O2 vs Vodafone: Which is better?

But which one wins out between O2 and Vodafone when put head to head? Read on and we’ll reveal all in our comprehensive review.

Overall winner in snapshot: O2

O2 wins out in our head to head, but only narrowly.

The phones available and perks that are on offer are broadly comparable, but O2 edges things when it comes to price and, crucially, roaming.

While O2 still offers inclusive roaming to 45 countries across Europe, Vodafone only does so for those on premium plans. If you travel a lot, then this is something of a deal breaker in our book.

O2 vs Vodafone: plans and pricing

O2 and Vodafone offer broadly similar plans for those looking to buy a new smartphone rather than taking out a SIM only deal.

O2’s Refresh plans are impressive, allowing you to split the cost of your phone and allowance.

This means that you can pay off the price of your phone early and get an upgrade to a newer handset.

It also offers flexible Custom Plans, which allow you to choose how much you want to pay up front and then how long you wish to spread the cost of your new device, anywhere between three and 36 months.

Vodafone’s EVO deals are similar to O2 Custom Plans, in that you can choose the length of your contract for any new phone, while also being able to make one off lump sum payments.

You can also trade in your old phone to pay off the cost of it, although the prices Vodafone offer tend to be less than simply flogging your old phone privately.

In terms of pricing, both are comparable. You can expect to pay a premium for a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, with contracts from £30 to £80 per month depending on how much you pay up front and the data allowance you opt for.

When it comes to SIM only, Vodafone offers cheaper deals, but the slightly more expensive O2 deals tend to come with 5G as standard.

That’s a major plus considering the 5G network is growing at a rapid rate and virtually all new smartphones support it.

O2 vs Vodafone coverage

In the realm of 4G coverage, there’s not much to choose between O2 and Vodafone.

Each serves up around 99% population coverage of the UK and each has been lauded for delivering stronger connections indoors compared with big name rivals Three and EE.

Vodafone usually has better rural coverage, so it may be the best bet if you live in the countryside and struggle to get a decent signal.

O2 vs Vodafone speeds

When it comes speed, Vodafone sees off O2 hands down, delivering average speeds of 31.1Mbps compared with 23.1Mbps. That’s according to independent analysts at Open signal.

However, both are well behind EE’s market leading 45.9Mbps.

In terms of 5G, the speeds from O2 and Vodafone are similar and will be hard to discern for everyday users.

Either way, you’ll get a faster experience than on traditional 4G connections.

O2 vs Vodafone customer service

According to the most recent Ofcom report, O2 had a score of 85% for overall customer satisfaction and Vodafone a score of 86%. These represent a fall on previous years.

Vodafone was found to have 17% of customers with a reason to complain, against 9% for O2.

Anecdotally, we have found the call experience from both to be friendly and helpful, with decent chat services to answer questions quickly without having to speak with someone over the phone.

O2 vs Vodafone Wi-Fi hotspots

O2 has a whacking 16,000 WiFi spots around the country, 7,000 of which O2 users will automatically be able to join if speeds are faster than 4G in that area.

This is a major boost for those with smaller data allowances.

By contrast, Vodafone doesn’t offer any hotspots, but has at least made a comeback on the London Underground WiFi service.

O2 vs Vodafone roaming

When it comes to roaming, O2 is way out ahead of Vodafone. Every O2 pay monthly SIM only and phone contract comes with European roaming as standard, with connections available in 45 countries.

There’s a fair usage cap of 25GB, which it will notify you if you’re closing in on.

It also has a wider Inclusive Zone, which includes Australia and the USA, which is available as part of pay monthly phone deals and 12 and 24 month SIM plans which on selected plus plans.

There is also a Travel Inclusive Zone Ultimate package, with roaming to 75 destinations, on Ultimate plans. [https://www.o2.co.uk/international/travel-inclusive-zone-ultimate]

You can also buy a bolt on to use in these destinations if you’re on a lower data plan.

Vodafone does offer data roaming outside the UK, but only on select pay monthly and SIM only plans.

You’ll need to pay £2.42 a day to use your phone in Europe (except Ireland and the Isle of Man), rising to a hefty £7.39 a day to use your phone in the US, Australia and Canada.

For us, this is a major issue. Roaming was free in Europe for so long that for charges to come back seems unfair. O2 wins out in this category.

O2 vs Vodafone bonuses and rewards

O2 has always been great with extras, thanks to its O2 Priority offering. This gives customers money off at high street cafes and restaurants, as well as early access for gig tickets.

Vodafone, meanwhile, does a strong line in extras thanks to things like its Entertainment Plans, which includes YouTube Premium or Amazon Prime. However, it no longer offers Sky Sports or Spotify, which is a major downside.

It all depends what extras you value. If you already have streaming services, then O2 Priority may be more enticing.

O2 vs Vodafone 5G coverage

O2’s 5G is available in over 750 towns and cities, compared with around 318 from Vodafone. Speeds are largely the same.

If it’s next gen networks you want, then O2 is the way to go, although be sure to check availability in your area before signing up.

How do other networks compare against each other?

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• VOXI vs Smarty
• EE vs O2
• Voxi vs Vodafone