Clear Mobile promises unlimited data at a budget price. But there's a significant catch: speed is capped at 5Mbps. Is that enough for normal use, or a dealbreaker? Here's our complete review.
Clear Mobile at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | €14.99/month (€12.99 if switching) |
| Data | Unlimited (truly unlimited) |
| Speed | Capped at 5Mbps |
| Calls | Unlimited |
| Texts | 10,000 |
| Network | Vodafone |
| 5G | No |
| Contract | 30-day rolling |
| EU Roaming | 19GB |
What Is Clear Mobile?
Clear Mobile is Vodafone Ireland's budget brand, launched in 2021 to compete with GoMo and 48. It uses Vodafone's network infrastructure but operates online-only with simplified pricing.
The key difference from competitors: Clear Mobile's data is truly unlimited with no fair use cap, but speed is limited to 5Mbps.
Clear Mobile's Current Plan
€14.99/month (standard price) €12.99/month if switching from GoMo, Tesco, 48, Eir, Three, or Sky Mobile
- Unlimited data (no GB limit, no fair use)
- Unlimited calls
- 10,000 texts
- 19GB EU roaming data
- 30-day rolling contract
- VoLTE and WiFi calling included
Activation fee equals one month's plan cost (€12.99 or €14.99).
The Speed Cap Explained
This is the most important thing to understand about Clear Mobile.
5Mbps means:
- Web browsing: Fine, pages load normally
- Social media: Fine, images load with slight delay
- Music streaming: Fine, no issues
- Standard definition video: Fine
- HD video streaming: Problematic (buffering likely)
- 4K video: Not possible
- Large downloads: Slow (a 1GB file takes ~27 minutes)
- Video calls: Variable (may struggle with HD)
- Gaming: Latency issues possible
Real-World Speed Test
At 5Mbps:
- 1GB download: ~27 minutes
- Netflix SD: Works fine (~1GB/hour)
- Netflix HD: Struggles (~3GB/hour, needs 5Mbps+)
- YouTube 720p: Usually works
- YouTube 1080p: Often buffers
- Zoom/Teams: Works but quality may drop
Is 5Mbps Enough?
For light users: Yes. Browsing, messaging, social media, music, and SD video all work fine.
For moderate users: Maybe. You'll notice slowdowns on demanding tasks but it's usable.
For heavy users: Probably not. HD streaming, large downloads, and data-intensive apps will frustrate you.
The Good: Why Choose Clear Mobile
1. Truly Unlimited Data
Unlike GoMo (120GB) or 48 (200GB), Clear Mobile has no data cap at all. You can use 500GB, 1TB, whatever—no throttling, no extra charges, no fair use policy cutting you off.
This matters for:
- Heavy tethering users
- People who stream constantly
- Anyone who's hit fair use caps before
2. Vodafone Network
Clear Mobile uses Vodafone's 4G network, which covers 99% of Ireland's population. Vodafone historically has strong urban coverage and decent rural coverage.
3. VoLTE and WiFi Calling
Unlike GoMo and 48, Clear Mobile supports:
- VoLTE (Voice over LTE): Clearer call quality, faster call connection
- WiFi Calling: Make calls over WiFi when mobile signal is weak
This is a genuine advantage for call quality, especially indoors.
4. Best EU Roaming Allowance (Among Budget Networks)
Clear Mobile's 19GB EU roaming beats:
- 48: 17GB
- GoMo: 16GB
- Lycamobile: ~12GB
Only Virgin Media (27GB) offers more.
5. Simple and Predictable
No data counters to monitor. No fair use surprises. You always know what you're getting—unlimited data at 5Mbps.
The Bad: Clear Mobile's Drawbacks
1. The 5Mbps Speed Cap
This is the dealbreaker for many. In a world of 100Mbps+ 5G, being capped at 5Mbps feels restrictive.
What you're giving up:
- HD video streaming (1080p+)
- Fast downloads
- Responsive video calls
- Future-proofed speed as apps get more demanding
2. No 5G
Clear Mobile is 4G only—and capped 4G at that. If you have a 5G phone, you're not using its capability.
3. Higher Price Than 48
At €12.99-€14.99, Clear Mobile costs the same or more than 48, which offers:
- 200GB data (effectively unlimited for most)
- Full uncapped speed
- 5G included
4. Mixed Customer Service Reviews
Like all budget networks, Clear Mobile's online-only support gets mixed reviews. Some users report slow responses and difficulty resolving issues.
