WiFi calling on UK mobile networks: best and worst ranked
The retailers featured on this page may compensate us when our readers follow links to their websites and make a purchase. More
We show you which mobile networks offer WiFi calling in the UK and how well they support SMS text messaging and Android/iPhone models. Last updated: 13th March 2024
In our WiFi calling guide
Most networks now have it but some are better than others
✔ Phone calls and texts with no signalSkip to our rankings
It's 2024 and only a handful of mobile networks don't offer WiFi calling, the useful feature that lets your phone connect to calls and SMS texts via WiFi instead of conventional mobile signal.
But our research and real-life tests show there's still quite a big difference in the experience you'll get with each provider. It's still not the case that every network's WiFi calling just works the same.
There's a lot variation in which phone models will work on each network, particularly when it comes to Android devices. SMS support is flakey between providers. And calls can drop if you move away from WiFi mid-call.
What does WiFi calling mean?
It’s a feature on most modern phones that lets you make and take calls over WiFi signal, rather than conventional mobile phone signal.
Which UK mobile networks have WiFi calling?
The networks currently offering WiFi calling are 1pMobile, ASDA, Co-op Mobile, EE, Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, O2, Sky Mobile, SMARTY, spusu, Talkmobile, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and VOXI. We rank the best below.
How do you test if WiFi calling is working?
You’ll usually have a small icon pop up at the top of your screen that shows you’re on a WiFi call. Or it might just say “WiFi calling” or something similar.
WiFi calling may kick in more easily on some networks than on others. On some networks you might need to be somewhere with no phone signal at all, such as in the middle of your house for it to kick in.
The majority of devices will straight up tell you on the call screen that you’re connecting to a call over WiFi signal.
What shall I do if my WiFi calling isn't working?
If you can’t get WiFi calling to work like it should, you can try doing the following:
1) Look at your device’s instructions on the manufacturer’s website to see if WiFi calling is supported on your phone at all
2) Double check that your mobile network includes the feature on your plan
3) Look to see if WiFi calling is turned on in your account settings (a few networks will have it deactivated by default)
4) Make sure that WiFi calling is turned on in your phone settings (it can turn itself off if you switch networks)
5) Make sure the most recent software update has been installed on your phone
6) Get in touch with your mobile networks’ customer service. If they can’t help then you can always return your SIM with 14 days of purchase and get a full refund if you bought it online
How much does WiFi calling cost?
The networks that offer it don’t charge you anything extra to get it.
If you’re on a pay monthly contract then WiFi calls will come out of your UK minutes like normal. If you have unlimited minutes that means you can make as many calls over WiFi as you please.
Calls and texts will be charged at the regular rate if you’re on pay as you go.
Can you use WiFi calling abroad when roaming?
Typically not. O2 did used to have a WiFi calling app called TuGo, which let you make WiFi calls abroad, but they got rid of this a long time ago now.
We think this is probably just a limitation of the current technology. We don’t think networks are purposefully stopping users from using it abroad
You could use apps like Facebook Messenger, Skype or Whatsapp to make calls over WiFi while roaming, instead of racking up a large bill on international calls.
In recent times quite a few networks have removed EU roaming from their plans, and some of these may charge you extra outside your allowance for making calls from or within the EU (read our guide to the best roaming networks here).
Do you need an app for WiFi calling?
WiFi calling is usually offered as an in-built software feature on most networks, which means you don’t need a separate app in order to make calls over WiFi. It just works using the regular call function on your phone.
It used to be the case that networks had apps so that users on unsupported devices could use WiFi calling, but that doesn’t tend to be the case these days.
What’s the data usage with WiFi calling?
You won’t use up your mobile data while making calls over WiFi as you’re connecting to a call and not using data signal in doing so. So don’t worry about your data while making WiFi calls.
Making 4G calls also won’t use your data, even though you’re connecting via 4G. Again this is because you’re making a call, so the usage won’t come out of your data allowance.
Which phones support WiFi calling?
Networks started introducing WiFi calling in 2015, so devices from around that time were typically compatible with the feature. But this only applies to certain models (iPhones and higher-end Samsung Galaxy models). These days it’s supported by basically every new smartphone model.
What complicates things is that different network providers support different devices for WiFi calling. The best thing to do is check each networks’ supported devices list to see if it will work on yours.
