Affordable prepaid plans on the AT&T 5G network with free international calls to 100+ countries. Is Lycamobile the best choice for budget-conscious users who call abroad?
BestWebHostingUSA Editorial Team
12+ years in telecom and hosting industry
Lycamobile is the go-to prepaid carrier for international callers in the USA. With free calls to 100+ countries included in every plan and the AT&T 5G network backing it up, it delivers solid value starting at $15/month. The trade-offs are limited support hours and data deprioritization during congestion. If international calling is your priority, Lycamobile is hard to beat. If you want maximum flexibility and the cheapest domestic-only plan, consider Tello instead.
All plans include unlimited talk & text, 5G access, and free international calls to 100+ countries. Prices shown are base prices; taxes and fees add approximately $0.75$2.95/month depending on the plan.
| Plan | Data | Price | Total w/ Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 1 GB | $15/mo | $15.75/mo |
| 5 GB | 5 GB | $19/mo | $19.95/mo |
| 8 GB | 8 GB | $23/mo | $24.15/mo |
| 15 GB | 15 GB | $29/mo | $30.45/mo |
| 18 GB | 18 GB | $33/mo | $34.65/mo |
Lycamobile offers annual versions of their 1GB, 5GB, and 8GB plans. The 5GB annual plan costs $120/year ($10/mo effective) vs $228/year on monthly billing. If you know you are staying with Lycamobile, annual plans are a significant saving.
This is where Lycamobile separates itself from virtually every other budget carrier in the US market. Every single Lycamobile plan even the $15/month entry tier includes unlimited international calls and texts to over 100 countries. This is not a limited-time promotion; it is a permanent feature of the service.
The country list covers the most commonly called destinations: Canada, Mexico, India, UK, China, Philippines, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and dozens more across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For immigrants, expats, and anyone with family abroad, this eliminates the need for separate international calling apps or cards.
Higher-tier plans ($23/month and above) also include an international calling credit ($5$15 depending on the plan) for countries not in the free list, plus talk and text roaming in Canada and Mexico. The Unlimited Pro plan at $59/month even includes 5GB of data roaming in Canada and Mexico.
By comparison, most competitors either charge per-minute for international calls or limit free calling to a handful of countries. Tello offers free calls to 60+ countries, which is good but still 40% fewer than Lycamobile's coverage.
Free calls to 100+ countries on every plan more than any competitor at this price point.
Switched to AT&T in Sept 2025, giving access to one of the largest and most reliable US networks with 5G.
Plans start at just $15/month with unlimited talk, text, and international calling included.
Multi-line savings on $29+ plans 2 lines for $43, up to 5 lines for $67.
Modern features supported: activate instantly with eSIM, make calls over WiFi when signal is weak.
Phone support only Mon-Sat 11AM-8PM ET. No Sunday support and no 24/7 chat option.
All plans are deprioritized during network congestion. Heavy users in dense areas may notice slower speeds at peak times.
Lycamobile has a reputation for making it difficult to transfer your number to another carrier. Plan ahead if you might switch.
Hotspot is only available on the $23/month plan and above. The $15 and $19 plans have no hotspot at all.
Advertised prices do not include taxes and fees, which add roughly 5-20% to your monthly bill.
Network
AT&T
Since Sept 2025
5G Bands
n5, n77
+ mmWave n260/n261
Coverage
330M
People covered
Area
2.6M
Square miles
Lycamobile made a significant network switch in September 2025, moving from T-Mobile to AT&T. This was a major upgrade for many users, as AT&T's network offers broader rural coverage and strong 5G deployment across the US. All new activations are on AT&T, and existing T-Mobile customers will be migrated by end of 2026.
The AT&T network supports LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 12, 29, 30 and 5G bands n5, n77, n260, n261 covering approximately 330 million people across 2.6 million square miles. In practical terms, you get the same tower coverage as a direct AT&T customer.
The main caveat is deprioritization: during network congestion, Lycamobile traffic may be temporarily slowed in favor of direct AT&T subscribers. In most areas and most times, this is not noticeable. In dense urban areas during peak hours, you might see reduced speeds.
Lycamobile's customer support is functional but limited compared to major carriers. Phone support is available at 866-277-3221, but only Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time. There is no Sunday support, which can be frustrating if issues arise on weekends.
The company maintains a presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and some users report getting faster responses through social media than through the phone line. There is no live chat option on the website, which is a notable gap in 2026.
Account management is handled through the Lycamobile website or app, where you can top up, change plans, check usage, and manage your account. The self-service tools are adequate for routine tasks. For complex issues like porting or billing disputes, you will need to call during support hours.
Multiple user reports indicate that porting your number out of Lycamobile can be difficult and time-consuming. If you think you might switch carriers in the future, be aware of this before signing up. Request your account number and PIN proactively.
Lycamobile earns a solid 4.3/5 rating as the best international calling MVNO in the USA. If you regularly call friends or family in other countries, no other budget carrier matches the breadth of Lycamobile's 100+ country free calling list. The AT&T 5G network provides reliable coverage, and plans are competitively priced. The downsides limited support hours, porting difficulties, and data deprioritization are real but manageable trade-offs for the value you get.
🌍 Best for International Calling
Unbeatable international calling coverage at budget prices. The clear choice for users who call abroad regularly.
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