Mobiles

Who offers the best mobile phone coverage in Ireland?

Good phone signal is vital for calls, messaging and the internet; here’s how to find the best network coverage for your area and compare mobile plans in Ireland.

What mobile networks operate in Ireland?

There are three main Irish network operators:

All the other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) run services using one of the three main networks. You can check which MVNO runs on what network below.

Mobile operator Network  
An Post Mobile Vodafone  
Clear Mobile Vodafone  
GoMo eir  
Lycamobile Three  
Tesco Mobile Three  
Virgin Mobile Three  
48 Three  

You’re likely to get the same coverage from these MVNOs as the network they’re run off. So, it’s worth shopping around to find a deal that works best for you and your location.

Compare SIM-only mobile plans

Which network has the best mobile coverage?

ComReg (The Commission for Communications Regulation) has created an outdoor mobile coverage map that makes it easy to check coverage and signal levels of all the networks at your Eircode.

You can also check

  • 2G (voice calls and texts)
  • 3G (voice calls, texts and data)
  • 4G (voice calls, texts and data)
  • 5G (voice calls, texts and superfast data)

Bear in mind that results aren’t guaranteed and are based on outdoor coverage, which may be different from inside your home or office.

Why do some areas have poor network coverage?

Vodafone, Three and Eir, offer up to 99% 4G population coverage in Ireland, but this still leaves some people struggling for a good mobile connection.

There are lots of factors that affect mobile coverage; some of these include:

  • Building materials: Some materials used in walls and insulation can affect signal strength. You can use WiFi call or mobile phone repeaters to increase signal.
  • Terrain: Places with mountains and valleys tend to be blackspots because they’re more remote and signals are obscured.
  • Density of users: A high volume of people using their mobiles at the same time and location will slow a connection.
  • Distance from the base station: The signal has to pass from you to the connecting base station, so the closer you are, the better the signal.
  • Your handset: The higher the TR/P (Total Radiated Power), the better the reception.

5G mobile

What about 5G coverage?

If you’re looking for superfast, real-time connections, 5G offers speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, but it’s not as widely available in Ireland.

To find out if it’s been rolled out in your area, you can use this coverage map to check your network, or go to these mobile providers directly:

Find out more about the benefits of 5G and whether it’s right for you in our guide How 5G works in Ireland.

Top SIM-only deals

12 results.
Sorted by year 1 cost
€14.99 Plan
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 45,000 minutes and 10,000 texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
4G Data
16GB EU Roaming
including UK
uses Vodafone's network
€14.99
per month
€14.99 Activation fee
Go to site
Download Speed limited to 5Mbps
First Month Freei
Available when joining Clear Mobile. Subject to eligibility. T&C's apply.
€12.99 if joining from GoMo, Tesco, 48, Eir or Three networki
€14.99 a month if joining from other networks or on a new connection
GoMo Go More
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 120GB data, 45,000 minutes and 10,000 texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
14GB EU Roaming
including UK
uses eir's network
€14.99
per month
€14.99 Activation fee
connect - 30 Day
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 120GB data, 45,000 minutes and 10,000 texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
32GB EU Roaming
including UK
€19.99
per month
for 12 months, then €29.99 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
Discount available to existing eir Broadband customersi
€9.99 p/m for 12 months, €19.99 p/m thereafter.
€20 5G Clubcard SIM
30 days
Contract
200GB
Data
Unlimited
Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 5,000 any network minutes and texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
30GB EU Roaming
including UK
uses Three's network
€20
per month
Go to site
€20 for Tesco Clubcard holders i
€20 Clubcard Price (€25 Regular Price) Subject to eligibility. T&C's apply.
Price freeze commitmenti
Price freeze commitment applies to all new customers that sign up to one of our mobile bill pay price plans before 31/12/2024. Price Freeze commitments means that your monthly recurring charge will not change for the duration of your minimum term.
300 international minutes
48 Mobile

No contract 48 SIM-only deal

Order your free 48 SIM today. 99% population coverage powered by Three, Ireland’s largest network provider. One time activation fee €12.99.

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Mobile Unlimited Plan
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair usage policy of 10,000 minutes and 10,000 texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
4G Data
27GB EU Roaming
including UK
uses Three's network
€20
per month
for 12 months, then €25 p/m
Go to site
Discounts available to existing Virgin Media Broadband customersi
€20 per month lasting price over the lifetime of your plan or €15 per SIM with Virgin Media’s Multi-SIM offer. T&C's apply.
3 SIM Essentials 5G
12 months
Contract
Unlimited
Data
200
Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 10,000 Three to Three minutes applies. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
32GB EU Roaming
including UK
€15
per month
for 6 months, then €30 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
Unlimited Three to Three calls
complete - 30 Day
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 120GB data, 45,000 minutes and 10,000 texts applies. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
50GB EU Roaming
including UK
€24.99
per month
for 12 months, then €34.99 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
Discount available to existing eir Broadband customersi
€14.99 p/m for 12 months, €24.99 p/m thereafter.
200 international minutes and texts
3 SIM Freedom 5G
12 months
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 10,000 minutes/texts applies. Minutes/Texts is a single allowance can be used for calls or texts, where one unit from the allowance is decremented for one call minute or one text. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
37GB EU Roaming
including UK
€17.49
per month
for 6 months, then €34.99 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
100 International Minutes/Texts
RED Unlimited SIM Only
12 months
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
4G Data
Unlimited EU Roaming
including UK
€25
per month
for 6 months, then €35 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
Download Speed limited to 10Mbps
Unlimited calls and texts to European mobiles and landlines i
Plus 100 minutes and texts to other international countries
3 SIM Flex 5G 30 Day
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
fair usage policy applies
Fair use policy of 10,000 minutes/texts applies. Minutes/Texts is a single allowance can be used for calls or texts, where one unit from the allowance is decremented for one call minute or one text. For full details visit the network's website.
5G Data
37GB EU Roaming
including UK
€34.99
per month
Go to site
RED Unlimited 30 Day Sim Only
30 days
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
4G Data
Unlimited EU Roaming
including UK
€35
per month
Go to site
Download Speed limited to 10Mbps
Unlimited calls and texts to European mobiles and landlines i
Plus 100 minutes and texts to other international countries
RED Unlimited Max SIM Only
12 months
Contract
Unlimited
Data, Texts & Minutes
5G Data
Unlimited EU Roaming
including UK
€35
per month
for 6 months, then €45 p/m
Annual price increase applies
Go to site
Unlimited calls and texts to Europe and selected countriesi
Plus 500 minutes and texts to other international countries 
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How to choose a mobile network

Here are a few things to help you get started:

  • Enter your Eircode in the outdoor mobile coverage map to check which network signal is the strongest
  • Check the 5G coverage in your area if you’re looking for a faster service
  • Consider where you use the phone most, for example, you may need to check coverage at your office
  • Consider what you use the phone for most, for example calls or data, and check call charges
  • Ask for recommendations from family, friends and neighbours living in the same area
  • If you are in a known blackspot, make sure your handset has a high TRP

If you find that the coverage is poor when you switch providers, you should be protected by a 14-day cooling-off period.

Some networks like Vodafone offer a network satisfaction guarantee so you can cancel within 30 days and get your money back. Always check the full terms before signing up.

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Claire BorowskiClaire Borowski
Last updated on 15/02/2024