Ireland’s best mobile phone deals

A good signal and reception are vital for your mobile phone. 5G mobile comes as standard with most phones now, so it’s worth checking out 5G coverage at your home and workplace.

In Ireland, three mobile networks - Vodafone, Eir, and Three provide the infrastructure for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) such as Tesco Mobile, Gomo and 48.

If you’re looking at a smaller mobile provider, check which network they operate on. This will give you a good idea of the coverage you can expect. Or check out our mobile coverage guide for the lowdown on each provider.

Both SIM-only and phone contract plans are available as bill pay or prepay. If you have a preference, simply use the filter in our comparison tool to find the best payment method for you.

There’s often a choice of contract lengths with SIM-only plans. Rolling contracts allow great freedom and flexibility, but sometimes require an activation fee, whereas longer contracts with tie-ins are typically cheaper, but not always. Bill pay phone plans are typically 24 months because you’re paying for your handset as well as airtime.

To ensure that you’re not paying for more data than you need, check your app or phone to find out how much data you use on a monthly basis. It may be far less than you think.

Whilst unlimited data deals allow you to call, text and download as much as you like, they are more costly. Capped plans are cheaper, but you’ll get a set number of minutes, texts and data and charged for exceeding limits.

If you opt for an unlimited deal, you may want to check for any fair usage limits, although these are less common now.

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For most people, price is the key factor when choosing a plan, but consider other aspects when comparing your options.

Some providers advertise discounted prices, but be sure to check the ongoing monthly cost after the introductory period ends and that you budget for the ‘thereafter’ cost, because you could be locked in for 12-24 months.

Additionally, consider annual price increases, and if you prefer to stick with a provider rather than switch annually, look for providers offering a “price for life” guarantee, where the cost remains fixed, to avoid unexpected hikes.

If you’re a frequent traveller or make regular work trips abroad, you may want to pick a provider who offers a generous roaming allowance or discounted international calls, texts and data add-ons.

Consider bundling your mobile plan with other services like broadband, phone and TV. Some providers like eir and Virgin Media offer discounted mobile plans to their customers.

Some providers, especially Ireland’s larger networks, have customer loyalty schemes with exclusive perks, rewards and offers. Worth comparing if you think you’d enjoy their benefits.