ASDA Mobile review 2025: a network getting better

Coverage is a strength on ASDA, especially for 4G

ASDA Mobile piggyback off Vodafone’s network for signal, meaning when you join them, you’ll get signal in the same areas as Vodafone, with the same signal strength. We’ve confirmed this in our real life tests.

This is particularly good for 4G, as ASDA get access to the second biggest 4G network in the UK. You’ll stay on 4G basically all the time in built up areas and get it in some surprisingly rural locations too.

How we found coverage in real life...

We set up a test to see if there were any differences in coverage being on ASDA vs being on Vodafone. To do this we put an ASDA SIM and a Vodafone SIM in a dual-SIM phone and tested them in the same locations.

Wherever we checked we got an identical amount of signal bars on our ASDA SIM as our Vodafone one. We found no evidence of any built-in disadvantages being on ASDA (this is sometimes the case on budget networks):

You can get 4G in some surprisingly rural areas on Vodafone, which you’ll also get with your ASDA SIM. However, data speeds and signal quality will be weaker in these areas.

When we tested indoor call signal we managed to get it throughout the house. But now that 3G is gone and 2G is being switched off, WiFi will generally be the most reliable way of getting “call” signal indoors.

ASDA also offer access to 5G in 318+ UK towns and cities on all their data plans. They do have the joint-smallest number of 5G locations, but coverage within these locations tends to be very strong.

Their hosts have transferred their 3G masts over to 4G ones and are in the process of doing this for 2G. This has massively improved their 4G network already, but there will be some holes 4G hasn’t yet patched over.

And if you’re on an older device without 4G you’ll eventually not be able to connect to signal at all. However, users on newer devices will be able to use 4G for calls as a replacement (check signal near you here).

Useful link: Check your ASDA Mobile coverage now

Data speeds can impress or disappoint on ASDA

ASDA have recently taken the welcome step of making every plan 5G-enabled (some were 4G-only). They’ve also got rid of their lower speed caps on unlimited data plans, which were sub-3G speeds!

There is still a 150 Mbps speed cap on their unlimited data plan (which is far faster than you’ll normally be able to go anyway). But on all non-unlimited data plans, you can now expect the same speeds as Vodafone directly.

ASDA's current unlimited data SIMs

Our own testing got 4G speeds of 110 Mbps over 4G+ in the city but down to 5 Mbps in the countryside on ASDA. More often we sat around 25-30 Mbps, which backs up Opensignal’s typical 4G result of 31.1 Mbps.

And their 5G is good too. Opensignal and Speedtest’s reports put typical 5G speeds on ASDA’s hosts between 138.7 Mbps - 162.63 Mbps with peaks of 354.83 Mbps, on non-unlimited data plans.

Overall then, we’d say don’t let ASDA’s lower costs make you think you’ll get an inferior data experience. If you live in an urban area, we think you’ll be impressed with speeds.

Useful link: ASDA’s guide to their unlimited data

WiFi/4G calling are helpful features on ASDA

With 3G call signal gone and 2G signal being removed, it’s crucial for ASDA to offer other ways of connecting to calls. Thankfully, they include WiFi calling and 4G calling on all of their plans.

These let you connect to calls and texts using WiFi or 4G signal instead of traditional call signal. This means 4G will be used as “call” signal as you move around while WiFi calling is mostly used for indoor calls.

While we haven’t tested it out ourselves, ASDA say you can transfer a call from WiFi to 4G signal without it dropping. That would put it up there with the best schemes in terms of how their feature actually works.

ASDA support the same phones as Vodafone, which means it’s a bit harder to get older models to work than other networks. That can be an issue with their hosts 3G/2G switch off, but it’s a great feature in all.

Useful link: Guide to the best networks with WiFi calling

Extra network features aren’t a strength of ASDA

ASDA allow tethering on every deal. This lets you connect other devices to your phone’s data signal. There are no limits to how much of your data allowance you can use for this, even on their unlimited data plans.

We also like that ASDA Mobile support visual voicemail. It's a feature for iPhone that lets you see what voicemails you have, without ringing the number.

There are no free WiFi hotspots included on ASDA. These are usually useful for saving some data as you move around. ASDA also don’t let you forward incoming calls to a different number.

