Updated September 30, 2026 · TariffCue Editorial Team
Lycamobile vs MobileX
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lycamobile | MobileX ReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | £3.50 | $3.88 |
| Reference plan prices | National Plus: GBP 5 per month, 30 GB, 30 days; UK Plan Unlimited: GBP 12.5 per month, Unlimited, 30 days; UK Plan Smart: GBP 3.5 per month, 5 GB, 30 days | 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 | £12.50 | $14.88 |
| EU roaming | Fair use | Paid |
| Markets | GB | US |
| Wi-Fi calling | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Data rollover | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Credit check required | No | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Seller type (Mvno), SIM-only (Yes), 5G (Yes), eSIM (Yes).
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Key differences
- MobileX scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Contract length: only Lycamobile offers 12, 24.
- Markets: only Lycamobile offers GB.
- Markets: only MobileX offers US.
Our verdict on each
Lycamobile
Lycamobile suits UK readers who want a prepaid sim only line, 5G and an eSIM without a credit check or a long handset contract. It scores 9.2 overall, and entry pricing starts at £3.50 a month on a rolling monthly basis.
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 | Lycamobile | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Entry pricing of £3.50 a month and unlimited data at £12.50 a month back a strong cost score. | 9.5HigherPlans start at $3.88 and the unlimited tier starts at $14.88, so both entry points sit low. |
| Offer | 8.9Sim only plans, 5G, an eSIM, prepaid and rolling billing and terms of 1, 12 and 24 make for a flexible, low commitment lineup. | 9.2HigherEverything runs month to month on 1 month, with eSIM, 5G, wifi calling, hotspot sharing and data rollover included. |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lycamobile | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| SIM-only deals | 6 of 416 | 2 of 416 |
| Cheap cell phone plans (MVNOs) | 3 of 137 | 1 of 137 |
| Prepaid phone plans | 5 of 367 | 2 of 367 |
| Phone plans with eSIM | 20 of 389 | 16 of 389 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lycamobile | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | Prepaid, Rolling | Prepaid, Rolling |
| Contract length | 1, 12, 24Covers more | 1 |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Mobile X Global, Inc. |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Pros and cons
Lycamobile
Pros
- Entry pricing of £3.50 a month and unlimited data at £12.50 a month place it near the top of our price-from and unlimited tables.
- A credit check is not required, which is a shorter route to a live line than a provider that scores applicants first.
- Billing runs on prepaid and rolling terms and plan terms come in 1, 12 and 24, so a reader can start short and stay flexible.
Cons
- Roaming in Europe runs on fair use terms rather than being included, so regular travel calls for another plan.
- Lycamobile is an MVNO by mvno, where GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! are listed as networks, so readers set on a network seller should compare those instead.
- The entry price ranks 79 of 258 on our price-from list, so the lowest starting price in the comparison sits elsewhere.
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
Lycamobile
Who it suits
- UK readers wanting a cheap prepaid data line: sim only plans from £3.50 a month, sold in the United Kingdom, with no credit check.
- Readers who want 5G or an eSIM but not a handset bundle, and who can live with plan terms of 1, 12 and 24.
- Holders of a spare phone or tablet who can manage fair use roaming and a set data allowance.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want European roaming included in the price: Lycamobile runs roaming on fair use terms, and GETESA, Lonestar Cell MTN and yesss! are the alternatives to weigh instead.
- Anyone who insists on buying from a network rather than an MVNO, since GETESA (network), Lonestar Cell MTN (network) and yesss! (network) all sell as networks while Lycamobile is an MVNO by mvno.
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 | Lycamobile | MobileX |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Lycamobile
What is the cheapest Lycamobile plan?+
UK Plan Smart is the entry plan, priced at £3.50 a month for a set data allowance. It is a sim only offer, so no handset is needed, and a credit check is not required. National Plus costs more for a larger allowance, while UK Plan Unlimited is the option for a reader who would rather not watch data.
How much does the unlimited plan cost?+
UK Plan Unlimited is quoted at £12.50 a month. On our unlimited price list Lycamobile ranks 44 of 173, so unlimited data is priced below the middle of the field. The figure is the same throughout, with no promotional opening rate listed for the plan.
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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