Best WiFi calling networks: all the providers with it in the UK
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We list all the mobile networks with WiFi calling as a feature in the UK and rank the best based on supported phones and how well they work. Last updated: 22nd May 2023
In our WiFi calling guide
How WiFi calling works
Mobile network rankings
SIM only deals
How WiFi calling works
What is WiFi calling and what does it do?
✔ Make calls and send texts over WiFi
WiFi calling is a network feature that lets your phone connect to calls over WiFi signal instead of conventional call signal (3G/2G). Many providers even let you send SMS texts over WiFi signal as well.
This is incredibly helpful if you’re somewhere with no phone signal (or a ‘signal blackspot’ as we call it) such as if you’re in a thick-walled building or underground. You can still connect to calls if you get WiFi.
Calls and texts made over WiFi will come out of your minutes allowance just like normal. And you’ll pay at your standard rate if you’re on pay as you go. Connecting to calls works like normal, just dial the number you want to call.
Most UK mobile networks now offer WiFi calling as standard, not just the big ones (see the full list further down the page). There are a couple that still don’t have it, but we imagine this will change in time.
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 only networks currently offering WiFi calling are 1pMobile, ASDA, EE, Honest Mobile, iD Mobile, Lebara, O2, Sky Mobile, SMARTY, Talkmobile, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and VOXI.
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.
What we think makes a good WiFi calling scheme…
✔ Convenience and ease of use are key
On this page we’ve listed every network that offers WiFi calling and ranked all of them from best to worst. The best schemes will…
1) Connect you to calls over WiFi without you having to do anything manually
2) Let you receive and send text messages
3) Allow you to transfer from WiFi calls to 4G calls without dropping
4) Work with as many different devices as possible
We looked through all the networks that offer WiFi calling and ranked them from highest to lowest based on these criteria.
Where to next within this guide?
UK mobile networks with WiFi calling
Here’s every UK mobile network that offers WiFi calling
Click a networks logo below to see how we rank their WiFi calling scheme
Joint 1st: Three’s WiFi calling works with most devices
What we like:
Comes on every plan Send SMS messages over WiFi/4G Transfer from a WiFi call to 4G without it dropping Works with devices not bought from Three
What we don't like:
Older devices aren’t supported
Three’s call signals are broadcast on frequencies that aren’t the best for getting through building materials (read our indoor coverage guide here), so a good WiFi calling scheme is an absolute must for them.
When we tested it we found that Three’s WiFi calling worked right away, without having to adjust any network settings. It works as it should without any extra hassle. And kicks in early before it’s even needed.
WiFi calling is included on all Three plans. They even included it on pay as you go before any other network. Every Three customer gets access to their WiFi calling.
You get WiFi/4G calling on every Three plan. Here are their best value ones:
Three’s WiFi calling works with just about every new phone model out there. And in our testing we found it also worked on some old Android phones not bought from Three directly, despite not being on Three’s list.
And when we tested it out we found you can send and receive text messages over WiFi just like you normally can (not quite as useful as calling over WiFi, but still useful for verification messages and the like).
Useful link: How to get WiFi calling on Three
Joint 1st: EE support devices not bought directly from them
What we like: Loads of devices supported SMS texting over WiFi is available Move from WiFi to 4G without your call dropping Make calls using EE’s Underground WiFi hotspots
What we don't like: Older Android devices aren’t likely to work
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.
They include WiFi calling on every pay monthly phone and SIM only contracts as well as their pay as you go bundles. It’s always best to make sure that the model you want is compatible before taking out a phone contract.
Every EE SIM only plan includes WiFi calling. Here are what we think are their best current deals:
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 works just as we’d like it to. Your call won’t drop if you transfer from WiFi signal to 4G signal and you can send and receive SMS messages over WiFi as well.
Useful link: Read what EE say about their WiFi calling
Joint 1st: 1p offer excellent WiFi calling at low costs
What we like: Works on every plan including PAYG The same as EE’s WiFi calling Works on most devices
What we don't like: A few older Android devices not supported
It might come as a surprise to see 1pMobile, a network that market themselves as the cheapest Pay As You Go network in the UK, this far up the list. But they offer a genuinely fantastic WiFi calling scheme.
1pMobile use EE’s network for signal, but we also think they use the same WiFi calling technology as EE as well. That’s certainly a good thing as you essentially get the same scheme at much lower prices:
Every 1pMobile SIM only plan includes WiFi calling. Here are their best ones:
In testing we found no standout differences between 1pMobile’s WiFi calling and their hosts EE’s scheme. Since EE are ranked joint-first, it only makes sense to put 1pMobile alongside them.
The only thing to split them on is price, as 1p offer great value on SIM only while EE’s are higher in cost. But in terms of how well the feature works and is implemented there’s no difference between the two.
