As I told you in my post Mobile Services in Spain, I’ve been living in Spain for two years now and my experience enables me to offer an honest review of the Spanish mobile providers. In that time, I have eaten my body weight in jamón, got sunburned in the middle of winter and learned that the country pretty much grinds to a halt in August. Oh, and I’ve tried three different mobile providers.
I started with an overpriced tourist SIM that was the very opposite of value-for-money. I then changed to a contract with one of the big Spanish telecom companies that involved signing five pages of incomprehensible paperwork and tied me in for 12 months. And finally, I switched to Lobster.
I didn’t switch because of an advert. I switched because every time I complained about my phone bill or my provider’s customer service at the local expat meet-up, someone would ask: “Graham, haven’t you heard of Lobster?” or “Why don’t you get a Lobster SIM, Graham?”.
Now that I’ve made the switch, I understand why it’s the worst-kept secret in the British expat community. If you are one of the few who haven’t yet heard of the company (or you have and you’re still sitting on the fence) here is my honest review of why Lobster is hands down the best mobile provider for expats.
Unlike all the other mobile providers, Lobster operates entirely in English
If your Spanish is still A1 level or non-existent, it doesn’t have to be an impediment to setting yourself up with a Spanish mobile provider. With Lobster, you don’t need to know a single word of Spanish. Lobster was founded by Brit expats for other expats and functions entirely in English! Their customer service is staffed by real, empathetic people (not robotic AI bots) who are all native English speakers or completely fluent. And the website, the bills, and text notifications are all in English. With Lobster, it’s like you never left Blighty, though the endless sunny days are a constant reminder that you have.
Calling home is unlimited with Lobster
One of the major negative changes for Brits moving to Spain post-Brexit was the return of roaming charges. Most UK providers now charge you to use your phone in Spain, while many Spanish providers charge you to call the UK, and when you visit the UK they also charge you for calling and using data. The same applies in other European countries. Lobster flips this on its head.
Unlimited calls home
Lobster’s plans include unlimited calls and texts to the UK (and Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, USA, and other countries, by the way). I can call my mum in Leeds and chat to her for an hour and it is included in my plan. No extra cost!
Roam like you’re at home
When I visit the UK for Christmas, my Lobster SIM works exactly as it does in Málaga. Your Lobster SIM keeps working seamlessly without any changes in your bill. They do have a fair usage policy with roaming.
No Spanish ID number needed
This is the killer for new arrivals to Spain. To get a contract with Movistar or Vodafone, or with most of the smaller companies, you typically need a NIE (Foreigner’s Identity Number) and a Spanish bank account. The problem is you will need a phone number to get an appointment to apply for the NIE, which makes it a classic Catch-22 situation.
Lobster keeps it beautifully simple.
This is all you need:
- A Passport (UK or another nationality).
- A credit/debit card (cards from other European countries are accepted).
- A postal address where your new Spanish SIM can be sent to.
That’s it! Among the many benefits of Lobster, you can be connected before you have your residency card. Speaking from experience, when you first arrive as an expat and are still becoming accustomed to your new country of residence, you should snap at any opportunity to avoid the headache of Spanish bureaucracy. I wish I’d known about Lobster when I first relocated to Spain.
The “pause” button: Lobster gives you flexibility, which is crucial for expats
Many of us expats don’t spend 365 days a year in Spain. Maybe you’re a “swallow” who flies south for the winter, or you might like to head north to the UK during the sizzling summer months. Either way, it’s likely you’ll make at least a couple of trips home every year. In this scenario, you are going to want to enjoy the benefits of a mobile provider that doesn’t penalize you every time you want to visit your family back home.
With a traditional 12-24-month mobile contract, you pay whether or not you are in Spain. With Lobster, you can park your mobile number whenever you want and pause your plan for up to 12 months, during which time your Spanish number remains active. You pay nothing while you are away. When you land back on Spanish soil, you just unpark, and boom, you’re back online. Plus, while I’m on the subject of flexibility, you can change your plan whenever you want.
The Network: Lobster uses the best network
A common fear surrounding MVNOs (virtual providers) and smaller telecoms companies is that the signal will not be good. “It’s cheap, so the coverage must be rubbish, right?”
Wrong. Lobster uses Telefónica’s network, Spain’s former state-monopoly telecom giant (the “BT” of Spain). It has the best coverage on a national level, even in rural and mountainous areas where other networks struggle. If you decide to spend a weekend in one of rural Andalucia’s “pueblos blancos”, or go hiking or skiing in the Pyrenees, you will still be fully connected. To give you an example, I live in the hills outside Málaga, and I get full 5G coverage. The signal my mobile picks up is identical to that of my neighbour, who pays €50 per month for his premium Movistar contract.
