Lycamobile vs Youfone Netherlands 2026
Both on KPN 5G - the network is the same, but the right choice depends on when you arrive and how long you stay
Quick verdict
Same network, different access requirements
Both run on the same KPN infrastructure, rated the best mobile network in the Netherlands by umlaut in 2025. The network experience is virtually identical. The difference is entirely about when you can sign up: Lycamobile accepts you from day one with just a passport. Youfone requires a BSN and a Dutch bank account.
Ready to sign up? Jump straight to the provider:
Lycamobile
KPN 5G, English support, international calls
eSIM available - buy at Schiphol day one
Youfone
KPN 5G, English app, eSIM, cheaper long-term
Dutch bank account required (iDeal signup)
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Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Lycamobile | Youfone |
|---|---|---|
| Network | KPN 5G | KPN 5G |
| BSN required | No (prepaid) | Yes |
| Dutch bank required | No (prepaid) | Yes (iDeal + direct debit) |
| Promo price (40GB) | €2.50/mo first 6 months (2-yr) | €3.50/mo first 12 months (2-yr) |
| Regular price (40GB) | €12/mo after 6 months | €13/mo after 12 months |
| Total cost over 24 mo (40GB) | ~€231 | ~€198 (cheaper) |
| Calls included | Unlimited NL + 45+ international countries | Unlimited NL (30/40GB plans) |
| International calls | Included (45+ countries) | Not included |
| eSIM | Yes | Yes |
| English website | Yes (full English) | Partial (app in English) |
| English customer support | Yes | Yes |
| EU roaming | Included (generous FUP) | Included (free) |
| Buy without Dutch address | Yes (Schiphol, supermarkets) | No (online only) |
| Contract options | Prepaid or 2-year SIM-only | Monthly-cancellable or 2-year |
Lycamobile Netherlands: full review
Official site: lycamobile.nl/en
Lycamobile operates in 24 countries with 16 million prepaid customers worldwide. In the Netherlands, it runs on KPN's 5G network, the best-rated mobile network in the country. Lycamobile is the most commonly recommended first SIM for expats arriving in the Netherlands because it is accessible from day one with just a passport. You can buy a prepaid SIM at Schiphol Airport or in virtually any supermarket.
Current plans (as of June 2026)
- • 40GB + unlimited national calls + 16GB EU roaming: €2.50/mo for first 6 months on 2-year contract, then €12/mo
- • International calling minutes to 45+ countries included on most plans
- • No connection fee on current deal
- • Prepaid option available (higher per-GB cost, no contract, no BSN)
- • eSIM available (activate via QR code, no physical SIM needed)
Why expats choose Lycamobile
Available before you have any Dutch admin
Prepaid Lycamobile SIMs are sold at Schiphol Airport arrivals, Albert Heijn, Jumbo, HEMA, and Primera. Passport only. You can have a Dutch +31 number within an hour of landing, with no waiting for BSN registration or a bank account.
International calling built in
Lycamobile includes minutes to 45+ countries outside the EU on most plans. This is rare in Dutch telecom. Youfone, KPN direct, and most Dutch providers charge per-minute rates for calls to non-EU countries.
Full English experience
English website, English app, English customer support. When you are still settling in and do not speak Dutch, having your phone provider available in English reduces one significant point of friction.
Advantages
- • No BSN or Dutch bank account required
- • KPN 5G network (best rated in Netherlands)
- • Full English website, app and support
- • International calling to 45+ countries
- • eSIM available
- • Buy at Schiphol the day you land
- • EU roaming included
Disadvantages
- • Promo only 6 months (vs Youfone's 12)
- • Higher regular price after promo (€12 vs €13, similar)
- • More expensive over full 24-month contract
- • No unlimited data plan
Get Lycamobile Netherlands
40GB from €2.50/mo first 6 months. KPN 5G, eSIM, no BSN needed, English support, international calling included.
Get Lycamobile SIM or eSIMYoufone Netherlands: full review
Official site: youfone.nl
Youfone has been operating in the Netherlands since 2010, serving hundreds of thousands of customers on the KPN 5G network. It offers straightforward SIM-only plans with a few features that stand out in the budget MVNO market: an English-language app, English customer support, free number portability, and genuine eSIM support. Youfone is a solid choice for expats who have completed their initial Dutch admin and want a long-term SIM at competitive prices.
