Asda Mobile review 2024: Is it any good?
Dan Howdle • October 4th, 2024
Asda Mobile has carved out a niche for itself as an affordable, no-frills provider, offering PAYG and pay monthly SIM-only plans on a budget, while also leaning more towards a more affordable line-up of pay-monthly handsets you can either pay for up-front, or across the length of your contract.
Asda Mobile operates on the Vodafone network, so shares its coverage and signal quality. Let's take a look at the ins and outs of what Asda Mobile offers and find out if it's any good.
Tariffs & plans
Asda Mobile gives you plenty of flexibility with SIM-only bundles, traditional PAYG, and even pay monthly handset plans. You can order a free SIM, pick a bundle that suits your needs for minutes, texts, and data, or simply top up your PAYG SIM if that's the type of deal you need.
Asda Mobile bundles are split into two types: Standard bundles and Unlimited data bundles. Whichever one you choose, you’ll get unlimited calls and texts. Standard bundles range from 3GB to 60GB of data, and all plans come with 5G at no extra cost. If you go for one of the Unlimited Data bundles, you can pick speeds of 2Mbps, 10Mbps, or 150Mbps, all 5G-ready. Asda is the only provider we know of that offers a choice of speed and the option to save money if you're happy to go a little slower.
If you’re after a more contract-like experience, you can set up a recurring monthly payment for your bundles. Every Asda Mobile SIM is on a one-month rolling contract, meaning you can switch bundles or cancel whenever you like, with no long-term commitment.
Asda Mobile also offers pay monthly handset plans. As with most providers, these allow you to spread the cost of your new phone over a given period, while paying for an additional airtime plan with Asda. There is just about every popular phone available at Asda Mobile, including flagship models like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, or the Apple iPhone 16, but also a wide variety of more budget-friendly options.
If PAYG is more your style, you can still order a free SIM and top it up as needed. Calls cost just 4p per minute, texts are 4p each, and data is 4p per MB. Voicemail costs 4p per minute, and picture messaging is 25p per message. Topping up is easy – you can do it over the phone, by text, using a top-up card, or in-store at any Asda supermarket. If you want to top up by phone or text, you’ll need to register your credit or debit card first.
Phone & device range
Asda Mobile offers a wide range of handsets, from the latest flagship devices to more budget-friendly models. Flagship phones like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Samsung Z Fold6 are available for those looking for cutting-edge technology. But for those on a budget, Asda Mobile also stocks brands such as Motorola, Nokia, and Doro, and includes some dumbphones for those who just need a phone and not a pocket computer.
You can choose to buy your phone outright or spread the cost over 12, 24, or 36 months. With no long-term contract commitments, Asda Mobile’s pay monthly plans operate on a 30-day rolling basis, meaning you can cancel or switch plans at any time without any penalties.
For many handsets, no upfront payment is required – something fairly unique! Asda Mobile's handset deals are well priced, especially when paired with Asda's affordable SIM-only bundles,
Customer service
Back in 2013, Asda Mobile had some well-publicised hiccups when a change of networks from Vodafone to EE and back again within a couple of years. It has a pretty clean sheet across the past decade, however.
The industry regulator Ofcom doesn't have specific figures on customer satisfaction for Asda Mobile, but Vodafone is rated 86% for overall customer satisfaction by Ofcom. It's also worth noting that at the time of writing, Asda Mobile has 3.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, which is pretty good considering people are much more likely to leave a review after a bad experience.
Asda Mobile no longer offers a live chat service, but you can call on 0808 006 2732, or 2732 from your Asda Mobile handset, or you can get in touch via 'X' (formerly Twitter) or Facebook. The FAQ section of the Asda Mobile website also answers a lot of common questions.
Value for money
In line with Asda's image, Asda Mobile positions itself as a value provider. The theory goes that by letting network partner Vodafone handle the infrastructure, Asda Mobile can concentrate on offering great-value bundles to its customers. In practice, it does offer cheap deals, but you don't always get as much for your money compared to some of its competitors, particularly those with a similar business model.
Asda Mobile’s small data allowance plans (used as a means to offer very cheap deals) are much in line with those of its competitors when it comes to price. In terms of its Unlimited bundles, it is one of the first providers (along with Vodafone) to offer unlimited data at different price points according to the download speed – up to 150Mbps with its most expensive bundle, which is faster than the majority of home broadband connections. As a result, Asda’s unlimited data bundles offer pretty good value for money, but definitely not market-leading.
Network coverage
It's always important to check local coverage at your postcode, especially if you live in a rural or remote area. Asda Mobile has a coverage checker on its website. It's also worth bearing in mind that while coverage may be generally good in your area, mobile signals can be blocked by tall buildings or the structure of your home. If you want to be certain, it may be a good idea to invite a friend with Asda Mobile or Vodafone to your home, to check they get a good signal. This advice applies to all mobile providers.
Conclusion
Asda Mobile has set out its stall as a value-for-money provider and it does offer some very good bundles at reasonable prices, all of which come with unlimited texts and minutes as standard. Its handset offers are simple, good value, and flexible, while SIMs come with no long contracts to tie you down, and 5G included with all. The choice of download speeds available with the unlimited data plans is a great innovation.
But there's no getting away from the fact that if you take any single element of Asda's offering, someone else is doing it better, cheaper, or bundling in more value. We have no hesitation saying that if you're thinking of signing up to Asda Mobile, go right ahead. You won't go far wrong. But do take a little time to compare it to similar deals from the likes of SMARTY, giffgaff, iD Mobile, Lebara, and Tesco Mobile before you do. You may be surprised just how cheap things can get.
