Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile vs SMARTY
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lyca Mobile |  SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | KPN | Three |
| Price from | €2 | £5 |
| Reference plan prices | 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 | 40GB: GBP 10 per month, 40GB, 1-month rolling | Unlimited: GBP 20 per month, unlimited, 1-month rolling | 2GB Data Only: GBP 5 per month, 2GB, 1-month rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | €39.99 | £20 |
| EU roaming | Included | Fair use |
| Markets | NL | GB |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | No annual price rises on rolling one-month plans |
| Multi-line discount | Not confirmed | Yes |
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
- SMARTY scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only Lyca Mobile offers Phone.
- Support channels: only SMARTY offers Community.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Contract, Prepaid.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
- Markets: only SMARTY offers GB.
Our verdict on each
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.
SMARTY
SMARTY suits anyone after a rolling monthly SIM, a low entry price and the usual extras with no credit check, and it stays cheap at renewal because annual price rises do not apply to its rolling plans. Its unlimited plan ranks 89 of 173 on price, where heavy users get their value.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. | 9.1HigherEntry plan from £5 a month, unlimited at £20, rolling billing with no annual rises. |
| Offer | 8.8Sim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. | 8.9HigherSim only on Three with eSIM, wifi calling, hotspot sharing, a multi line discount and no credit check. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lyca Mobile | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
Additional countries for Lyca Mobile: 1. Additional countries for SMARTY: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 23 of 416 | 184 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 13 of 137 | 85 of 137 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 34 of 389 | 186 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 4 of 26 | 11 of 26 |
Sources behind this comparison
Lyca Mobile
- lycamobile.nl: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
SMARTY
- smarty.co.uk: 20 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more | Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Hutchison 3G UK Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Community |
Pros and cons
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.
SMARTY
Pros
- The entry plan is priced from £5 a month and bills on rolling terms.
- No annual price rises on the rolling monthly plans, so what you start on is what you renew on.
- An eSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing are all included.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no phone line for problems that need a voice.
- EU roaming works on a fair use basis, so a month abroad is not the same as a month at home.
- Coverage is fixed to Three because SMARTY is a virtual network operator, so there is no second host network to weigh.
Who each suits
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.
SMARTY
Who it suits
- People in GB who want to leave any month on a 1 month rolling term.
- Heavy data users who will pay £20 a month for the unlimited plan instead of watching a cap.
- Households running several lines, since a multi line discount is available.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who would rather buy from the network's own brand: GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! are all network sellers, while SMARTY is a virtual network operator on Three.
- Frequent travellers who want roaming included, since fair use is the basis here and 48.2% of cheap plan listings include it outright.
- Anyone who needs a human voice on day one, since support runs on help centre and community only.
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile | SMARTY |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
SMARTY
How much is the cheapest SMARTY plan?+
SMARTY's entry plan starts at £5 a month and bills rolling, so there is no annual term to fund first. That figure is the monthly price from the start, not a headline rate that needs a discount code. Bigger allowances and unlimited data cost more.
How much is unlimited data at SMARTY?+
The unlimited plan costs £20 a month on rolling terms, and on the price lists it places 89 of 173 tracked brands, a stronger showing than its entry price. Heavy users get more here than the entry figure suggests.
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