ID Mobile 5G Phone Deals

Why choose an iD Mobile phone contract?

iD Mobile started out as the virtual mobile network of Carphone Warehouse, which is now owned by electrical retailer Currys. It operates using the Three network, which means that wherever Three has coverage, iD Mobile does too. Right now, that amounts to 99.8% outdoor population coverage with 4G and almost complete coverage for 3G. Three’s 5G service currently covers over half of the population but rollout is ongoing. 

iD Mobile offers cheap contracts and customers can also enjoy monthly data rollover, the option to cap bills and avoid excess charges, WiFi calling, 4G Calling, and free roaming in Europe (more on which below). 

Whether you want the latest iPhone or a budget Motorola handset, iD Mobile offers a wide range of handsets to choose from.

How can I keep my number when switching?

It is easy to keep your number when switching to iD Mobile. You simply need to request your PAC (porting authorisation code) from your old network, which you can do by texting the word ‘PAC’ to 65075 from the number you want to keep.

Then simply fill in this form. If you submit the form before 5:30pm on a working day then the number transfer will happen on the next working day between 8am and 10pm, otherwise it can take up to two working days.

iD Mobile added extras

Although iD Mobile is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), it still offers good value for money with a handful of extra features. 

iD Mobile plans all come with Data Rollover, meaning that if you don’t use all of your data it’s added to the next month’s allowance. This is ideal if you want to keep a little data bank to use at certain times and means you won’t have to pay for a top-up. You can also take advantage of the bill capping option to ensure you don’t have any nasty surprises when your bill arrives.

Calls to numbers not included in your inclusive minutes and photo messages can soon cause additional costs to rise so the bill capping option enables you to keep control on this.

If you have an existing mobile you would like to trade in, iD Mobile gives the option of receiving cashback and enjoying a discount on your new phone as a result.

Plus, at the time of writing, plans come with up to 3 months free Apple TV, Music, Arcade, and News+.

iD Mobile phone upgrades

Customers wanting to upgrade their phone can do so subject to eligibility. You can check your status by logging on to your iD account online or via the app. If you are eligible, you will immediately see a message telling you that you can upgrade to a new handset. If not, you can use the Upgrade Checker to find out why not, and when you will be eligible.

The criteria used for assessing whether iD deems you eligible for an upgrade include your original credit check, your payment history and how long you have been a customer.  If you are eligible, you can choose to upgrade your handset and/or your monthly allowance at any time.

iD Unlimited data

iD Mobile offers some of the cheapest unlimited data deals on the market. All unlimited data plans also come with 5G (where available) at no extra cost.

4G and 5G coverage

Running on the Three network, iD Mobile offers 99.8% outdoor population coverage with its 4G network, which is comparable to all other mobile providers. 5G isn’t yet as widely available but coverage is rapidly improving, and you can already get 5G in hundreds of towns and cities.

iD Mobile 5G speeds

Customers fortunate enough to receive a 5G signal from Three can enjoy the fastest mobile speed available. According to the latest research from independent mobile analytics company Opensignal this year, Three provides by far the fastest 5G speeds in the UK, averaging 228.4Mbps. It leaves nearest competitor EE (which has the fastest 4G speeds in the UK) trailing far behind with its average 5G speed of 130.5Mbps.

Similar results can be found in Ookla tests, with the company declaring Three the UK’s fastest 5G network – which should make iD Mobile the fastest too.

Data roaming

iD Mobile is one of the few mobile providers to still offer free data roaming within 50 – mostly European – destinations. There are no daily charges or monthly add-ons required; you can just use your allowance of minutes, texts and data just as you would at home.

However, be aware that iD Mobile does have a fair usage policy in place for its roaming feature. You cannot use your entire monthly data allowance when roaming -– you are limited to using 77.2% of whatever your monthly allowance is. To make this easy to calculate, you can visit iD Mobile’s page on fair usage and open data, which has a handy calculator for working out your roaming allowance. If you go above this limit, a surcharge will be added to every minute, text and MB you use. Note that even customers with unlimited data will still be subject to a limit, so we advise that you use the calculator to check before travelling.

iD also puts a limit on how much time you can spend roaming. A few weeks is acceptable, but if you are using your phone abroad more than you are in the UK within a four-month period, iD will take action, and unless you can prove you are still primarily resident in the UK, will apply surcharges to your usage.

Tethering

If you want to use your phone’s data to create a hotspot and get another device online, you can do so. iD Mobile permits tethering on all its plans and there is no upper limit on how much of your data you can use either, so even if you choose an unlimited data plan, you can tether as much as you want. 

iD Mobile customer service

iD Mobile offers customers various ways to get in touch – apart from by phone. There is a Live Chat service available from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday where you can speak to a human being online. The iD Community also offers a means of getting in touch with both iD staff and other iD Mobile customers online. The Help Hub offers an array of articles with answers to common questions. 

Although there is no staffed customer service line, it is possible to make payments, check your balance or report your phone as lost or stolen via iD Mobile’s automated phone service on 7777 (or on 0333 003 7777 from another mobile or landline). Complaints can either be made online or by calling the complaints line on 0800 049 2402.

iD Mobile is not included in Ofcom’s annual customer service report, but according to Trustpilot, the provider does get a positive rating of around four stars (out of five).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I join iD Mobile?

Simply take a look at the iD phone deals on our price comparison, which you can filter by make, price, contract length, data allowance and more, to find one that suits you then click on the red See Deal button which will take you straight to the iD Mobile website where you can put in your order. 

Does iD Mobile do SIM-only deals?

Yes, iD Mobile offers a wide range of SIM-only deals, with a range of data allowances and a choice of one-month, 12-month or 24-month contracts.

How do I speak to someone at iD Mobile?

iD Mobile does not have a customer service contact number. If you want to get in touch, you can use the Live Chat service or the iD Community to speak to someone online, or head to social media. You can also use the iD Mobile app.

Does iD Mobile have a fair usage policy?

iD Mobile only has a fair usage policy for using your data abroad. There is no fair usage policy for using your data in the UK.

What is the iD Mobile app?

The iD mobile app allows you to manage your account. Once you have signed up to iD Mobile, you can create an online account. Simply download the app from the App Store or from Google Play Store and login to check your balance, make payments and upgrade your package.