How good is WiFi calling sound quality?
Usually networks will claim that this will depend on the strength of your WiFi signal. Since there are tons of variables such as your broadband speeds and WiFi router we can’t compare networks on call quality.
Can you also receive calls on WiFi calling?
Absolutely. If you’re connected to WiFi signal and your phone is supported for WiFi calling then you can receive calls the same way as you would on conventional call signal.
So in this guide, we rank the mobile networks with the best WiFi calling technology in place, based off our own tests and information available on their help websites.
UK mobile networks with WiFi calling
Each of these providers has WiFi calling
Click a logo or see which we rank best below:
Joint 1st: Three’s WiFi calling works with most devices
What we like:
What we don't like:
Three's WiFi calling needs to be the best, because the frequencies their 3G call signals are broadcast on can sometimes struggle to get indoors. We've found their technology to be the most reliable ourselves.
It "kicks in" nice and early, without waiting for you to have zero regular signal. You can send and receive SMS texts (still useful for app security checks). And calls didn't drop if we moved from WiFi onto 4G.
Three have got rid of their list of supported devices but their old list was the largest in the UK. We also found you can bring phones bought from other networks or the manufacturer and Three's WiFi calling would still work.
With Three switching off their 3G by the end of 2024, they know well-functioning VoLTE (4G calling) and WiFi calling is essential. We think Three have worked well with manufacturers to ensure handset compatibility.
Useful link: How to get WiFi calling on Three
Joint 1st: EE’s WiFi calling works on lots of devices
What we like:
What we don't like:
EE are among the four major UK networks, so they’re able to support most devices for WiFi calling. This is because they can make sure manufacturers include their WiFi calling settings in software updates.
WiFi calling comes on all their pay monthly phone and SIM only contracts and their Pay As You Go monthly bundles. Still, it’s best to check that the phone you want is supported for WiFi calling before taking it out.
But in our testing we found that lots of models that weren’t on their list still worked for WiFi calling, even some surprisingly old ones. So you’ve got a good chance of getting WiFi calling to work with them.
It’s a great scheme in terms of functionality. You can transfer from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping, you can send/receive texts over WiFi/4G, and it pairs well with their free WiFi on the Underground.
Useful link: Read what EE say about their WiFi calling
Joint 1st: 1pMobile is a cheap EE alternative with WiFi calling
✔ Cheap pay monthly plans with WiFi callingSee WiFi calling page
at 1pmobile.com
(opens in new window)
What we like:
What we don't like:
1pMobile are a low cost provider using EE's network (read our review). From testing, we're pretty sure that 1pMobile just use most of EE's technology "off the shelf", including their excellent WiFi calling.
We've found no differences between EE and 1p's WiFi calling. Android phones not bought from EE worked. You can move off WiFi to 4G mid-call without it dropping. And WiFi calling kicks in any time you're on WiFi.
SMS texts also worked in our test over WiFi. WiFi calling is included whether you pay monthly or pay as you go. We think people will be pleasantly surprised with 1pMobile, despite their cheap and cheerful appearances.
Useful link: Read 1pMobile’s guide to WiFi calling
Joint 1st: iD Mobile's WiFi calling works with loads of phones
What we like:
What we don't like:
iD Mobile are a cheap operator owned by Carphone Warehouse, using the Three network. They were first non-major network to offer WiFi calling, so the technology is very settled on iD (read their detailed guide here).
In tests, we've found iD's WiFi calling very good. We found it kicked in whenever you've got WiFi, not just when your mobile bars are low. We successfully moved from WiFi to 4G mid-call without it dropping too.
We were also able to successfully send/receive text messages over WiFi with iD Mobile. Their list of supported devices is actually probably a little defensive. We think even some that aren't listed there will still work.
Overall, nice and slick from iD, which is great given their low costs.
Useful link: Read iD Mobile's guide to their WiFi calling
2nd: SMARTY's WiFi calling might support fewer phones
What we like:
What we don't like:
SMARTY were set up as a low-cost sub-brand of Three (read our review here). Despite their lower costs, you'll still get WiFi calling and VoLTE on SMARTY as standard. And generally we've found it to work well.
We're confident it's the same technology as being on Three directly. It certainly behaves the same, lets you send/receive SMS and can transfer calls between WiFi and 4G without disconnecting.
