Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Cricket Wireless vs Lyca Mobile
Cricket Wireless vs Lyca Mobile: the differences
| Compare |  Cricket Wireless |  Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | AT&T | KPN |
| Price from | $15 | €2 |
| Reference plan prices | 12-Month Unlimited: $25/mo, unlimited, 12-month; 3-Month Unlimited: $15/mo, unlimited, 3-month prepay; Sensible 10GB: $30/mo, 10GB, 1-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 | $15 | €39.99 |
| Markets | US | NL |
| Wi-Fi calling | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Not confirmed | Included |
| 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
- Cricket Wireless scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only Cricket Wireless offers Chat.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Contract, Rolling.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 24.
- Markets: only Cricket Wireless offers US.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
Our verdict on each
Cricket Wireless
Cricket Wireless suits US prepaid buyers who want unlimited data, hotspot sharing and eSIM support on the AT&T network with no credit check. Starting price and unlimited price are the same figure, $15 and $15, and terms run 1 and 12, so nothing jumps at renewal.
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 | Cricket Wireless | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Price from ranks 194 of 258 compared brands, while the unlimited price reaches 35 of 173. | 9.0Entry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherHotspot sharing, wifi calling, eSIM and 5G come with the plans, a credit check is not required, and terms run 1 and 12. | 8.8Sim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Cricket Wireless | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Cricket Wireless: 1. Additional countries for Lyca Mobile: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Cricket Wireless | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 167 of 416 | 23 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 79 of 137 | 13 of 137 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 146 of 367 | 17 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 175 of 389 | 34 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 10 of 26 | 4 of 26 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Cricket Wireless | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more |
| Contract length | 1, 12 | 1, 12, 24Covers more |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Pros and cons
Cricket Wireless
Pros
- A credit check is not required, which opens the door for buyers with little or no credit history.
- Hotspot sharing, wifi calling, eSIM and 5G come as standard on the plans listed, not as paid extras.
- Sim only service means you can keep the handset you already own and pay only for the plan.
Cons
- Billing is prepaid only, so there is no rolling monthly or contract invoice structure to fall back on.
- As an MVNO, mvno, coverage and speeds come from the AT&T network rather than from Cricket Wireless itself.
- Contract terms run 1 and 12, so the longer prepaid option locks you into a fixed schedule.
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
Cricket Wireless
Who it suits
- US prepaid buyers who want unlimited data without a credit check.
- People bringing their own phone, since sim only and an eSIM are both offered.
- Households adding several lines, where a multi line discount applies.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want a network operator rather than an MVNO: GETESA sells as network and yesss! as network, while Cricket Wireless is mvno.
- Anyone who needs a rolling or contract bill rather than prepaid: Cricket Wireless has no such structure, and Lonestar Cell MTN is a network seller.
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
Cricket Wireless
Current offer
Free trial
14-day free trial with unlimited talk and 3GB data: 14 days
Requires compatible unlocked iOS or Android phone via tryCricket app
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Cricket Wireless | Lyca Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Cricket Wireless
How much does a Cricket Wireless plan cost a month?+
Plans start at $15 a month, and the Unlimited plan is listed at $15. The two figures match, so the entry point is not a lower teaser that steps up later: the starting rate and the unlimited rate read the same. Both are monthly figures.
How long is the term on a plan?+
Contract terms run 1 and 12, so there is a monthly option alongside a longer prepaid term. Take the shorter term if you want to keep changing your mind, and the longer term if you would rather settle into a fixed schedule. Prepaid describes how you pay, not how long you commit.
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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