VOXI vs Vodafone: the differences we found between the two networks

✔ We’re confident there’s no difference in 4G/3G/2G coverage

Vodafone bring 4G to 99% of the population in the places where we live. And VOXI use the same network, so should be the same. We tested a Vodafone SIM vs VOXI to check.

Our tests on identical phones found that the number of bars was almost always identical. There were some fluctuations as the conditions change constantly outside.

But overall there was no advantage or disadvantage between the Vodafone and VOXI SIMs. And we found their coverage maps to be accurate too (check your Vodafone/VOXI signal here).

✔ We'd expect 4G download speeds to average at 21 Mbps

We took a VOXI SIM and a Vodafone SIM out to do some spot checks on 4G download speeds in identical phones, to see if there's any noticeable difference between them.

The slowest we measured on Vodafone was 4.5 Mbps and on VOXI it was 8.1 Mbps. The fastest we found was a short peak at 54 Mbps on each over a city-centre 4G+ connection.

Generally our spot checks found downloads out of town to average between 8 - 20 Mbps. And in cities between 20 - 40 Mbps. The lower end of speeds will still support standard definition videos without buffering.

Between Vodafone vs VOXI, we don't think there's a built-in speed difference. Although we did frequently observe VOXI to be 4 Mbps or so faster than Vodafone, we doubt this would be a consistent difference.

✔ We expect 5G only to be available on Vodafone at first

Even though Vodafone own VOXI, we don’t expect them to launch 5G at the same time (you can read Vodafone’s latest news on 5G here).

Our experience from when 4G launched was that the main networks held onto it for a while before allowing the “virtual networks” like VOXI to sell it too.

This is basically a commercial decision. 5G is expensive to build, so the main networks are likely to sell it as a premium option - and be reluctant to let cheaper providers undercut them at first.

If you're really keen on getting 5G when it comes out, there's nothing stopping you taking a 1-month plan from VOXI and then jumping ship to Vodafone if they have it and VOXI don't.

Useful link: Latest on Vodafone's 5G rollout

✔ Vodafone have WiFi calling and 4G calling, VOXI don’t

If you’ve ever struggled with poor indoor signal for calls, it’s worth looking at providers with WiFi calling and 4G calling technologies that can help overcome the problem.

Vodafone have both (but check your phone is supported up front here) on their regular plans. Their no-frills Basics Plans don’t include it. VOXI don’t have either technology on any plan.

The technology works by letting your phone connect to WiFi or a 4G data signal to make/take calls, instead of regular 2G / 3G mobile signal, which can struggle to get indoors.

We don't rate Vodafone's WiFi calling as the very best scheme on the market, because it doesn't support SMS text messages too, which can be handy for receiving verification codes for banking and other apps.

Useful link: FAQs about Vodafone's WiFi calling

✔ Vodafone also offer some limited WiFi hotspots

If you’re a regular in London, you’ll know some mobile networks offer free WiFi on the Underground and Overground networks: helpful when there’s no phone signal below ground.

Vodafone are one of those providers (here’s how to get free WiFi on the underground if you join Vodafone). VOXI aren’t one of them.

It’s a point of difference between joining Vodafone directly or VOXI. So you’ll need to decide how important it is. Or whether VOXI’s cheap prices mean you’re happy to ditch it.

Useful link: Full details on Vodafone's free WiFi scheme

✔ Certain Vodafone plans come with worldwide roaming destinations

As a bare minimum on any Vodafone plan (apart from no-frills Basics ones), you’ll get inclusive roaming in any of the EU countries listed here. Use your regular UK allowances without paying extra.

What's good about Vodafone's roaming is that they're aren't any limits on the speed (it's 4G wherever available) or the amount of data you can use (use your full monthly allowance).

And if you pick one of Vodafone’s more expensive Red Entertainment plans (available on 12-month SIM only contracts and phone deals), you’ll get inclusive roaming outside Europe too:

Their current list spans 77 destinations in total, including popular long-haul holiday spots like the USA, Canada and Australia. This isn't something VOXI offer.

Useful link: Know all costs before you go abroad

✔ VOXI’s inclusive roaming is limited to the EU

Where Vodafone have premium worldwide roaming options, VOXI stick to the standard free EU roaming that every network now has to offer if they allow roaming at all.

A nice touch with VOXI though is that you can take their Endless Social Media Data benefit with you in the EU. So you've got unlimited data for selected apps while you're away.

If you take your VOXI SIM outside the EU, you'll pay for usage per minute, text and MB at different rates depending where you (see charges per country here). You'll need to add credit to your account for this to work.

Whether EU-only inclusive roaming is a problem for you or not will obviously depend where you go on holiday.

Useful link: Full costs and charges when roaming on VOXI

✔ All VOXI plans come with unlimited social media data

The real edge that VOXI have over Vodafone other than pricing is their Endless Social Media benefit that we rate as the best free social media data scheme in the UK.

On every VOXI plan (SIM and phone), you effectively have an unlimited data allowance to use particular social media apps (see full list here) on your phone, without it coming out of you regular monthly data allowance.

Basic messaging and mainly text-based feeds like Twitter don't use that much data anyway. But image and video based content within those apps (as long as you don't leave the app) will bring decent data savings.

If you want unlimited streaming of video and music like you get with Three's Go Binge for instance, you can pay for a monthly pass on VOXI to get this on a huge range of apps (see latest costs and providers here).

Useful link: VOXI's full guide to Endless social data

✔ Some Vodafone plans include an entertainment subscription

Vodafone don't have any free data schemes like VOXI. But if you take one of their more-expensive Red Entertainment plans on a phone contract or SIM only deal, you'll get a subscription included.

The current choices are between Sky Sports Mobile TV (sport streaming), Spotify Premium (music streaming), Amazon Prime Video (films and TV) or a Now TV Entertainment Pass (TV).

You can pick one of the services, which will be added to your account for the duration of your contract at no extra cost. If you use the services on your mobile, it will use your data.

We'd also point out that the higher basic cost of the plan does mean you're likely to be paying a premium for the service. So it's not strictly a freebie.

Useful link: Full offer details and terms

✔ VOXI's phone contracts are way more flexible

Phone contracts on VOXI are on split contracts - where you have a finance arrangement to cover the cost of the phone (via Paypal Credit) and a separate monthly mobile plan (basically a VOXI SIM only).

You pay off the phone over 30 months. But you can choose to reduce the length of the agreement by paying it off in larger chunks if you want. The SIM plan can be cancelled after 30 days or changed whenever.

You can see that doing mobile deals this way means more flexibility. It also means that networks with this type of contract can offer lower prices overall (we'd say VOXI will be cheaper than Vodafone 99% of the time).

The one downside can be that joining on this type may be more difficult than conventional mobile contracts if you have any blip in your credit history, or have no credit history. It's a financial product and so the requirements may be tighter.

Useful link: VOXI's FAQs about their phone contracts

✔ Vodafone's phone deals are on conventional mobile contracts

Compared to VOXI, Vodafone's contracts are much less flexible. They're on conventional 24-month deals, where you pay for the phone and usage on the same plan.

That means there's none of the flexibility to leave early or upgrade sooner that you get on VOXI. It also means that Vodafone's phone contracts tend to be more expensive and have upfront costs.

One tip if you're looking to join Vodafone on a phone contract would be to take a look at retailers like Carphone Warehouse and Mobiles.co.uk, who will usually be able to beat Vodafone's prices directly.

They purchase a lot more phones than Vodafone, so can offer better prices on handset deals. And you'll get many of the same tariff benefits you'd get by going direct.

Useful link: Carphone Warehouse vs going direct