Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lonestar Cell MTN vs Melita
Where Lonestar Cell MTN and Melita differ
| Compare |  Lonestar Cell MTN |  Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.20 | €4.95 |
| Reference plan prices | Social Bundle: $0.20, varies, prepaid; Data Bundle 70MB 1 Day: $0.35, 70MB, prepaid; Data Bundle 23.3GB 30 Days: $50.00, 23.3GB, prepaid - no 30GB+ 12-month or unlimited listed | 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 |
| EU roaming | Paid | Included |
| Markets | LR | MT |
| Unlimited plan price | Not confirmed | €4.95 |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Roaming countries | 170 | 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
- Lonestar Cell MTN scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Support channels: only Lonestar Cell MTN offers Email, Phone.
- Contract length: only Melita offers 24.
- Markets: only Lonestar Cell MTN offers LR.
- Markets: only Melita offers MT.
Our verdict on each
Lonestar Cell MTN
Lonestar Cell MTN suits people who want a small prepaid data line rather than a long contract, with prices starting at $0.20 and both sim only and eSIM available. It is a network seller listed for LR, with roaming across 170 countries and European roaming billed separately.
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 | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.9HigherEntry at $0.20 with prepaid bundles listed drives the cost score of 9.9 out of ten. | 9.6Entry price sits well under the sim only median of €9.30 and unlimited price ranks high on 10 of 173. |
| Offer | 9.3HigherSim only, eSIM and roaming across 170 countries back the offer score of 9.3 out of ten. | 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. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 50 of 416 | 62 of 416 |
| Mobile networks | 27 of 319 | 38 of 319 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 46 of 367 | 60 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 66 of 389 | 76 of 389 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Liberia | Malta |
Additional countries for Lonestar Cell MTN: 1. Additional countries for Melita: 1.
What we checked
Lonestar Cell MTN
- lonestarcell.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Melita
- melita.com: 17 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Prepaid | Contract, Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1 | 1, 24Covers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Melita Ltd. |
| Headquarters | Liberia | Malta |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre, Chat |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | Not confirmed | €4.95lowest quarter | €19.99 |
| Roaming countries | 170above the median | Not confirmed | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Lonestar Cell MTN
Pros
- Entry starts at $0.20, and the brand ranks 11 out of 258 brands on price from.
- Sim only and eSIM are both listed as available, so no handset and no physical card are needed to start.
- You can stay prepaid or take a contract, since billing is listed as contract and prepaid.
Cons
- European roaming is paid, so EU trips are not covered by the local price.
- Rolling billing is not offered: the listing shows contract and prepaid only, while yesss! lists contract, rolling and prepaid terms.
- The listed plan prices stop at a monthly data bundle and are sold on contract and prepaid terms, so heavy users buy extra data in blocks on a 1 month term.
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
Lonestar Cell MTN
Who it suits
- People in LR who want a data-only line on the host network starting at $0.20.
- Travellers who need wide roaming and accept paying for it, given coverage across 170 countries and European roaming at paid.
- Shoppers who prefer buying from the network itself: the seller type here is network, against reseller at Astound.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants rolling monthly billing, since yesss! lists contract, rolling and prepaid while this brand offers contract and prepaid only.
- Buyers who want a reseller model instead of a host network, since Astound is listed as reseller and this brand as network.
- Readers who want an unlimited plan, since the listed plan prices show none and stop at a monthly data bundle.
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
Current offers
Lonestar Cell MTN
Current offer
Bonus
New SIM welcome with free MoMo and recharge bonus: $0.50 plus 300-400% bonus
Buy new SIM for 100LRD, register SIM and recharge; bonus on first 3 months on network
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lonestar Cell MTN | Melita |
|---|---|---|
| Liberia | Yes | No |
| Malta | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Lonestar Cell MTN
What does Lonestar Cell MTN cost to get started?+
Entry pricing starts at $0.20, and the brand sits at 11 out of 258 brands ranked on price from. The listed plan prices show a social bundle, a small daily data bundle and a monthly data bundle, each sold on prepaid terms, so the headline figure is the floor rather than a typical monthly spend.
How long are the contracts and can I pay prepaid?+
The listed plans carry a contract length of 1 month, so there is no long tie-in to weigh up. Billing is listed as contract and prepaid, which lets you stay on prepaid terms or take a contract. The plan prices are sold as short bundles rather than a year-long package.
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.