Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Alfa vs Melita
Where Alfa and Melita differ
| Compare |  Alfa |  Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1.50 | €4.95 |
| Reference plan prices | U-can: $1.5 per month, 1GB, 30 days; Alfa A+ Max: $15 per 30 days, 40GB, 30 days; Alfa Go Max: $17 per 30 days, 33GB, 30 days | Endless Data: 14.95 per month, unlimited data, 24-month contract | Endless Global: 29.95 per month, unlimited data, 24-month contract | Pockit Pass L: 5 per bundle first 6 then 12, 28 days, prepaid |
| 5G | No | YesHas it |
| EU roaming | Paid | Included |
| Markets | LB | MT |
| Unlimited plan price | Not confirmed | €4.95 |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Data rollover | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Multi-line discount | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Seller type (Network), SIM-only (Yes), eSIM (Yes).
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Key differences
- 5G: only Melita.
- Support channels: only Alfa offers Phone, Email.
- Billing: only Alfa offers Rolling.
- Contract length: only Melita offers 24.
- Markets: only Alfa offers LB.
- Markets: only Melita offers MT.
Our verdict on each
Alfa
Alfa is a prepaid network run by Mobile Interim Company 1 SAL and based in Lebanon, and it suits readers who want short terms, rollover and cheap entry pricing in a single market. Entry pricing starts at $1.50, and the larger bundles cost more without any long commitment.
Melita
Melita is a Malta network with cheap entry at €4.95 and unlimited data plans priced at €4.95. It suits households and travellers who want one operator for contract and prepaid, and readers who value an established local network over roaming reach.
Score breakdown
| Area | Alfa | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherEntry pricing of $1.50 sits alongside short terms of 1 month, which is where the cost part comes from. | 9.6Entry price sits well under the sim only median of €9.30 and unlimited price ranks high on 10 of 173. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherA single market, LB, with rollover and an eSIM covers the offer part. | 8.9Features list Sim only, 5G, Esim, Wifi calling and a multi line discount, and unlimited data plans sit under the €23.19 unlimited median. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.8Operates as a network seller type under Melita Ltd., founded 1992 and based in MT, which supports a stable operator record. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Alfa | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Lebanon | Malta |
Additional countries for Alfa: 1. Additional countries for Melita: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Alfa | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 56 of 416 | 62 of 416 |
| Mobile networks | 34 of 319 | 38 of 319 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 54 of 367 | 60 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 71 of 389 | 76 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Alfa | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more | Contract, Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | 1, 24Covers more |
| Legal entity | Mobile Interim Company 1 SAL | Melita Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Lebanon | Malta |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre, Chat |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Alfa | Melita | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | Not confirmed | €4.95lowest quarter | €19.99 |
Median across 71 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Alfa
Pros
- Alfa sits at 26 of 258 brands on entry price, starting at $1.50.
- Terms of 1-month keep the commitment short for prepaid buyers.
- Data rollover is included, so unused allowance carries into the following period.
Cons
- Roaming is paid rather than included, so travel costs add to the bill.
- Coverage is limited to a single market, LB, so it suits local use rather than multi-country plans.
- yesss! lists an entry price of €0, which undercuts $1.50 at Alfa for anyone shopping on entry price alone.
Melita
Pros
- Entry pricing of €4.95 sits well below the sim only median of €9.30.
- Unlimited data pricing of €4.95 ranks 10 of 173 on price.
- Core features cover Sim only, 5G, Esim and Wifi calling, with a multi line discount for families.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and chat only, with no phone or email channel listed.
- Coverage is confined to the MT market, so the plans do not travel far beyond the island.
- The unlimited data price of €4.95 is the entry figure, and pricier unlimited tiers are listed separately in the reference plan prices.
Who each suits
Alfa
Who it suits
- Readers in LB who buy direct from the network and want short prepaid terms.
- Light-data users who value rollover, so a quiet month is not wasted.
- Travellers who budget for roaming, since it is paid rather than included.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers watching entry price alone: yesss! lists €0, against $1.50 at Alfa.
- Readers who want roaming inside the monthly price, since Alfa's roaming is paid.
- Readers who need the newest mobile network generation, where Alfa lists 5G as no.
Melita
Who it suits
- Malta households wanting a single operator for a contract line and a prepaid line
- Travellers who mainly stay in Malta and value cheap local data over roaming reach
- Families combining lines to use the multi line discount
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who need a named phone support line, since support runs on help centre and chat
- Anyone needing multi country coverage, as plans serve the MT market
- Readers comparing against yesss for prepaid flexibility, since yesss bills on contract, rolling and prepaid
Country by country
| Country | Alfa | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | Yes | No |
| Malta | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Alfa
What is the cheapest Alfa plan?+
Prices start at $1.50. The published bundles sit in steps: an entry plan with a small data allowance, then mid and large plans that trade up for more data at a higher monthly price. Every plan runs on the same short rhythm, so the entry option is a low cost way to hold a line.
Is there an introductory price that rises at renewal?+
The published Alfa rates are monthly recurring figures that repeat each period, so there is no separate introductory and renewal pair to weigh. The bundles are listed on 1-month terms, and contract, rolling and prepaid covers how the line is billed. In practice the figure you read is the figure you keep paying while the plan is active.
Melita
How much does a SIM only plan cost with Melita?+
Entry on a SIM only line starts at €4.95, below the sim only median of €9.30. Contract terms run 1 and 24, so the shortest term keeps the commitment light. Unlimited data pricing is listed separately at €4.95.
Is there a rolling monthly plan or is everything a contract?+
Billing covers contract and prepaid, so prepaid bundles are available for short periods. The prepaid option in the reference plan prices steps up in price after a set number of renewals. Anyone wanting a rolling month to sit alongside a contract line has fewer options here.