Mozillion vs Lyca Mobile: battle of the EE-based networks

✔ Coverage is completely identical on both providers

Both Lyca Mobile and Mozillion are budget providers that piggyback off EE’s network for signal. So you’ll get identical 4G/5G data signal and 2G call signal on both as you would being on EE directly, including Band 20.

Compare Mozillion and Lyca Mobile SIM deals

That’s a particularly good thing for their 4G, as their hosts have the most widespread 4G coverage of all networks. You’ll stay on 4G basically everywhere in built-up areas and in some surprisingly rural places too.

You also get full 5G access on both providers. That means you’ll get 5G in this long list of 1000+ UK towns and cities on both. And coverage in these locations tends to be excellent as well.

Finally, both offer identical 2G coverage, but this is being removed by EE to further expand 4G signal. That won’t be an issue if your phone is supported for 4G calling, so check both providers’ schemes below.

Useful link: Check Lyca’s coverage | Check Mozillion’s signal map

✔ 5G/4G data speeds are identical on both providers

There are no built-in speed caps or differences on any of Lyca Mobile or Mozillion’s plans. So you should get identical top data speeds on both providers compared to being on EE, though both can be a little laggier.

For 4G we got speeds as high as 130+ Mbps in the city centre on both, but as low as 5 Mbps in the countryside. More often than not we sat around 30-40 Mbps which lines up with Opensignals’ result of 45.9 Mbps.

You’ll also get typical 5G speeds of 96.8 Mbps according to Opensignal and 114.39 Mbps with impressive peak speeds of 324.42 Mbps according to Speedtest. That puts them in joint third place along with their hosts.

Best 5G SIM only deals on Lyca Mobile and Mozillion

It’s excellent that you get access to the fastest 4G network in the UK on both providers, with decent 5G as a backup. Again, there’s no differences in speed between them, so there’s nothing to split them on here.

Useful link: Read Lyca Mobile’s guide to their 5G

✔ WiFi calling is a bit better on Mozillion

WiFi calling and 4G calling are features that let you connect to calls and send/receive SMS texts over WiFi and 4G. These are crucial now that 3G is gone and 2G is being removed, so how do the two compare?

While Lyca does offer 4G calling, they don’t support WiFi calling yet. That’s quite poor, especially compared to Mozillion’s excellent WiFi calling which is essentially the same as EE’s scheme.

Best SIM only plans with WiFi calling on Mozillion

They have a long list of supported devices (check yours here) and let you transfer a call from WiFi to 4G without it dropping. Lyca’s 4G calling is still useful, but the lack of WiFi calling seriously hurts them.

As for other network features, both let you join on an eSIM. In our tests, we got an eSIM working in minutes on Lyca Mobile. On Mozillion, it took a number of hours.

Useful link: Read Mozillion’s guide to their WiFi calling

✔ EU roaming is better on Lyca Mobile than Mozillion

Both providers offer inclusive EU roaming on all plans, letting you use your SIM in the EU at no extra cost. Lyca let you roam in these 30 EU destinations, while Mozillion let you roam in these 41 EU countries.

The main difference between them is the amount of data each let you use abroad. Lyca have a more simple scheme, letting you use up to 12GB abroad on most plans and up to 35GB on unlimited plans.

Mozillion’s scheme is more complicated and more limiting. 1GB users can use 500MB (50%) while abroad, users on 3GB+ plans can use 25% of their data abroad and unlimited data users can use up to 25GB.

Best EU roaming SIM only plans on Lyca and Mozillion

So you’ll be able to use more of your data in the EU on most of Lyca’s plans, which is great for avoiding extra data charges. For roaming outside the EU you’ll have to top up and pay hefty rates on both, however.

Useful link: Read Lyca’s guide to their EU roaming

✔ Mozillion offer a couple of nice smaller benefits

Mozillion are mostly a no-frills provider, but they do offer a couple of unique benefits that Lyca don’t. The first is that you can join their longer 12 and 24-month contracts without passing a credit check.

Best longer SIM only contracts on Mozillion

That’s really handy seeing as Mozillion offer better value on these longer contracts than their shorter ones, meaning you’re not prevented from getting the best value deal just because of your credit history.

Also, while Lyca do have better customer service overall, Mozillion’s customer service are at least UK based. While there aren’t many ways to get help, Mozillion’s agents usually are better at understanding issues.

Other than that Mozillion don’t really have anything special that outshines what Lyca offer.

Useful link: Read Mozillion’s terms and conditions for full info

✔ Lyca offer inclusive international mins and more benefits

Lyca Mobile offer a different number of inclusive mins on their plans. The usually include between 100 to unlimited international mins to these countries. That can save you a lot of money if you call abroad often.

Best SIM only plans with inclusive international calls on Lyca

And Lyca offer cheap calls to lots of countries (mostly in Asia) if you get through all your inclusive mins. Mozillion don’t even let you top up and make international calls, so Lyca have a big advantage here.

Lyca also have more customer service options, letting you call them up or message them in their online chat. And they have a helpful app. Mozillion’s customer service are UK-based, but you can only email them.

Finally, Lyca have promised not to introduce mid-contract price rises until 2026. So you won’t see any price hikes on Lyca’s long contracts until then, while Mozillion reserve the right to up your bill at any point.

Useful link: See Lyca’s full range of SIM only plans