Quick difference
Bill pay is a recurring monthly relationship. That includes 12-month SIMs (Virgin, Sky, Elevate) and rolling monthly SIMs (48, Clear, GoMo) that never lock you past the current month.
Prepay is a 28-day top-up. Miss a top-up and the bundle ends. Lycamobile and An Post live here. Some Tesco and Three plans do too.
Compare year-one cash, not the first voucher. Host radio still decides coverage.
Real examples, August 2026
| Retailer | Lead plan | Cadence / contract | Intro | Thereafter | Year-one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Unlimited 5G Rolling SIM-only. The cheap unlimited 5G floor on Three radio. | Rolling monthly | €12.99 | €12.99 | €156 |
| Clear Mobile | Unlimited 5G Rolling SIM-only on Vodafone radio. Count the €12.99 activation fee. | Rolling monthly | €12.99 | €12.99 | €156 |
| GoMo | GoMo Mobile Rolling SIM-only on Eir radio. App-only, for-life pitch. Count the €12.99 activation fee. | Rolling monthly | €12.99 | €12.99 | €169 |
| Virgin Media | SIM Only €15 For Life 12-month bill-pay. €15 for life on Three radio, 4G only. | 12 months | €15 | €15 | €180 |
| Tesco Mobile | €15 Elevate SIM Elevate is 12-month unlimited 5G at €15, then typically €30. | 12 months | €15 | €30 | €180 |
| Eir Mobile | Connect Plan Connect is €14.99 then €29.99. Same Eir radio as GoMo. | Rolling monthly | €14.99 | €29.99 | €190 |
| Three | Three SIM Core Freedom is €14 for 6 months then €28 on 24 months. Same radio as 48. | 12 months | €20 | €20 | €240 |
| Lycamobile | National Unlimited 28-day prepay on Eir radio. “Unlimited” Plus is 100 GB then 256 kbps. | 28-day prepay | €12.99 | €12.99 | €182 |
| An Post Mobile | Prepay €18 28-day prepay on Vodafone radio, 4G only. The €15 plan has less data than €12.99. | 28-day prepay | €18 | €18 | €234 |
When bill pay (including rolling) wins
- You use data every month and do not want a 28-day reminder.
- You want unlimited 5G. The value floor is rolling SIM-only at €12.99, not a 12-month teaser.
- You will actually leave when the promo ends. If you will not, skip Elevate and Connect.
The three-way: 48 vs GoMo vs Clear.
When prepay wins
- You want a hard cap on spend, or you go months with almost no use.
- You need Lycamobile country minutes more than a cheap Irish unlimited SIM.
- You want a post-office top-up (An Post). Remember An Post is Vodafone radio and 4G only, and the €15 plan has less data (25 GB) than the €12.99 plan (50 GB).
Ireland-specific traps
- Elevate and Connect. Look like €15-ish unlimited. They are ~€30 after the intro.
- Three Freedom. €14 for six months, then €28, 24-month term. 48 is the cheap version of that radio.
- Lycamobile “unlimited”. 100 GB then 256 kbps. Not a full-speed unlimited SIM.
- An Post €15 vs €12.99. Higher price, less data on the listed 4G plans.
No lock-in list: no-contract mobile. Switch steps: how to switch mobile.
