Updated October 17, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Budget Energie vs Meow Mobile
Budget Energie vs Meow Mobile: the differences
| Compare | Meow Mobile ReviewVisitVisit | |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | KPN | AT&T |
| Price from | €3.75 | $10 |
| Reference plan prices | 3GB: EUR 3.75 per month, 3GB, 24 months; 30GB: EUR 5.25 per month, 30GB, 24 months; Unlimited: EUR 10 per month, unlimited, 24 months | 3GB Plan: $10/mo, 3GB, 1-month rolling; Unlimited intro: $15/mo, unlimited, 3-month prepaid; Unlimited ongoing: $30/mo, unlimited, 1-month rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | €10 | $15 |
| EU roaming | Fair use | Paid |
| Markets | NL | US |
| eSIM | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Roaming countries | 43 | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | Initial $15/mo for 3 months then $30/mo |
| Credit check required | Not confirmed | No |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes).
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Key differences
- Support channels: only Budget Energie offers Phone, Help centre.
- Billing: only Budget Energie offers Contract.
- Billing: only Meow Mobile offers Prepaid, Rolling.
- Contract length: only Budget Energie offers 12, 24.
- Contract length: only Meow Mobile offers 1.
- Markets: only Budget Energie offers NL.
- Markets: only Meow Mobile offers US.
Our verdict on each
Budget Energie
Budget Energie suits Dutch households that want electricity and gas from a single supplier and want to choose how the price moves. Its green tariff is backed by 100% renewable certificates, and the business has grown to 1,000,000 customers since it was founded in 2011.
Meow Mobile
Meow Mobile suits US households that want a prepaid, rolling SIM only line on AT&T and can plan around a price that rises after the introductory stretch. The entry point is low at $10 a month, and next generation mobile data, an eSIM, wifi calling and hotspot sharing all come as standard.
Score breakdown
| Area | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.2Low entry at $10 a month, and the unlimited plan ranks 35 of 173, with the renewal step as the catch. |
| Offer | 9.3Higherfixed, variable and dynamic all available, electricity and gas on one account, fixed terms 12 and 36 months. | 8.8An eSIM, wifi calling, hotspot sharing, next generation mobile data and no credit check, with support only on email and chat. |
| Trust | 8.4Registered in NL as Budget Thuis B.V., trading since 2011, with support on email, chat and phone. | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 18 of 416 | 20 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 10 of 137 | 11 of 137 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Budget Energie: 1. Additional countries for Meow Mobile: 1.
Where these facts come from
Budget Energie
- budgetthuis.nl: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Meow Mobile
- meow-mobile.co: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract | Prepaid, Rolling |
| Contract length | 12, 24 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Budget Thuis B.V. | Telco Papa Ltd |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Email, Chat |
Broadband
| Fact | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Fttp, Fttc | Not confirmed |
| Top download speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | 1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Setup fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Exit fee terms | 1 month notice; early termination costs charged on final bill | Not confirmed |
| Router | Nokia Beacon G3.1 or Draytek Vigor | Not confirmed |
| Address checker | https://www.budgetthuis.nl/internet | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming countries | 43below the median | Not confirmed | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Budget Energie
Pros
- Tariff choice runs wide, with fixed, variable and dynamic under a single name.
- Green power is 100% renewable, backed by certificates.
- Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, so there is a date to plan around.
Cons
- The exit fee terms ask for notice, and early termination costs land on the final bill.
- Service is limited to NL, so it is not an option for a household outside the Netherlands.
- Electricity Ratings lists fixed, ev and time of use, adding electric vehicle and prepay tariffs that sit outside fixed, variable and dynamic.
Meow Mobile
Pros
- Entry pricing is easy to start with: the capped data plan starts at $10 a month and the unlimited plan opens at $15.
- A credit check is not required, so a line can be opened without a credit history being put forward.
- Billing is prepaid and rolling, so there is no long fixed term to serve out and nothing to negotiate on leaving.
Cons
- The renewal step is the catch: Initial $15/mo for 3 months then $30/mo, so the opening unlimited figure is not the rate you keep.
- It serves a single market, US, and roaming is paid, so travel costs sit on top of the monthly bill.
- Support runs on email and chat only, so there is no phone line for anyone who wants to talk a problem through.
Who each suits
Budget Energie
Who it suits
- Households that want power and gas under a single contract instead of juggling separate suppliers.
- Households that want a spread of tariff types, since Budget Energie lists fixed, variable and dynamic.
- People who prefer a phone line and chat to a single contact route, and who want dynamic and green options rather than the fixed, time of use and ev list at Endesa.
Who should look elsewhere
- Electricity Ratings, if you need an electric vehicle or prepay tariff, since fixed, ev and time of use runs wider than fixed, variable and dynamic.
- Endesa, if you only want fixed, time-of-use or electric vehicle pricing, because Endesa lists fixed, time of use and ev.
Meow Mobile
Who it suits
- Households in the US that want a prepaid, rolling SIM only line on AT&T without a long contract.
- People who rarely leave the country and stream or hotspot often, since roaming is paid and unmetered data opens at $15.
- Anyone adding a spare line for a child, a partner or a second phone, since a credit check is not required and hotspot sharing is included.
Who should look elsewhere
- GETESA, which sells as a network (network), for readers who want the host network itself rather than a virtual network operator.
- yesss! and Lonestar Cell MTN, both sold as networks (network, network), for anyone who treats buying direct from the network as a condition rather than a preference.
Country by country
| Country | Budget Energie | Meow Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Budget Energie
What tariff types does Budget Energie offer?+
Budget Energie sells fixed, variable and dynamic tariffs, so a household can choose between a price that holds for a set term and one that follows the market, plus a dynamic option and a green option. The spread means you can start on a fixed deal and change type at renewal without moving supplier, and it keeps the door open if your usage pattern changes.
How long are the fixed terms?+
Fixed terms run 12 and 36 months, which gives you a date to plan around. Take the shorter term if you expect prices to move your way and want the chance to switch sooner; take the longer term if you would rather not revisit the decision each year. The variable and dynamic tariffs carry no fixed end date.
Meow Mobile
What does Meow Mobile cost to start, and what happens to the price later?+
The capped data plan starts at $10 a month and the unlimited plan opens at $15. The opening unlimited rate is introductory, because Initial $15/mo for 3 months then $30/mo. Budget from the ongoing rate rather than the headline figure, since that step is what most of the monthly bill depends on.
Is Meow Mobile a network or a virtual operator?+
Meow Mobile is a virtual network operator, so the coverage comes from AT&T while the plans, pricing and support are its own. That split is the usual reason a plan here can sit below what the network charges. Readers who prefer to buy from the network itself have GETESA and yesss! listed alongside, both of which sell as networks.
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