iD Mobile Phone Deals

Which network does iD Mobile use?

iD Mobile runs on Three's network as a virtual operator and is owned by the retailer Currys. Coverage therefore matches Three rather than being separate.

Following the merger that created VodafoneThree, virtual operators running on Three have been added to the combined Vodafone and Three mast arrangement on a rolling basis rather than all at once. iD Mobile is a third party operator rather than a brand owned within the group, so confirm its current position with iD Mobile directly rather than assuming it matches the group-owned brands.

The price rise promise and what it does not cover

iD Mobile is widely listed as a network that does not apply annual price rises. That is accurate for its SIM plans, where the commitment covers rolling, 12 month and 24 month agreements. It is not the position on handset contracts.

Current 24 month handset contracts increase by £1.80 each April; the no-price-rise promise does not apply to them. Since every deal listed on this page includes a handset, the no price rise commitment does not apply to what you are comparing here, and any general claim that iD Mobile never raises prices should not be relied on when judging a handset deal.

This is the single most important thing to check on an iD Mobile handset deal. Confirm the increase stated at the point of sale and add it into the total before comparing against another network; iD Mobile currently states £1.80 each April for new phone plans. If it is a fixed price you are after rather than iD Mobile specifically, Talkmobile no longer applies annual price rises and Mozillion states that its pay monthly pricing is fixed.

Our guide to mid-contract price rises compares what every network we list adds to your bill each April, including which providers avoid increases altogether.

Roaming with iD Mobile

iD Mobile includes roaming in a list of around 50 destinations, covering the EU and a number of countries beyond it, with a monthly data limit applying while abroad. Calls and texts come from your UK allowance in covered destinations.

The destination list is broader than several competitors offer, which is a genuine advantage for travel outside Europe. Check the current list and the data limit against your plan, since both have changed over time.

Data rollover, caps and account features

iD Mobile offers data rollover on eligible plans, carrying unused allowance into the following month, and a spending cap that limits out of bundle charges. The cap is a meaningful protection against unexpected bills and is not offered by every network.

Rollover changes how much allowance you actually need. If your usage varies month to month, a smaller allowance with rollover can work out better value than a larger fixed one. Our guide to what is a good data allowance covers how to judge your own usage before choosing.

Contract structure

iD Mobile sells handsets on pay monthly contracts through its parent retailer, with the handset cost built into the monthly figure and the handset deals currently listed on this page running for 24 months. Longer terms lower the monthly figure and raise the total payable.

If you would rather separate the handset from the plan, you can compare SIM-free phones and pair a handset with one of iD Mobile's SIM plans, which is also where the no price rise commitment does apply.

Most current handsets support eSIM as well as a physical SIM card. Our guide to eSIMs explained covers how eSIM works, which phones support it, and what to check before ordering.

What to compare on iD Mobile

On iD Mobile the first thing to establish is whether the deal you are comparing carries a price rise clause, because the network's reputation for fixed pricing comes from its SIM plans rather than its handset contracts. Ask the question at the point of sale and add any stated increase into the total.

After that, compare on total cost across the full term as usual, and weigh the roaming destination list and the spending cap, both of which are stronger than average and do not show up in a monthly price comparison.

If you want Three's coverage and a genuinely fixed handset price, compare against Mozillion on EE and Talkmobile on Vodafone before deciding, since coverage at your address matters more than the brand.

If you are moving from another provider and want to keep your existing number, our guide on how to keep your number when switching explains the PAC code process and the timings involved. If you are still deciding how much data to pay for, our guide to what is a good data allowance covers what different types of use actually consume.