Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile vs TalkMobile
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lyca Mobile |  TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | KPN | Vodafone and Three |
| Price from | €2 | £4.98 |
| 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 | 15GB: GBP 5.95 per month, 15GB, 30-day; 100GB 12-month: GBP 9.95 per month (GBP 4.98 first 3 months), 100GB, 12-month; No unlimited plan listed |
| EU roaming | Included | Fair use |
| Markets | NL | GB |
| Unlimited plan price | €39.99 | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 47 |
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
- TalkMobile scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only TalkMobile offers Chat.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Prepaid.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 24.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
- Markets: only TalkMobile 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.
TalkMobile
TalkMobile suits adults in GB who want a plain sim only deal on Vodafone and Three with no credit check. Entry sits at £4.98, but that rate covers only the opening part of the annual term, so the standard rate afterwards is the figure to plan around.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. | 9.1HigherEntry at £4.98 is low, but it is introductory on the annual plan only, and the standard rate follows. |
| Offer | 8.8Sim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. | 8.9HighereSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing included, fair use roaming across 47 countries, no credit check. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 23 of 416 | 186 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 13 of 137 | 87 of 137 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 34 of 389 | 187 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 4 of 26 | 12 of 26 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
Additional countries for Lyca Mobile: 1. Additional countries for TalkMobile: 1.
Where these facts come from
Lyca Mobile
- lycamobile.nl: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
TalkMobile
- talkmobile.co.uk: 18 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more | Contract, Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1, 12 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Talkmobile Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited plan price | €39.99highest quarter | Not confirmed | €19.99 |
| Roaming countries | Not confirmed | 47below the median | 100 |
Median across 176 listed providers.
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.
TalkMobile
Pros
- No credit check is required, so a past credit issue does not block an order.
- eSIM, 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing are all included as standard, with nothing extra to switch on.
- Host network is Vodafone and Three, so a line can sit on either network without changing provider.
Cons
- The £4.98 rate is introductory, applying to the opening part of the annual plan only, after which the standard rate takes over.
- Roaming is fair use across 47 countries rather than an unrestricted allowance, so heavy roaming abroad is capped by the terms.
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.
TalkMobile
Who it suits
- Adults in GB who want a sim only line on Vodafone and Three without a credit check.
- People with an eSIM handset who want 5G, wifi calling and hotspot sharing active from the start.
- Travellers who need fair use roaming across 47 countries rather than a fully unrestricted allowance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers who want the host network's own tariff: GETESA and yesss! both sell as network operators, while TalkMobile is mvno.
- Anyone set on unlimited data, since no unlimited plan appears among the reference plan prices; yesss! and Lonestar Cell MTN run as network operators on their own brands.
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile | TalkMobile |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
TalkMobile
How much does a TalkMobile sim only plan cost at the start?+
Entry pricing starts at £4.98. That figure is introductory on the annual plan and covers only the opening part of the term, with the standard monthly rate applying after that. A monthly plan with a smaller allowance is listed as well, so the annual rate is the figure that matters at renewal.
Do I need a credit check to get a TalkMobile SIM?+
No credit check is required, and that is why the provider shows up in no credit check plan lists. Entry at £4.98 can be set up without a credit search on record, so a past credit issue does not stand in the way of ordering.
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