Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
1pMobile vs Lyca Mobile
What sets them apart
| Compare |  1pMobile |  Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £5 | €2 |
| Reference plan prices | 5GB 30-day: GBP 5 per month, 5GB, 30-day rolling; Unlimited 30-day: GBP 25 per month, unlimited data, 30-day rolling; 1-year 50GB: GBP 110 per year, 50GB per 30 days, 12-month | Bundle XS: 10 EUR per 30 days, 5 GB, prepaid; Bundle M: 20 EUR per 30 days, 20+20 GB, prepaid; Bundle Unlimited: 39.99 EUR per 30 days, unlimited data, prepaid |
| Unlimited plan price | £25 | €39.99 |
| EU roaming | Fair use | Included |
| Markets | GB | NL |
| Host network | Not confirmed | KPN |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Roaming countries | 46 | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Any contractual changes not to your benefit notified with at least 30-days notice with right to leave without charge | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Hotspot sharing (Yes), Credit check required (No).
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Key differences
- 1pMobile scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only 1pMobile offers Email, Chat.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Contract.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 24.
- Markets: only 1pMobile offers GB.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
Our verdict on each
1pMobile
1pMobile suits adults in the UK who want a cheap Sim only line, an eSIM, no credit check and a rolling monthly option they can leave quickly. It scores 9 overall, with plans starting at £5 a month, and the unlimited tier landing mid table on our price comparison.
Lyca Mobile
Lyca Mobile is a Dutch virtual operator for readers who want a sim only plan they can start without a credit check and use abroad. Entry pricing sits at €2, the plan runs on the KPN network, and eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G are part of the deal.
Score breakdown
| Area | 1pMobile | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Entry at £5 a month ranks 111 of 258, and unlimited at £25 sits lower down. | 9.0HigherEntry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherSim only with eSIM, 5G and WiFi calling, support on phone, email and chat and no credit check. | 8.8Sim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. |
How they place
| Ranking | 1pMobile | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 17 of 416 | 23 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 9 of 137 | 13 of 137 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 13 of 367 | 17 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 29 of 389 | 34 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 2 of 26 | 4 of 26 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | 1pMobile | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Rolling, Prepaid | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more |
| Contract length | 1, 12 | 1, 12, 24Covers more |
| Legal entity | Telecommunications Management Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | 1pMobile | Lyca Mobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming countries | 46below the median | Not confirmed | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
Pros and cons
1pMobile
Pros
- Plans start at £5 a month, and billing runs rolling and prepaid with terms of 1 and 12 months, so a reader can start small.
- No credit check is required and an eSIM is available, which means a new number can be live without a handset.
- 5G, WiFi calling and hotspot sharing are all included, and a multi line discount applies to households.
Cons
- EU roaming is fair use rather than included, and roaming overall reaches 46 countries.
- Terms run 1 and 12 months, so the rolling option is the pick for anyone who might move, and the annual plan only makes sense for readers already settled.
- 1pMobile is an mvno, while GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! all sell as network providers, so a reader who wants the operator itself is looking at a different kind of seller.
Lyca Mobile
Pros
- Entry pricing of €2 puts a sim only plan at the cheap end, and the brand ranks 36 of 258 on price from.
- No credit check is required, so a line can start without one.
- Runs on the KPN network with EU roaming included, so the bundle holds up on trips abroad.
Cons
- Bundle Unlimited is priced at €39.99 and the brand ranks 145 of 173 on unlimited price, so the unlimited end is the weaker side of the range.
- Coverage depends on the KPN network as an mvno, while GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! are each listed as a network seller.
- Plans are listed for NL only, so this is a Netherlands option rather than a multi-market one.
Who each suits
1pMobile
Who it suits
- Adults in the UK who want a Sim only line at the cheap end of the price range and can set up an eSIM themselves.
- Households adding a second line, where a multi line discount applies.
- Readers who want a rolling monthly line they can end quickly, with no credit check at signup.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to buy from the network operator rather than an mvno: GETESA and yesss! sell as network and network providers.
- Heavy data users on a tight budget, since the unlimited plan costs £25 a month, with the network sellers GETESA, yesss! and Lonestar Cell MTN the ones to price against.
Lyca Mobile
Who it suits
- People bringing their own handset, since sim only is the only format sold and terms run at 1, 12 and 24 months.
- Travellers who want data abroad kept inside the bundle, with EU roaming included on a plan listed for NL.
- Anyone who cannot or does not want a credit check run, since no credit check is required.
Who should look elsewhere
- Support seekers who want chat or email, since support runs on phone and help centre only.
- Readers who want a network seller rather than a virtual operator should weigh GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss!, each listed as a network rather than an mvno.
- Budgets built around unlimited data, since Bundle Unlimited at €39.99 ranks 145 of 173 on unlimited price.
Current offers
1pMobile
Current offer
Discount code
PAYG SIM with GBP 10 credit for GBP 5: GBP 5 off starter
SIM loaded with GBP 10 of credit; 14-day money back guarantee
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | 1pMobile | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
Questions about each
1pMobile
What does 1pMobile cost to join?+
Plans start at £5 a month, and that figure belongs to the smallest data allowance in the range. A heavy user should budget on the unlimited plan rather than the entry number. The entry figure is a month to month spend, not an introductory deal that resets later.
How much is the unlimited data plan?+
The Unlimited plan is listed at £25 a month. It is the price to hold in mind for anyone who regularly uses more data than a capped allowance allows, and it is the figure that pushes 1pMobile further back in our price comparison than its entry plan does. Readers who stay well inside a small allowance pay far less.
Lyca Mobile
How much does Lyca Mobile cost at the cheapest end?+
Lyca Mobile's entry price is €2. Reference prices also set out prepaid bundles by name, with Bundle XS at the small end, Bundle M carrying a larger allowance plus extra data, and Bundle Unlimited for unlimited data. The unlimited bundle is priced at €39.99, so the top of the range sits well above the entry price.
Do I need to pass a credit check to sign up?+
No credit check is required. That makes Lyca Mobile approachable for readers who want a sim only line sorted without a credit check standing in the way. You still bring your own handset, since sim only is the only format sold, and contract, rolling and prepaid gives you prepaid or contract terms to choose between.
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