The Best UK Networks for 4G Calling in 2021

Three’s 4G Calling (known as Super-Voice to Three customers) is available on all deals be it pay monthly or PAYG. Out of the four major mobile networks in the UK, Three is the only one allowing all their customers to benefit from this scheme. The network says your device must be bought directly from Three for the scheme to work properly, but devices bought from elsewhere are likely to work too. Three was also the first operator to launch 4G Calling in the country.

EE has the best 4G network coverage in the UK and it’s also the leading carrier when it comes to 2G, 3G and even 5G. This means you’re already pretty much covered, however, even your indoor blackspots where you normally don’t get any phone signal might get reception with EE’s 4G Calling. The network only allows pay monthly customers to benefit from 4G calling. The network also recommends you to buy your device directly from an EE Store, otherwise the feature may not fully work.

O2’s 4G Calling is a great feature and it works particularly well with the network’s Wi-Fi Calling feature thanks to O2’s WiFi Extra scheme. Sadly, only pay monthly plans support the 4G Calling feature. Just like all the other networks, O2 strongly recommends you to get your devices directly from one of its stores, as they can’t guarantee the feature will work when devices are purchased elsewhere.

With Vodafone’s 4G Calling instead of dropping to 2G or 3G, you’ll keep your phone 4G-connected when making a phone call. Thanks to this scheme you’ll get HD-quality audio, meanwhile you’ll be able to carry on using apps, streaming and downloading. The network offers a great service and it has the second best 4G coverage in the UK. However, the feature is exclusive to Red, Red Entertainment, Unlimited and Unlimited Entertainment tariffs. Pay monthly ‘basics plans’ and PAYG deals don’t come with 4G Calling. Vodafone says you should get your device directly from their stores or else you might run into some problems using the network’s 4G Calling/VoLTE scheme.

BT Mobile is one of the three MVNOs (mobile virtual network) with a 4G Calling feature and the network does it right. It’s powered by EE, but BT’s 4G Calling might be slightly better. They actually offer the same network coverage and this feature works identical on both carriers, but BT has over 5 million UK Wi-Fi hotspots. This is important, because 4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling go hand to hand and with millions of hotspots BT offers a better Wi-Fi Calling service. At the end of the day, if you’re on BT Mobile you’ll have more blackspots covered.

iD Mobile is another mobile virtual network with 4G Calling and it’s powered by Three. The network’s 4G Calling works quite well when combined with Wi-Fi Calling. iD Mobile also offers a wallet friendly, monthly rolling unlimited deal as well as the cheapest SIM Only plan in the UK. However, the latter is a time limited deal. Given how the network piggybacks on Three, the service quality should also be identical.

4G Calling works on all Sky Mobile plans, but the network only offers four tariffs to begin with. Sky says even if you bought your phone from another store 4G Calling will work, however you may need to update it for all features to work properly. Currently the network supports the least number of devices, but some Sky Mobile customers report that devices which aren’t on the list are utilising the network’s 4G Calling feature.

Most mobile virtual network operators will skip 4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling to offer more competitive prices than their parent networks. Some notable MVNOs like SMARTY, VOXI, giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Plusnet don’t offer these two features. Virgin Mobile is also missing on 4G Calling, but the carrier at least offers Wi-Fi Calling.

We still think you should give them a look before you make your final decision, as they offer some other great schemes like money back on your next bill by SMARTY or endless social media by VOXI.