Lebara UK
eSIMVodafone-based UK MVNO — £5 top-up per 90 days, Wi-Fi Calling
Best for: Low-effort keep-alive on Vodafone-grade coverage with small £5 top-ups.
Overview
Lebara is an international MVNO running on Vodafone UK's network. Order eSIM directly on the official site; after 90 consecutive days without top-up or chargeable usage you lose any remaining balance, while the number itself is terminated only after a further 365 days of inactivity — cheap per event but a 2x/year cadence to protect your credit. Wi-Fi Calling supported; a China-roaming data bundle was briefly offered and then withdrawn.
Lebara's keep-alive is two-tier: after 90 consecutive days without a top-up or chargeable usage you forfeit any remaining credit, but full termination of the number comes only after a further 365 days of inactivity — a missed 90-day window costs money, not immediately the number. £5 per 90 days remains the lowest per-event top-up among reviewed UK options, but at twice-a-year cadence it lands near Lycamobile's £10/90 days and above giffgaff's near-zero SMS route.
It rides Vodafone's infrastructure (good coverage quality), supports Wi-Fi Calling, and sells eSIM directly at checkout. The China-relevant caveat is directional: Lebara briefly launched a China-roaming data bundle and then cancelled it, and its marketing centres on international calls to South Asia — the source review files it in the low-cost/flexible MVNO tier, not the China-roaming tier.
For a UK number kept alive from anywhere with minimal fuss and Vodafone-grade coverage, it works; for mainland-China data use, look at CTExcel/CMLink instead.
Popular plans
| Plan | Data from | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay-as-you-go keep-alive | Pay per use | 90 days per activity (credit expiry); number kept a further 365 days | £5 minimum top-up |
Keep-alive terms per Lebara UK T&C (2026-09 re-verify via search index; site region-blocked): credit lost at 90 days of inactivity, number terminated after a further 365 days; China-roaming bundle was withdrawn.
Pros
- Lowest per-event top-up (£5) among reviewed UK MVNOs
- Vodafone-grade coverage and Wi-Fi Calling
- Direct eSIM checkout
Things to note
- 90-day cadence means topping up twice a year
- China-roaming data bundle launched then withdrawn
- MVNO priority below Vodafone's own customers
Key features
- £5 minimum top-up extends validity 90 days
- eSIM directly at checkout
- Vodafone network infrastructure with Wi-Fi Calling
- No long-term contract