Is Vodafone any good? Yes, for most people. Vodafone was one of the least complained-about pay-monthly mobile networks in Ofcom’s latest figures, its 5G is quick where you can get it, and right now its SIM only plans are unusually cheap through cashback deals: 120GB for £14 a month, which works out at £5.46 a month once you claim £120 back. The catch is coverage. Independent tests still put EE ahead on reliability and Vodafone behind on how often you actually get 5G, so check your postcode before you sign.
Last updated: 10 November 2026. Prices were checked on Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026; network data comes from Opensignal (January 2026) and RootMetrics (first half of 2026); complaints data comes from Ofcom (published 26 October 2026).
Vodafone review: the verdict in brief
What we looked at | How Vodafone does | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
Customer service | Among the fewest pay-monthly mobile complaints to Ofcom, April to June 2026 | Problems are less likely to turn into a fight |
Speed | 37.5Mbps average download across 4G and 5G; 130.9Mbps on 5G (Opensignal) | Fine for streaming and video calls; fast on 5G |
5G reach | 29.6% 5G availability, fourth of four (Opensignal) | You will spend more time on 4G than EE or O2 users |
City tests | Overall score 88.4 out of 100; 174.4Mbps median 5G download (RootMetrics H1 2026) | Strong in big cities, second to EE on 5G speed |
Price | 120GB for £14 a month, £5.46 a month after £120 cashback (12 months) | The lowest average of any Vodafone 5G 12-month plan on Mobiles.co.uk when we checked |
Price rises | Set in pounds: £14 becomes £16.50 from 1 April 2027 | You know the exact rise before you sign |
Vodafone 120GB SIM only — £14 a month, £5.46 after cashback
- 120GB of 5G data with unlimited minutes and texts on a 12-month plan, as shown on Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026
- £120 cashback by redemption brings the year to £65.50 in total; £16.50 a month from 1 April 2027
- Main limitation: the cashback has to be claimed, it is not taken off your bill
We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Who Vodafone suits, and who should look elsewhere
Vodafone makes the most sense if you live or work in a town or city with decent Vodafone coverage, you use a lot of data, and you are happy to claim cashback to get the best price. It also suits anyone who has had a bad run with customer service elsewhere, because Vodafone sat in Ofcom’s best group for pay-monthly mobile complaints in April to June 2026.
Good fit: heavy data users in cities, people who want a big network with shops on the high street, and anyone who likes knowing their price rise in advance.
Think twice: if you are rural and your current network works well, if you rely on 5G everywhere, or if you know you will forget to claim cashback.
Already with Vodafone? Do not just accept your renewal price. Our Vodafone deals for existing customers guide shows the upgrade plans that come with cashback.
Vodafone network coverage and speed
Two independent studies are worth knowing. They measure different things, so it helps to read them side by side.
Opensignal: everyday experience across the UK
Opensignal’s January 2026 UK Mobile Network Experience report uses data from real phones between 1 October and 29 December 2025. EE won 11 awards, Three led on 5G speed and O2 led on overall coverage. Vodafone did not win an award outright, but its numbers are not bad. Its 5G download speed of 130.9Mbps was second only to Three, and it came second to EE for mobile gaming.
Opensignal measure (Oct–Dec 2025) | EE | Three | Vodafone | O2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Download speed, all connections | 53.2Mbps | 51Mbps | 37.5Mbps | 32.8Mbps |
Download speed on 5G | 92.2Mbps | 187Mbps | 130.9Mbps | 89.9Mbps |
Upload speed, all connections | 10.4Mbps | 9.3Mbps | 7.4Mbps | 6.4Mbps |
Time with a signal | 99% | 99.4% | 97% | 98% |
5G availability | 77.4% | 38.9% | 29.6% | 57% |
Video experience (out of 100) | 69.9 | 69.3 | 68.3 | 66.3 |
The 5G availability figure is the one to watch. It measures how often people saw a 5G signal at all, and Vodafone came last at 29.6%. These speed and availability figures come from Opensignal, as summarised by ISPreview.
RootMetrics: drive and walk tests in 16 cities
RootMetrics ran more than 609,000 tests between January and June 2026 in 16 of the UK’s largest metro areas. As ISPreview reported, EE topped every category again, with an overall score of 95.6. Three scored 89.5, Vodafone 88.4 and O2 84.1. Every network improved on a year earlier.
