Sky Mobile review 2020:
testing their 4G coverage & benefits for real

Coverage: Sky Mobile uses the extensive O2 network

Sky Mobile uses the O2 network for signal. As with any mobile network, there are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to 4G data coverage and 2G/3G signal for calls, texts and slower data.

For calls and SMS texts, Sky Mobile's indoor reception is better than providers using EE and Three, because the frequencies are better at getting into buildings (although a lot depends on where your nearest mast is).

What our real-life tests found...

We've used our Sky Mobile SIM for everyday use in small towns, out in the country and in big cities to get a feel for what their signal is like. Our experience was similar to the big independent network testers.

It was extremely rare that you'd drop down 3G (H or H+) when you're anywhere near places people live.

We were particularly impressed with Sky's indoor reception. Where we'd have to go to the windows to make calls with other test SIMs, our Sky Mobile SIM worked throughout the house.

Outside you'll rarely struggle to get reception for calls and texts, even in smaller towns and villages - although some independent network testers say O2's weak point is coverage on railways and roads.

4G data coverage is a real strong point too. Testers Opensignal found customers using the O2 network spent 85% of their time with a 4G signal (only EE could beat that).

Of course, no UK network has universal mobile coverage, so we highly recommend checking your Sky Mobile signal here before signing up. Search everywhere you'll use your phone, not just your home address.

Useful link: Read differences between Sky and O2

Download speeds: Sky Mobile's 4G is slower than average

There's a trade-off with Sky Mobile using O2's network. While the availability of 4G is excellent, the typical download speeds you'll get over a 4G connection are lower than other providers.

This isn't our opinion. It's the findings of independent network testers Opensignal and Speedtest by Ookla, who've taken millions of speed measurements on all the UK's mobile networks.

They found typical 4G download speeds on Sky's host O2's network to be around the 15.8 Mbps to 16.95 Mbps mark. That's like a non-fibre home broadband connection. But it's slower than all other providers.

How we found Sky's data speeds in real life...

Our experience out-and-about with a Sky Mobile SIM matched the findings of the specialist independent network testers too. Their 15.8 Mbps to 16.95 Mbps results seem accurate.

Over 4G, we mostly measured speeds between 10 Mbps and 30 Mbps on Sky. It was rare to get any higher or lower. That's lower than other networks but didn't particularly feel like a huge problem.

Reading the news, checking social media and other day-to-day internet usage were all perfectly fine over 4G. Even YouTube videos loaded without buffering.

If you just want to browse the net, or even stream HD videos, these speeds will be adequate (and remember they're an average so you will get higher too). Sky will be fine for many users, just not really demanding ones.

Useful link: What difference having 5G will make

Call technology: Sky Mobile's WiFi calling is ok

Fortunately, the 3G and 2G signal used for carrying calls and texts on Sky Mobile is quite good at getting into buildings, so you might not need extra technology so much to help improve indoor signal.

You do still get WiFi calling as standard on all Sky Mobile's plans. This lets your phone use WiFi instead of mobile signal to make and take calls - useful if regular signal can't get into the building you're in.

Our experience with Sky's WiFi calling...

We put our Sky Mobile in our manufacturer-bought Samsung Galaxy S7 test phone. And WiFi calling did not work. We'd say your Android phone definitely needs to be on the list for it to have a chance of working.

It did work when we put the same SIM in an iPhone 7. Although Sky claim you can move from WiFi to 4G calling mid-call, this didn't work in any of our tests.

If you have an iPhone with the feature, Sky's WiFi calling should work fine. But if you've got an Android phone, you probably need to have bought it from Sky with their software on it, to guarantee it'll work (read why here).

This is a big downside. And our own testing with an non-Sky/O2 phone didn't work. So if you need the feature, we'd recommend testing it immediately and returning your product within 14 days if it doesn't work.

Useful link: Sky's WiFi calling help page

Free WiFi hotspots: nothing you can't get free anyway

We like it when mobile networks offer their customers free automatic access to public WiFi hotspots, as it helps you save your mobile data and can provide a more reliable internet connection sometimes too.

Sky point out to their new mobile customers that they can access Sky Wifi (The Cloud) hotspots free of charge as a Sky Mobile customer. But it's worth saying, it's not an exclusive benefit.

The service is actually free for anybody who isn’t a Sky Mobile customer too. All you have to do is sign up to get a free Cloud account and log in when you're in range of a hotspot.

It’s unlimited and there are thousands of hotspots located in busy public areas like shopping malls, cafes, restaurants, pubs and public transport hubs.

Useful link: How to get free Sky WiFi access on Sky Mobile

Tethering: it's included with Sky Mobile's plans

In all our reviews, we look at whether a mobile provider lets you use your plan for tethering. And if they do, whether there are any sneaky terms and conditions or restrictions.

