Tesco Mobile uses the O2 network, giving it excellent UK coverage and access to 4G and 5G in most places. In this review we’ll look at signal strength, data speeds, pricing, customer service, and more to answer: Is Tesco Mobile any good? We’ll draw on independent tests, user reviews (Trustpilot, Reddit, etc.) and official sources. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of Tesco Mobile’s pros and cons and how it performs at home and abroad.
Tesco Mobile Network Review: Coverage and Signal Quality
Tesco Mobile rides on O2’s network, so it has coverage in 99% of the UK population. This means Tesco Mobile gives you virtually the same signal as O2. In practice, calls and texts work well almost everywhere: Ofcom data shows Tesco’s coverage is “identical to its hosts” on 2G/3G/4G, making it one of the best for basic signal. Its network is ranked joint‑second largest in the UK. In fact, independent reports highlight how Tesco Mobile has the highest satisfaction for signal of any UK network – about 92% of customers are happy with reception. Real‑world users say rural and indoor signal is strong thanks to O2’s extensive network and good building penetration.
That said, Tesco’s coverage isn’t flawless. Like all networks, it can dip in very remote areas or deep indoors. Some users have complained about dead spots in homes and rural locations (e.g. one Trustpilot reviewer noted “quite unreliable” in some places). Forums like Reddit and Mumsnet echo this: most people get decent signal, but a few post about patchy coverage in weaker areas. Overall, if you mostly live in towns or suburbs, you should be satisfied. If you’re in a known weak spot, check Tesco’s coverage map before signing up.
On the London Underground and public transit, Tesco Mobile has gradually expanded. It already covers parts of the Tube (Central, Jubilee, Northern lines) and will add more by 2025. This means calls and data can work on many underground journeys, a plus for commuters.
Key takeaway: Tesco Mobile’s network is solid in most of the UK thanks to O2. Coverage is excellent for voice and basic data. You should experience full 4G/5G in towns and cities and widespread 2G/3G for calls. Only in the very far-flung corners might the signal drop off. As one reviewer put it, Tesco “does the job” with O2’s network.
Data Speeds and Performance
Coverage is only part of the picture – data speed matters too. Here, Tesco Mobile is good for everyday use but not the fastest. In lab tests by SIM Sherpa, Tesco Mobile’s average 4G speed was only about 16–20 Mbps. In cities they saw peaks around 95 Mbps, but in rural tests speeds sometimes fell to just 5 Mbps. This matches third‑party results (Opensignal measured ~16.8 Mbps on average). In short, Tesco Mobile (i.e. O2’s network) delivered the lowest 4G speeds among UK providers in recent surveys.
5G data is better but still not class‑leading. SIM Sherpa found typical 5G speeds of about 80–85 Mbps (with peaks up to ~230 Mbps). That’s solid but below what EE or Three often deliver. In practice, most users find Tesco’s speeds sufficient for browsing, video streaming and social media. As one Redditor said, Tesco’s 5G “does the job” for usual needs. But if you’re a heavy gamer or need multi‑gigabit downloads, note that competitors (EE, Vodafone) can be much faster.
It’s also worth noting Tesco has no speed caps on contracts, unlike some budget networks. So you can use as much data as your plan allows. And all Tesco plans now include 5G at no extra charge, provided you have a 5G‑capable phone.
Wi-Fi and 4G Calling
For spotty indoor signal, Tesco Mobile has adopted Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling (VoLTE). This lets you make calls and texts over your home or office Wi-Fi. Users report call quality is very good, and Tesco even lets you switch a call from Wi-Fi to 4G seamlessly.
However, these features are still rolling out. While many Android and Apple phones will get Wi-Fi/VoLTE support now, some older Android models may not yet be compatible. Tesco has no great advantage or disadvantage here – it offers the same basic calling over Wi-Fi as its host network O2.
Bottom line: Indoor coverage is already strong, and Wi-Fi Calling is in place to cover any remaining gaps. There’s no extra charge. This is a plus for improving signal in basements or buildings.
International Roaming: Is Tesco Mobile Good Abroad?
If you travel in Europe, roaming policy matters. Currently, Tesco Mobile includes free EU roaming: customers can use their UK allowances in 48 European countries at no extra cost. In practice, that means you roam on local networks as if at home. Many users say they’ve never had trouble abroad – a Reddit user reports he’s visited “various places in Europe” and always connects locally for no extra charge. So today, Tesco is good value for holiday data in Europe.
There is a caveat: Tesco has announced it will scrap free EU roaming starting 2026. Plans bought now may still have roaming, but new contracts after 2026 will add charges. So depending on your travel habits, this may change soon.
For worldwide roaming (outside EU), Tesco offers standard pay‑per‑use rates or add‑on passes. This is similar to other networks – not included in basic plans. Check Tesco’s site for the latest rates, or use Wi-Fi calling to avoid charges when far away.
Pricing, Plans and Perks
Tesco Mobile is known for value. Its SIM-only plans start around £7.50/month for 2GB (12 or 24 month deals). Unlimited data plans are roughly £30/month, which is competitive. Pay-As-You-Go options and phone contracts (12–36 months) are also available with a wide range of data allowances.
Importantly, every pay-monthly plan comes with 5G access and European roaming (as noted). Unlike some networks, Tesco doesn’t charge extra for these. You also earn Clubcard points on your phone bill – typically a few pence back for each £1 spent, which you can use on groceries or pay bills. This Clubcard reward is one of Tesco’s standout perks.