Useful link: Read 1pMobile’s website to see their tariffs
Joint 1st: iD support loads of devices for WiFi calling
What we like: A huge list of supported devices Allows SMS texts over WiFi and 4G Switch from a WiFi to a 4G call without it dropping Included on great value plans
What we don't like: No WiFi hotspots to use it with
More and more low-cost networks offer WiFi calling schemes now. However, iD Mobile’s scheme still stands out as one of the best. In our testing we found it largely identical to their hosts Three’s scheme.
You can transfer from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping on iD Mobile. And you can send and receive texts over WiFi and 4G signal as well.
These days iD Mobile support more models than ever, with some surprisingly old Android and iPhone models supported. We tried out their WiFi calling using phones not bought from iD themselves and all of them worked. That’s in line with what iD Mobile claim.
iD Mobile offer WiFi calling on every SIM only plan. Here are some of their best value deals right now:
The only real downside to iD’s scheme is that there are no free WiFi hotspots to use it with. But they now include it on their Pay As You Go bundles, so now every iD customer can get access to the scheme.
Useful link: Read iD Mobile's guide to their WiFi calling
2nd: SMARTY offer WiFi calling on great value plans
What we like: Included on every plan You can send and receive texts over WiFi and 4G
What we don't like: A short list of supported devices
SMARTY were set up to be a low-cost sub-brand of Three (read our review here). Yet they also offer WiFi calling and are one of the cheapest networks to do so. They include it on every one of their plans.
These are the best deals on SMARTY that include WiFi calling:
While we think SMARTY should support all the same devices as Three, we also imagine that manufacturers are a bit slower at putting SMARTY’s WiFi calling settings in software updates. This can lead to a lag in handset models being supported.
They say that you can move from WiFi to 4G without your call dropping. And you’re able to send and receive texts over both WiFi/4G. And SMARTY also offer the same WiFi hotspots on the Underground as Three.
SMARTY are only held back by having a small list of supported phone models that are guaranteed to work. They’re a little bit less flexible than their hosts, but their scheme is good overall.
Useful link: SMARTY's WiFi calling help section
Joint 3rd: Vodafone don’t offer WiFi calling on all plans
✔ WiFi calling on most pay monthly plansCheck supported phones
at Vodafone.co.uk
(opens in new window)
What we like: Going from WiFi to 4G won’t drop your call Most iPhone and new Android models supported SMS texting over WiFi and 4G included
What we don't like: A few Android models missing Not included on PAYG or Basics plans
We’d say Vodafone’s WiFi calling is good, but not particularly special. They let you send text messages via WiFi/4G signal. But it’s not included on PAYG or Basics plans, so you only get it on their high-end plans.
In our testing, calls connected quickly and the audio quality was good. And you can switch from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping. And they do claim to support a long list of devices.
But you might find WiFi calling doesn’t work if you didn’t take your phone from Vodafone themselves. We couldn’t get it to work on a Samsung Galaxy S7 and S20 not bought from Vodafone, despite being on Vodafone’s list.
Here are the best-value plans on Vodafone that include WiFi calling:
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: VOXI’s WiFi calling is identical to Vodafone’s
What we like: Transfer a WiFi call to 4G without it dropping Identical supported devices list as Vodafone Get it on all their SIM only plans
What we don't like: Some Android devices not supported
VOXI have offered WiFi calling for a good while now, so it’s a well established feature on their network. They’re a sub-brand of Vodafone and so share the same network and supported devices list as their hosts.
We’re confident it’s the same system as Vodafone’s. You can switch from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping and there’s no interruption when switching from one type of call to the other.
VOXI include WiFi calling on every plan. Here are their best value ones currently:
The same iPhones that are compatible with Vodafone’s WiFi calling are compatible with VOXI’s, but that also means they share the same patchy support for Androids that aren’t bought directly from them.
One advantage VOXI have over Vodafone is the fact they include WiFi calling on every plan. But we’ve put them together on this list because the feature itself is identical on both.
Useful link: See VOXI’s guide for WiFi calling
Joint 3rd: Lebara’s WiFi calling works like Vodafone’s
What we like: Transfer from WiFi to 4G without dropping calls Get WiFi calling on every deal Identical supported devices list to Vodafone
What we don't like: Some Android devices missing
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.
Since Lebara get full access to Vodafone’s network, you’ll be able to use 4G calling in the same places you’d be able to on Vodafone. And we think they support the same devices as their hosts.
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.
This does meant that some Android devices won’t be supported. You can check which devices are supported using Vodafone’s guide here. It’s great that such a useful feature is included on such cheap plans.
