Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lyca Mobile vs UKLG DirectSave
Where Lyca Mobile and UKLG DirectSave differ
| Compare |  Lyca Mobile |  UKLG DirectSave |
|---|---|---|
| Host network | KPN | Three |
| Price from | €2 | £22.95 |
| 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 | 11Mb/s Broadband: GBP 22.95/month, 11Mbps, 12 months; 550Mb/s Full Fibre: GBP 39.95/month, 550Mbps, 24 months; 1000Mb/s Full Fibre: GBP 44.95/month, 1000Mbps, 24 months |
| Unlimited plan price | €39.99 | £19.95 |
| Markets | NL | GB |
| 5G | Yes | Not confirmed |
| eSIM | Yes | Not confirmed |
| EU roaming | Included | Not confirmed |
| Hotspot sharing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Mid-contract price rises | Not confirmed | If price rise is detrimental you may cancel without penalty within 30 days |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), Credit check required (No).
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Key differences
- UKLG DirectSave scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Support channels: only Lyca Mobile offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only UKLG DirectSave offers Email.
- Billing: only Lyca Mobile offers Prepaid.
- Contract length: only Lyca Mobile offers 1.
- Markets: only Lyca Mobile offers NL.
- Markets: only UKLG DirectSave 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.
UKLG DirectSave
UKLG DirectSave suits households in GB that want full fibre speeds at a low entry cost, a setup fee of £0 and renewal at £27.95 to £39.95. The trade-off is commitment and support: terms run for 12 and 24 months, help comes over phone and email, and no credit check is required.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lyca Mobile | UKLG DirectSave |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Entry at €2 with a 9 cost part, against an unlimited bundle at €39.99. | 9.4HigherEntry price of £22.95, renewal of £27.95 to £39.95 and a setup fee of £0. |
| Offer | 8.8HigherSim only, eSIM, hotspot sharing and 5G, plus contract, rolling and prepaid billing, scoring 8.8 on offer. | 8.6Full fibre at 1,000 Mbps on fttp and fttc, uploads from 20 to 115 Mbps, router included. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lyca Mobile | UKLG DirectSave |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 23 of 416 | 194 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 13 of 137 | 91 of 137 |
| Phone plans without a credit check | 4 of 26 | 14 of 26 |
Sources behind this comparison
Lyca Mobile
- lycamobile.nl: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
UKLG DirectSave
- directsavetelecom.co.uk: 14 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lyca Mobile | UKLG DirectSave |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Contract, Rolling, PrepaidCovers more | Contract, Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 12, 24 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Utilities UK Ltd t/a Direct Save Telecom |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Email |
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.
UKLG DirectSave
Pros
- A setup fee of £0 puts UKLG DirectSave at 1 of 86 on setup fee, the strongest rank among the measures here.
- Renewal pricing of £27.95 to £39.95 sits at 6 of 36 on post contract price, so the month after the term is not a step change.
- Full fibre downloads of 1,000 Mbps with uploads running from 20 to 115 Mbps across fttp and fttc.
Cons
- Terms run for 12 and 24 months, so a short commitment is ruled out, and termination fees apply once the service is live.
- Chat and a help centre are not among its phone and email, so a time-sensitive fault means a phone call rather than a written desk.
- The entry price of £22.95 ranks 53 of 95 on price from, and the top speed of 1,000 Mbps sits at 49 of 114 on maximum download speed, so neither measure leads the field.
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.
UKLG DirectSave
Who it suits
- Households in GB that can get fttp and fttc at their address and want a £0 setup fee with a router included.
- Applicants who would rather skip a credit check, since none is required to order.
- Readers planning a broadband and mobile pairing from one brand, with sim only service on Three and unlimited data at £19.95.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want cable or satellite alongside full fibre: Astound is listed on cable and fttp and EarthLink on fttp, 5G and satellite.
- Houses that want a single fibre-to-the-premises technology to compare against, since Abissnet is listed on fttp alone while UKLG DirectSave runs on fttp and fttc.
- Readers chasing the highest headline speed in the site data, where the top download of 1,000 Mbps ranks 49 of 114.
Country by country
| Country | Lyca Mobile | UKLG DirectSave |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
UKLG DirectSave
What does broadband cost at the start, and what does it cost afterwards?+
The entry broadband plan is listed at £22.95 a month, with the full fibre tiers above that. Once the initial term ends, plans renew within £27.95 to £39.95, so budget the renewal figure rather than the headline. The setup fee on both lines is £0, which means nothing to pay before the first bill.
Is there a setup charge, and do I need to buy a router?+
Setup is charged at £0, so no activation fee lands on the first bill. A wireless router is supplied with full fibre orders rather than sold separately, and Free wireless router, GBP 8.95 delivery covers what is included alongside the delivery terms. Reading that detail matters, since delivery is the part that can carry a cost.
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