Tethering is when you use your phone's mobile data to create a small WiFi hotspot around you, which you can connect other devices to. Most modern phones let you do it but not all networks allow it.

Sky Mobile's terms and conditions contain nothing preventing your from using your SIM or phone creating a hotspot, including abroad.

The devices you connect via tethering may use more data than your regular phone does, so it's worth checking Sky's extra charges here in case you go over your limit. Or pick a bigger data plan in the first place.

Useful link: See costs for going over your data limit on Sky

Unlimited streaming: watch Sky TV without using data

Our absolute favourite thing about Sky Mobile is their unlimited streaming benefit that you get with all SIM only plans and phone contract (even the very cheapest). If you've got Sky TV at home, we think you'll love it:

When you're out and about, you can now use any Sky app, without it using your mobile data. It's unlimited data for streaming their TV, films and reading news (Sky's guide here has full details of what's included).

The reason we like it so much is that video streaming is one of the most data-hungry activities on your phone. So getting an unlimited amount for Sky apps is hugely valuable for saving on the costs of data.

It's also an excellent way to get more out of your mobile and your TV package. For commuters and people with kids, you can stay entertained on journeys, without having to holding back to avoid spending on data.

Useful link: Read our full Sky Mobile Watch review

Data rollover: Sky have one of the best schemes in the UK

Data rollover is when a mobile network lets you keep data that you've not go through for the future (read our full guide here). Sky Mobile include it with all their pay monthly plans - and it's one of our favourite schemes:

While other providers only let you keep unused data for one month, Sky just let you keep piling it up for up to an insane three years, the longest of any provider in the UK!

Our real-life experience with Sky's Roll benefit

Our data usage was consistently below how much our plan gave us, so we found we were stacking up more and more data each month, which Sky show you in your online account, like a bank statement:

It's easy to manage your Piggybank. You just go into your online account and it's one of the first options.

If you or anyone on the same account has run out of data, you can withdraw from Piggybank to person of your choice, using a simple dropdown. It take just a few minutes to take effect.

Sky also show you how much your leftover data is worth if you decide to cash it in against buying a new device or accessory from them:

Overall, we find Sky Mobile's whole Piggybank system really self-explanatory and easy to use. Have a read of their help article here if you're in any doubt.

It all gets added to your data piggybank (a sort of bank account for data). Then if you ever need it, you just make a withdrawal, 1GB at a time. That's really handy if your usage changes month to month.

You can even share data from your piggybank with others on your account or swap it for discounts on new phones or tablets with Sky. Overall, it's an excellent sweetener to join Sky for mobile.

Useful link: Read Sky's full guide to how data rollover works

Customer rewards: extra perks if you have Sky TV

In this category of our reviews, we're looking for how companies look after their existing customers when it comes to improved deals on mobile products. For Sky Mobile, this means their TV customers.

As well as unlimited streaming on their TV apps, Sky TV customers taking a mobile SIM or phone will also get an upgrade on Sky Go to Sky Go Extra, which has some extra benefits.

You can register more devices that you can use it on (4 instead of 2). It lets you download programems to watch them later. Plus if you have an Xbox/Playstation, you'll be able to watch on their too (full details here).

You' don't get to join Sky's VIP loyalty scheme, if you only have mobile from Sky. We'd be able to give them a better rating in the category if you did.

Useful link: All Sky TV customer benefits on Sky Mobile

Roaming: free within the EU and some worldwide passes

When it comes to roaming, Sky Mobile are pretty much the same as every other network in the UK. They offer free EU roaming as standard in these 30 countries using your plan’s inclusive minutes, texts and data.

This is actually now a legal requirement of all UK networks, so isn’t actually anything special. You can read our guide to the best mobile networks for roaming here, where we compare each provider inclusive deals.

Where Sky Mobile do go one step further than some other providers is by offering 10 further countries outside the EU where you can use the data from your regular plan for a fixed daily charge (see latest costs here).

This is welcome because the data roaming charges on Sky Mobile outside the EU are really quite horrendously high. Even with a pass it’s worth noting, you’ll still pay for minutes and texts separately as you use them.

Useful link: See all Sky Mobile roaming costs and charges

Shared / family plans: share leftover data on Sky Mobile

On Sky Mobile, you can manage up to 5 plans on one single account. So that’s useful if you have one billpayer in a family, who wants to be responsible for other members’ phone deals.

Doing this really only has one benefit currently. And that’s being able to share unused data held in your Piggybank between other users on your account (this gets Sky an entry in our guide to shared-data plans).

It’s handy if you have someone who often gets through their data and another who regularly has some spare: the first person avoids wasting data already paid for and the second avoids charges for going over their limits.

Other than that, there are no generous discounts for extra plans like we see with BT Mobile’s Family SIMs. Nor is there anything as flexible as EE's data gifting on shared accounts.