Current plans (as of June 2026)
- • 10GB + 300 min: €5/mo first 12 months on 2-year contract (then €7.50/mo)
- • 30GB + unlimited min: €3.50/mo first 12 months on 2-year contract (then €11.50/mo)
- • 40GB + unlimited min: €3.50/mo first 12 months on 2-year contract (then €13/mo)
- • Monthly-cancellable plans available at higher prices
- • eSIM: available on all plans (activate without physical SIM)
- • EU roaming: included (free, no surcharge)
- • Number portability: free, 1-2 working days
- • 5G: included on all plans via KPN 5G network
What makes Youfone stand out
12-month promotional period
Youfone's promotional pricing applies for the first 12 months on a 2-year contract. At the 40GB tier, that is €3.50/mo for a full year, compared to Lycamobile's 6 months at €2.50/mo. Over 24 months total, Youfone works out approximately €33 cheaper.
English app and support
Youfone offers an English-language app and English customer support - rare among Dutch budget MVNOs. This makes account management and troubleshooting accessible without needing Dutch language skills.
eSIM available immediately
Youfone supports eSIM on compatible devices. After signing up online, you can activate via eSIM profile download rather than waiting for a physical card. This removes the typical 2-3 day postal wait.
Advantages
- • KPN 5G (same network as KPN direct)
- • 12-month promo period (vs Lycamobile's 6)
- • Cheaper over full 24-month contract
- • English app and customer support
- • eSIM available
- • Unlimited calls included (30/40GB plans)
- • Monthly-cancellable option available
- • Free number porting
Disadvantages
- • BSN and Dutch bank account required
- • Cannot buy at Schiphol or supermarkets
- • No international calls included
- • Website primarily in Dutch
- • Higher starting price than Lycamobile promo
Get Youfone Netherlands
KPN 5G network, eSIM available, EU roaming included, English app and support.
View Youfone SIM-only plansWhich to choose: by situation
Just arrived, no BSN yet
Choose Lycamobile. Buy a prepaid SIM at Schiphol or a supermarket. Passport only. Dutch number within minutes of landing.
Have BSN and Dutch bank, planning to stay 2+ years
Choose Youfone. The 12-month promo beats Lycamobile's 6 months, and the total 24-month cost is approximately €33 lower at the 40GB tier.
You regularly call family in non-EU countries
Choose Lycamobile. International minutes to 45+ countries are included. Youfone charges per-minute rates for calls to non-EU countries. If you call home weekly, Lycamobile's international calling can easily offset its slightly higher regular price.
Uncertain how long you will stay
Youfone monthly-cancellable plan or Lycamobile prepaid. Neither 2-year contract makes sense if you might leave in 6-12 months. Youfone's monthly-cancellable plans give flexibility without lock-in. Lycamobile prepaid has no contract at all.
Need English support for everything
Lycamobile wins narrowly. Both have English support, but Lycamobile has a fully English website and is more accustomed to non-Dutch customers. Youfone's website defaults to Dutch even with an English app.
Arriving from outside the EU (non-EU national)
Lycamobile first, Youfone later. Non-EU nationals typically need several weeks to complete BSN registration. Use Lycamobile prepaid on arrival, then evaluate switching to Youfone once your Dutch admin is complete.
The typical expat mobile journey
Most expats end up using Lycamobile and Youfone at different stages of settling in the Netherlands. Here is how it typically plays out:
- Week 1Land at Schiphol. Buy a Lycamobile prepaid SIM in the arrivals hall (passport only). Have a Dutch +31 number and data immediately. Use for the first few weeks.
- Week 1-4Register with the gemeente (municipality). Receive BSN (1-4 weeks depending on location and nationality). Open a Dutch bank account - bunq works without BSN if you need banking faster.
- Week 4-8Once you have BSN and a Dutch bank account, sign up for Youfone at youfone.nl. During signup, request number porting from Lycamobile - Youfone handles the transfer within 1-2 working days.
- OnwardsOn Youfone's KPN 5G network at €3.50/mo for the first 12 months. Same coverage as before (both on KPN). Now €3.50/mo instead of prepaid rates. Same Dutch number throughout.
