Choosing between prepay and bill pay affects how you pay and what you get. Here's how they compare in Ireland's mobile market.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Prepay | Bill Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Top up in advance | Monthly direct debit |
| Credit check | No | Usually no (budget networks) |
| Contract | None | Usually 30-day rolling |
| Price | Often slightly higher | Usually cheaper |
| Control | Spend only what you top up | Fixed monthly amount |
| Risk | None (prepaid) | Potential debt |
How Prepay Works
With prepay (pay-as-you-go):
- Buy a SIM card
- Top up with credit (€10, €15, €20, etc.)
- Credit is deducted as you use services
- Top up again when needed
Example - 48 Prepay:
- Top up €12.99
- Get 200GB data, unlimited calls/texts for 28 days
- Repeat each month
Prepay Allowances
Most prepay plans work on a "bundle" system:
- Top up a specific amount (e.g., €15)
- Receive a bundle of data/calls/texts
- Bundle lasts 28-30 days
- If you don't top up, bundle expires
How Bill Pay Works
With bill pay:
- Sign up with payment details
- Use your phone normally
- Receive a bill each month
- Pay by direct debit
Example - GoMo Bill Pay:
- €14.99 charged monthly
- 120GB data, unlimited calls/texts
- No action needed—automatic payment
Bill Pay Contracts
Modern budget networks use 30-day rolling contracts:
- No long-term commitment
- Can cancel with 30 days notice
- No early exit fees
This makes bill pay almost as flexible as prepay.
Price Comparison
Budget Networks
| Network | Prepay | Bill Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 48 | €12.99 (28 days) | €12.99 (monthly) |
| GoMo | N/A | €14.99 |
| Clear Mobile | N/A | €14.99 |
| Tesco Mobile | €15 (28 days) | €20+ |
Most budget networks are bill pay only (GoMo, Clear Mobile). 48 offers both at the same price.
The 28-Day vs 30-Day Trap
Some prepay plans (Tesco Mobile, Lycamobile) work on 28-day cycles:
- 13 billing periods per year (not 12)
- €15 × 13 = €195/year
- vs €14.99 × 12 = €180/year (bill pay)
This hidden cost makes some prepay plans €15-20 more expensive annually.
True Annual Cost Comparison
| Plan | Cycle | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 48 Prepay | 28 days | €169 (13 × €12.99) |
| 48 Bill Pay | Monthly | €156 (12 × €12.99) |
| GoMo | Monthly | €165 (inc. activation) |
| Tesco Mobile Prepay | 28 days | €195 (13 × €15) |
Bill pay typically works out €10-20 cheaper per year.
Pros & Cons
Prepay Pros
- Complete spending control - Can't exceed what you top up
- No credit check - Anyone can get prepay
- No commitment - Stop anytime without notice
- Good for children - Fixed budget, no bill shock
- No bank details required - Top up with cash/vouchers
Prepay Cons
- Often more expensive - 28-day cycles add cost
- Must remember to top up - Lose service if you forget
- Credit expires - Unused bundles lost after 28-30 days
- Fewer options - Many budget networks bill pay only
Bill Pay Pros
- Usually cheaper - Monthly billing = 12 payments/year
- Automatic - Never lose service from forgetting
- More options - Access to GoMo, Clear Mobile, etc.
- Consistent - Same amount each month
- Better deals - Networks prefer bill pay customers
Bill Pay Cons
- Requires bank details - Direct debit setup
- Less control - Charged even if you don't use much
- Risk of debt - Out-of-bundle charges possible
- 30-day notice - Need to remember to cancel
When to Choose Prepay
Prepay makes sense if:
- You want complete spending control
- You're getting a phone for a child
- You don't want to provide bank details
- You use your phone very little (occasional use)
- You're testing a network before committing
Best prepay options:
- 48 Prepay: €12.99/28 days - best value
- Tesco Mobile: €15/28 days - in-store support
When to Choose Bill Pay
Bill pay makes sense if:
- You want the lowest annual cost
- You use your phone regularly
- You don't want to remember to top up
- You want access to GoMo or Clear Mobile
- You're comfortable with automatic payments
Best bill pay options:
- 48: €12.99/month - best value
- GoMo: €14.99/month - best network
- Clear Mobile: €12.99-€14.99/month - best roaming
Hybrid Approach
Some users combine both:
Primary phone: Bill pay for reliability and value Secondary phone: Prepay for flexibility
This works well for:
- Work/personal separation
- Backup phone
- Phones for children
Credit Checks
Prepay: No credit check ever.
Budget bill pay (GoMo, 48, Clear Mobile): Typically no hard credit check. May do a soft identity check.
Premium bill pay (Eir, Three, Vodafone with phone): Full credit check when financing a handset.
If you have poor credit, prepay or budget bill pay networks are your options.
Switching Between Prepay and Bill Pay
You can switch:
Prepay to bill pay: Same network usually allows this. Contact customer service.
Bill pay to prepay: Less common, may need to cancel and rejoin.
Different networks: Standard porting process—keep your number regardless of payment type.
Our Recommendation
For most users: Bill pay with a budget network
The combination of:
- Lower annual cost (monthly billing)
- Automatic payments (no service interruptions)
- 30-day rolling contract (flexibility)
...makes bill pay the better choice for regular phone users.
For specific situations: Prepay
Choose prepay for children's phones, backup devices, or if you genuinely want zero commitment and complete spending control.
Last updated: January 2026