Tesco Mobile review 2024: pros and cons to their network
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There's quite a lot going for Tesco Mobile in terms of coverage, phone contracts and deals for Tesco shoppers. But what don't you get? Last updated: 11th December 2024.
Overall rating
SIM Sherpa rates Tesco Mobile as a good provider to join ★★★☆☆ (3/5, good)
"We like what Tesco Mobile are doing with their ‘Supermarket Mobile’ approach. For Tesco shoppers, there’s now loads of discounts and benefits through Clubcard, and it’s handy having customer service in their stores.
Using O2’s network is an advantage for leading calls and texts coverage, very good 4G/5G data coverage but if you’re someone that’s fussy about data speeds, Tesco Mobile can be slower on average than others.
They’re also in the process of finally rolling out WiFi calling and 4G calling, which are useful for improving indoor coverage. More-advanced stuff like eSIM, call forwarding and visual voicemail still aren’t there though.
If you get involved in the Clubcard discounts and vouchers, Tesco are towards the cheaper end of networks too, their phone contracts are very competitive indeed. Overall, Tesco Mobile are a solid provider".
The 3 best bits
1) Ties in with Clubcard
2) Excellent all-round coverage
3) WiFi calling being rolled out
The 3 worst bits
1) Inclusive roaming scrapped
2) Slower 4G/5G speeds than average
3) WiFi calling rollout not immediate
What network do Tesco Mobile use?
O2. Tesco Mobile use O2’s 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks.
Who runs Tesco Mobile?
Tesco Mobile are run by the Tesco supermarket company. We believe O2’s former owner Telefonica also have a share in Tesco Mobile.
Does Tesco Mobile offer 5G?
Yes. The faster data technology now comes on each of the network’s pay monthly SIM only plans and phone contracts for models that support 5G.
Do Tesco Mobile have a cooling off period?
Yes. The standard 14-day cooling off period applies for Tesco Mobile as long as you buy online or over the phone. You don’t have the same right if you bought in-store.
Does Tesco Mobile have WiFi calling?
Yes and no. It's in the process of being rolled out but not every customer currently gets it. It’s one of the main network features missing from Tesco Mobile. The same applies for 4G calling (also known is the VoLTE).
Can I bring my number to Tesco Mobile?
Yes. Text your old provider with the word PAC to 65075 and they’ll give you a code that you can give to Tesco so they can move your number across to their network.
Is Tesco Mobile's network any good?
Coverage on Tesco Mobile is excellent for calls and data
Tesco Mobile are a smaller provider on the O2 network, which they use to provide 5G/4G/3G/2G signal. They offer identical coverage to their hosts, so you get full access to the joint-second largest network.
They’re on the best network for calls (2G/3G) with more of the country covered than any other network. And they’re one the best network for getting call signal into buildings as well, so indoor signal is a strength.
While 2G/3G have started to be phased out on other networks, Tesco’s hosts won’t start switching it off until 2025. So you’ve got more time to consider upgrading if you’re on an older device (read our guide).
5G is another big upside on Tesco Mobile. Their hosts have it live in a huge list of 3000+ UK towns and cities, a lot more than any other network. And they’re generally good at covering these locations as well.
The only potential downside is their 4G, which is a bit less widespread than on other networks. But it’s still pretty strong. Tesco provide excellent coverage overall, but check your local area here before joining.
Useful link: Check your Tesco Mobile coverage
Data speeds are underwhelming on Tesco Mobile
If you’re looking for the fastest possible speeds (say if you’re a mobile gamer) then Tesco Mobile and other O2-users won’t be for you (instead we think EE/Vodafone/Three based providers would be better choices).
In our 4G tests we did get very healthy speeds of 95 Mbps in the city, but speeds slumped down to 5 Mbps in rural areas. Most often we averaged around 15-20 Mbps, which matches Opensignal’s result of 16.8 Mbps.
That makes them the slowest network for 4G, and it’s the same story for 5G. Opensignal and Speedtest measured typical 5G speeds between 80.1 Mbps - 85.08 Mbps, with peaks of 229.54 Mbps.
So Tesco consistently work out as the slowest network, but this shouldn’t really be an issue for most users. It’s only really for data-intense activities that Tesco’s slower speeds will be noticeable.
Useful link: What Tesco Mobile say about their 4G
WiFi calling is getting better and better on Tesco
While Tesco have great indoor call signal, you may still run into indoor blackspots if you’re far from the mast or things are in the way. Tesco brought in WiFi calling and 4G calling a little while ago to help this.
These let you make/take calls over WiFi and 4G signal where regular call signal is weak. WiFi calls work identically to regular ones and call quality is very good. And you can send/receive texts over WiFi/4G too.
On top of that, you can transfer from a WiFi call to a 4G call without it dropping on Tesco, which is not the case on all networks. So as a feature, Tesco’s WiFi calling is one of the best schemes around.
Their support for Apple devices is quite a bit better now, but users on older Android devices will still likely struggle to get it working (check your device here). In all, it’s getting better which is good to see!
Useful link: Read Tesco’s guide for more information
Tesco are sparse when it comes to extra network features
The only extra network feature Tesco offer is tethering, letting you connect other devices like laptops to your data signal. And Tesco let you use your whole data plan for this, even on their unlimited data deals.
Tesco Mobile offer no free WiFi hotspots. But their hosts O2 offer 15,000+ WiFi hotspots up and down the country and even Tesco’s low-cost, low-frills rivals giffgaff (who also use O2) offer a decent hotspot scheme.
Call forwarding isn’t supported on Tesco, which lets you forward incoming calls to another line. They don’t support visual voicemail either, which is handy for letting you sort through your voicemails one by one.