The price: Lobster is surprisingly cheap
All of Lobster’s plans give you unlimited calls and texts, and loads of data (except the Just Spain Plan).
- Mobile Plan with 200GB for €12.99.
- Mobile Plan with 500GB for €18.99.
- Mobile Plan with 750GB for €24.99.
(Note: Data allowances often get boosted by promos, but this won’t affect the price, which stays fixed).
So, no price increase after 3 months or other “sorpresas” in your bill. The whole process is refreshingly transparent. The difference compared to other companies won’t be enormous, but the saving will buy you a nice lunch every month.
How Lobster fares vs. The Rest
| Feature | Lobster | The Big Three (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange) | The MVNOs (smaller companies) | Budget Tourist SIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calls to UK | Included (Unlimited) | You pay; per minute, or with add-on fees for a limited number of minutes | Some (Digi, Llamaya) offer generous (though limited) mins and others (O2 Spain, Pepephone, Simyo) bill per minute. | Expensive |
| English Support | Native or fluent English speakers | Varies; English-speaking agents are available but digital platforms are primarily in Spanish and in some cases only partially translated into English. | Varies. Some cater for non-Spanish speakers (Digi, Llamaya). Others are Spanish-centric, with smartphone apps and online customer portals rarely translated into English. | Non-existent |
| Contract | None | Not for pay-as-you-go, but there is permanence or a penalty to pay if you finance a handset or contract mobile + fibre + home entertainment bundles | Not for pay-as-you-go,but some have permanence rules if you also contract home internet with your mobile. | None |
| NIE Required? | No | Yes for a contract. No for pay-as-you-go | Yes for a contract. No for pay-as-you-go | No |
| Flexibility to park your number | Yes (park for up to 12 mo) | No | In some cases, for a maximum of 3 months per year. Others allow you not to top up pay-as-you-go, but there will be a “SIM Lifecycle” expiry deadline. | No (expires quickly) |
Frequently Ask Questions about why Lobster is the best provider
What do I need to sign up to mobile phone services with Lobster?
Luckily, all you need is your passport, a credit card and a postal address where Lobster can send your new Spanish SIM card. You don’t need a Spanish ID number or residency, or a Spanish bank account. Importantly, Lobster’s customer service, digital platforms and billing are entirely in English. So there is no need to worry if you don’t yet speak Spanish.
Do Lobster’s mobile plans include calls to the UK and other European countries?
Lobster’s pay-as-you-go plans include unlimited free calls to the UK, most European countries and the USA.
Do Lobster’s mobile plans include free roaming in the UK and other European countries?
All of Lobster’s plans include free roaming in the UK and most other European countries, so you can make calls and send texts and use your data while travelling, with no extra charge.
What do I need to get a Lobster Spanish SIM card?
All you need to acquire a Spanish SIM card from Lobster is your passport, a UK or European credit or debit card, and a postal address for Lobster to send your new SIM to.
Will a Lobster Spanish SIM card be compatible with my mobile?
Lobster SIM cards come in all sizes and are adaptable to every type of mobile phone.
What’s the signal like with Lobster?
Lobster uses Movistar’s network. Movistar belongs to Telefónica, Spain’s former state-monopoly telecom giant (the “BT” of Spain). It has the best coverage on a national level, even in isolated rural areas.
Do I have to keep paying for my Lobster mobile plan if I’m away from Spain?
You can park your number whenever you want and pause your plan for up to 12 months, during which time your Spanish number remains active. Plus, all of Lobster’s plans include free roaming in the UK and most other European countries.
Is Lobster the cheapest Spanish mobile provider?
Lobster definitely offers some of the best value for money plans in terms of mobile phone services. All of Lobster’s plans give you unlimited calls and texts and buckets of data, with the cheapest plan starting at only €12.99 per month
My Verdict: Lobster is a right choice
Lobster might not be the right choice for everyone. For instance, if you want to get your hands on a brand new iPhone 17 and pay it off over two years, they can’t help you, as they don’t sell handsets.
But, if you are an expat who wants reliable coverage in Spain and when you visit back home, as well as English support and zero paperwork, there is simply no better option. Being a customer of Lobster allows you to avoid what can be one of the biggest headaches of moving to a new country.
I switched to Lobster for the convenience, but I stayed for the service. It’s the soft landing every expat deserves.
Join the club. Stop overpaying and start living. Order Your Lobster SIM Now.
