Clear Mobile now offering unlimited 5G data

We're big fans of SIM-only deals here at bonkers.ie as they provide a great way for you to save money on your mobile bills. 

And one deal that's just got a lot better is from Clear Mobile; the low-cost, online-only mobile brand from Vodafone.  

Here's everything you need to know...

What’s on offer?

Clear Mobile offers customers unlimited calls to any Irish mobile or landline and 10,000 texts each month.

And now it's also offering unlimited 5G data. When Clear Mobile launched in 2021, data speeds for customers were capped at just 5Mbps, which was hardly fast.

What's more, unlike some providers, there's no fair usage cap so you can truly stream music, watch videos, upload photos, and browse online to your heart's content!  

And when roaming in the UK or the EU, a generous 19GB of data a month is available. 

Clear Mobile is a subsidiary of Vodafone so you'll be using this network.

The price is just €12.99 a month if switching from GoMo, Tesco Mobile, 48, Eir, Sky Mobile or Three. And €14.99 a month if joining from any other network or on a new connection. There's also a sign-up/activation fee of one month's plan cost. 

It's a bill pay plan but there's no contract so you can cancel at any time if you wish.  

All customers must sign up online and customer service is carried out online too, not through any part of Vodafone's extensive high street retail network.

Wi-Fi Calling

Clear now also offers its customers Wi-Fi Calling for free. 

WiFi Calling is handy as it allows your phone to make and receive calls and texts using your broadband Wi-Fi instead of the mobile network. So, even if you’ve got some sneaky mobile black spots in your home, Wi-Fi Calling will help ensure you never miss a call.

To use WiFi Calling, simply ensure it’s enabled on your phone and that your phone is connected to your home Wi-Fi.

The good

• Truly unlimited data - there is no fair usage data cap. For example GoMo only offers a download allowance of up to 120GB a month, after which it reserves the right to throttle your speeds 
• Clear Mobile will use Vodafone's network, which is regarded as the best and most reliable for speed and coverage 
• From only €12.99 a month it’s a fair bit cheaper than Vodafone’s current cheapest plan, which is €20 a month on a pay-as-you-go plan
• No contract - just pay each month and then cancel at any time 
• You can keep your existing number when you sign up - or alternatively get a new one

The not quite so good 

• According to Clear's Ts&Cs, the estimated maximum attainable 5G speed is 25Mbps, so still not necessarily lightning quick, but still five times faster than before 
• It’s SIM-only, meaning you won’t get a subsidised phone or be able to upgrade
• There is a sign-up fee, payable along with your first month’s payment  
• Customer service, which is patchy at best with many of the telecommunications providers, is unlikely to wow. As with GoMo, Clear Mobile will have its own separate website and customer service team, with support only available via online chat and social media
• Unlike GoMo, there is no mention of the price being for life, so it could go up in the future, though given the cutthroat competition in the market at present that's unlikely in the medium term at least
• Unlike many of Vodafone's plans, international calls and texts aren't included

Phones 

Remember, if moving to Clear Mobile, or indeed any other SIM-only deal, you must ensure that your current phone is unlocked and therefore able to accept a rival operator's SIM. 

If you're out of contract with your existing provider they'll be able to provide you with the relevant unlocking code. However it can sometimes take a few days to get the code depending on the make, model and manufacturer of your phone. 

If you're currently a Vodafone customer you won't need an unlocking code to use a Clear Mobile SIM.   

Switch and save

If you’re thinking about signing up to a new SIM-only plan you can save yourself the time and hassle of comparing multiple providers by checking out our new sim-only mobile comparison service.

Remember, if switching mobile provider, you can keep your existing number. The process of porting your number over from one network to another is simple and usually only takes an hour or so at the most. But you can choose to get a new number too if you want.

And while cost is undeniably a huge factor when choosing a mobile plan, there are other things to take into consideration. Here are 10 other important factors to keep in mind when making your choice.