Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile vs TextNow
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lyca Mobile |  TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2 | $0 |
| 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 | Free: $0 per month, unlimited talk and text, rolling; Plus Monthly: $18.99 per month, 20GB data, rolling; Unlimited Monthly: $35.99 per month, 20GB data plus unlimited 2G, rolling |
| Unlimited plan price | €39.99 | $35.99 |
| Markets | NL | US, CA |
| Host network | KPN | Not confirmed |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| EU roaming | Included | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes), Credit check required (No).
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Key differences
- TextNow scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only Lyca Mobile offers Phone.
- Support channels: only TextNow offers Chat.
- TextNow is available in 1 more country.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Contract.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
- Markets: only TextNow offers US, CA.
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.
TextNow
TextNow suits anyone who wants a second line or a spare handset for talk and text without paying a monthly bill, since the Free plan sits at $0 and runs rolling. It is a weaker fit for heavy data users or for anyone who wants support by phone.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. | 9.3HigherEntry price is $0 and TextNow ranks 1 of 258 on that figure. |
| Offer | 8.8Sim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. | 8.8Sim only, eSIM and wifi calling are offered, and the unlimited plan costs $35.99. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.6The legal entity is TextNow Inc. in CA, with support on help centre and chat. |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lyca Mobile | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
Additional countries for Lyca Mobile: 1. Additional countries for TextNow: 2.
Where these facts come from
Lyca Mobile
- lycamobile.nl: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
TextNow
- textnow.com: 16 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 23 of 416 | 189 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 13 of 137 | 89 of 137 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 17 of 367 | 164 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 34 of 389 | 190 of 389 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 4 of 26 | 13 of 26 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more | Rolling, Prepaid |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | TextNow Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2009 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Help centre, Chat |
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.
TextNow
Pros
- The Free plan costs $0 and still includes unlimited talk and text, so a spare line costs nothing to run.
- No credit check is required to sign up, which the free tier shares with the paid plans.
- Sim only plans run on rolling and prepaid billing, with a plan term of 1 month, so there is no long lock-in.
Cons
- The Unlimited Monthly plan, which adds unlimited data on older network generations, costs $35.99 a month, so heavy data users pay well above the free tier.
- Support runs on help centre and chat only, so there is no phone line listed.
- TextNow is a virtual network operator serving US and CA, so it does not reach readers who would pick a network such as GETESA.
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.
TextNow
Who it suits
- People in the US or Canada who want a second number for messages and calls and will not stream much video.
- Households keeping an old handset on a cheap line purely for talk and text.
- Readers who want an eSIM line and prefer paying monthly with no fixed term.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone outside the US and Canada, who should look at GETESA, yesss! or Lonestar Cell MTN instead.
- People who stream and tether regularly, since the paid data allowance is modest next to what network sellers offer.
- Readers who need phone support, because the listed channels are a help centre and chat.
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile | TextNow |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| United States | 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.
TextNow
What is the cheapest TextNow plan?+
The Free plan is the cheapest, priced from $0 a month. It includes unlimited talk and text on a rolling basis, with a plan term of 1 month. It is a sim only plan, so you use a handset you already own.
What does the unlimited plan cost?+
The Unlimited Monthly plan costs $35.99 a month. It pairs a set data allowance with unlimited data on older network generations, plus unlimited talk and text. The Plus Monthly tier carries the same data allowance, so the difference is the older-generation data on top.
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