Lyca Mobile Review 2026: Global Brand, Local Disappointment

Lyca Mobile operates in over 23 countries, making it one of the largest MVNOs on the planet by geographic footprint. That sounds impressive — and in the international telecommunications market, Lyca's reach is genuinely notable. But geographic breadth does not translate to quality depth. In the United States, Lyca Mobile is a forgettable T-Mobile MVNO with mediocre data caps, no two-factor authentication, no true unlimited option, and no build-a-plan flexibility. It is a global brand delivering a local disappointment.

The Global Brand Problem

Lyca Mobile's pitch to US customers leans on its international presence: operations in 23+ countries, millions of customers worldwide, cheap international calling. For someone who travels frequently between Lyca-covered countries or has extensive international calling needs, the multi-country ecosystem has theoretical appeal.

Why Global Does Not Mean Good

Here is the fundamental disconnect: Lyca's resources, management attention, and strategic focus are spread across 23+ countries. The United States is one market among many. When a company operates in two dozen countries, no single market gets the focused attention that a US-dedicated carrier provides.

Tello focuses entirely on the US market. Every product decision, support resource, and feature development is designed for US customers on T-Mobile's network. When Tello implemented 2FA, it was because US customers needed it. When Tello built its build-a-plan system, it was because US customers demanded flexibility. Lyca's feature decisions are made at a global level, and US-specific needs get diluted.

The International Calling Overlap

Lyca's international calling rates are legitimately cheap. But so are Tello's — and Tello covers 60+ countries with international calling included. More importantly, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal have made traditional international calling increasingly irrelevant. The person you are calling overseas almost certainly has at least one of these apps.

Lyca is banking on customers who still use traditional voice minutes for international calls. That customer base is shrinking every year.

The UK Management Factor

Lyca Mobile is headquartered in London. US operations are managed remotely by a company whose primary focus is European and Asian markets. This creates predictable issues with US customer support responsiveness, feature parity with US competitors, understanding of US regulatory requirements, and speed of response to US-specific market changes.

Lyca Mobile Plans and Pricing

Lyca offers tiered plans on T-Mobile's US network:

The Data Cap Disaster

Lyca's plans are shockingly behind the US market:

Lyca charges $55+ after taxes for 25GB. Tello — on the same T-Mobile network — charges $25 total for 35GB with a true unlimited option. That is more than double the price for 10GB less data. The value comparison is not just unfavorable for Lyca — it is embarrassing.

The Tax Problem

None of Lyca's prices include taxes:

At $22-24/month after taxes for 3GB, you are paying nearly what Tello charges for 35GB or Visible charges for truly unlimited. The math is devastating at every price tier.

No True Unlimited

Lyca does not offer a true unlimited data plan in the US. The 25GB cap on their most expensive plan is outmatched by carriers costing less than half as much. In a market where unlimited data has become the baseline expectation, Lyca is playing a game from 2015.

Speed Test Results

We tested Lyca Mobile on T-Mobile's US network:

These are standard T-Mobile MVNO speeds — identical to what you would get on Tello, Mint Mobile, or any other T-Mobile-based carrier. The network is T-Mobile's. Lyca adds nothing to the experience and, as a lower-priority MVNO, cannot even guarantee you will get the same priority as carriers with better wholesale agreements.

The speeds are perfectly usable for most tasks. But you are paying Lyca's premium prices for T-Mobile's standard network performance. Tello delivers the same speeds at half the price with twice the features.

Our 11-Point Scoring Breakdown

A 4/11 puts Lyca in the same "poor" category as other underperforming MVNOs. The score reflects a carrier that meets only basic requirements (low starting price, unlimited talk/text, SIM PIN, T-Mobile coverage) while failing on everything that differentiates a good carrier from a bad one.

Security Analysis

No 2FA: The Recurring Problem

Lyca Mobile does not offer two-factor authentication for US customer accounts. This is becoming a pattern in our reviews of lower-tier MVNOs, and it is consistently the most damaging gap we identify.