RootMetrics H1 2026 | EE | Vodafone | Three | O2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall score (out of 100) | 95.6 | 88.4 | 89.5 | 84.1 |
Median download speed | 130.3Mbps | 54Mbps | 48.1Mbps | 54.7Mbps |
Median 5G download speed | 230.8Mbps | 174.4Mbps | 158.9Mbps | 117.3Mbps |
5G availability (cities) | 80% | 62.3% | 62.6% | 78% |
Put simply: in big cities Vodafone is a solid second-tier network with fast 5G. Across the whole country, its 5G is harder to find than EE’s or O2’s. RootMetrics only tests large urban areas, so it says little about rural signal.
What the Vodafone and Three merger means
Vodafone and Three merged in 2025 to form VodafoneThree, but they still run as separate brands and the two networks are being joined up over time. Opensignal still measures them separately because people on each network get different results. Over the next few years, Vodafone customers should gain from Three’s extra 5G capacity, but that is a promise for the future, not something to pay for today.
Tip: check the coverage map at your home and work postcodes, and ask someone nearby on Vodafone how their signal is indoors. That tells you more than any national average.
Customer service: what Ofcom’s complaints data shows
Ofcom publishes how many complaints it gets about each provider every quarter. In its figures for April to June 2026, published on 26 October 2026, EE, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Three, Vodafone and iD Mobile generated the fewest pay-monthly mobile complaints. O2 and Sky Mobile generated the most.
Vodafone’s broadband is a different story. In the same report Vodafone was among the most complained-about broadband providers, alongside BT, EE and TalkTalk, although its complaints fell from the quarter before. If you are thinking about a mobile and broadband bundle, judge the two halves separately.
Vodafone SIM only prices in November 2026
Buying a Vodafone SIM direct is not usually the cheapest way. Retailers such as Mobiles.co.uk sell the same Vodafone plans, on the same network, with cashback on top. Here are the main 12 and 24-month plans as shown on Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026.
Plan | Monthly price | Rise from 1 April 2027 | Cashback | Total after cashback | Average a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
120GB 5G, 12 months | £14 | £16.50 | £120 by redemption | £65.50 | £5.46 |
70GB 5G, 12 months | £12 | £14.50 | £96 by redemption | £65.50 | £5.46 |
200GB 5G, 12 months | £16 | £18.50 | £132 by redemption | £77.50 | £6.46 |
50GB 4G Basics, 12 months | £8 | £9.50 | £48 by redemption | £58.50 | £4.88 |
120GB 5G, 24 months | £13 | £15.50, then £18 from April 2028 | £192 by redemption | £185 | £7.71 |
Unlimited 5G, 24 months | £26 | £28.50, then £31 from April 2028 | £264 by redemption | £425 | £17.71 |
Several of these plans carry a Black Friday label on Mobiles.co.uk. The 12-month 120GB plan is the stand-out: £185.50 over the year before cashback, £65.50 after it. That works out at £5.46 a month for 120GB of 5G data.
How the cashback works
Order the plan and keep a note of your order number.
Wait for the claim windows. On the 120GB plan the £120 comes as five claims of £24 across the year, each made with a copy of your Vodafone bill.
Set calendar reminders. Miss a window and you lose that payment.
Keep paying the monthly price in full. The cashback is paid back to you, not taken off the bill.
If that sounds like too much admin, there are automatic cashback versions too. The 70GB 12-month plan with £55 automatic cashback averages £8.88 a month. You pay more, but you do not have to do anything.
Price rises: what you will pay from April 2027
Since 17 January 2025, Ofcom has banned phone and broadband providers from using inflation-linked or percentage price rises in new contracts. Rises have to be shown in pounds and pence when you sign, which is why every plan above shows its April 2027 price. Ofcom explains the rules here.
On Vodafone’s 12-month plans the rise is £2.50 a month. If you start a 12-month plan in November 2026, you pay the higher price for the last seven months, which adds £17.50. That is already included in the £185.50 total for the 120GB plan.
Vodafone extras worth knowing about
EU roaming: some plans include Euro Roaming, others charge a daily fee. Check the plan details before you travel.
