LycaMobile - The Best Prepaid Wireless Plan Since Sliced Bread?

[Shlomo Zalman]

I don't see any discussion yet regarding LycaMobile, so I figured like it says in Pirkei Avos "ובמקום שאין אנשים, השתדל להיות איש", I'll be the one.

LycaMobile is brand-new to the American market (they are the largest MVNO in Europe) and is currently offering the best rates on prepaid "pay-as-you-go" wireless service. (SIM cards are free.) They operate as an MVNO over the T-Mobile USA network. (Although, unlike most other T-Mobile MVNOs, you cannot use a handset locked to T-Mobile. It must be an unlocked GSM device.) I'm uncertain whether a LycaMobile line will roam unto AT&T or any other carrier for even voice service where there is no T-Mobile coverage.

Pay-as-you-go rates:

2¢ per minute for voice.
4¢ per text. [From what I understand all incoming texts are free.]
6¢ per MB for data.

Oddly they bill 2¢ per minute for incoming voicemails but do not bill anything (read:free) for checking your voicemails from your LycaMobile phone.

Amazingly, unlike any other American wireless carrier or MVNO that I am aware of, the LycaMobile pay-as-you-go refills/recharges never expire. You can add funds once and you'll keep your service active indefinitely even if you never add funds again! (So long as you still have any balance left.) The only requirement is that you use the service at least once every 120 days. So one one-minute call or text every four months will keep the account (and your phone number) active with no service charges.

Their pay-as-you-go rates seem to be the industry low. Especially for voice. I know of no other carrier offering 2¢ a minute rates with no expiration or minimums. It seems especially perfect for low-volume users (children, elderly, etc.)

They also offer very good unlimited plans:

$19 per month for unlimited voice and texts. 6¢ per MB of data.
$29 per month for unlimited voice, text, and data.

Are there any other providers offering similarly good rates?

[Yeki89]

What is your commission?

[Shlomo Zalman]

Zilch.

[Galitzyaner]

What is your commission?

Look who's talking!

[Shreknit]

This is not great at all compared to others.

[Ez]

This is not great at all compared to others.

Can you elaborate please?

Only downside i see is that it runs on T-Mobile network which is pretty bad.

[Shlomo Zalman]

This is not great at all compared to others.

I second Ez's comment above. You are unlikely to find a better priced deal. If you know of any, please share. This is the lowest price in the industry.

[hocker]

Look who's talking!

Can you elaborate please?

+2

Thanks OP for the information, it will come to good use.

[PlatinumGuy]

How much does it cost to get the SIM card initially? Monthly charge?

[yitzf]

How much does it cost to get the SIM card initially? Monthly charge?

OP wrote SIM cards are free (3rd line)

[Shlomo Zalman]

How much does it cost to get the SIM card initially? Monthly charge?

OP wrote SIM cards are free (3rd line)

Yes. SIM cards are free and there is no monthly charge and no expiration date for the pay-as-you-go plan.

[hocker]

I would just like to reaffirm what OP mentioned.

LycaMobile is a large and reputable company, not a fly by night scam; in case anyone was nervous.

[PlatinumGuy]

$10 min charge...

[Jkhein]

they have a simple website which answers many questions

[sillypainter]

These monthly rates are going to discontinue soon, so it's a temporary thing, besides the fact that they are a T-mobile MVNO which sucks inmany places.

[Shlomo Zalman]

These monthly rates are going to discontinue soon, so it's a temporary thing, besides the fact that they are a T-mobile MVNO which sucks inmany places.

You're talking about the monthly unlimited plans not the pay-as-you-go plan. The PAYG is their standard rates with no changes forthcoming. The monthly unlimited plans are dirt cheap too and they advertise them as being a promotional $10 less than usual, but its been the same price ever since they started and there is no reason to believe it will soon change or that the $10 discount is anything other than an advertising technique for their plans.

[cozmohoot]

19 plan gives free intl calling and includes israel. First 10 land line numbers you dial in the month. Otherwise it 1 penny to Israel!

[SuperFlyer]

Lycamobile in europe is dishonest, with hidden charges etc.

Duno about the usa, just sayin'

[Shlomo Zalman]

19 plan gives free intl calling and includes israel. First 10 land line numbers you dial in the month. Otherwise it 1 penny to Israel!

That's a great point that I should have included in the OP. The unlimited plan includes unlimited international calling to any ten numbers in 50 countries including Israel. Plus they give you $10 in credit every month to call any other countries or numbers. Additionally, international calling rates for anything above that is dirt cheap, as in 1 cent a minute to Israel.

Even with the PAYG plan your international costs are dirt cheap. 1 cent a minute to Israel MOBILE(!) or landlines, for example, on top of the 2 cents a minute airtime. That's 3 cents a minute to Israel mobile or landlines without any monthly fee or minimum. It is cheaper than most U.S. landlines rates to Israel! It may well be worth getting Lycamobile just to call Israel, if nothing else.

[cozmohoot]

You can edit the op