ID Mobile is a Dixons Carphone-owned mobile network that operates on the Three network. It offers a variety of Pay Monthly Phones, SIM Only Deals, Pay As You Go, and at low prices.
However, the fact that plans include data rollover and spending limitations makes it stand out. Furthermore, ID Mobile has begun to offer plans with unlimited data, which is becoming more prevalent but still not available on other networks.
Plus, on ID Mobile, you can use both Wi-Fi and 4G calling, which are generally only available on ‘premium’ networks like EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone. The network has also begun to offer 5G services.
Pros
- Cheap price and great value for money with SIM-only plans.
- Free 3-in-1 sim card which contains all three sizes of sim card ( Standard SIM, Micro SIM, Nano SIM).
- You can bring your own phone.
- You can bring your own number.
- There are 30-day, 12-month and 24-month SIM plans available.
- International roaming in 50 destinations at no extra cost.
- Unused data of the plan can rollover to the next month.
- Spend cap feature to prevent unexpected or accidental charges on the bill.
- WiFi calling is supported.
- Tethering & personal hotspot is allowed.
- Good customer support.
- 30 day returns.
Cons
- There will be no O2 Priority-style awards or EE-style free streaming services.
- No perks like music streaming.
ID Mobile SIM cards are among the most affordable on the market, especially if you only need a little quantity of data. Although there aren’t many bonuses, we prefer the opportunity to roll over data each month. Now let`s review ID Mobile and check if it is a good option for you.
ID Mobile Sim-Only Deals
ID Mobile is a MVNO network that offers affordable SIM-Only Plans starting at £6 per month. You can choose from a variety of one-month plans that run on a rolling contract, you can also choose 12-month and 24-month plans if you’re willing to commit for a longer period of time and want to get cheaper price.
ID Mobile provides a lot of mobile phone plans. You can check on its Sim Only Deals page. However, its phone plans are a little complicated. You can find all SIM Only Plans here:
Monthly Plans
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | £6.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 12GB | £7.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 16GB | £8.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 50GB | £10.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 70GB | £10.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 75GB | £12.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 100GB | £14.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 200GB | £16.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £18.00 |
12 Monthly Plans
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 5GB | £6.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 15GB | £7.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 20GB | £8.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 60GB | £10.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 100GB | £12.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 140GB | £14.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 200GB | £15.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £18.00 |
24 Monthly Plans
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 80GB | £10.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 100GB | £12.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 200GB | £15.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £16.00 |
All plans include unlimited calls and texts to UK number, as well as the ability to upgrade or downgrade your data usage with 30 days’ notice.
Monthly data allowances range from 3GB per month for modest users to Unlimited data for data heavy users.
Most Popular ID Mobile Sim Only Phone Plans:
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | £6.00 1 month |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 60GB | £10.00 12 months £5.00 for first 3 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £16.00 24 months £8.00 for first 3 months |
All these three popular plans give the best value for your money. You can get an unlimited data SIM card on iD Mobile for just £16 per month (with a promise of 24 months usage). The data runs on Three’s next work with its 3G and 4G coverage , it is a truly unlimited data plan with no usage limit of data.
Furthermore, ID Mobile allows you to set a spending limit of between 0 and £25. If you’re on a tight budget, this is a useful feature that to stick to your budget.
The bonuses offered by ID Mobile SIM Plans aren’t as extensive as those offered by O2 Priority. They do, nevertheless, provides SIM-Only Plans with useful features like data rollover, which allows you to carry over unused data from month to month.
And, at the time of writing, you can get 5G for free (provided you have a suitable phone and are within ID Mobile’s 5G service’s coverage area).
Finally, ID Mobile’s coverage reaches 99 % of the population of the United Kingdom. With Three’s mobile network, you won’t lose signal no matter where you are in the country.
Pay As You Go SIM Only Deals
Customers who don’t want to deal with the headache of a credit check and contract can buy ID Mobile’s Pay As You Go Sim Only Deals.
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 1GB | £6.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 4GB | £8.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | £10.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 20GB | £15.00 |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £20.00 |
You can choose from five Pay As You Go bundles, each costing between £6 and £20 each month.
You will pay 3P/Minute, 2P/Text, and 1P/MB on a typical Pay As You Go basis outside of your inclusive package allowances. Your bundle will last for 1 month or until you have used up all your allowances. To keep your SIM card active, you must use it for a charged activity at least once every 90 days.
