EE mobile vs Vodafone mobile: Which network is best?
Dan Howdle • September 26th, 2024
EE and Vodafone are two out of three mobile network providers in the UK to offer 4G LTE-Advanced speeds (i.e. super quick), and both have begun rolling out their 5G networks. EE has the highest average 4G speeds with its 4G+, but Vodafone isn’t far behind, and the gap is even smaller when you look at their current average 5G speeds. If you’ve got the need for speed, it’s a toss-up between the two. But which one is best?
EE and Vodafone are two of the biggest networks out there. Both offer superfast 4G, growing 5G coverage, and a wide choice of tariffs, extras, decent data allowances, travel bolt-ons and the latest handsets. However, there are a few differences. Read on to find out what they are.
Price
Both EE and Vodafone offer a wide choice of handsets, bundles and SIM-only options.
For pay-as-you-go customers, EE offers different 'Packs' for customers to choose from, and the prices vary depending how much data and minutes for calls and texts you plan to use. Vodafone pay-as-you-go customers can choose from a range of 30-day bundles of data, plus unlimited minutes and texts.
Both EE and Vodafone offer a huge choice of pay monthly phone and airtime deals. Vodafone has a slightly lower entry point around £10 a month on some deals, while EE’s cheapest monthly tariffs start at around £15. With both providers, a fancy handset and an all-singing, all-dancing tariff you can use anywhere in the worls will cost you more than £50 a month.
If you’re after a SIM only deal, prices start at about a tenner a month with both providers, and slightly more if you opt for 30-day, rather than 12-month, or 24-month terms.
Data – speed and limits
EE’s big selling point is its speed, consistently ranking top in speed tests. EE offers 5G download speeds averaging over 200Mbps, with peak speeds much higher, thanks to ongoing 5G expansion into more areas, including suburban and some rural regions.
Vodafone’s 5G network is rapidly expanding, offering strong coverage across the UK, including suburban areas. Current 5G speeds on Vodafone average around 150Mbps, although peak speeds can be much higher. Vodafone continues to improve its 5G performance, but EE generally remains ahead in speed tests. Vodafone also provides 5G roaming in numerous European countries, enhancing its service for international travellers.
Network coverage
EE is racing ahead when it comes to UK coverage – it beats not just Vodafone, but all the other providers with the best 4G and 5G network of any UK mobile operator. Its basic LTE service is available to more than 99% of the UK population, while double speed 4G is largely limited to urban areas and ‘4G+’ is restricted to certain parts of major cities.
Vodafone has at least 99% UK 4G population coverage across thousands of towns, cities and villages, and has also started rapidly rolling out 5G.
It’s important to remember that if you want EE’s good coverage, you don’t necessarily need to take out a contract with EE. Several other big providers use the EE signal, including BT Mobile, Asda Mobile and Virgin Mobile. It might be worth checking them out.
The same goes for Vodafone. Its network is used by Virgin Mobile and Talkmobile, amongst others.
Customer service
According to the latest Ofcom report, EE and Vodafone continue to rank lower than average in customer satisfaction, with scores of 74% and 76%, respectively. Both providers are rated poorly on value for money compared to smaller networks such as Tesco Mobile and giffgaff, which scored significantly higher. EE and Vodafone customers still report a higher likelihood of experiencing incorrect or unexpectedly high bills compared to other providers, reflecting ongoing challenges in billing accuracy and customer service handling.
Overall, the report showed a tendency for smaller providers to provide better customer service, even though they piggyback off the bigger providers’ networks.
Benefits and features
EE customers can choose up to 3 Smart Benefits, available on Pay Monthly handset, selected SIM, and tablet customers on a Smart Plan. Smart Benefits include free Apple Music, Netflix, and Apple TV+. The BT Sport (now TNT Sports) app has been replaced by Apple Fitness+, offering access to personalised workout plans. WiFi Calling is still available, allowing you to make calls even when there’s no signal.
With Vodafone’s free VeryMe rewards app, customers get access to treats, offers, and giveaways from popular high-street brands. Entertainment Plans now include your choice of YouTube Premium, Spotify Premium, and Amazon Prime, with options to add other streaming services like Netflix and discovery+. Vodafone continues to offer free WiFi calling, and now provides 4G and 5G services across multiple Underground lines.
For pay-as-you-go customers, the Vodafone Call Back feature remains available, allowing users to send a free text to the person they’re trying to contact, requesting them to call back when out of credit. This service can be used up to twice a day.
Roaming
Mobile roaming charges were abolished while the UK was in the European Union, but after Brexit, this is no longer the case.
Most major mobile operators have reintroduced roaming charges, with some already in effect. EE charges £2 per day for customers on newer contracts when roaming in Europe, while Vodafone offers inclusive roaming on select plans across 51 European destinations and 83 worldwide destinations on selected Unlimited data Xtra Plans. Always check your account for the latest roaming terms to avoid unexpected costs.
With EE and Vodafone, you might still have to pay if you travel outside the EU or to destinations not included in their roaming tiers. Both networks offer capped data, text and calling add-ons for use while roaming for an additional fee.
For travel within the EU, both EE and Vodafone offer decent inclusive roaming options on select plans. Some destinations beyond the EU are included on select plans, but if you go further afield regularly, it might be worth comparing EE and Vodafone tiers to see if your destination is included, to avoid additional charges while abroad.
Conclusion
If you want fast speeds and almost-perfect coverage, then EE is the standout winner. Its network is simply faster than the rest, and has the best coverage. Speed freaks will find it’s a step ahead of the competition. Vodafone isn’t far behind though, and both providers are generally faster than Three and O2.
Coverage-wise, the best network for you greatly depends on the coverage in your area: there’s no point in EE covering 99.9% of the country if your house is in the other 0.1%.
EE offers a plethora of choices when it comes to handsets, pay monthly plans, SIM-only deals and pay-as-you-go options. To EE’s credit, its previously confusing travel bolt-ons have been simplified with a new roaming calculator, making it easy to figure out if you’ll have to pay extra for roaming abroad depending on your contract and your destination.
But where EE lets customers down the most is its website. We’re sure all the info is there but finding what you need is nigh on impossible, and often you need to go digging through their forums to find what you need.
Vodafone’s website is much more user-friendly and it’s easier to find a phone plan to suit your needs. In our opinion it has more comprehensive roaming offers too.
As always, it comes down to what you want from your mobile service. If speed is of the essence, pick EE but you’ll need the patience of a saint to navigate its website. If you travel a lot and don’t need the fastest speed available, Vodafone may be your best bet.