Finally, ASDA don’t offer eSIMs yet. To be fair it’s mostly just the bigger UK networks that offer these right now, but we could see smaller networks like ASDA getting access to these sometime in the future.

Useful link: Our guide to the best networks for WiFi hotspots

Inclusive EU roaming is a great benefit to get on ASDA

While many UK networks (including ASDA’s hosts Vodafone) have removed their inclusive EU roaming, ASDA have thankfully kept theirs in place. You can use your plan in these EU countries at no extra cost.

But they do restrict you to 5GB of your monthly allowance while you’re there. That’s less than what many other networks let you use abroad, and if you go over that you’ll have to pay these EU roaming rates.

Still, most people won’t use that much data on a short trip. If you want to roam beyond the EU you’re out of luck as you’ll have to pay at these steep rates for your mins, texts and data which will add up quickly.

ASDA are good for short trips to the EU. While you miss out on Vodafone’s inclusive worldwide roaming on their premium deals, ASDA are better for your average EU traveller who doesn’t want to pay extra to roam.

Useful link: Our top-rated networks for roaming

Rewards and data rollover are great on pay monthly

ASDA have introduced data rollover to their SIM only contracts. You’ll keep any data you haven’t managed to get through, for next month - handy for making it less likely you’ll go over limits on a busy month.

They also have a new scheme that gets you money off your grocery shopping. Take any pay monthly plan and they will put a percentage of the cost into your ASDA Rewards Cashpot.

You can collect up to £100 worth of vouchers at once, so you can get some genuinely great value out of this. Especially look out for times when there are boosted Reward amounts available.

ASDA's current pay monthly deals

In fact, ASDA have only added these new benefits to their SIM only contracts and not their 1-month plans. But these still offer great flexibility to change plans each month and let you join with no credit checks.

Useful link: How to top up on ASDA Mobile

They offer some other handy benefits too

If you’ve used up your data allowance and don’t want to wait until your next month, ASDA offer low cost data add-ons for this. Their smallest was a cheap £2 for 1GB with bigger bolt-ons that are even better value.

Parents will also appreciate the fact that ASDA automatically block 18+ content from being accessed on their SIMs and even have some stricter parental controls for younger children.

That all makes ASDA a great network if you want to put your kids on a SIM only plan, but then they’re a good network for anyone to join. We’ll go over the benefits you don’t get on ASDA below.

But you do miss out on some benefits. Fellow Vodafone-users VOXI let you stream video and use social media without eating up your data. And there’s no way to set up a family plan like on budget rivals SMARTY.

Useful link: The best UK networks for kids

They can be a decent option for infrequent PAYG users

ASDA have upped their Pay As You Go tariffs over time, but their rates are still lower than what you’d get some some networks. They’re now the third-cheapest network for PAYG.

There are no cheaper PAYG options on Vodafone’s network. There are a couple of cheaper options out there, the best of which are 1pMobile and Talk Home Mobile with 1p per min, text and MB rates. Here are ASDA’s:

15p per minute + 10p per text + 10p per MB data = £0 a month (0‑month contract)
See full deal

Paying for your usage at these rates can get expensive fast, especially your data usage. Since their plans are paid up front and don’t require credit checks we think most users would be better off on a monthly deal.

It is good that your credit won’t expire as long as you use your SIM once every 180 days, which infrequent users will like. But most people would just be better off on their monthly bundles or SIM only contracts.

Useful link: ASDA’s full guide to their pay as you go SIM

ASDA now offer flexible phone contracts based on finance

ASDA now offer a good range of phone contracts based on finance agreements (essentially loans). You can choose to pay off your phone over 4, 12 or 24 months depending on your needs and budget.

These are also on split contracts, meaning the cost of paying back your phone and your usage plan (mins, texts and data) are on separate bills that make up your monthly payment. This has some advantages.

First this lets you pay lump sums to reduce your monthly payment or pay off the rest of your loan to upgrade to a new phone whenever. And you’re free to change or leave your usage plan when needs change.

On top of that, ASDA offer some of best value phone deals around. They don’t quite offer the flexibility of O2 with their Custom Plans, but ASDA’s mix of low prices and flexible contracts makes them a great choice.

Useful link: See all of ASDA Mobile’s phone deals