1p Mobile review

1p Mobile is a low-priced mobile provider offering a range of cheap Sim-only deals, plus an innovative pricing strategy. How did its customers rate it?

Before signing up for a new phone deal, read our review of 1p Mobile to see how it did in our regular mobile phone satisfaction survey.

Discover which mobile network providers impressed their customers most in our latest survey, which reveals the best and worst mobile networks.

What 1p Mobile’s customers told us

• 'I like the fact that the prices are transparent.'
• 'I'm satisfied because they offer competitive pricing, a wide coverage area and flexible plans that can be easily adjusted to fit changing needs.'

1p Mobile provider review

Customer score: 72% (8th out of 17). Which? members can also read our full review, including how its customers rated it for key factors, such as customer service and network reliability.

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What network does 1p Mobile use?

1p Mobile is a virtual provider, which means it uses another provider's infrastructure – in this case, the EE network. It offers 4G and 5G coverage.

How good is 1p Mobile’s network coverage?

You can check coverage where you live by using an interactive mobile network coverage map. Simply enter your postcode into the map and it will tell you how good EE's signal is in your area, as well as comparing it with the other providers.

1p Mobile’s deals and incentives

Monthly bundles range from £7.50 for 4GB, to £20 for 200GB, and all plans come with unlimited calls and texts.

Alternatively, 1p Mobile’s signature PAYG tariff – and main pricing innovation compared to other networks – means it charges 1p for a call, 1p per text and 1p per MB of data. 

You have to top up at least £10 every 90 days, and the credit doesn’t expire and can be refunded if you want to switch providers. 

This could be a good option for mobile customers who don’t use their phone very often, for example:

• Two hours of phone calls (120 minutes at 1p per minute) is £1.20
• 150 texts (at 1p per text) is £1.50
• 500MB of data (at 1p per MB) is £5

This would total £7.70, and it would be possible to find Sim-only bundles (including from 1p Mobile) that would cover this with data allowance and unlimited calls and text, for the same price or less.

However, if you have particularly low data needs, this is worth looking into– it could only cost £10 every three months, rather than paying for a rolling monthly contract.

For more tips on making the most of your airtime, read our guide on how to keep track of your mobile data and minutes.

Does 1p Mobile increase its prices each year?

As 1p Mobile offers PAYG deals and rolling 30-day Sim-only contracts, customers are not hit by costly inflation-based mid-contract price increases. Before the end of the month, you will be able to check what the price to renew is. If it does increase or is too expensive, you can simply switch to a different network with no penalty.

For more tips on how to avoid costly inflation-based price increases, read our guide to 10 ways to save money on your mobile phone bill.

1p Mobile stores

1p Mobile is an online-only provider and doesn't have any of its own shops. However, if you need any help or advice, you can get in touch in a variety of ways:

• Call 1p Mobile on 03333 44 22 78. They are available Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
• Online contact on their website via webform and live chat facilities.
• Email penny@1pmobile.com.
• Write to: Customer Services, 1p Mobile, Equinox House, 6 Oriel Court, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2YT.

Find out how other providers fared in our guide to the best and worst mobile networks.

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Which? is independent – we work for you, the consumer, so you can be sure that our recommendations are only influenced by our test and survey results. We're not swayed by third parties and we don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. We buy all the products that we test ourselves, so our advice helps you to make the right choice first time and avoid costly mistakes.