Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile vs Simpel
Where Lyca Mobile and Simpel differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Host network | Vodafone | Odido |
| Price from | A$15 | €2.50 |
| Reference plan prices | LycaPlan S: 15 AUD per month, 50GB, 28 days; LycaPlan M: 20 AUD per month, 120GB, 28 days; LycaPlan L: 50 AUD per month, 300GB, 28 days | Cheapest 12-month 30GB+: 40GB EUR12.00/mo, 40GB, 12 months; Cheapest unlimited: none listed - unlimited calls addon EUR1.50/mo; Cheapest overall: from EUR2.50/mo |
| Data rollover | YesHas it | No |
| EU roaming | Not confirmed | Included |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | Tariffs may be indexed annually as specified in your contract |
| Markets | Not confirmed | NL |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Credit check required (No).
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Key differences
- Simpel scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Data rollover: only Lyca Mobile.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Prepaid.
- Billing: only Simpel offers Contract.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 1.
- Contract length: only Simpel offers 12, 24.
Our verdict on each
Lyca Mobile
Lyca Mobile is a prepaid MVNO selling SIM only bundles on the Vodafone network, built for people who want a short cycle and no credit check. Entry sits at AUD 15, plans run on 1 month terms, and unused data rolls forward.
Simpel
Simpel is a Dutch virtual network operator for people who want a cheap sim only plan, a 5G connection and an eSIM without a credit check, with tariffs starting at €2.50 a month. The catch is commitment: plans run on 12 and 24, and data rollover is not on the menu.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8Entry at AUD 15 on 1 month prepaid terms, with no credit check needed. | 9.6HigherSim only tariffs start at €2.50, below the €9.30 median here, though data rollover is not offered. |
| Offer | 9.0HigherSim only bundles with eSIM, 5G and data rollover all included, running on Vodafone. | 8.8Broad scope: 5G, an eSIM, no credit check and fibre reaching 1,000 Mbps on fttp. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.7An mvno on Odido run by Simpel.nl B.V., trading since 2007, with support on email, help centre and community. |
How they place
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 212 of 416 | 150 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 98 of 137 | 73 of 137 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 208 of 389 | 157 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 16 of 26 | 8 of 26 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Netherlands |
Pick Lyca Mobile if, pick Simpel if
Pick Lyca Mobile if data rollover matter most.
Pick Simpel if cost matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Lyca Mobile
- lycamobile.com.au: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Simpel
- simpel.nl: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid | Contract |
| Contract length | 1 | 12, 24 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Simpel.nl B.V. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Netherlands |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2007 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre, Community |
Broadband
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Not confirmed | Fttp |
| Top download speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 1,000 |
| Upload speed (Mbps) | Not confirmed | 100 to 1,000 |
| Exit fee terms | Not confirmed | After minimum term rolling monthly with 1 month notice |
| Router | Not confirmed | Modem included |
| Address checker | Not confirmed | https://www.simpel.nl/internet/product/zelf-samenstellen |
Pros and cons
Lyca Mobile
Pros
- Entry price of AUD 15 ranks 159 among 258 brands tracked, keeping it in the lower part of the field.
- Terms of 1 month on prepaid billing leave the exit decision open at every cycle.
- Data rollover is included, so an allowance left unspent carries into the next cycle.
Cons
- As an MVNO on Vodafone, coverage and speeds are inherited from the host network rather than run on its own infrastructure.
- The entry bundle carries the smallest allowance, so heavy data users step up to a higher priced plan.
- Bundles refresh on a 1 month cycle, so there is no longer term in which to lock a cheaper price.
Simpel
Pros
- A credit check is not required, so an application does not rest on a credit file.
- An eSIM and 5G are both offered, so a recent handset works without waiting for a card in the post.
- EU roaming is included in the sim only line, and only 36.1% of the listings include it.
Cons
- Data rollover is not offered, so unused data from a quiet month is lost rather than carried into the next one.
- Plans run 12 and 24 with billing on contract, and leaving early is governed by After minimum term rolling monthly with 1 month notice, while only 78% of the listings are month to month.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line listed, while 81.5% of the brands offer one.
Who each suits
Lyca Mobile
Who it suits
- People on a tight monthly budget who want data without paying for a handset.
- New arrivals and travellers who want an eSIM on an established host network.
- Anyone without a credit file who needs a prepaid SIM only plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Getesa, if you would rather buy from the network itself than from an MVNO on Vodafone.
- Lonestar Cell MTN, if a short prepaid cycle does not suit and a network seller fits your usage better.
- yesss, if you are comparing host networks and want something different to the Vodafone behind these plans.
Simpel
Who it suits
- People in NL who bring their own handset and want sim only service on 5G with no credit check.
- Households that want both lines in one place, since fibre runs to 1,000 Mbps and hardware is Modem included.
- Travellers who would rather not buy a roaming pack, since EU roaming is included.
Who should look elsewhere
- People set on a network operator rather than a virtual one: Simpel is an mvno, while GETESA (network) and yesss! (network) sit on the other side of the market.
- Anyone unwilling to sit a full term: plans run 12 and 24 with notice set by After minimum term rolling monthly with 1 month notice, so if your plans may change, read the terms at Lonestar Cell MTN (network) as well.
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile | Simpel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Lyca Mobile
How much does Lyca Mobile cost to start?+
Entry sits at AUD 15. The reference bundles begin there and step up in data allowance, so the entry price suits light monthly use while heavier users move to a larger bundle. Nothing in the listing requires a handset, so the bundle and the SIM make up the whole cost.
Which network does Lyca Mobile run on?+
Plans run on Vodafone. Lyca Mobile is an MVNO, so coverage and speeds follow that host network rather than a network of its own. Service while travelling depends on how far the host network reaches, and the listed bundles do not include roaming.
Simpel
How much does a Simpel sim only plan cost to start?+
Sim only plans start at €2.50 a month, below the €9.30 median across the brands tracked here. The lowest priced bundle with a larger data allowance runs on a year contract, and unlimited calls come as a small monthly add-on rather than a plan of their own. Read the tariff terms, since the entry price is separate from what you pay later.
How long is the contract and can I leave early?+
Plans run 12 and 24 with billing on contract, and the notice terms are After minimum term rolling monthly with 1 month notice. Only 78% of the listings are month to month, so a shorter rhythm does exist elsewhere in the market. Read that notice wording before you sign, because rolling monthly is not the same as having no term.