There is possibly a bit of a lag between Three's WiFi calling supporting a phone and SMARTY supporting it though. We think that's to do with how settings are communicated to handset manufacturers.
We think in reality SMARTY do support more phones than they list here, as our test phone wasn't listed there and still worked. Overall, SMARTY are a great low-cost provider to join if you want WiFi calling.
Useful link: SMARTY's WiFi calling help section
Joint 3rd: VOXI’s WiFi calling is exactly like Vodafone’s
What we like:
What we don't like:
VOXI SIMs are essentially just Vodafone SIMs. They're owned and run by Vodafone. So we're confident their WiFi calling technology is identical. That's great as VOXI offer better pricing and benefits than their parent.
We would say that on VOXI (and Vodafone), you are more likely to find your phone isn't supported for WiFi calling, if you bought it from another mobile network. So do check their latest info here to avoid disappointment.
But the actual functionality is decent enough if your phone does work with their WiFi calling. You can move from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping. VOXI now support SMS texts over WiFi too.
Useful link: See VOXI’s guide for WiFi calling
Joint 3rd: Vodafone don’t offer WiFi calling on all plans
What we like:
What we don't like:
Vodafone’s WiFi calling is good in terms of how it functions, but it can be harder to get it working than on the networks above. It’s not included on PAYG or Basics plans, so it’s restricted to their high-end deals.
In our testing, calls connected quickly and the audio quality was good and we were able to send texts over WiFi/4G. Plus you can switch from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping.
Vodafone have a long list of supported devices. But you may run into issues getting it to work on phones not bought from Vodafone directly. It didn’t work on our manufacturer-bought Samsung Galaxy S7 and S20.
If you take an iPhone or Android model on Vodafone’s list on a Vodafone phone contract directly then WiFi calling should work. But it’s worth testing it out as soon as you get your device to make sure.
Useful link: Full details on Vodafone's WiFi calling
Joint 3rd: Lebara’s WiFi calling is similar to Vodafone’s
What we like:
What we don't like:
Lebara are another smaller provider on Vodafone’s network who offer identical WiFi/4G calling to their hosts. You get it on all their plans at no added cost and it should work right out of the box.
As there are no differences in 4G data signal between Lebara and Vodafone, you’ll be able to use 4G calling in the same locations on both. And we believe their list of supported devices is the same as Vodafone’s.
This means it’s likely to work on iPhone and newer Android models, but you’ll run into the same issues of getting it working on older Androids bought elsewhere as you would on Vodafone.
They also let you send SMS texts over WiFi and 4G signal. And you can transfer from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping. It works very similarly to Vodafone’s scheme, which is a good thing.
Useful link: Our full review of Lebara
Joint 3rd: ASDA’s WiFi calling is a lot like Vodafone’s
What we like:
What we don't like:
ASDA’s WiFi calling scheme is similar to Vodafone's in how it functions. They only introduced it somewhat recently and they’re non-committal about the devices they support.
You can transfer a call from WiFi to 4G without it dropping, just like you can on Vodafone. However, you’ll need to wait a week after joining for WiFi calling to become active.
You also get WiFi calling on every plan, including Pay As You Go users. That's brilliant considering ASDA are one of the cheapest networks for pay as you go. ASDA’s WiFi calling works well and comes on very cheap plans.
Useful link: See ASDA’s guide for WiFi calling
4th: O2 don’t include WiFi calling on PAYG plans
What we like:
What we don't like:
O2 only recently brought in SMS texting over WiFi and 4G, after every other UK network. However, O2’s WiFi calling technology is pretty similar to the others now in terms of functionality.
We found you had to go into your online account settings and turn on WiFi calling manually, which was a bit of a hassle, but once that’s done it works just like any other network.
And you only get it on their pay monthly phone contracts and SIM only deals. If you’re on Pay As You Go, you don’t get it. That’s worth keeping in mind before you join.
O2 haven’t added to their supported devices list since we last checked, and they only claim to support devices bought directly from them. But we did manage to get it working with a manufacturer-bought Samsung.
Useful link: Read O2's full guide to WiFi calling
5th: Honest support lots of phones for WiFi calling
What we like:
What we don't like:
Honest Mobile have offered WiFi calling for a while, but their scheme has improved over time. It now works out of the box on all of their SIM only deals.
