Lidl Connect vs Lycamobile

Is Lidl Connect cheaper than Lycamobile?

Over a first year, yes, by €194.85. Lycamobile's National Unlimited costs €25.98 every 28 days, €350.73 in the first year with its activation fee. Lidl Connect costs €12.99 a month with no activation fee, €155.88 a year, at its official price. Lyca's cheaper bundles cap full speed at 100GB.

These figures use each provider's own published price, checked on 2026-10-10. Lidl Connect is shown at €12.99, the only price in 1GLOBAL's price list; the press reported a lower launch price for the first customers, which this comparison does not assume.

Lycamobile charges every 28 days, which is 13 payments a year rather than 12. The yearly figure above counts all 13.

What does Lycamobile give you that Lidl Connect does not?

Lycamobile's cheaper bundles suit people who use less: Unlimited Plus at €10 every 28 days gives 100GB of 5G before slowing to 256 kbps. Lyca focuses on international calling, offers eSIM with instant activation, and needs no credit check or contract.

• Cheaper capped bundles, such as €10 for 100GB of 5G.
• International calling bundles.
• eSIM with instant activation, no credit check.

Do Lidl Connect and Lycamobile use the same network?

Yes. ComReg lists Lycamobile on eir's network, the same as Lidl Connect and GoMo, so coverage should match. Moving from Lyca to Lidl Connect does not change where you get a signal; it changes the price, the data limits, roaming and the terms behind your credit.

Sharing eir's network means the coverage map is the same; differences show up in price, fair use, roaming data and support, not in where you get a signal.

How do you switch from Lycamobile to Lidl Connect on prepay?

Before you switch, stop your bundle renewing by dialling *190#, and use up your credit if you can. Lyca's terms, last updated in June 2023, say no cash refund is given. Irish law since 9 June 2023 says the provider you leave must refund credit on request, so ask in writing if you have a balance.

1. Decide what to do with your credit

   Lycamobile’s terms (last updated 14 June 2023) say no cash refund of remaining credit “at any time” Irish law since 9 June 2023 (S.I. 444/2022, Regulation 90(11)) says the provider you leave “shall refund, upon request, any remaining credit” to a consumer using prepaid services. Bonus credit: promotional credit cannot be used to buy bundles.

2. Know whether your number is registered

   Your mobile number, and whether your prepay number is registered (your old provider has your name and address); no account number is needed.

3. Start the move in Lidl Plus

   Choose to keep your number when you sign up. Lyca bundles renew automatically every 30 days; dial *190# to stop the renewal.

4. Keep your old SIM in

   Keep your old SIM in your phone until the move is done: a verification code is sent to it by text.

5. Claim your credit after the move

   How: Lycamobile does not state a refund route; ask in writing (cs@lycamobile.ie) and cite Regulation 90(11). Deadline: Lycamobile does not state a deadline. Fee: Lycamobile does not state a fee. More on unused credit.

What do you lose when you leave Lycamobile?

You lose any unused bundle allowance, which Lyca does not carry forward, and possibly your credit if Lyca refuses a refund. You leave nothing contractual behind: there is no minimum term. A Lyca number unused for 90 days, plus a further 30, is reallocated, so move it while it is active.

• Unused bundle allowance, which is not carried forward.
• Price changes on Lycamobile: Lycamobile does not state an annual price change.

What else should Lycamobile customers know before moving?

For Lycamobile customers the network does not change, so the decision is price and data: Lyca's truly unlimited bundle costs far more than Lidl Connect, while its capped bundles cost less. The credit refund conflict is the main risk. Lyca also points to separate porting terms we could not find.

Lycamobile's code of practice and complaints process: www.lycamobile.ie ↗. 1923 from a Lyca phone, +353 1 437 2322, cs@lycamobile.ie.

• Lycamobile and Lidl Connect both run on the eir network.
• Lyca’s cheapest bundles (€10 Unlimited Plus) give 100GB of 5G, then slow to 256 kbps; its truly unlimited bundle is €25.98 every 28 days.
• A Lycamobile number unused for 90 days, plus a further 30, is reallocated.
• Lycamobile includes 20GB of EU roaming data on National Unlimited; Lidl Connect includes 50GB.

Will Lycamobile refund your credit?

Lyca's terms say "You are not entitled to receive any cash refund for any credit balance remaining in your Account at any time". Regulation 90(11) of S.I. No. 444/2022, in force since 9 June 2023, says the provider you leave "shall refund, upon request, any remaining credit". Ask Lyca in writing, quoting the regulation, and keep the reply.

Write to cs@lycamobile.ie after your number has moved, giving your old number, the switch date and your balance. If Lyca refuses or does not answer within ten working days, use its complaints process and then contact ComReg's consumer team.