5. Vodafone Network Gaps
Vodafone switched off 3G in some areas without upgrading to 4G, leaving coverage gaps. Some rural areas have EDGE (2G) only, which is essentially unusable for data.
Clear Mobile vs The Competition
Clear Mobile vs 48
| Feature | Clear Mobile | 48 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €12.99-€14.99 | €12.99 |
| Data | Unlimited | 200GB |
| Speed | 5Mbps cap | Full speed |
| 5G | No | Yes |
| VoLTE | Yes | No |
| Network | Vodafone | Three |
Winner: 48 for most users. 200GB at full speed beats unlimited at 5Mbps.
Clear Mobile vs GoMo
| Feature | Clear Mobile | GoMo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €12.99-€14.99 | €14.99 |
| Data | Unlimited | 120GB |
| Speed | 5Mbps cap | Full speed |
| 5G | No | Yes |
| VoLTE | Yes | No |
| Network | Vodafone | Eir |
Winner: GoMo for most users. 120GB at full 5G speed is more practical.
Clear Mobile vs Lycamobile
| Feature | Clear Mobile | Lycamobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €12.99-€14.99 | €10 |
| Data | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Speed | 5Mbps cap | Full speed |
| International | No | 100 mins |
| Network | Vodafone | Eir |
Winner: Depends. Lycamobile is cheaper with full speed, but Clear has VoLTE and better roaming.
Who Should Choose Clear Mobile?
Clear Mobile is ideal for:
- Light data users who want unlimited without monitoring usage
- People who primarily browse, message, and stream music
- Users who value call quality (VoLTE/WiFi calling)
- Frequent travellers who need 19GB roaming
- Anyone who's had Vodafone coverage work well for them
Clear Mobile is NOT for:
- HD video streamers
- Heavy data users who want speed
- Gamers (latency issues)
- Anyone who downloads large files regularly
- Users who want 5G
- People who could use 200GB at full speed for less (48)
The Clear Mobile User Profile
Clear Mobile makes sense for a specific type of user:
Meet Sarah: She uses her phone for WhatsApp, Instagram, Spotify, and occasional YouTube (SD quality is fine). She doesn't game, rarely downloads large files, and doesn't care about 4K. She wants unlimited data so she never thinks about usage. Clear Mobile is perfect for her.
Meet Mark: He streams Netflix on his commute, video calls for work, downloads podcasts and apps regularly, and wants the fastest connection possible. Clear Mobile would frustrate him daily. He should choose 48 or GoMo.
How to Join Clear Mobile
- Visit clearmobile.ie
- Click "Join Clear Mobile"
- Choose SIM type (physical or eSIM)
- Enter details and port your number if desired
- Pay activation fee (€12.99 or €14.99)
- Receive SIM and activate
The €12.99 switching price applies automatically if you're porting from GoMo, Tesco, 48, Eir, Three, or Sky Mobile.
Tips for Clear Mobile Users
Test before committing: Order a SIM and try it for a month before porting your main number. See if 5Mbps works for your usage patterns.
Use WiFi for heavy tasks: Download large files, updates, and HD content on WiFi. Save mobile data for lighter use.
Enable WiFi calling: Take advantage of Clear Mobile's WiFi calling for better indoor call quality—a feature GoMo and 48 lack.
Monitor video quality settings: Set streaming apps to SD or "data saver" mode. You'll have a smoother experience.
Check Vodafone coverage: Use Vodafone's coverage checker before switching. Some areas have poor 4G coverage.
The Verdict
Rating: 3/5
Clear Mobile is a niche product. The 5Mbps speed cap makes it unsuitable for most users when 48 offers 200GB at full speed for the same price.
However, Clear Mobile has its place. If you genuinely want unlimited data without monitoring, don't care about speed, and value VoLTE/WiFi calling, it delivers exactly what it promises.
Choose Clear Mobile if: You're a light user who wants true unlimited data, good call quality, and don't care about speed.
Choose alternatives if: You want the best value (48), fastest speeds (48/GoMo), or lowest price (Lycamobile).
The fundamental question: Would you rather have 200GB at full speed or unlimited data at 5Mbps? For most people, 200GB is effectively unlimited anyway—making 48 the better choice.
Last updated: January 2026