WiFi calling guide: finding which UK mobile network has the best scheme

What is WiFi calling and what are its benefits?

WiFi calling is a facility that a number of networks now offer, which lets your phone use WiFi signal to make/take calls and send/receive SMS text messages, instead of conventional mobile signal.

The advantage of this is straightforward: if you’re in a blackspot that mobile signal can’t get to, like underground or in a thick-walled building, you can still use your phone if there’s WiFi there.

When you make a call or send a text, it will come out of your regular mobile allowance (or be charged at your normal rate if you pay as you go). People calling you just dial your usual mobile number as normal.

At the moment, WiFi calling is only offered by a few networks in the UK (see further down page). And it's mostly the big 4 providers where you can get it. But some of the smaller ones are just starting to offer it too.

What we think makes a good WiFi calling scheme...

Below, we've ranked each UK network's WiFi calling scheme according to which we think is best overall.

We’re essentially looking for the one that's easiest to use and needs you to do as little as possible to get it to work. The best WiFi calling scheme will…

1) Let you make/take calls and send/receive texts in the usual way with no extra effort

2) Work with as many makes and models of phones as possible

3) Not use a separate app where possible but still offer one if your phone isn’t supported

4) Keep your call history and messages in the same place as usual

We’ve looked at every network’s schemes and ranked them on how well they live up to all this.

1st place: Three’s inTouch scheme is the most flexible

Of all WiFi calling schemes, it’s Three’s inTouch that stands out as best for us, as it’s the most flexible:

While other networks restrict usage of their WiFi calling to pay monthly customers, on Three, you’ll be able to use inTouch whether you take a phone or a SIM, on a contract or pay as you go.

Three’s scheme also impresses with the number of different phone types that it supports. Their list here shows all models that should work straight away with nothing extra to do.

But if your phone’s not on that list, Three offer a free downloadable software update to get their WiFi calling to work on other devices.

And if that doesn’t work, they still have a separate app-based version of inTouch, which has most the features of their regular WiFi calling, and works on older Apple and Android models.

Useful link: Read full details at Three.co.uk

2nd place: Vodafone’s WiFi calling supports loads of phones

Compared to Three’s inTouch scheme, Vodafone’s WiFi calling supports more phone models at first glance (without having to install extra updates). Here’s their latest list of devices.

Where it’s less good, is if your phone isn’t automatically supported. There are no software updates available to make yours work on Vodafone. And there’s no back-up app either.

It’s also restricted to pay monthly SIM only or phone contract customers on Vodafone. If you’re interested in pay as you go, you’re not going to get WiFi calling (unlike Three).

Despite, this Vodafone’s scheme has the edge over competitors because you don’t need to have bought your phone from them for it to work (EE and O2 are guilty of this for Android phones).

Overall, if your phone is supported and you’re on pay monthly, Vodafone’s scheme is an excellent option.

 
Useful link: Learn more about Vodafone WiFi calling from their official guide.

3rd place: EE’s improved WiFi calling is still a bit restricted

Out of all the schemes, EE’s WiFi calling supports the largest number of devices on the face of it. See their latest list of 45+ handsets EE support here.

But dig a bit deeper and there are some subtle restrictions, which make EE’s scheme less flexible than their rivals above:

For Android phones, you pretty much need to have bought your phone direct from EE for their WiFi calling to work on it (iPhones are much more flexible). Some Androids bought elsewhere could work but EE don't guarantee it.

This might be fine if you’re taking a phone contract from EE but if you’re joining on SIM only, there’s a lower chance your phone will be supported.

Again, if you know your phone is supported, EE’s actual scheme is just as good as Three and Vodafone. It doesn’t work on Pay As You Go though.

Useful link: Read what EE say about their WiFi calling

4th place: O2 WiFi calling takes a backwards step

We used to rate O2’s WiFi calling a lot higher, because they had an excellent TuGo app, which you could use if your phone wasn’t supported and also provided WiFi calling abroad.

This app has now been scrapped. And O2’s main WiFi calling works on a much lower number of different devices (see list here) than their rivals Three, Vodafone and EE.

For Android phones, it’s even more restrictive. You’ll need to have bought your handset from O2 directly, so that the correct software is pre-installed. If you didn’t, WiFi calling won’t work (iPhones are more flexible).

You’ll only get WiFi calling on O2’s pay monthly phones or SIM only plans. It doesn’t work on Pay As You Go.

 
Useful link: Read O2's full guide to WiFi calling

5th place: iD Mobile are the only budget network with WiFi calling

Even though they’re near the bottom of our WiFi calling rankings vs their more-expensive competitors, we’d still tip our hat to iD Mobile for being the only low-cost provider to offer it.

The main thing stopping it being included higher is that the list of supported devices is tiny in comparison with the networks above, which limits how useful it’ll be for most people.

iD Mobile’s WiFi calling basically only works on iPhone and a couple of other Android phones.

It works with any pay monthly plan but not pay as you go. With some phone contracts under £10 a month and SIM only plans priced around £5 a month, iD will typically be the cheapest network with WiFi calling.

Useful link: Read iD Mobile's guide to their WiFi calling

6th place: BT Mobile have an option if you have a BT landline

BT Mobile only make this list on a bit of a technicality. That’s because they don’t strictly offer real WiFi calling as part of your mobile package. But there is an option if you have landline through BT too.

It’s called SmartTalk. It’s an app that lets you use up your landline minutes on your mobile over WiFi. So in a sense it is WiFi calling.

This system has some obvious disadvantages over the other networks above. For instance, because it’s in a separate app, your calls won’t appear in your normal call history.

Also people receiving your calls will see your landline number, not your mobile one. This could be a pain for calling you back if you’re not actually at home.

The app supports Android and iOS (iPhones) so is relatively accessible though.

 
Useful link: Read more on BT's SmartTalk app from their news pages.

Joint last for WiFi calling: all other UK mobile providers!

As you can see from above, WiFi calling is really only possible on the 4 major providers that control their own networks (apart from iD Mobile). Smaller ones, who piggyback on the main providers' mobile networks for signal, don't offer it.

This means WiFi calling is still actually quite a rare and premium feature, as the main networks tend to be a little pricier than their smaller counterparts. The question is how much you value it.

It just means that in our reviews of every UK mobile network, they won't score any points for having it.