Useful link: How sharing unused data works

Entertainment subscriptions: Sky Mobile don’t include any

It’s funny for a brand who has so much TV content available to them that you don’t get any free or exclusive streaming services when you join Sky Mobile (you do get data to stream their TV apps though).

EE for instance give their pay monthly customers 6 months of free Apple Music on top of at least 3 months BT Sport App access. BT Mobile offer BT Sport App access on selected plans.

And Vodafone offer a choice of a NOW TV, Sky Sports Mobile TV or Spotify Premium with their top-whack mobile bundles.

This is definitely an area that Sky could improve on with their mobile offering.

Spending caps: Sky Mobile are ultra-flexible

With any mobile network provider, if you use more minutes, texts or data than are included in your monthly plan, you’ll be charged extra on top of your regular bi ll (here’s how much you’ll pay on Sky Mobile).

This can be a worry if you’ve taken out a plan that only just covers what you need or if you’ve taken a deal out and given it to someone else like a son or daughter and you’re not in control of what they use.

Now the government regulator Ofcom have changed the rules so that every mobile provider must let you choose to set a spending cap on extra charges to your account. If you reach the limit, most services that would cost extra will be stopped until next month.

We rate Sky Mobile's system as one of the best in the UK. You can choose an amount anywhere between £0 and £100 in £1 increments. And you can do it when you sign up, or later on if you want to change (here's how to set yours).

Useful link: See costs for going over limits on Sky

✔ Key facts about Sky Mobile's SIM only plans

✔ Sky Mobile’s deals are based on finance: that's good and bad

When you take a smartphone from Sky Mobile, you’re essentially signing up to a loan to pay for the cost of the phone. You can choose to spread that cost over 24 months (Swap 12) or 36 months (Swap 24).

Paying over 36 months gives you a lower monthly cost but Sky do increase the overall cost of the phone if you choose this. Paying over 24 months costs more per month but gets you a cheaper overall handset price.

Being a loan, the requirements to get accepted for a Sky Mobile smartphone deal will be more strict than a regular mobile contract. If you’ve been declined for a contract before, we wouldn’t recommend trying Sky.

That said, this type of phone contract does have the advantage of letting you pay off your phone early to upgrade to a new one or leave altogether (though you have to stay for at least 12 months). More below.

Useful link: How a Sky Mobile credit agreement works from Sky's help guide

✔ Phone contracts: upgrade early with Swap 12 and 24

Above, you can see that Sky’s mobile contracts are based on finance and that one advantage of this is being able to upgrade early. ‘Swap 12’ offers a way to upgrade after 12 months and ‘Swap 24’ after 24 months.

What happens is that Sky offer to buy back your phone off you. In theory, the price they pay you is equal to the amount left on your loan. This clears the loan and leaves you free to upgrade to a new phone.

For us, this system has too many risks and potential disadvantages ever to bother using:

Firstly, by the 12th or 24th month, you’ll have paid for most of your phone. So why would you give it back to Sky just to sign up to a new agreement where you’ll be paying for another phone again from scratch?

Secondly, if you’ve not looked after the device, you won’t get paid the full amount, so won’t clear your loan. You’ll then have money left to pay for a phone you don’t even own any more.

Thirdly, you might be able to get more for your phone by selling to another 2nd hand retailer or privately.

Useful link: Read more to see if Swap is right for you at Sky.com

Pay As You Go: Sky Mobile don't offer it at all

You may have read something about Sky Mobile offering what they call "Pay As You Use". This shouldn't be confused with regular Pay As You Go (paying for mobile deals up front).

Pay As You Use (PAYU) is just one of the two ways Sky sells their pay monthly deals:

First you select how much data you want each month. Next you choose to pay for your minutes and texts at 10p per minute or text (PAYG) or pay £10 a month for unlimited mins and texts (free for Sky TV customers).

If you're looking for the type of SIM only or phone deal where you top up with credit, then everything you use comes out of that, we'd recommend taking a look at 1pMobile's 1p payg plan or Three's Three's 321 plan.

Both are cheap deals. 1pMobile's deal is 1p per minute, text or data, while Three's is 3p per minute, 2p per text and 1p per MB data. We don't expect Sky Mobile ever to launch pay as you go themselves.

Useful link: Read our 1pMobile review

Mobile broadband: Sky Mobile offer very long tablet deals

Sky Mobile don't offer any of the following mobile broadband products: data-only SIMs, mobile WiFi devices / dongles. It's just not their speciality.

They do have a small range of tablets here, which are sold with data plans on financing agreements similar to how they sell their phones (sometimes even longer arrangements up to 48 months!).

You'll get a monthly allocation of mobile data and spread the cost of the device over the course of your contract. The total you pay for the device is usually around 2% to 20% higher than buying outright from the manufacturer.

So even though the finance is offered as 0% APR, you are paying a premium vs buying outright. But the rates aren't agressively higher than other financing options. It really pays to compare though.

Useful link: See Sky's range of tablets here