We wouldn’t advocate using ID Mobile on a Pay As You Go basis because of their not competitive bundles. Other mobile networks will provide you with far more data for the same monthly fee and without requiring you to pass a credit check. SMARTY is likely the most comparable option to ID Mobile, with bundles that include Three network coverage.
ID Mobile Pay Monthly Phones
ID Mobile is still one of the best places to acquire a new phone for a low price. Even better, ID Mobile is not only competitive on flagship phones, it’s also competitive on cheap phones and the latest mid-range marvels.
You can get phones from its Pay Monthly Phone deals. ID Mobile’s monthly prices on a variety of cheap and mid-range phones from manufacturers such as Huawei and Alcatel.
The latest iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models, as well as handsets from Oppo, Alcatel, Motorola, Huawei, Nokia, Doro, and Google, are available on monthly contracts from iD Mobile at the time of writing. You may choose from a variety of price points, with the least starting at just over £10 each month.
You could want to purchase a refurbished, Pre-Owned Phone if you’re wanting to decrease your costs. All of them come with an iD Mobile 12-month warranty, so you can buy with confidence.
ID Mobile Network and Coverage
The Carphone Warehouse’s ID Mobile is a low-cost mobile network that uses the Three network’s coverage. ID Mobile customers have access to Three’s 3G and 4G networks, but not to Three’s 5G network, which was just introduced in major cities.
This indicates that, at the time of writing, ID Mobile has 99 percent population coverage, with a signal available in the same regions where Three has a signal.
We strongly advise double-checking coverage in your area before ordering your ID Mobile SIM card or phone. On select handsets, Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling features are also available on ID Mobile.
You can go to ID Mobile Coverage Map, enter your postcode to check your 3G, 4G, 5G indoor and outdoor network coverage in your area.
ID Mobile, like Three and all other mobile networks that use Three’s coverage, does not offer 2G service. As a result, you won’t be able to utilize a 2G-only handset on ID Mobile. In addition, your phone will not be able to switch to 2G coverage. Due to a lack of 2G, some dual-SIM phones may not work properly on ID Mobile.
iD Mobile Data Speed
iD Mobile runs on Three Network. In the real testing there is no speed differences between iD Mobile vs Three.
| Network | Download | Upload | 4G latency (ms) |
| EE | 44.7 Mbps | 9.0 Mbps | 36.0ms |
| iD Mobile (Three) | 30.7 Mbps | 5.6 Mbps | 48.3ms |
| Vodafone | 21.2 Mbps | 7.1 Mbps | 39.0ms |
| O2 | 16.8 Mbps | 4.9 Mbps | 38.1ms |
In an Opensignal report in 2022, Three provides the second fastest download speed at average 30.7Mbps. iD Mobile uses Three’s network and offers similar speeds. Its average upload speed comes in third at 5.6Mbps. Those speeds were tested with a mix of 5G, 4G and 3G.
However, Three network 4G latency (the amount of time it takes for the network to respond to a request), averaged 48.3ms, which is somewhat slower than its rivals.
International Calling from UK
You can use your ID phone card to call or send text message abroad from UK. The price varies from different calling destinations.
Below are the rates for for several countries.
Call and text to the United States:
| International | Pay Monthly | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Calls to mobiles | £0.06 | £0.02 |
| Calls to landlines | £0.06 | £0.02 |
| Texts | £0.30 | £0.30 |
Call and text to France:
| International | Pay Monthly | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Calls to mobiles | £0.18 | £0.05 |
| Calls to landlines | £0.07 | £0.02 |
| Texts | £0.06 | £0.06 |
Call and text to China:
| International | Pay Monthly | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Calls to mobiles | £0.03 | £0.02 |
| Calls to landlines | £0.01 | £0.02 |
| Texts | £0.30 | £0.30 |
You can go to its International Calling page to check rate of calling different countries from UK.
International Roaming Service
ID Mobile phone card also provides international roaming service when you use your phone abroad.
You can use your phone card allowances to roam like at home in 50 destinations across the EU and beyond. The minutes, texts and data you use will be deducted from your standard monthly allowances.
The 50 inclusive EU roaming destinations include
Band 1 – Austria, Azores, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Vatican City.
Band 2 – Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Kazakhstan.
You can enable international roaming feature via iD Mobile app or My Account online under ‘My extras.
Using your ID Mobile SIM card in other countries is likely to cost significantly more. Outside of the EU, most regions do not have exorbitant prices. In Australia or the United States, for example, calls will cost £1.68 per minute and calls would cost £1.50, while texts will cost 42p.
