much on good value. SIM only plans start from about £6 per month for a monthly usage allowance of 4GB, which makes them some of the cheapest around.
iD mobile says that the average customer will save an average of £200 a year by switching from a mobile network giant to the bargain network provider.
The cheapest phone contracts start from just over £10 per month, which typically gets you a Motorola or Nokia Android phone.
iD Mobile deals for the most sought-after and newest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy generally work out a few pounds cheaper per month than comparable contracts from household-name networks.
Pros and cons of choosing iD Mobile
Pros
- Really good value SIM only plans
- SIMs are very flexible too
- 5G speeds in good range of locations and at no extra cost
- Decent range of smartphones on contracts, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones
- Inclusive roaming in 50 locations
- Data rollover, spending caps and Wi-Fi calling.
Cons
- Not the same level of perks as the bigger networks, such as O2's Priority rewards scheme or EE's free video streaming servicesNo telephone-based customer support could be a deal-breaker for some.
How does iD Mobile compare with other networks?
iD Mobile is a good, reliable service that's in line with its parent network Three for speeds and coverage.
Where iD Mobile scores over its rivals is price, with SIMs and phone plans that undercut the likes of O2, Vodafone and EE, and flexibility.
If freebies and extras, such as subscriptions to streaming services and money-saving offers at high-street stores, are your thing, you might want to look elsewhere.
Conversely, if you know you won't really make use of those sort of freebies and just want a solid network at a really good price, iD Mobile is a very good bet indeed.
What are the alternatives to iD Mobile?
How does iD Mobile compare against other networks?
See our reviews of other mobile networks:
