Plusnet Mobile review:
the cheap 4G network shaming the rest in 2018

Coverage: Plusnet Mobile use the UK’s biggest network

Plusnet Mobile don’t actually have their own mobile network of masts across the country. Instead they tap into EE’s network. So wherever there’s EE reception, you’ll have identical Plusnet Mobile signal too.

This is brilliant news for Plusnet customers because EE is the UK’s biggest network. It has by far the best national coverage for 4G (99% population) and is equal with other providers for 2G and 3G too ( 98% ).

For us, the combination of the quality of EE’s network with Plusnet Mobile’s low prices is hard to beat.

But even though it’s the largest network, don’t automatically assume their signal will be perfect in your area. We’d still always recommend checking your local reception using Plusnet’s official network map.

Useful link: Check you'll get Plusnet Mobile signal using their official coverage checker.

Speeds: the network Plusnet Mobile uses is the UK's fastest

As we say above, Plusnet Mobile using EE for their signal is an advantage when it comes to coverage. It's also an advantage when it comes to the speed of your data connection too.

EE are the UK's fastest mobile network (we estimate their typical 4G download speeds to be around the 31 Mbps mark) so tapping into their fast data with a cheap Plusnet SIM is a great proposition.

The big question is how fast Plusnet Mobile customers can go. Their terms and conditions don’t mention speed caps but we suspect Plusnet’s limit is 30-40 Mbps, as they don’t use EE’s faster 4G+ technology.

This would still be exceptionally fast, beats other networks, and will comfortably support data-heavy activities like HD video streaming. You just won't hit the very top speeeds EE advertise.

Useful link: Read what customers are saying about Plusnet's 4G speeds in their forum

Call quality: big improvements for Plusnet's hosts

As with data speeds, there are no independent results for Plusnet Mobile so we’ve had to look at EE’s again.

It's a mixed picture when we looked at the most recent report by the testing company P3, because Plusnet Mobile's host EE got a 'very good' rating for call quality.

In theory this is good news for Plusnet customers but we suspect a lot of the improvement they noted in the audio quality of phone calls is due to 4G calling (VoLTE), which Plusnet don't currently have.

Until testers start measuring the performance of virtual networks like Plusnet, there's still a bit of guesswork involved but we'd put Plusnet in the average category still for now.

Useful link: What Plusnet Mobile customers are saying about call quality in their forum

WiFi calling: you won’t get it on Plusnet Mobile

WiFi calling lets you use WiFi signal on your phone to make and take calls or send text messages. It’s useful for when you’re somewhere that conventional mobile signal doesn’t reach (like underground).

We’d generally describe Plusnet Mobile as being a “no-frills” provider. You can’t get WiFi calling with them but you do get a much cheaper deal than on EE, O2, Three and Vodafone, who do have it.

It’s really a question of how much you value it.

Our overall advice is to check if Plusnet Mobile have signal where you use your phone. If they don’t, think about how you’d stay connected without WiFi calling.

One workaround is to download an app that lets you make calls and send instant messages over WiFi. Popular examples include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or Skype.

Useful link: Check you can make calls where you live on Plusnet

Free WiFi hotspots: there aren’t any on Plusnet Mobile

Another feature you generally don’t find on low-cost providers is access to free WiFi hotspots in public places in the UK and abroad (read our guide to mobile networks offering this here).

Plusnet Mobile don’t offer their customers any free WiFi. That means you’ll either need always to use up your mobile data allowance when you’re out and about, or sign up to a separate WiFi service.

Some examples of cheaper providers who do offer good WiFi are BT Mobile and Virgin Mobile.

For us, we wouldn’t let this be a deal breaker because there’s so much other free WiFi around nowadays anyway. Generally we say free WiFi hotspots are a nice-to-have rather than an essential.

Useful link: Costs for going over data limits on Plusnet Mobile

Tethering: it’s allowed on all Plusnet Mobile plans

One strength of Plusnet Mobile over other low-cost mobile networks is that you’re allowed to tether.

Tethering is using your phone’s mobile data to create a mini WiFi hotspot around you, to connect other devices like laptops or tablets to the internet. It’s pretty useful, even if most people won’t use it every day.

On Plusnet Mobile, you can use as much of your monthly data allowance as you like for tethering, which puts them above and beyond lots of other networks who place restrictions on it.

We would point out though that using your SIM for tethering will use up data more quickly and it could tip you over your monthly data allowance limit (here’s how much extra data costs on Plusnet Mobile).

Useful link: Full tethering terms and conditions from Plusnet Mobile's help section

Inclusive roaming: anywhere in the EU is included on Plusnet

In this category, we rate mobile networks according to what free roaming they give you. Free roaming means calls, texts and data that come out of your regular UK allowances while you’re abroad.

Plusnet Mobile offer the same as every UK mobile network now does: free roaming within EU countries.

In total, you can go to 40 countries (see the latest list here) across Europe. It’s worth remembering though that you will still be charged if you use up all your mins, text or data (here are the latest extra costs).

Outside Europe, you’ll still pay for each minute, text or MB data you use at these rates.

Overall, we can give Plusnet Mobile a ‘good’ rating for inclusive roaming for the EU. It’s a welcome bonus on already cheap plans but doesn’t offer any worldwide options.

Useful links: Plusnet's guide to roaming on their network

Spending caps: Plusnet Mobile help you avoid overspending

The idea behind spending caps is to stop you ever being surprised by a larger-than-usual bill for going over your monthly minutes, texts or data allowance (or using these other chargeable services).

