Tesco Mobile Unlimited Data Plans Review 2021 – 5G & 4G Plans with O2 Coverage

Under normal circumstances, we’d be reviewing Tesco Mobile’s 4G and 5G Unlimited Data plans separately, but in this case there’s no need. The only difference between these two plans is you get 5G coverage and data speeds with one & 4G only with the other. That’s really it. All the benefits, extras, perks, allowances, the length of contract and even the pricing are exactly the same.

Tesco Mobile’s unlimited data plans come with 5000 UK minutes & 5000 UK texts. They’re 12-month contracts, so you’ll have to pass a credit check first. Tesco Mobile offers truly unlimited data, meaning you don’t have to worry about a fair usage limit and paying for extra data. There are no speed limits either, unlike giffgaff’s Always-On unlimited data plan.

Tesco dubs their roaming scheme as ‘Home From Home’ and allows you to use your UK allowances in 48 destinations across Europe. Tesco Mobile unlimited data plans are subject to a fair usage limit though. The fair usage limit is 15GB of data in the Republic of Ireland and up to 23.2GB while roaming in the EU.

You’re allowed to tether freely with your plan, but again, outside the UK you are limited by the 23GB data allowance Tesco offers. This can be burnt through pretty quickly if you’re tethering to multiple devices. Keep in mind how much mobile data you use on a monthly basis whilst abroad to avoid any unnecessary charges.

Unfortunately, Tesco Mobile doesn’t have Wi-Fi Calling or 4G Calling. These two features improve your overall voice call quality and connectivity, provided your smartphone supports them.

Tesco Mobile doesn’t have data rollover either, which can be a deal-breaker for a lot of UK mobile customers. Having said that, when you have unlimited data there’s no need for this feature. However, if you want to drop down to a lower data plan, it’s important to know what you get and don’t get in advance.

You can have up to 5 SIMs under one Tesco Mobile account and they can all be unlimited data plans. Additional lines don’t require a credit check. Tesco Mobile’s family mobile plans allow you to control all additional SIMs in one place, which is a big help when managing multiple SIM-only tariffs. You also get to choose a free Family Perk that lasts for 30 days and you can keep using the same perk every month or switch between others.

We’re not the biggest fans of Tesco Mobile’s unlimited data plans. Both options are priced at £30/month and sadly these plans don’t offer great value.

Three Unlimited Data Plan – £16/Month

As Half Cooked we partnered with Three to offer the cheapest unlimited data plan in the UK. It’s a 12-month contract that comes with unlimited UK minutes & texts, and it’s truly unlimited. There are no speed restrictions or data caps.

Three’s unlimited data plan also includes 5G at no extra cost, 4G Calling (a.k.a. Super Voice), Wi-Fi Calling, Three Go Roam that allows you to use your UK allowances in 71 destinations across the world, discounts for existing Three customers and more. You can read our Three Review to find out more.

SMARTY Unlimited Data Plan – £20/Month

SMARTY is a mobile virtual network operator owned and powered by Three. SMARTY offers a commitment-free unlimited data plan, meaning there are no credit checks to pass. Having said that, the carrier actually enforces a data cap. If you use more than 1TB (1000GB) of data you may be subject to surcharges.

SMARTY doesn’t have 5G yet, but they have Wi-Fi Calling as an extra feature and 4G Calling is on the way. You can read our SMARTY Review and discover all you need to know about the network.

VOXI Unlimited Data Plan – £35/Month

VOXI piggybacks on Vodafone’s 5G and 4G network offering lower prices with some great benefits such as Endless Video and Endless Social Media. Of course, their unlimited data plan already comes with these two perks. VOXI’s 5G is identical to Vodafone’s so you can expect a high quality service, but only when you are in range of a 5G mast and sadly 5G is available in 100 cities and towns at the moment.

The network’s unlimited data plan is priced at £35/month normally, but they regularly make discounts and you can get this deal for £30/month. VOXI requires no credit check, so you can downgrade to a cheaper plan if you want to. You can read our VOXI Review to learn everything you need to know about their deals, coverage and extras they offer.

Tesco Mobile’s unlimited data plans are priced right at the top end of the market, especially compared to many other great options out there. On top of that, both options are 12-month contracts, and you’d expect to see a discount when locking yourself into a long term SIM contract. Whilst pretty much all UK networks offer unlimited UK minutes and texts, Tesco Mobile limits their plans to 5000 for each.

You’ll be missing out on some key features like 4G Calling and Wi-Fi Calling too, and at £30 a month that’s a big miss. Unless you make full use of the exclusive Tesco benefits that come with the SIM, we recommend looking for other options.