Useful link: Our full review of Lebara
Joint 3rd: ASDA’s WiFi calling is similar to Vodafone’s
What we like: Move from WiFi calls to 4G without it dropping Included on every plan (even PAYG)
What we don't like: Some Android devices not supported Non-committal about supported devices
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.
If you move from WiFi to 4G while on call then it will transfer over without your call dropping, just like on Vodafone. You’ll have to wait a week before WiFi calling will become active if you’re new to ASDA.
WiFi calling comes on every ASDA SIM only plan. Here are their current best value ones:
ASDA Mobile don’t offer phone contracts, so you’ll have to look at other networks for phone deals. We imagine it might work if you took a compatible phone from Vodafone, but ASDA don’t confirm this.
You also get WiFi calling on every plan. That includes pay as you go users, which is 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 offer WiFi calling on PAYG bundles
What we like: Send SMS texts over WiFi and 4G signal Move from WiFi to 4G without dropping your call Combines well with O2 WiFi
What we don't like: Not a lot of Android models supported Doesn’t come on Pay As You Go deals
O2 were the last network to introduce SMS messaging over WiFi and 4G signal. But nowadays O2’s WiFi calling scheme is fairly standard in terms of how it works.
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 they only offer it on phone contracts and SIM only deals. If you’re a pay as you go customer then you’re out of luck, which is something you should consider.
Here are our favourite current O2 SIMs with WiFi calling:
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: Included as standard on SIM only Send SMS texts over WiFi/4G Most iPhones and newer Androids are compatible
What we don't like: Some older Androids not supported Moving from WiFi to 4G may drop your call
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: Sky support a small number of devices for WiFi calling
What we like: Included on every plan Most iPhone models supported Send texts over WiFi/4G signal
What we don't like: Quite a lot of Android models missing Moving from WiFi to 4G will drop your call
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 issue you’ll have with Sky’s WiFi calling is having a phone that’s actually supported. If you’ve got an Android bought elsewhere then it’s unlikely to work, which will be a disappointment for lots of users.
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.
In testing we found we could only get WiFi calling to work instead of 4G calling where 4G connection wasn’t available. And our call dropped when we moved from WiFi signal to 4G (VoLTE / 4G calling handover failed).
Unlike the networks above, if you lose WiFi signal while on a WiFi call then your call will drop, you can’t transfer over to a 4G call. But calls over WiFi are good quality, so their scheme is decent overall.
Useful link: Sky Mobile's WiFi calling help guide
7th: Tesco don’t support many devices for WiFi calling
What we like: Transfer from a WiFi to a 4G call without it dropping Send texts over WiFi and 4G signal Included on all plans
What we don't like: Very few supported devices on their list
Tesco Mobile are the latest network to roll out WiFi calling and we’d say it’s been a success so far. However, it is still early days so they do have a smaller list of supported devices than 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 your device is compatible then it’s a great feature. You can switch from WiFi to 4G signal without your call dropping, you can send texts over WiFi and 4G and it’s included on all of their plans.
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
8th: Virgin’s device list is missing some Android phones
What we like: Support for iPhones is good (needs an update) SMS texting over WiFi/4G is allowed
What we don't like: Lots of Android models not supported Can’t transfer a WiFi call to 4G without it dropping
Virgin Mobile have offered WiFi calling on their pay monthly plans for a long time by now, so it should work if you’re using a device that they support if you’ve kept your software up to date.
While they’ve expanded their supported devices list since we last checked, it’s still missing a few. Most iPhones should work (with the latest iOS update), but the Androids not on their list didn’t work when we tested.
Every Virgin Mobile plan includes WiFi calling, here are their best current deals:
Everything worked automatically when we tested it out. We tried sending a text over WiFi and it worked just fine, but for some reason we couldn’t receive them.
You can’t move from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping. So there’s still space for Virgin’s WiFi calling to grow before they get anywhere higher on this list. It’s decent, but a step behind other networks.
Useful link: How to activate WiFi calling on Virgin Mobile
9th: Talkmobile’s WiFi calling supports few phone models
What we like: Comes on every SIM only deal Send texts over WiFi and 4G signal
What we don't like: Very few devices are supported Didn’t work when we tested it No way to transfer from a WiFi to a 4G call
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
Joint last for WiFi calling: the rest of the UK networks!
✖ These networks don’t have WiFi calling
It is true that more and more small networks are starting to introduce WiFi calling, but there are still a handful that don’t. A couple of these we still expect will implement it at some point.
WiFi calling is much less of a premium feature as it’s now offered on most plans for most networks. With so many cheaper networks offering it, getting WiFi calling is easier than ever.
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 Co-op Mobile, Lycamobile and IQ Mobile, we can’t see either of them bringing it out any time soon, but it’s not impossible. We’ll update this page if anything changes.
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