Without 2FA, your Lyca account relies on a password alone. A single compromised password — from phishing, credential stuffing, or a breach at another service where you reused the password — gives an attacker full access.

The Cross-Border Complication

Lyca's international customer base creates an additional security wrinkle. If you have Lyca service in multiple countries (one of the carrier's supposed advantages), a compromised US account could have cascading effects across your international Lyca services. Without 2FA protecting any of these accounts, the attack surface multiplies with every country where you use Lyca.

Breach Transparency

Lyca Mobile's breach record in the US is difficult to verify independently. As a UK-based company, Lyca's data handling is subject to different reporting requirements depending on jurisdiction. A breach affecting UK or EU customers would be reported under GDPR. A breach affecting only US customers might have different disclosure timelines and requirements.

The lack of verified information about Lyca's US breach history is not reassuring — it is a transparency gap.

Where Your Data Lives

As a UK-based company, Lyca's customer data may be stored, processed, or accessed from outside the United States. While GDPR provides strong protections for EU-stored data, the cross-jurisdictional nature of Lyca's operations adds complexity to understanding exactly how your personal information is handled, where it resides, and what legal frameworks govern its protection.

US-based carriers like Visible and Tello keep customer data under US jurisdiction with clear, consistent regulatory oversight.

Lyca Mobile vs. The Competition

vs. Visible

Verdict: Visible dominates on price, data, security, and service. Lyca's international calling advantage is real but increasingly irrelevant in the age of WhatsApp. Unless you need traditional voice calling to specific countries without internet access, Visible is the superior choice.

vs. Tello

Verdict: This comparison is decisive. Tello uses the exact same T-Mobile network, offers more international calling destinations (60+ countries vs. Lyca's included destinations), adds 2FA, includes taxes, provides build-a-plan flexibility, costs less at every tier, and scores more than double Lyca's rating. There is no rational argument for choosing Lyca over Tello if you are a US-based customer on T-Mobile.

Who Should Get Lyca Mobile?

How to Switch from Lyca Mobile

If you are ready to leave Lyca, follow this process:

1. Do NOT cancel Lyca first — canceling before porting means losing your phone number permanently.
2. Get your Lyca account number and transfer PIN — log in to your account or contact Lyca support. Note that Lyca's support may have longer wait times than US-based carriers.
3. Check phone compatibility with Visible or Tello at their websites. If your phone worked on Lyca (T-Mobile), it will almost certainly work on Tello (also T-Mobile).
4. Verify your phone is unlocked — Lyca-purchased phones may be locked. Request an unlock if needed.
5. Sign up with Visible or Tello — select "Transfer existing number" during checkout.
6. Enter your Lyca account number and PIN to initiate the port.
7. Activate your new SIM or eSIM — eSIM provides instant activation if your device supports it.
8. Lyca cancels automatically once the port completes.
9. Enable 2FA immediately — the security feature Lyca never provided.
10. Download WhatsApp or Telegram for international calling if you have not already — free calls over data are superior to traditional international minutes.

Switching from Lyca to Tello is particularly seamless since both use T-Mobile's network. Your phone does not need to be reconfigured for a different network, and coverage will be identical.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lyca Mobile good in the US?

No. Lyca Mobile scores 4/11 in our US testing, reflecting missing 2FA, inadequate data caps, no true unlimited option, and a UK-managed operation that deprioritizes US customer needs. Tello offers the same T-Mobile network with dramatically better features and value.

What network does Lyca Mobile use in the US?

Lyca Mobile uses T-Mobile's 4G LTE and 5G network in the United States. As a deprioritized MVNO, Lyca customers sit behind T-Mobile's own customers during network congestion.

Who owns Lyca Mobile?

Lyca Mobile is a privately held company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the Lyca Group, which operates telecommunications services in 23+ countries. The company is not publicly traded and has limited financial transparency.

Does Lyca Mobile have unlimited data in the US?