For more rate details you can check ID Mobile Roaming Charges on its website.
Data, on the other hand, is only 30p per megabyte, compared to £5 on some other networks. EE, Vodafone, and O2 can work out cheaper worldwide if you buy a £5 or £6 daily add-on, while Three offers free roaming to a wider selection of countries than ID Mobile. For frequent travelers, ID Mobile isn’t the greatest option.
ID Mobile Customer Service
Customer service experiences can vary, and there have been some mixed reviews regarding ID Mobile’s customer service. While some customers have reported positive interactions, others have mentioned delays or difficulties in resolving issues. It’s advisable to consider customer reviews and gather more information to make an informed decision.
You can contact ID Mobile customer service in many ways:
- Call 7777 from your iD phone or 0333 003 7777
- Live Chat (9am – 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm Saturday, Sunday and holidays)
- iD Community (24/7)
You can also find some solutions to your questions on its Help＆Support section.
It’s difficult to gauge how satisfied ID Mobile clients are with their service. This is due to the fact that qualitative network assessments in the UK only focuses on the biggest providers, such as Vodafone, O2, Three, and EE.
However, if Trust Pilot review rankings are any indication, ID Mobile users appear to be rather pleased with their service. ID Mobile has a 4.0-star rating. Three (1.6 stars), Vodafone (4.0 stars), and O2 (1.2 stars) are all in the same league (1.4 stars).
What are the alternatives to iD Mobile?
FAQs
ID Mobile is a reliable and cost-effective network. Its main advantages are its affordable costs and the extras you get with the plans, such as data rollover, 4G and Wi-Fi calling. If any of those things are crucial to you, there are only a few networks that can meet your needs.
Is id a good network? Well, ID uses Three‘s network, which provides both advantages and disadvantages. You should definitely check out ID’s coverage checker to see if you’ll be able to receive a solid data and call signal in your location.
For 3G and 4G signal in metropolitan areas, you won’t notice much of a difference between ID and other networks. However, their phone signal isn’t perfect for interior calls.
The major flaw is that their service, particularly 4G, can be spotty in rural areas. Depending on your location in relation to their towers, you may find yourself on 3G more frequently than on other networks.
It’s easy to cancel your ID cell phone plans. You can cancel it via iD Mobile app or go to the ‘My account’ page, and on the ‘Manage my plan’, click ‘End my plan’.
Many people ask how is id mobile so cheap. Well, ID mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) , It offers cheaper rates for a few main reasons:
1. It doesn’t own and maintain network.
2. It spends less on marketing and no physical stores.
3. It doesn’t offer some of the perks you can get from the Big Four carriers – for example, music streaming.
What network does ID Mobile run on? Well, ID Mobile runs on the Three network. iD Mobile is a virtual provider, which means it uses the infrastructure of another carrier. For ID Mobile, it supports Three`s 3G and 4G networks.
Yes, iD Mobile allows you to tether with as much data as your plan offers – up to unlimited if you’re on a Unlimited Data Plan. You can always to share your data with other devices via hotspot.
Yes, iD Mobile is a 5G network as of recently. However, it is doing it gradually, initially only giving it on a few handsets and SIM-only plans before expanding to everyone.
iD Mobile was one of the last carriers to launch 5G, with the four major carriers – Three, EE, O2, and Vodafone – and a handful of other MVNOs ahead of them.
Although the network does not provide a student discount, it does have some amazing ID Mobile deals on its pay monthly and SIM-Only Plans.
iD Mobile Review Verdict
ID Mobile is a reliable and cost-effective network. Its main advantages are its affordable costs and the extras you get with the plans, such as rolled over data and 4G and Wi-Fi calling. If any of those things are crucial to you, there are only a few networks that can meet your needs.
Overall, it’s a good network, especially now that it offers unlimited data and 5G, but anyone intending to travel outside of Europe should look elsewhere.
This is a solid value network that doesn’t provide many extras but keeps pricing low and offers a reasonable selection of long-term mobile contracts and SIM plans.
You won’t be able to get your hands on the most recent iPhone or Google device here. However, if you’re OK with a mid-range phone from Huawei or Alcatel, you should be able to find a plan that suits your needs. Heavy data users should probably go elsewhere, while light to medium bandwidth users are sufficiently supplied for.
Customers should not have any severe coverage issues with ID Mobile because it is powered by the Three network. There’s a lot to be said for keeping things simple in a crowded and often confusing smartphone market.