Frequently asked questions
Both Lycamobile and Youfone are on KPN's network. Is there any difference in coverage?
No practical difference. Both are MVNOs on KPN's 4G/5G infrastructure, the same physical network that was rated the best mobile network in the Netherlands (and the world) by umlaut in March 2025. Coverage, speeds, and reliability are determined by the network you are on, not the MVNO brand. The only caveat is that during peak congestion, direct KPN subscribers may get priority over MVNO traffic - but in practice, KPN's network rarely congests to the point where this is noticeable.
Which is cheaper: Lycamobile or Youfone?
At 40GB, both start from €2.50-3.50/mo in year one but differ in structure. Lycamobile: 40GB €2.50/mo for 6 months (2-year contract), then €12/mo. Total 24 months: approximately €231. Youfone: 40GB + unlimited minutes €3.50/mo for 12 months (2-year contract), then €13/mo. Total 24 months: approximately €198. Youfone is slightly cheaper over the full contract period, and its 12-month promotional period is longer. However, Lycamobile is the only option if you do not yet have a BSN or Dutch bank account.
Does Youfone require a BSN?
Yes. Youfone is a SIM-only subscription service that requires a Dutch bank account for iDeal signup and direct debit. A BSN is effectively required because most Dutch banks require it to open an account. The exception is bunq, which accepts passport-only registration. If you have a bunq account and a Dutch address, you may be able to sign up for Youfone without having formally received your BSN - but contact Youfone to confirm their current policy.
Does Lycamobile include international calls to countries like India or Nigeria?
Yes. This is one of Lycamobile's biggest differentiators. Most Lycamobile Netherlands plans include calling minutes to 45 or more countries, including popular expat destinations such as India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Morocco, Pakistan, Brazil, and the US. Youfone's plans include unlimited calls within the Netherlands and EU roaming, but international calls to non-EU countries are charged at per-minute rates. If you regularly call family outside the EU, Lycamobile's included international minutes can represent a meaningful monthly saving.
Which has better English support?
Lycamobile by a significant margin. Lycamobile has a full English website (lycamobile.nl/en), an English app, and multilingual customer support. Youfone has an English app and offers English-language customer support - making it more expat-friendly than most Dutch MVNOs. However, Youfone's main website defaults to Dutch. For newly arrived expats who need to set everything up in English, Lycamobile is the more comfortable choice.
Can I get an eSIM with Lycamobile or Youfone?
Both support eSIM. Lycamobile offers eSIM activation via QR code - you can activate without receiving a physical card, which is useful if you want connectivity before your Dutch address is confirmed. Youfone also supports eSIM on compatible devices (activate without waiting for a physical SIM in the post). Both providers support eSIM dual-SIM setups, which is increasingly popular among expats who want to keep their home country number active while using a Dutch number.
Youfone has unlimited minutes - does Lycamobile?
Yes - sort of. Lycamobile's SIM-only subscription plans include unlimited national calls and texts. Most plans also include international minutes to 45+ countries. Youfone's 30GB and 40GB plans include unlimited national calls and texts. On Youfone's lower-tier 10GB plan, you get 300 minutes of calls instead of unlimited. So at the larger data tiers, both include unlimited Dutch calling.
I want to switch from Lycamobile to Youfone. How do I keep my number?
Number porting is free by law in the Netherlands. Sign up for Youfone at youfone.nl and during the signup process, indicate you want to port your existing Lycamobile number. Youfone handles the transfer. The process takes 1-5 working days. Your Lycamobile SIM stops working when the transfer completes. You do not need to contact Lycamobile separately to cancel - the number port handles it. If you are on a Lycamobile 2-year contract, check whether early termination fees apply before porting.
Is Youfone reliable? It is a smaller provider.
Yes, Youfone is reliable. It has been operating in the Netherlands since 2010, serving hundreds of thousands of customers. Since it runs on KPN's infrastructure (the top-rated network in the Netherlands), network reliability is identical to KPN. Youfone's own reviews on Trustpilot are mixed (common for Dutch telecom in general), with most complaints relating to billing and switching processes rather than network quality. For network performance specifically, Youfone customers get the same coverage as KPN direct customers.
Related guides
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Some links are affiliate links. No extra cost to you. Prices verified June 2026 - always check provider websites for current deals.