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If you’re paying more than €20 a month for a phone you already own, a SIM-only plan is one of the easiest bills to cut in Ireland. You keep your phone and your number, and most plans run month to month, so you can leave whenever a better deal comes along. This guide compares the main SIM-only and prepay plans on sale in Ireland, explains the catches to look for, and shows you how to switch in a few minutes.
Prices checked on 6–7 November 2026. Mobile prices change often, so always confirm the final price on the provider’s website before you sign up.
The short version
- Lowest monthly cost for light users: Lyca Mobile’s Lyca Unlimited bundle at €8.99 per 28 days, or Tesco Mobile’s €10 SIM Only plan with 5GB.
- Unlimited data under €15: GoMo at €12.99 a month (30-day rolling, price guaranteed for life) or An Post Mobile’s 50GB plan at the same price.
- Already have Virgin Media broadband: Virgin Mobile’s €9.99 offer is hard to beat, but it has a 12-month minimum term.
- Want a big network brand: Vodafone’s Ultra SIM only is €20 a month for the first 6 months; check the price after that before you commit.
- Watch out for: 28-day bundles (13 payments a year, not 12), intro prices that rise after a few months, activation fees and fair-usage caps on “unlimited” data.
SIM-only plans compared
| Provider | Plan | Price | Billed | Price after intro | Data | Contract | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyca Mobile | Lyca Unlimited | €8.99 | Every 28 days | No intro price | Unlimited 5G | Prepay, no contract | 100 minutes to 42 countries | Pick this plan → |
| Lyca Mobile | Ireland Plus | €9 | Every 28 days | No intro price | 30GB | Prepay, no contract | 23GB EU roaming | Pick this plan → |
| Tesco Mobile | €10 SIM Only | €10 | Monthly | No intro price | 5GB | Monthly rolling | 150 minutes and texts | Pick this plan → |
| Tesco Mobile | €20 5G Clubcard SIM | €10 with Clubcard | Monthly | €20 without Clubcard; price locked 24 months | Unlimited 5G | Monthly rolling | 36.95GB EU roaming | Pick this plan → |
| Lyca Mobile | Unlimited Plus | €10 | Every 28 days | No intro price | 100GB 5G, then 256Kbps | Prepay, no contract | Calls to 35 countries; 37GB EU roaming | Pick this plan → |
| An Post Mobile | SIM only | €12.99 | Monthly | “No price rises” | 50GB | See provider’s terms | 500 calls | Pick this plan → |
| GoMo | GoMo SIM Only | €12.99 | Monthly | Price guaranteed for life | Unlimited 5G (fair use) | 30-day rolling | Check for a one-off activation fee | Pick this plan → |
| Virgin Mobile | SIM only | €15 (€9.99 with Virgin broadband) | Monthly | €9.99 offer rises to €14.99 after 12 months | Unlimited | 12-month minimum | 37GB EU and UK roaming | Pick this plan → |
| Tesco Mobile | €30 5G Clubcard SIM | €15 | Monthly | €30 after 12 months | Unlimited 5G | 12-month contract | 400 international minutes | Pick this plan → |
| Vodafone | Ultra SIM only | €20 | Monthly | Not stated after month 6 | Unlimited 5G | See provider’s terms | Intro price for 6 months | Pick this plan → |
Sorted from cheapest to most expensive. On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Prices are for new customers and come from each provider’s own website. “Unlimited” plans usually have a fair-usage policy and a separate monthly limit for roaming in the EU.
Other providers worth checking: 48 and Clear Mobile also sell low-cost unlimited plans, and Three and eir sell SIM-only plans with discounts for their broadband customers. Their prices change often, so check them on their own websites before you decide.
Which networks do the cheaper brands use?
Ireland has three mobile networks with their own masts: Three, Vodafone and eir. Every other brand rents space on one of them, so coverage depends on the host network, not the brand name on your SIM.
- On eir’s network: GoMo.
- On Three’s network: 48, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Lyca Mobile.
- On Vodafone’s network: Clear Mobile.
Tip: if Vodafone works well in your house, Clear Mobile gives you the same coverage for less. If Three is strong where you live, 48, Tesco, Virgin and Lyca all use it.
The catches to look for
28-day bundles
Prepay bundles that renew every 28 days charge you 13 times a year. A €10 bundle every 28 days costs about €130 a year, not €120. Compare plans on yearly cost, not on the headline number.
Intro prices
Several plans start cheap and then rise: Tesco’s €30 Clubcard SIM is €15 for 12 months and then €30, and Vodafone’s Ultra SIM only is €20 for 6 months. Put a reminder in your calendar for the month the price changes, so you can switch if it no longer suits you.
Minimum terms
Most budget plans are 30-day rolling, so you can leave any month. Others, such as Virgin Mobile and Tesco’s €30 plan, have a 12-month minimum. Leaving early can mean paying the remaining months.
“Unlimited” data and roaming
Unlimited plans usually have a fair-usage limit, and roaming in the EU has its own monthly allowance (for example 37GB on Virgin Mobile and Lyca Unlimited Plus). If you travel a lot, check the roaming figure, not just the home data.
How to switch and keep your number
- Check you’re out of contract with your current provider, or what it costs to leave.
- Order the new SIM (or eSIM) and choose “keep my number” or “port my number” when signing up.
- Have your current number and account details ready. The new provider asks the old one to move your number.
- Your number usually moves within a working day. Your old plan ends automatically when the number moves, so you don’t need to cancel it separately.
- Unlock your phone first if it came from another network and is locked to it.
Questions people ask
Is SIM-only cheaper than a phone contract?
Usually yes, if you already own your phone. A bill-pay plan with a new phone builds the phone’s cost into the monthly price. Once that phone is paid off, staying on the same plan means you keep paying for it.
Do cheaper networks have worse coverage?
Not necessarily. Budget brands use the same masts as Three, Vodafone or eir. Coverage depends on the host network in your area. ComReg’s outdoor coverage map shows each network’s signal by location.
Can I use an eSIM?
Most providers in this guide now offer eSIMs for phones that support them. Check on the provider’s website when ordering.
Looking for more ways to cut bills? See today’s deals and our Black Friday deals in Ireland.
Sources (checked 6–7 November 2026): Lyca Mobile bundles, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Media Mobile, Vodafone SIM only, GoMo, An Post Mobile.