Key Takeaways
A quick snapshot
A SIM-only subscription with Lebara lets a customer use mobile data, call minutes, and text messages without buying a new phone. In one common setup, the bundle includes 10 gigabytes of data, 250 minutes, and 150 text messages, all on a monthly rolling contract that can continue as long as it is needed.
Keeping what already works
Instead of starting from zero, the subscriber keeps an existing Lebara mobile number and any remaining prepaid balance. The move from prepaid to SIM-only is designed to feel smooth: credit is not lost and the number used with friends, family, and contacts stays the same.
Extras that shape the experience
The bundle can be expanded with extras. One of the most visible is a higher maximum data speed, marketed as an “extra fast” option that can reach up to 150 megabits per second. There is also a data cap to stop spending from running out of control, and an option to turn the limited minutes and texts into unlimited national calls and messages for a modest extra fee.
Discounts and flexibility
Lebara combines this flexibility with temporary discounts. A one-year contract typically brings a fifty-percent discount for the first two months, while a two-year contract extends that fifty-percent reduction to the first six months. After the discount period, the price returns to the normal monthly amount, but the structure of the bundle remains the same.
Everyday control through a simple app
The MyLebara app sits at the centre of daily control. It shows the remaining data, minutes, and texts, allows the user to add extras, and makes it possible to change bundles. Extras usually become active at once, while any change to the main bundle itself takes effect from the first day of the following month, keeping billing simple and predictable.
Story & Details
From prepaid balance to a stable subscription
The starting point is often a customer who has used Lebara on a prepaid basis. Over time, topping up and checking remaining credit can begin to feel like extra work, especially when mobile data is used more heavily. Moving to a SIM-only subscription keeps the familiar Lebara number in place and brings along whatever prepaid balance is still left. Instead of using that balance for pay-as-you-go rates, the customer now pays a fixed monthly amount for a bundle that covers most day-to-day use.
This move offers a sense of continuity. Friends and colleagues still dial the same number, and the user avoids the common frustration of losing prepaid credit when switching to a different type of plan. The transition is presented as a simple upgrade rather than a break with the past.
What sits inside the bundle
At the heart of this particular SIM-only arrangement is a package made for regular, moderate use. It combines 10 gigabytes of mobile data with 250 minutes of voice calls and 150 text messages. For many people, this balance is enough to manage maps, messaging apps, social media checks, occasional streaming, and ordinary calls without anxiety about every megabyte or minute.
The design recognises that data is usually the main driver of mobile habits. The 10-gigabyte allowance covers a mix of browsing and app use for an average user, while the included minutes and texts provide a safety net for situations where traditional calling and messaging remain important.
Speed, caps, and unlimited options
Lebara operates on a widely used Dutch network that already offers fast 4G and 5G coverage. On top of the standard speed, customers can pick an “extra fast” add-on that raises the maximum to around 150 megabits per second. This kind of speed is more than enough for smooth video streaming, quick downloads, and responsive browsing, as long as coverage is strong in the area.
To protect against bills that spiral beyond expectations, the subscription includes a limit on how much can be spent outside the bundle. Once this amount is reached, out-of-bundle use is blocked, so there are no surprises caused by roaming, special numbers, or heavy extra data use. For people who dislike the idea of a truly unlimited bill, this cap works like a safety belt.
There is also an option to expand the 250 minutes and 150 texts into unlimited national calls and texts. By paying a small amount on top of the basic plan, the subscriber can call and text freely within the Netherlands, as long as the use stays within a fair-use policy. For anyone who spends long stretches on the phone or prefers classic texting, this turns the bundle into something close to a full-freedom communication package.
One-year, two-year, or monthly rolling
Contract length shapes both flexibility and price. A monthly rolling SIM-only subscription renews every month and can usually be ended or adjusted with short notice. This appeals to people who expect their situation to change, such as students, new arrivals in the country, or workers on short assignments.
For those ready to commit longer, one-year and two-year contracts open the door to stronger discounts. With Lebara, a one-year term brings a fifty-percent discount in the first two months of the subscription. A two-year term extends that fifty-percent reduction to the first six months. During those discounted months, the customer pays half of the standard subscription price, plus any chosen extras. When the discount period ends, the price returns to the normal level, but the service continues unchanged.
Lebara signals that it will alert the customer when this discount period is close to ending. That reminder gives subscribers a chance to reconsider their bundle, trim extras if needed, or stay with the current setup in full knowledge of the new monthly cost.
How activation and changes work in practice
Activation is designed to be quick. After the SIM-only subscription is processed, the network is typically ready within a short window, after which calls, texts, and data all work under the new terms. The shift is mostly invisible to others: the same number rings, but the billing and usage management now follow the subscription rules instead of prepaid ones.
Extras such as the higher data speed or the unlimited calls and texts option normally become active straight away, so the subscriber can feel the difference almost immediately. Changes to the core bundle, on the other hand, are scheduled to start on the first day of the next billing month. This separation keeps the invoice clear, with one bundle per month rather than several partial setups to track.
Everyday management with the MyLebara app
The MyLebara app pulls all of this into a simple dashboard. Inside the app, the customer can see how much data, call time, and how many texts remain; can top up balance if needed; can activate or cancel extras; and can request changes for the next month’s bundle.