They do this by setting an amount in pounds (£) of how much extra you can spend above your regular bill. If this is ever reached, any activity that would increase the bill will be blocked but all others stay active.

They’re particularly useful if you’re taking out and paying for a contract for someone else like your kids.

Plusnet Mobile lead the way with their Smart Cap on all their SIM only plans. When you first order, the cap will automatically be set to £10 but can be set as low as £2 or high as £30 subject to these conditions.

We give Plusnet Mobile a ‘recommended’ rating for spending caps because they’re flexible and remove the fear of overspending. We can’t give them ‘best choice’ because you can’t totally remove the cap.

Useful link: How you manage your Smart Cap from Plusnet's help section.

Customer rewards: broadband customers get 'Mates Rates'

We think it’s important for mobile companies to look after existing customers. Some do this with exclusive deals, others have rewards apps like O2’s well-known Priority scheme. What do Plusnet have?

As a broadband provider with roughly a million subscribers, Plusnet have chosen to look after their home services customers with a set of special deals known as Mates Rates.

Rather than a discount, Mates Rates essentially doubles the amount of data you’d get if you weren’t already with Plusnet for broadband - for no extra cost (we've written a short guide to it here).

This is a nice, simple way to reward loyalty. It gives customers extra value without having to spend more.

Useful link: See the latest exclusive Mates Rates deals if you're a Plusnet broadband customer

Data rollover: unused data on Plusnet is gone each month

Here’s one area where Plusnet Mobile’s low-cost rival iD Mobile really gets one over on Plusnet:

Anyone with a mobile deal already probably knows you don’t always get through your entire mobile data allowance each month. On most networks, you’ll lose what you’ve not used at the end of the month.

Some networks have decided this is unfair (see which ones here) and have introduced what’s typically called data rollover. It basically means keeping unused data each month for the next, or even for longer.

Plusnet Mobile don’t offer data rollover (their rivals iD Mobile do, see here) so you will lose any data you haven’t used. So we can only give them a poor rating in this category.

Useful link: Read our full guide to Data Rollover plans

Free data: no extras to help you save your data

In this category, we look for ways that mobile phone networks help you control the amount of data that you use each month. Some networks have some clever schemes that do this:

Our favourites are Three’s “Go Binge” that lets you stream Netflix, Apple Music and other services without using up data. Or Virgin Mobile’s unlimited data for WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook Messenger.

Again, with Plusnet Mobile this is the case of a luxury item that you don’t get with such a cheap no-frills deal. It’s not really what they’re about.

For that reason we can only give them a poor rating in this category.

Useful links: Read how Go Binge works at Three.co.uk

Multi-buy discounts: there are no savings for multiple plans

One trend we're seeing with a lot of other mobile networks is offering discounts for any extra contracts you take out with them. It's an incentive to get your whole family with the same network.

With prices already pretty much at rock bottom, Plusnet Mobile don't really have anywhere lower to go, so don't offer any such discounts on their plans, so we can only give them a 'poor' rating.

If you're interested in a a provider that uses EE's mobile network AND offers discounts for the more SIMs you take with them, we can recommend BT Mobile's Family SIMs (read our review here).

They offer a way to manage up to 4 additional discounted SIMs on one bill and come on short, flexible 30-day contracts. We rate it as the best multi-buy scheme out there.

Useful link: Learn about BT Mobile Family SIMs

Entertainment subscriptions: no frills means no frills!

One increasingly popular way that mobile networks are attracting new customers is by offering free subscriptions to certain entertainment services. Although it tends to be only the pricier major providers.

For example, Vodafone offer a choice of NOW TV pass, Sky Sports Mobile or Spotify Premium subscription. Or EE offer free Apple Music and BT Sport App access.

Realistically, for the low prices on Plusnet Mobile you’re not going to get costly extras. Those services may be advertised as free elsewhere but you effectively pay for them via a higher basic monthly bill.

So for included subscriptions, we have to give Plusnet Mobile a poor score but we’ll let you decide if you actually miss them or not when you consider the low monthly cost for their deals.

Useful link: Compare Plusnet Mobile SIM only prices

SIM only plans from Plusnet Mobile – key facts

Phone contracts: you can't get one at Plusnet Mobile!

At the moment, Plusnet Mobile are purely a SIM only provider so they don't offer any phone contracts to new customers (some existing former LIFE Mobile customers may have a phone still).

If you're looking for a cheap alternative, our price analysis shows that iD Mobile tends to be cheapest for pay monthly phones (see their cheapest phone deals here).

Or alternatively, if you want a phone with a provider that uses the EE network, we recommend BT Mobile as a cheap option, which will often get you a pre-paid Mastercard reward.

Useful link: See phones at iD Mobile | See phones at BT Mobile

Customer service: Plusnet Mobile have staff in the UK

Normally for customer service we look at Ofcom data on the number of complaints it receives about major mobile providers, which is published every 6 months. High Ofcom complaints equates to poor customer service.

Unfortunately, because Plusnet Mobile are still quite new on the scene, they do not have enough customers to be included in Ofcom's report, so we don't have any figures.

It'd also be unfair to look at Plusnet's broadband data as it's a separate product with completely different likely problems attached to it. So for the time being, we can't provide an accurate picture.

The main info we can provide is that Plusnet have customer service representatives in the UK, which may be welcome if you've had frustrations with offshore call centres before.

Useful link: How to get help on Plusnet Mobile