MEO vs Vodafone in Portugal (2026)
The short answer
Choose MEO for the interior and Vodafone for the cities. Vodafone runs the densest 5G layer in Portugal at 5,449 base stations against MEO's 2,465, but MEO won every independent speed and reliability benchmark through 2025 and is measurably stronger inland. Entry price is a tie: UZO and Amigo both sell 100 GB for EUR 5, though only UZO offers it as an eSIM.
MEO
Altice Portugal
MEO is the retail brand of Altice Portugal. It is not the same as UZO or Moche, which are its own low-cost and youth brands running on the same radio network.
Cheapest entry: UZO, EUR 5 per month for 100 GB
Vodafone
Vodafone Portugal
Vodafone Portugal owns its network. Amigo and Yorn are its low-cost and youth brands, and Lycamobile is an independent MVNO that also rides this network.
Cheapest entry: Amigo, EUR 5 per month for 100 GB
Row by row
Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data
| Criterion | MEO | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
| 4G population coverageWhether you have signal at all, anywhere | ~99%Tie | ~99%Tie |
| 5G base stationsHow dense the 5G layer is, not just whether it exists | 2,465 | 5,449Wins most in Portugal |
| Rural and interior reachThe one place the three networks genuinely differ | Best in the interior and mountainsWins | Strong on the coast, patchy in the deep Alentejo |
| Independent benchmark rankMeasured speed and reliability, not marketing | 1st on nPerf, Ookla and RootMetricsWins | 2nd on nPerf 2024/2025 |
| Cheapest way onto the networkNobody should pay the parent-brand price | UZO, EUR 5 for 100 GBTie | Amigo, EUR 5 for 100 GBTie |
| Prepaid eSIMWhether you can be connected before you land | UZO eSIM, activated onlineWins | Amigo has no eSIM at all |
| Youth brandAn age gate can halve the price under 25 | Moche, under 35 | Yorn, under 35, 201 GB at EUR 10Wins |
| Home fibre reachWhether one provider can cover both | ~89% of householdsWins | Wide, strongest on the coast |
| Parent-brand contractWhat it costs to change your mind | 24 monthsTie | 24 monthsTie |
So which one
Pick MEO if
- You live inland, or travel there often
- You want the network that leads the independent benchmarks
- You want a prepaid eSIM you can activate before landing
- Home fibre matters as much as mobile
Pick Vodafone if
- You are in a city and want the densest 5G
- You need upload speed more than download
- You are landing late and want a shop at Lisbon arrivals
- You want the Yorn youth plans up to age 35
Other comparisons
3 more pairsHow we compared these two
The criteria are fixed
Every comparison on this site uses the same 9 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it.
A win is a stated threshold
A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources.
How we get paid
Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed.
Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026.