Because the app shows usage in almost real time, it also supports better habits. Heavy streaming can be seen in the rising data bar, and a flurry of calls will show up in the call allowance. When the data cap or spending cap is close, this early warning gives the user time to switch to Wi-Fi or adjust behaviour, instead of discovering a problem only after the bill arrives.
A brand shaped for internationals
Lebara positions itself strongly towards people who move across borders, whether they are migrants, students, or temporary workers. Its SIM-only products include international calling options from the Netherlands to dozens of countries, and its English-language pages and support channels make it easier for non-Dutch speakers to navigate their choices.
The company also highlights that its SIM-only bundles run on a well-known national network, which brings reliable coverage across the country. This reassurance matters to anyone who travels between cities, commutes by train, or lives outside the very centre of a large urban area.
Digital habits and social presence
Alongside the app and website, Lebara invites customers to stay in touch through major social platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. These channels are used to share offers, explain features, and answer common questions. For subscribers, they provide a quick way to keep up with new promotions or changes in how bundles work, without having to search through long documents or technical pages.
Conclusions
A compact way to stabilise mobile costs
A Lebara SIM-only subscription with 10 gigabytes of data, 250 minutes, and 150 texts offers a clear path from the uncertainty of prepaid to the predictability of a fixed bundle. By keeping the existing number and credit, the switch avoids disruption, while the mix of data, minutes, and texts suits everyday use for many people.
Control, speed, and safeguards
Options such as higher data speed, a built-in spending cap, and add-on unlimited calls and texts allow each subscriber to shape the plan around personal habits. Whether the goal is speed, cost control, or freedom to call, the structure can be tuned without giving up the basic simplicity of a single monthly payment.
Flexibility supported by clear tools
Contract choices, temporary discounts, and the MyLebara app together create a system that is both flexible and easy to monitor. One-year and two-year terms reward commitment with strong early discounts, while the monthly rolling option keeps the door open for quick changes. The app and online tools keep usage transparent, helping people stay in charge of their mobile life rather than reacting to surprises.
In an environment where many offers compete for attention, this type of SIM-only setup offers a straightforward story: keep your number, keep your credit, know what you pay each month, and adjust the details as life changes.
Sources
Lebara’s official SIM-only information in English, including current bundles, contract options, and network details:
https://www.lebara.nl/en/sim-only.html
Explanation of the difference between prepaid and SIM-only at Lebara, including monthly bundle renewal and usage caps:
https://www.lebara.nl/en/sim-only/verschil-prepaid-sim-only.html
Lebara’s overview of rates, including information about out-of-bundle spending limits and fair-use policies:
https://www.lebara.nl/en/tarieven.html
Information on unlimited data bundles and the ability to change SIM-only bundles each month:
https://www.lebara.nl/en/sim-only/onbeperkt-internet.html
Main English-language service and help hub for managing details through MyLebara, checking usage, and changing bundles:
https://www.lebara.nl/en/service/veelgestelde-vragen.html
MyLebara app page on Google Play, showing how the app can be used to track balance, allowances, and recent activity:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lebara.wallet
Background on mobile phone providers and SIM-only options for internationals in the Netherlands, from a municipal information centre:
https://www.thehagueinternationalcentre.nl/living-in-the-hague-region/daily-life/being-connected/getting-a-phone
Article explaining SIM-only plans and mobile choices for people living in the Netherlands, from an English-language news and lifestyle platform:
https://dutchreview.com/expat/mobile-phones-netherlands/
Educational video from the United Kingdom communications regulator on how to switch mobile phone provider, relevant to understanding contract changes and number transfers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DELjAN89Krk
Appendix
Data cap
A data cap is a limit on how much mobile data can be used within a billing period or how much money can be spent on extra data. When this limit is reached, further use is slowed down or blocked so that the bill does not grow without clear consent.
Extras
Extras are add-ons placed on top of the basic bundle, such as higher maximum data speed or unlimited calls and texts. They adjust the experience without changing the core structure of the subscription.
Monthly rolling contract
A monthly rolling contract is a mobile subscription that renews automatically every month but does not tie the customer to a long fixed term. It can usually be changed or cancelled with short notice, giving more freedom than a one- or two-year contract.
MyLebara app
The MyLebara app is a mobile application provided by Lebara that lets customers see their remaining data, minutes, and texts, manage extras, change bundles for future months, and get support without calling customer service.
Prepaid credit
Prepaid credit is money loaded onto a mobile account in advance and then used up as calls, texts, and data are consumed. When a customer moves from prepaid to a SIM-only subscription with Lebara, the remaining credit can be carried over instead of being lost.
SIM Only
SIM Only is a mobile subscription where the customer receives only a SIM card and service, without a new phone. It is meant for people who already own a device and want to pay for connectivity through a bundle of data, minutes, and texts.
Social channels
Social channels are online platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, where Lebara shares updates, promotions, and explanations, and where customers can follow the brand and stay informed.
Unlimited calls and texts
Unlimited calls and texts describe an add-on that lets the customer make national calls and send national text messages without a strict minute or message count, as long as use stays within a fair-use policy designed to prevent abuse.
Usage discount
A usage discount, in this context, is a temporary reduction in the monthly subscription price, such as a fifty-percent discount for the first months of a one-year or two-year contract. It lowers the cost during the introductory period while leaving the bundle contents unchanged.
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My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 