Sky Mobile vs EE Mobile: Which is best?
Dan Howdle • October 4th, 2024
Both Sky Mobile and EE mobile are popular mobile providers in the UK. EE runs its own network whereas Sky piggybacks on the O2 network. Both offer 4G and 5G connectivity, and cover the vast majority of the country signal-wise. So how to choose between Sky Mobile and EE?
Both providers offer some good deals, but what about the specifics of pricing, coverage, speed, extras, and, importantly, customer service? We’ve taken a detailed look at what both providers have to offer to help you choose the one that’s best for you.
Price
Both EE and Sky Mobile offer new phones on contract as well as SIM-only deals. Whether you are looking for the best deal on a new iPhone 16 or Samsung Galaxy S24, or just a cheap SIM deal for your current handset, both providers have something to offer.
When it comes to contract length, EE offers you a choice of one month, 12 months, or 24 months. Typically, the longer your contract, the cheaper your data becomes. In comparison, Sky Mobile offers both 12-month contracts and more flexible one-month rolling plans with its SIM-only deals.
Sky Mobile offers a range of SIM-only deals starting from £6 per month for 2GB of data, with its most expensive option being unlimited data for £35. Other popular deals include 100GB for £14 per month (discounted from £28). In comparison, EE provides a variety of unlimited data deals, with the Unlimited Essentials plan starting at £23 per month for a 24-month contract, and larger data offerings like 100GB for £20 per month. However, EE’s smaller SIM-only plans, such as 25GB for £16 per month, tend to be more expensive than Sky's. If you're after unlimited data or high allowances, both providers offer competitive deals, but for smaller data needs, Sky Mobile offers more budget-friendly options.
If you're looking for a pay-as-you-go deal, EE offers several PAYG subscription packs, starting from £10 per month for 25GB of data. All PAYG packs come with unlimited texts and minutes, with data rollover included. EE's packs range from 25GB to unlimited data, with the most expensive plan costing £35 per month. You can also set your PAYG deal to renew automatically using direct card payments, which gives you a 10% discount on each renewal. Sky Mobile, on the other hand, does not currently offer any PAYG deals.
Data – speed and limits
When it comes to mobile speeds, EE leads the way. According to the latest research from industry analyst RootMetrics, EE boasts an impressive median download speed of 79.8Mbps, far ahead of its competitors. In comparison, O2 (Virgin Media O2) manages 68.7Mbps on average, reflecting a slower but improving network. These speeds represent a national average of both 4G and 5G performance combined.
If you're looking for fast download speeds and unlimited data, EE is a great option. EE offers several unlimited SIM-only deals, starting from £23 per month with speeds of up to 100Mbps. It also provides large data allowances, such as 100GB for £20 per month. These SIMs will keep you connected all month, even if you're a heavy user who enjoys streaming, gaming, or tethering.
In comparison, Sky Mobile offers a range of SIMs, including a 100GB option for £14 per month (discounted from £28 at the time of writing) and unlimited data for £35 per month. For lighter users, Sky also provides smaller, more affordable options, starting at £6 per month for 2GB.
For those who need larger data allowances, both providers offer great options. However, if you're looking for affordable smaller data allowances, Sky Mobile’s SIM-only deals may suit you best.
Network coverage
EE was the first provider to introduce 5G in the UK and continues to expand its 5G coverage. As of 2024, EE’s 5G is available in over 1,000 towns and cities across the UK, including both urban and rural areas. O2, which powers Sky Mobile, offers 5G in over 500 towns and cities, giving it a large footprint, but EE’s reach has now surpassed it.
For 4G coverage, both O2 and EE claim to cover 99% of the UK population, meaning you are unlikely to be without a signal in most areas, whether you’re using EE or Sky Mobile via O2’s network.
Customer service
According to communications regulator Ofcom’s latest report on telecoms customer service satisfaction, 14% of Sky Mobile customers had a reason to complain, compared to 12% for EE, against an average of 12% for the whole sector. Sky Mobile's average call waiting time was 1 minute and 51 seconds, while EE's was 3 minutes and 41 seconds.
Sky Mobile had an overall service satisfaction of 88%, and EE achieved 87%, with Tesco Mobile leading at 95%. EE received 6 complaints per 100,000 customers, and Sky Mobile received 5.
Benefits and features
EE gives you plenty of great extras, called 'Inclusive Extras' (previously called Smart Benefits), depending on the plan you choose. With the All Rounder and Full Works plans, you can pick from options like Apple Music, Apple TV+, Netflix, Google One, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, or TNT Sports on discovery+. These extras come at no extra cost, and with the Full Works plan, you can even pick more than one. If you love to travel, the Roam Abroad Pass is a great option, letting you use your data, minutes, and texts abroad just like at home in countries like the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and across the EU.
If you sign up for EE broadband alongside your mobile plan, you’ll also get an extra 5GB of mobile data each month at no additional cost.
Sky Mobile may offer fewer extras, but it has some handy perks too. You can roll over any unused data for up to three years with the Sky Piggybank, giving you flexibility. You can also switch your data allowance month-to-month, depending on what you need. And if you're already a Sky TV customer, you can stream Sky apps without using any of your mobile data.
Going overseas
Both EE and Sky Mobile offer flexible roaming options for using your phone abroad, but the details differ depending on which provider and type of plan you choose.
With EE, if you're on an All Rounder or Full Works plan, you can add the Roam Abroad pass. This allows you to use your UK data, minutes, and texts in countries like the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and most European destinations without any additional charges. If you're on another plan, you can add the pass for £10 per month. Alternatively, for shorter stays, you can pay £2 per day to access your UK allowances abroad.
Sky Mobile offers its Roaming Passport Plus, which automatically charges you £2 per day when you’re in one of over 55 destinations, including Europe, the USA, and Australia. There's no need to activate it; roaming will automatically kick in when you're in a covered country. However, make sure to check whether your destination is included to avoid unexpected charges.
Conclusion
When it comes to download speed, EE is still quite a ways ahead of the other networks – including O2, which is used by Sky Mobile – so if this is important to you, then EE is your best option. In terms of coverage, both Sky Mobile and EE offer 99+ per cent UK coverage with 4G, with EE also leading the way when it comes to 5G.
EE offers decent range of deals to suit most people, but it is pricey in our opinion. In contrast, Sky Mobile offers smaller data plans at a very low cost, and no pay-as-you-go packs, although, like EE, it does offer all the latest handsets.
Both providers do pretty well when it comes to customer service, but if you travel frequently or are going away for a long time, EE is your best bet with its Roam Abroad option offering better value than Sky’s Roaming Passport. EE also offers better extras than Sky, albeit at a cost.
Though somewhat pricey, EE wins this battle, with its unlimited data deals, pay-as-you-go options, faster download speeds and valuable benefits and add-ons. However, if you just want a well-priced, modest data deal and maybe already have a Sky TV plan that you would like to watch on the go without using your data, Sky Mobile is a great option too.
