Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile Ireland vs MobileX
Where Lyca Mobile Ireland and MobileX differ
| Compare |  Lyca Mobile Ireland | MobileX ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €9 | $3.88 |
| Reference plan prices | Ireland Plus: EUR 9 per 28 days, 30 GB, no contract; Unlimited Plus: EUR 10 per 28 days, unlimited, no contract; National S: EUR 10 per 28 days, 5 GB, no contract | Build Your Own from $3.88 per month, custom data, month-to-month; Basic Unlimited 10GB: $14.88 per month, unlimited talk text plus 10GB, month-to-month; Basic Unlimited 30GB: $24.88 per month, unlimited talk text plus 30GB, month-to-month |
| Unlimited plan price | €10 | $14.88 |
| EU roaming | Included | Paid |
| Markets | IE | US |
| Seller type | Not confirmed | Mvno |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Data rollover | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes).
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Key differences
- MobileX scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Support channels: only MobileX offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile Ireland offers IE.
- Markets: only MobileX offers US.
Our verdict on each
Lyca Mobile Ireland
Lyca Mobile Ireland is a prepaid sim only brand on the Three network that suits anyone wanting a single low monthly line with no fixed term and no handset. It scores 9 overall, and the honest catch is that 22 of 173 on unlimited pricing is where the value sits.
MobileX
MobileX suits US readers who want a prepaid plan with a low entry price and no contract attached, scoring 9.4 overall. Build Your Own starts at $3.88 on 1 month, and that same monthly rate carries into every later period, so nothing has to be unwound at renewal.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile Ireland | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Entry at €9 ranks 155 of 258, but unlimited at €10 ranks 22 of 173 | 9.5HigherPlans start at $3.88 and the unlimited tier starts at $14.88, so both entry points sit low. |
| Offer | 8.8Billing is prepaid and rolling on 1-month terms with eSIM and 5G, though help runs on help centre only | 9.2HigherEverything runs month to month on 1 month, with eSIM, 5G, wifi calling, hotspot sharing and data rollover included. |
Where each is licensed and available
Additional countries for Lyca Mobile Ireland: 1. Additional countries for MobileX: 1.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile Ireland | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 19 of 416 | 2 of 416 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 14 of 367 | 2 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 30 of 389 | 16 of 389 |
Where these facts come from
Lyca Mobile Ireland
- lycamobile.ie: 11 facts, checked September 30, 2026
MobileX
- mymobilex.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile Ireland | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid, Rolling | Prepaid, Rolling |
| Contract length | 1 | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Mobile X Global, Inc. |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Pros and cons
Lyca Mobile Ireland
Pros
- Unlimited Plus is priced at €10, which ranks 22 of 173 and sits well under the €23.19 typical unlimited price
- Billing is prepaid and rolling, so there is no credit check and no long lock in before you use the line
- The contract length on file is 1 month, so a bad month costs a month rather than a year
Cons
- Entry price of €9 ranks only 155 of 258, so the headline figure is not the cheapest on the table
- Support runs on help centre only, which is thin help for anyone whose prepaid account needs more than a self service lookup
- The offer score of 8.8 trails the cost score of 9.3, so the value is in the price rather than in the extras
MobileX
Pros
- Build Your Own starts at $3.88 on a plan where the data allowance is set by the customer
- Plans run 1 month, so there is no long term to serve
- Unlimited talk and text plans start at $14.88
Cons
- European roaming is paid, so travel adds cost rather than arriving with the plan
- The seller type is mvno, so service runs over a host network and local coverage needs checking
- Coverage is listed for US, so anyone who needs service across several countries should look wider
Who each suits
Lyca Mobile Ireland
Who it suits
- Someone in IE who wants a low cost data line with no handset to pay off
- A heavy data user who values unlimited data at €10 over per gigabyte allowances
- Anyone switching from a contract SIM who wants rolling prepaid billing on 1 month
Who should look elsewhere
- You want a bundled new phone, since these plans are sim only with no device
- You need a fixed end date in writing, since billing is prepaid and rolling rather than a contract, which GETESA offers on prepaid and contract
- You want a first line that carries a brand new network in Ireland, since these plans ride on the Three network
MobileX
Who it suits
- Residents of US who want a prepaid plan with no long contract
- People who want unlimited talk and text from $14.88
- Readers who want an eSIM, rollover data and hotspot sharing on a flexible plan
Who should look elsewhere
- GETESA readers who would rather buy from a network than a mvno
- Lonestar Cell MTN readers who want the network itself rather than a virtual brand
- Travellers who need roaming inside the monthly plan, since European roaming is paid
Current offers
MobileX
Current offer
Bonus
Unlimited 30 50GB data promo: 50GB data
Offer applicable to Unlimited 30 Standard Access single month plan only. Any unused data does not rollover.
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile Ireland | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Lyca Mobile Ireland
How much does Lyca Mobile Ireland cost at entry?+
Entry pricing starts at €9, and billing is prepaid and rolling, so the figure is prepaid rather than tied to a minimum term. Because the contract length on file is 1 month, the same rate covers each cycle. There is no separate introductory price that rises later.
What does unlimited data cost on Lyca Mobile Ireland?+
Unlimited Plus is €10, which puts Lyca Mobile Ireland 22 of 173 on unlimited pricing. Set against the typical unlimited price of €23.19 across the plans we track, the figure here sits well under the middle of the field. It is the strongest reason to shortlist this brand.
MobileX
What is the cheapest MobileX plan?+
Build Your Own starts at $3.88 and you set the data allowance on it yourself. The published reference prices for the plans are monthly and month to month, so that entry figure is the ongoing figure rather than a promotional rate that changes later. A reader comparing a low headline price with a long contract deal is comparing two different structures here, not two stages of one sale.
Does MobileX use contracts or lock-ins?+
No long term is attached. Billing is prepaid and rolling and plans sit at 1 month, the short contract length that flexible mobile deals tend to use. Nothing ties you in for a year, so a reader who wants to change plan or walk away can do so without serving out a term first.
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