Why I Chose Movistar Initially
When I first arrived in Spain, everyone told me Movistar had the best coverage. As someone who planned to travel around the country and work remotely, that sounded perfect. I signed up for their "Fusión" plan at €45/month, thinking the premium price would guarantee reliability.
For the first six months, I was genuinely impressed. I never lost signal, even in places where friends on other networks struggled. But then I started questioning whether I was getting value for money, especially when I saw Orange offering similar plans for €15 less.
Coverage: Where Movistar Really Shines
Let me be clear: Movistar's coverage is genuinely superior, especially outside major cities. I've tested this extensively:
- Madrid & Barcelona: All operators work well here. No real advantage.
- Coastal areas (Costa del Sol, Costa Brava): Movistar maintains strong 4G/5G. Orange and Vodafone sometimes drop to 3G.
- Rural areas (Extremadura, parts of Castilla): This is where Movistar wins. I visited a friend's village where only Movistar had usable signal. Orange showed "no service" and Vodafone had one bar that kept dropping calls.
- Mountains (Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada): Movistar's network reaches places others don't. If you're a hiker or live in mountainous regions, this matters.
According to CNMC (Spain's telecom regulator), Movistar covers 99.7% of the population, compared to 98.2% for Orange and 97.8% for Vodafone. That 1-2% difference might not sound like much, but if you're in that gap, it's everything.
Pricing: The Premium You Pay
Movistar is consistently 20-30% more expensive than competitors. My plan breakdown:
- Advertised price: €45/month
- Actual cost after taxes: €52/month
- Activation fee: €30 (one-time)
- SIM card: €10 (one-time)
Total first-year cost: €664. Compare that to Orange's similar plan at around €480 for the first year, and you're paying €184 more. Is the coverage difference worth that? It depends entirely on where you live and travel.
Their "Fusión" bundles (combining mobile, internet, and TV) can offer better value if you need all three services. But if you only want mobile, you're paying a premium.
Customer Service: Surprisingly Good
This is where Movistar exceeded my expectations. Their English-speaking support is excellent. I've called them maybe eight times over 14 months, and I've never waited more than 5 minutes. The agents are knowledgeable and actually solve problems instead of reading scripts.
I had an issue with roaming charges once (my fault, I didn't realize I'd exceeded my EU data limit), and they credited me back €25 without much argument. That kind of customer service is rare.
Their app is functional but not as modern as Vodafone's. It does what you need: check usage, pay bills, manage your plan. Nothing flashy, but it works.
Data Speeds and 5G
I consistently got 80-120 Mbps on 4G in Madrid, which is more than enough for video calls, streaming, and remote work. Their 5G network is expanding, and when available, speeds jump to 300-500 Mbps. But honestly, unless you're downloading huge files regularly, you won't notice the difference in daily use.
One thing I appreciated: Movistar doesn't throttle speeds after you hit your data limit. Instead, they reduce you to a slower tier (usually 1 Mbps), which is still usable for basic browsing and messaging.
The Contract Trap
Movistar pushes long-term contracts (12-24 months) with significant early termination fees. I signed a 12-month contract, and breaking it would have cost me €180. This is standard in Spain, but Movistar's fees are on the higher end.
If you're not sure how long you'll be in Spain, consider their prepaid options first. They're more expensive per GB, but you're not locked in.
Who Should Choose Movistar?
Choose Movistar if:
- You live or frequently travel to rural areas
- You need guaranteed coverage for work
- You value customer service over price
- You want a bundle (mobile + internet + TV)
- You're staying in Spain long-term
Skip Movistar if:
- You only stay in major cities
- Price is your primary concern
- You're in Spain short-term
- You don't need the absolute best coverage
My Verdict
Movistar delivers on its promise of coverage, but you pay for it. If I lived in a rural area or traveled extensively outside cities, I'd choose Movistar again. But since I'm mostly in Madrid, I switched to Orange after my contract ended and saved €15/month without noticing any difference in service quality.
Rating: 4/5. Excellent coverage and customer service, but the premium pricing is hard to justify unless you genuinely need that extra coverage.