No. Lyca's most expensive US plan ($55/month before taxes) caps at 25GB. There is no true unlimited option. Tello offers true unlimited on the same T-Mobile network for $25/month with taxes included.

Does Lyca Mobile include taxes?

No. All Lyca prices in the US are before taxes and fees. Expect to pay $3-8 more per month depending on your state. Both Visible and Tello include all taxes in their prices.

Does Lyca Mobile have two-factor authentication?

No. Lyca does not offer 2FA for US accounts, leaving them vulnerable to unauthorized access through compromised passwords.

Is Lyca Mobile cheaper than Tello?

No. Lyca's $19 starting price (before taxes) delivers only 3GB. After taxes, it costs ~$22-24 for 3GB. Tello's build-a-plan system can create a comparable plan for less with taxes included, and Tello's $25 unlimited plan dwarfs anything Lyca offers.

Is Lyca Mobile good for international calling?

Lyca offers cheap international rates and calling to numerous countries, which was once its key differentiator. However, Tello covers 60+ countries for international calling, and free apps like WhatsApp have made traditional international minutes largely obsolete.

Has Lyca Mobile had data breaches?

Lyca Mobile's US breach record is difficult to verify independently due to the company's UK headquarters and multi-jurisdictional operations. The lack of clear transparency about US-specific data handling is itself a concern.

Is Lyca Mobile better than Visible?

No. Visible scores 10/11 versus Lyca's 4/11. Visible offers true unlimited data, 2FA, US-based operations, and taxes included at $25/month — less than half of Lyca's top plan price for objectively superior service.

Is Lyca Mobile better than Tello?

No. Tello scores 9.5/11 and uses the same T-Mobile network. Tello offers 2FA, build-a-plan customization, true unlimited data, international calling to 60+ countries, taxes included, and US-based customer service — all at lower prices than Lyca.

Does Lyca Mobile have 5G?

Lyca offers some 5G access through T-Mobile's network on select plans and devices. This is standard for T-Mobile MVNOs and not a differentiating feature.

Can I keep my number when leaving Lyca Mobile?

Yes. Port your number to your new carrier during signup. Do not cancel Lyca first — the port process automatically closes your Lyca account. Switching to Tello is especially easy since both use T-Mobile.

Is Lyca Mobile available worldwide?

Yes, Lyca operates in 23+ countries. However, each country has separate plans and pricing. Having Lyca in the US does not give you free service in Lyca's other markets — you would need separate local plans.

Does Lyca Mobile have hotspot?

Hotspot is included on the $29, $39, and $55 plans. The two cheapest plans ($19 and $23) do not include hotspot. Even when available, the low data caps make hotspot usage impractical for anything beyond light email use.

Final Verdict

Lyca Mobile earns 4/11 — a poor score that reflects a global company that has spread itself too thin to compete effectively in any single market. The 23-country footprint is impressive on a corporate brochure but meaningless to a US customer who just wants reliable, secure, affordable wireless service.

The numbers tell the story: same T-Mobile network as Tello, but no 2FA, no build-a-plan, no true unlimited, no taxes included, and prices that are 2-3x higher for less data. Lyca's international calling niche has been eroded by free calling apps that work over any carrier's data connection. The UK-based management means US customers are not the priority and never will be.

The alternatives are unambiguous:

• For unlimited data with security: Visible at $25/month, taxes included, true unlimited, 2FA, 10/11 score
• For T-Mobile with everything: Tello from $10/month, same network as Lyca, build-a-plan, 2FA, international calling, 9.5/11 score
• For international calling specifically: Tello covers 60+ countries on the same network for less money

Lyca Mobile's global brand carries no weight in the US wireless market. American customers deserve a carrier that is built for them, focused on them, and committed to protecting them. Lyca is none of these things. Choose Visible or Tello and do not look back.

This review is based on our independent 11-point scoring methodology. Tom Spark and Prepaid Report may earn commissions from affiliate links, but this never influences our ratings or recommendations. Lyca Mobile earned its 4/11 score through the same objective criteria we apply to every carrier. Learn more about our methodology.