Here are the best current value Honest Mobile deals that get you WiFi calling:
You can send SMS text messages over WiFi and 4G signal, but we have yet to test whether you can move from WiFi to 4G without your call dropping. They don’t confirm it one way or the other, so we can’t be sure.
Honest do have a long list of supported devices, with most iPhone models and lots of newer Android phones covered. They don’t claim to support some older Android models, so don’t expect these to work.
Overall, it’s a decent feature on Honest Mobile. It’d be better if more Android models were made compatible, but we think this will happen over time. We’ll do some more tests and update this page.
Useful link: Our full Honest Mobile review
6th: spusu don’t support many Android devices
What we like:
What we don't like:
spusu are a budget network that offer some of the best value deals of all providers. And they include WiFi/4G calling on all their great value plans. They also let you send/receive texts over WiFi/4G.
sThey get full access to EE’s 4G/5G network, which is the largest of all providers. That means you can make the most out of their 4G calling, and we found it really improved call quality.
But we tested their WiFi calling and found you can’t transfer a call from WiFi to 4G without it dropping. And while they support most iPhones for WiFi calling, their list of supported Androids is quite short.
We think they’ll start supporting more devices over time. It has a lot of room to grow, but for now we’d say it’s a decent scheme for such a low-cost network.
Useful link: ee spusu’s guide to their WiFi calling
7th: Sky don’t support a lot of devices for WiFi calling
What we like:
What we don't like:
Sky Mobile’s WiFi calling scheme isn’t as good as the networks above, but at least they have it. And it comes on every plan, meaning it’s a standard feature for Sky Mobile users.
The main problem is that Sky don’t support a lot of phones for WiFi calling. And it’s unlikely to work if you’re on an Android not bought from Sky directly, which will be a letdown for a lot of people.
Sky Mobile offer WiFi calling on every SIM only plan, here are their best ones:
Their list of compatible devices is accurate. It will work with most iPhone models, but Android users should check their device is supported on their list here. If not, it’s unlikely that it will work.
When we tested it we found that WiFi calling only “kicked in” instead of 4G calling when we had no 4G signal at all. And we were unable to transfer a WiFi call over to a 4G call without it dropping.
So there are a few problems with this scheme, but if you can get it to work it’s handy enough. It’s better to have it than to not have it after all.
Useful link: Sky Mobile's WiFi calling help guide
8th: Tesco’s WiFi calling isn’t supported on many devices
What we like:
What we don't like:
Tesco Mobile rolled out their WiFi calling fairly recently and we’d say their scheme is pretty good for how new it is. But because it is new, their list of supported devices is smaller than on other networks.
Most newer iPhone and Android models are supported, but there are very few older models (even iPhones) that are compatible. And they don’t support any Google phones either.
If you’re on a compatible phone then you’ll love how the feature works. You can transfer from a WiFi to a 4G call without it dropping, send SMS texts over WiFi/4G and you get it on every deal.
Tesco Mobile include WiFi calling on all their SIM only plans. Here are their best ones right now:
As it stands, we think there’s plenty of room for improvement for this scheme. But we think they’ll start rolling it out to more devices soon, so we’ll keep this page updated when this happens.
Useful link: Our full Tesco Mobile review
9th: Talkmobile’s WiFi calling supports few phone models
What we like:
What we don't like:
Talkmobile are the latest network to introduce WiFi calling, but that means their scheme isn’t as well established as on other networks. But it is included on every Talkmobile SIM only deal.
They don’t publish much information about their WiFi calling on their website. They say you need to have the latest software update to get it working, but they don’t list which devices are supported.
When we spoke to an online chat agent they said that most iPhones were supported but that lots of Android models (even new ones) won’t work for WiFi calling, so Android users will struggle to get it working.
We couldn’t get it to work on any of our test phones (even our iPhones!), so we can’t say for certain how good the feature is.
And if you move from WiFi to 4G then your call will drop. Their scheme is still relatively new and we imagine it will get better with time. But as it stands it’s nowhere near as good as the schemes above.
Useful link: Our full review of Talkmobile
10th: Co-Op’s WiFi calling is compatible with few phones
Co-op Mobile are a smaller provider on EE’s network that also include WiFi calling on all their plans. And in terms of functionality, it lets you send and receive SMS messages over WiFi/4G.
