Best known as the giant of UK satellite TV, Sky has now dipped its big toe into the mobile market. With both handset plans and SIM deals available, it seems signing up with Sky Mobile makes more sense if you are already a Sky customer.
Find out more about what separates Sky Mobile from other mobile networks. From pros and cons and customer service to network coverage and pricing, we shine a light on Sky Mobile and help you decide whether it’s the network for you.
What’s good about Sky Mobile?
- Can roll unused data over to the next month, and keep it for up to three years
- Can change your allowance each month
- Option to get calls and texts on PAYG - great if you don't make calls or send many SMS texts
- Extra discounts and goodies for Sky TV customers
- Can upgrade your phone early with Swap
- Good customer service
- Family SIM discounts available
What’s bad about Sky Mobile?
- Some plans are only available to existing Sky customers
- Handset contracts aren't that flexible and may lock you in for 30 months
- Plans are not the cheapest - especially if you add on unlimited calls and texts (and haven't got Sky TV)
- Doesn’t offer much in the way of perks and benefits if you’re not a Sky customer
Sky Mobile plans
Quadruple provider that it is (broadband, TV, home phone and mobile) Sky tries to tempt its customers into signing up for all its services - which means you get better value Sky Mobile deals if you are already a Sky customer.
You can choose from a range of SIM-only deals and handset plans, and if you do fancy a new phone there are various Swap options to choose from. Swap is a handset plan that lets you pay off your phone over the course of either one year (Swap12) or two (Swap24).
Think of it as a handset credit arrangement which lets you get the handset you want and then swap it for the latest model every year or every two years.
As most Sky handset plans don’t demand an upfront charge, monthly costs can be expensive in terms of data, call and text allowances - and customers should expect to be locked in for 30 months.
We do like the ability to change your mobile ‘mix’ each month, which means you can create a custom mobile plan that suits you - change your data allowance, for example. This means you only pay for what you need as you upgrade or downgrade your plan each month within the 12-month term. And you can also rollover any data you don’t use each month for up to three years.
-
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £12.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile
Verdict:
Sky Mobile has some interesting ways to stand out from its competitors with its options to swap handsets, roll data and change your mobile mix each month. But unless you’re an existing Sky customer, mobile plan prices are high and there aren’t many plans to pick from.
Sky Mobile SIM-only deals
Sky Mobile doesn’t offer a huge selection of SIM deals and they tend to err on the side of expensive.
While some are only available to existing Sky customers, all plans include unlimited minutes and unlimited texts, and there’s a reasonable, but not extensive, choice of data allowances.
All SIM deals are for 12 months, so if you’re looking for more flexibility try one of the budget mobile networks such as Smarty or giffgaff, who offer rolling one-month contracts.
-
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 15GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £10.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile -
Sky Mobile sim only
5G- 25GB of 5G data
- Unlimited minutes
- Unlimited texts
- download speed limit
- Unlimited streaming for Sky TV customers
- £12.00 per month
12 month contract From Sky Mobile
Verdict:
A standard selection of SIM deals from Sky, but there are better value SIM deals available from other mobile networks with more perks, particularly SIM-only networks such as iD Mobile, Smarty and giffgaff. Look out for special offers for existing Sky customers.
Sky Mobile coverage
As it’s a virtual provider, Sky Mobile uses the O2 network which means its customers benefit from excellent mobile coverage in the UK of around 99%.
Before you order it’s important to check you can get a signal in your home area using Sky Mobile’s coverage checker - as well as areas you are likely to frequent, such as your place of work and route to work.
Verdict:
The O2 network, which Sky Mobile customers use, has some of the best coverage in the country.
Sky Mobile pricing
If you’re not already a Sky customer, Sky Mobile’s plans are not especially competitive. In fact, if you don’t plan to take advantage of Sky’s other service such as broadband, TV and home phone, you’ll find cheaper deals from other mobile networks.
If you are already with Sky, there’s a wider variety of plans to choose on a range of handsets, from premium iPhones to mid-range phones by Huawei. Also, the family SIMs make using Sky Mobile an overall better proposition.
Remember mobile deals change often, and networks and resellers regularly launch special offers, so make sure you compare plans get the best deal possible.
Verdict:
Sky Mobile is worth considering if you are already or plan to be a Sky TV customer, and you can take advantage of a wide range of mobile plans as well as syncing up its TV services. If not, Sky’s mobile plans are expensive.
Sky Mobile customer service
According to Ofcom's most recent customer service report (2017), Sky had high customer satisfaction with complaints handling (although Sky Mobile didn’t feature specifically in the report).
Verdict:
Sky’s customer service compares very favourably against other phone/TV/broadband providers.
Sky Mobile extras and benefits
One important distinction between mobile networks is what else they throw your way when you sign up. While some of the smaller networks focus on price, the bigger mobile networks will try and pull you in with perks and extra benefits.
On a Sky Mobile plan, you receive the following benefits:
- Data Roll - rollover any unused data you have left each month and keep it for up to three years; share your data with up to five SIMs on the same account; or cash in your unused data for a range of rewards.
- Mix - change your allowance around each month.
- Swap - Sky offers two Swap options - Swap 12 and Swap 24 - whereby you can trade in your old phone for a newer model.
- Family SIMs - Sky allows you up to five SIMs on one account, which means everyone in the family can contribute to and access data from the same data store.
- Sky Go Extra - as a Sky Mobile and Sky TV customer, the Sky Go Extra app is a handy way of integrating Sky services and means you can stream content to your phone while out and about.
Verdict:
Sky Mobile is a more attractive provider if you’re already a TV and broadband customer, but there’s still not much here in the way of streaming benefits or added extras such as tickets etc.
Overall verdict
If you don’t already (and don’t intend to) get your TV, broadband and home phone from Sky and take Sky Mobile on face value, there’s isn’t a lot to pull you in, whether it’s price, variety of plans or goodies. Other networks offer better extras, such as data perks and free tickets, and Sky’s plans are on the expensive side.
However, if you are already a Sky customer, Sky Mobile’s plans start to look more attractive - particularly with the family SIMs data saving and the plan mix, which enables you to upgrade or downgrade your allowances. Being able to stream Sky TV content to your phone via the Sky Go Extra app is also a handy feature.