VeryMe Rewards: Vodafone’s app gives customers free treats and discounts.
Wi-Fi calling and eSIM: supported on most recent handsets, which helps where indoor signal is weak.
Multi-SIM: your SIM arrives in a 3-in-1 card, so it fits any phone.
Vodafone vs EE, O2 and Three
Network | Best at | Weak spot | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Vodafone | Cheap big-data plans with cashback; fast city 5G | Lowest 5G availability in Opensignal’s report | City users who want lots of data cheaply |
EE | Reliability, speed and 5G coverage | Plans usually cost more than on the other networks’ cheapest deals | People who need the best signal everywhere |
O2 | Overall coverage | Most complaints in Ofcom’s mobile figures | Rural users where O2 is strong |
Three | 5G speed | Weakest coverage score in Opensignal’s report | Heavy 5G users in covered areas |
If you like Vodafone’s network but want no contract, VOXI runs on Vodafone. If you are weighing up Three, see our Three mobile review.
Already with Vodafone? 120GB upgrade — £14 a month, £120 cashback
- Vodafone upgrade plan for existing customers: 120GB of 5G data, unlimited minutes and texts, 12 months, as shown on Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026
- £185.50 for the year, or £65.50 after £120 cashback by redemption; £16.50 a month from 1 April 2027
- Main limitation: you must be an existing Vodafone pay-monthly customer to upgrade on this plan
How to switch to Vodafone and keep your number
Text PAC to 65075 on your current network. You will get your PAC code by text straight away, along with any end-of-contract charges.
Order your Vodafone SIM and enter the PAC at checkout, or give it when your SIM arrives.
Your number moves across within one working day of the request, and you should not lose service for more than a short time.
You do not need to give your old network 30 days’ notice. Your old contract ends when the number moves.
Check whether you are still in a minimum term first. Leaving early usually means paying the remaining months.
Pros and cons of Vodafone
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Among the fewest mobile complaints to Ofcom | 5G is harder to find than on EE or O2 |
Very cheap big-data plans through cashback | Best prices need cashback claims |
Fast 5G speeds where available | Broadband service record is weaker |
Price rises fixed in pounds up front | Rural coverage varies a lot by area |
Check Vodafone 120GB at £5.46 a month after cashback
- 120GB, 12 months, £14 a month (£16.50 from 1 April 2027), as shown on Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026
- £120 cashback by redemption across five claims
- Check the plan, price and cashback terms in your basket before you pay
FAQ
Is Vodafone a good network?
For most people, yes. Vodafone was among the least complained-about pay-monthly mobile networks in Ofcom’s April to June 2026 figures and scored 88.4 out of 100 in RootMetrics’ city tests. Its weak spot is 5G availability, where Opensignal placed it last of the four networks.
Is Vodafone better than EE?
Not on network performance. EE won 11 Opensignal awards and topped every RootMetrics category. Vodafone is usually cheaper, though, especially with cashback, so it can be better value if Vodafone’s signal is good where you live.
How much is Vodafone SIM only in November 2026?
Through Mobiles.co.uk on 10 November 2026, 120GB was £14 a month on a 12-month plan, or £5.46 a month on average after £120 cashback by redemption. A 50GB 4G plan was £8 a month.
Will my Vodafone price go up?
Yes, by a fixed amount. Every plan shows its rise in pounds. On the 12-month 120GB plan, £14 becomes £16.50 from 1 April 2027.
Is Vodafone the same as Three now?
Not for customers. Vodafone and Three merged in 2025 to form VodafoneThree, but they still sell separate plans and run networks that are being joined up over time.
How do I leave Vodafone?
Text PAC to 65075 to get your code, then give it to your new network. If you are in your minimum term you may have to pay early exit charges, which the reply text will show.
Does VOXI use the Vodafone network?
Yes. VOXI is owned by Vodafone and runs on its network, so coverage is the same.
Sources: Opensignal, United Kingdom Mobile Network Experience Report, January 2026; ISPreview, RootMetrics H1 2026 results, August 2026; Ofcom, Latest telecoms and pay-TV complaints revealed, 26 October 2026; Ofcom, Telecoms price rises: what are your rights?. Plan prices from Mobiles.co.uk, checked 10 November 2026.