And you can transfer a call from WiFi to 4G without it dropping. So why are they this far down the list if their feature is so good?
The issue is that they support very few devices for WiFi calling. iPhones from 11 onwards are supported, but any before that won’t be compatible. And their list of supported Androids is very short.
We still need to test them out to see how well their feature actually works. Their small number of supported devices means we can’t put them any higher up the list, but we imagine this will change in time.
Useful link: Read Co-Op Mobile’s guide to their WiFi calling
Joint last for WiFi calling: the other UK networks!
✖ These networks don’t have WiFi calling
While most of the smaller providers now offer WiFi calling as standard, there are a couple that still don’t. We imagine they will introduce it, but we can’t see it happening any time soon.
It’s surprising that giffgaff still don’t offer it as they’re a fairly popular network, even more so since fellow-O2 users Tesco have recently introduced it. They’ll bring it out one day, but we’re not sure when.
As for Lyca Mobile and Talk Home, we don’t think either will introduce WiFi calling any time soon, but we wouldn’t write them off completely. We’ll update this page if things change.
Where to next within this guide?
Compare SIM only plans
Find a SIM only deal with WiFi calling
We've pre-filtered these results for plans that include WiFi calling
Networks
Providers:
Plan
Data: (0MB+)
Minutes: (0+)
Thanks, we'll send that out now. Please check your inbox for our email.Where to next within this guide?
More about how WiFi calling works
Calls and texts when you've not got mobile signal
✔ Most modern phones now include it
The basic point of WiFi calling is to allow your phone to connect to your mobile network via a WiFi connection, instead of conventional mobile phone signal. We've all experienced poor indoor signal. WiFi calling helps.
Where WiFi calling is different from using separate apps like WhatsApp or Skype is that it just works like normal on your phone. You make a call straight from your normal phone app or contacts. Same with SMS texts.
You'll be reachable via your regular phone number and it's what shows up when you call or text other people too. In fact, eventually you won't even think about it. It'll just work silently in the background, like 2G/3G/4G/5G.
Your phone and mobile network will need to support the feature though. Some networks don't. Older, more basic phones don't either. If your network doesn't have WiFi calling, your SIM will usually disable the option to turn it on, so you might still have it, even if you can't see it.
Useful link: See which networks we rate best for WiFi calling
WiFi calling is charged just like your normal minutes
✔ WiFi calls are billed in the usual way
There's not a mobile network in the UK that charges extra specifically for WiFi calling. It's now just considered one of the many ways your phone connects to a mobile network, like 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G.
That means you'll pay for WiFi calling just like you pay for any other call with your mobile provider. If you have a monthly allowance of minutes, WiFi calls come out of that. If it's unlimited, WiFi calls are unlimited.
If you pay as you go, WiFi calls cost your normal minutely rate. Some networks do only include WiFi calling on their pay monthly plans, so pay close attention to our rankings above.
WiFi calling doesn't use up your mobile data. Neither does its cousin 4G calling (VoLTE). But if your home broadband or public WiFi you're using does limit or charge for usage, WiFi calling will count towards that.
Useful link: Which UK networks have WiFi calling?
Downsides of WiFi calling and its limitations
✔ WiFi calling is mostly an improvement
WiFi calling isn't flawless. Over a good WiFi connection, you should notice an improvement in audio quality and clarity vs an old-fashioned 2G/3G call. But if your home or public WiFi is poor, it can cause choppy call quality.
We've also heard about issues with certain routers / broadband providers not working with WiFi calling on different mobile networks. There are so many potential combinations, issues are practically inevitable.
Fortunately, many phones and even mobile networks will avoid WiFi calling if the WiFi connection is poor. Most providers can also switch to a 4G call mid-call if WiFi drops out, to keep the call going without it dropping.
But it is still a downside to WiFi calling that you can only move to a 4G call mid-call. If there's no 4G near you and your WiFi connection drops, so will your call and you'll have to start again.
And finally, no UK mobile network provides WiFi calling while abroad. We think it's due to the complication of how a call is routed from your phone, to WiFi, to a foreign mobile network to your home network. Rather than it being mobile not wanting people to be able to do it.
Useful link: See SIM only plans with WiFi calling as a feature