Tesco also offers guaranteed pricing and flexibility. Your plan’s price is fixed (Clubcard Prices) for your contract term. There are no surprise mid-contract hikes. You get the usual UK calling/text allowances, and data rollover or tethering (using your data as a hotspot) is allowed even on unlimited plans. There’s no free data rollover or special extras like data gifting.
On customer support: Tesco’s in-store and phone service is generally praised. Their own site notes they won “Best Mobile Network for Customer Service” at recent awards and have very high customer satisfaction. Ofcom data backs this up: Tesco Mobile has the fewest customer complaints of any network – just 1 complaint per 100,000 customers (industry avg is 4). In plain terms, that suggests Tesco resolves issues well and keeps customers happy. Indeed, independent surveys find about 95% of Tesco customers satisfied overall.
On the flip side, Tesco’s extra features are basic. There’s no eSIM support yet, and no visual voicemail or call forwarding. Also, you won’t find an O2 Priority rewards programme. If special loyalty perks matter, Tesco doesn’t offer them (you only get Clubcard points). Some users also report Tesco’s online sales process can be frustrating – e.g. checkout issues and limited payment options. It’s a smaller budget MVNO, so service is friendly but simpler than big operators.
Customer Reviews and Complaints
What do real customers say? On Trustpilot, Tesco Mobile holds an “Excellent” average score. (Over 67,000 reviews give it about 4.3–4.5 stars). Most reviews praise the helpful store staff and ease of switching or upgrading phones. Customers often say the website and app are user-friendly. Negative feedback is rarer but notable: some complain about network reliability and missing signal in certain areas. A few reviews mention problems with SIM activation or billing glitches.
On forums, opinions vary. On Reddit, one user warns Tesco Mobile’s O2-based 5G can be “dogshit” in speed and another calls it “the slowest and most unreliable network”. Others counter that in their experience “it works” and that the coverage improvement outweighs speed concerns. There are also niche complaints: for example, Tesco (via O2) currently does not support SMS delivery reports, which some users find annoying.
In summary, user feedback generally highlights excellent customer service but a mixed bag on network: many are satisfied, but some do report signal or speed issues in fringe areas. This aligns with our findings above. If you browse Tesco Mobile reviews on Trustpilot or Reddit (“Tesco mobile network review reddit”), you’ll see mostly positive experiences with occasional grumbles about coverage or billing.
Tesco Mobile vs TalkMobile
Some budget shoppers compare Tesco Mobile to TalkMobile, another UK MVNO. TalkMobile runs on Vodafone’s network (unlike Tesco’s O2). The key differences:
- Network: Tesco (O2) has 99% 4G coverage including 5G. TalkMobile (Vodafone) also has high coverage, but currently no 5G option. So Tesco is ahead in network generation.
- Speed: Both are value providers, but Tesco’s O2 network may be slower on average than Vodafone’s. However, the real speed difference is minor for casual users.
- Plans: TalkMobile often advertises cheap SIM plans (especially unlimited on PAYG). Tesco’s plans can be cheaper once you factor Clubcard points and fixed pricing.
- Additional Features: Neither support eSIM or Wi-Fi calling at present on TalkMobile; Tesco at least has Wi-Fi calling available.
Reviews of TalkMobile (on Trustpilot or forums) often note it’s simple and affordable but quite bare-bones. Tesco Mobile typically gets higher satisfaction (O2’s network vs Vodafone’s) and more perks (Clubcard). In short, if asked “TalkMobile vs Tesco Mobile – which is better?”, many would choose Tesco for its 5G, Clubcard points and customer service.
Tesco Mobile Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Good value plans and very competitive prices.
- Free 5G and EU roaming on all plans.
- Broad UK coverage (O2 network) – 99% population coverage.
- Excellent customer satisfaction (top marks in Ofcom surveys, ~95% happy with service).
- Earn Clubcard points on phone bills for extra savings.
- Lowest industry complaint rate (just 1 per 100k customers).
Cons:
- Data speeds can be slower than EE/Vodafone/Three networks.
- Planned end to free EU roaming in 2026 (only a temporary benefit now).
- Fewer extras: no O2 Priority app, no bundling with broadband/TV, no eSIM, call forwarding or visual voicemail.
- Wi-Fi calling/VoLTE support is still rolling out and may not work on older phones.
- Some users report occasional SIM activation or billing hassles (see Trustpilot).
Considering all this, Tesco Mobile is a solid mid-range provider: great on core network coverage and value, but without bells and whistles.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our Tesco Mobile Network Review finds that Tesco Mobile is a dependable and cost-effective mobile provider for most UK customers. It provides excellent coverage in line with O2’s network, competitive pricing (plus Clubcard rewards), and free 5G/roaming perks on its plans. Its main downsides are modest data speeds and a lack of advanced features. Real user feedback (via Trustpilot, Reddit, etc.) confirms these strengths and weaknesses.
Overall, Tesco Mobile delivers on the essentials: reliable calls, decent data, and friendly support. For value‑minded users – especially Tesco shoppers who can make the most of Clubcard points – it’s a strong choice. However, if you need the absolute fastest network or fancy extras, you might look at premium networks instead. In a nutshell, Tesco Mobile accomplishes what it sets out to do: give you a cheap, “supermarket mobile” service on a big network.