Finally, there’s no way to take out an eSIM on Tesco Mobile. However, this is largely limited to the main UK networks for now anyway, so it’s not a major shock that Tesco don’t offer them.
Useful link: See charges for going over your data limit on Tesco Mobile
Tesco Mobile benefits
Inclusive EU roaming on Tesco won’t be around forever
Tesco have been saying they’d remove inclusive EU roaming from their deals for over a year now and still haven’t. They now say you’ll no longer be able to roam in these 48 EU destinations at no extra cost from 2026.
So if you join Tesco on a 24-month contract, that means you won’t get inclusive roaming for your entire contract (if they actually remove it this time). And existing customers will lose inclusive roaming too.
You’ll still get inclusive EU roaming on these plans until 2026:
After that, roaming will become chargeable. We aren’t certain what the costs will be, but we think it’ll be £2 a day to roam in the EU like the rest of the networks that have removed inclusive roaming.
They’re still a decent choice in the short term, as they let you use your entire data allowance in the EU even on their unlimited data plans. But you’ll have to pay these expensive rates to roam outside the EU.
Useful link: Full information on roaming with Tesco Mobile
Clubcard holders get the best benefits of being with Tesco
Clubcard holders get the most out of being on Tesco. It’s free and easy to get one, just follow Tesco’s guide here. The first benefit you get is access to unique discounts on SIM only and phone deals called “Clubcard prices”.
And you can earn points on your Clubcard when paying your bill or shopping in Tesco stores which you can then turn into vouchers to get money off your mobile bill. It’s a really good way of saving a bit on your plan.
If you need to sign up multiple plans to your account (say you’ve got kids) Tesco let you choose extra benefit for doing so. They’re called “Perks” and include things like discounts or extra Clubcard points.
Finally, if you join on a “Clubcard price” deal Tesco will not increase the price of your plan while you’re on it. This is a great way around the massive price hikes on networks like Tesco’s hosts O2.
Useful link: How Tesco’s Clubcard voucher scheme works
There are a handful of other useful benefits on Tesco
While every mobile network has to let you set a limit on spending outside your plan, Tesco give you a bit of added flexibility with this than other networks. You can set a cap in some pretty flexible increments.
The only real downside of their spending caps is that you can’t move it down mid-month (you can move it up whenever). Still, they offer a lot more flexibility than some networks with these.
If you run out of data in the middle of the month, Tesco offer some decent value data add-ons to tide you over. Their smallest is 1GB for £6, with some bigger ones that are better value per GB if you need.
Tesco Mobile don’t offer any data saving benefits like the unlimited social media, music and video streaming data benefits that VOXI offer. The only way to get anything similar is with their unlimited data plans.
You’re also missing out on data rollover. This usually lets you hold onto your unused data for another month. But fellow O2-users Sky Mobile let you bank your leftover data for up to 3 years if you need.
But Tesco are set up more as an affordable network for individual users and families, so we wouldn’t really expect them to offer big benefits like these. We still like the overall package of benefits they offer.
Finally, Tesco are a decent choice for calling abroad. They offer some of the lowest rates for North America and good rates elsewhere (read our guide here). But they don’t offer any inclusive international mins.
Useful link: How Capped Contracts work
Deals on Tesco Mobile
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Tesco’s phone contracts offer great flexibility
Tesco offer most of their phones on super flexible Anytime Upgrade Flex contracts. These split the cost of your phone and usage plan (mins, texts, data) into separate payments that make up your monthly bill.
Your phone payment will be based around a finance agreement (essentially a loan). The benefit of this is that you can pay off the cost of your phone at any point to upgrade to a new one if you need to.
Tesco also offer good flexibility by letting you choose a contract length from 12-36 months in 6 month increments. It’s not as flexible as O2’s Custom plans, but you can still suit your contract to your budget.
And you’re also free to leave your usage plan once you’ve paid off your phone, you’re not stuck on it like on some networks. And you can move to a bigger plan and back down to (but not below) your original plan.
Few networks give you both great value and flexibility. But Tesco let you suit your contract to your budget, upgrade and leave your usage plan whenever. Passing a credit check for one can be hard, however.
See popular phones at Tesco Mobile: iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | Other makes
Tesco are a decent Pay As You Go option
Tesco Mobile's pay as you go SIM cards are hardly something to write home about. Not all networks offer traditional pay as you go scheme, but Tesco do, along with monthly bundles. They’re both decent.
You get your credit tripled when you top up with £10 on their Triple Credit tariff. But you have to top up each month to get it and Tesco’s PAYG rates make this less impressive. A £10 SIM only deal would be better.
Tesco also offer Rocket Packs that are monthly PAYG bundles of mins, texts and data. But these aren’t great value, especially when compared to giffgaff’s low-cost deals (get £5 free credit via our page here).
Here are Tesco's current monthly bundle options:
This is a good way to test out their network, but it’s not really worth staying on for the long run. It’s a decent option if you failed a credit check, but otherwise their pay monthly plans are a much better choice.
Tesco Mobile customer service
Customer service on Tesco has stayed consistently good
Customers will inevitably run into issues on any network, which is when good customer service is necessary. If a network can’t resolve a customers’ issue they can then make a complaint to Ofcom.
Tesco have consistently done well in Ofcom’s complaint report and that’s still the case. They still have the fewest complaints of any network at just 1 complaint per 100,000, while the industry average sits at 4.
This reflects well on their over-the-phone services. While we haven’t tested them out, but if customers aren’t complaining to Ofcom often it must be a good sign. And you can always use their online chat instead.
You can also get help face-to-face in Tesco stores with Tesco Mobile outlets. You can also use their app to manage your account and access basic features. That’s why Tesco’s customer service is the best in our eyes.
Useful link: See all Tesco Mobile awards
