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How to Top Up Lebara Pay As You Go

Lebara is a UK mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that runs on the Vodafone network, so its customers get the same coverage and 5G footprint as Vodafone direct.

Lebara PAYG Min top-up £5 Updated May 2026

Lebara is a UK mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that runs on the Vodafone network, so its customers get the same coverage and 5G footprint as Vodafone direct. Lebara is best known for its international calling Plans, with generous bundles of minutes to popular destinations such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and most of the EU, alongside the usual UK calls, texts and data. That makes Lebara a popular choice for anyone who regularly calls family or friends abroad - the network is well established among the UK's diaspora communities and competes mainly on international value rather than headline UK data allowances. Lebara also offers a useful free Lebara-to-Lebara calls feature, where calls to other Lebara numbers (in the UK and many international markets) do not count against your bundled minutes.

Topping up your Lebara PAYG SIM can be done in five ways: online at lebara.co.uk, through the Lebara app, with a top-up voucher from a UK retailer, in person at a Lebara stockist or supermarket, or by setting up auto top-up to add credit on a schedule. Once you have credit, you can either use it pay-per-use at standard PAYG rates or - much better value - buy a Lebara Plan, which is a 30-day bundle of UK data, calls and texts plus international minutes. Most Plans include 5G access on supported phones at no extra cost. Credit on Lebara PAYG lasts 6 months from your last top-up, so a small top-up twice a year keeps the SIM and number active.

If you renew the same Plan every month, switching to a longer SIM-only contract on Lebara or another UK MVNO may save a little more for the same allowance, particularly if international minutes are your main reason for using Lebara. You can keep your existing number when switching by getting a free PAC code from Lebara first. This guide covers every top-up method, current Plan pricing, voucher locations, the international destinations included in each Plan tier and the most common questions Lebara PAYG users have.

How to top up Lebara

There are five ways to add credit to a Lebara PAYG SIM. Pick whichever suits you - they all credit your number within a minute.

1

Top up Lebara online

The simplest way to top up Lebara is at lebara.co.uk/topup. Enter the Lebara mobile number you want to top up, choose an amount or Plan, and pay by debit or credit card. Credit is applied within a minute and you do not need to log in to top someone else up. If you have a Lebara account, signing in lets you save card details, view top-up history and choose a Plan in the same flow. Online top-up accepts Visa, Mastercard and Maestro and at most checkouts also PayPal. There is no fee, and you can top up your own number or any other Lebara PAYG number from the same page.

Visit Lebara top-up page

2

Top up via the Lebara app

The Lebara app is the easiest way to manage your Lebara SIM. Download the Lebara app from the App Store or Google Play, sign in with your Lebara mobile number, and tap Top Up on the home screen. You can pay with a saved card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with credit applied straight away. The app shows your remaining UK data, calls, texts and international minutes for the current Plan, when it expires, and lets you switch to a different Plan for next month. You can also see what international rates apply to non-bundle destinations.

3

Lebara top-up voucher

Lebara top-up vouchers are sold at thousands of UK shops, including major supermarkets, convenience stores and PayPoint outlets. Vouchers come in £5, £10, £15, £20, £30 and £50 amounts. To redeem, dial 5588 free from your Lebara phone or visit lebara.co.uk/topup and enter the 16-digit code. You can also redeem in the Lebara app under the Top Up section. Vouchers are useful if you do not have a debit card, want to send credit to family or friends, or are topping up a phone that is not yours.

£5 £10 £15 £20 £30 £50
4

Top up in store

Lebara top-ups are sold across the UK at independent newsagents, mini-marts, Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, Co-op, the Post Office and most PayPoint shops. Tell the cashier the Lebara mobile number and the amount, pay in cash or card, and credit is loaded electronically to the SIM at the till. Some areas with strong Lebara take-up have dedicated Lebara stockists who can also help you choose a Plan. This option is useful if you prefer cash or do not have internet access at home.

5

Auto top-up

Auto top-up automatically adds a fixed amount of credit to your Lebara PAYG number on a schedule, paid from a saved debit or credit card. You can configure it to renew your current Plan automatically every 30 days or to top up whenever your balance drops below a threshold. Set it up in the Lebara app or your online account under Top Up settings. You can change or cancel it at any time. Auto top-up is useful if you renew the same Plan each month, including international-minutes Plans, and want it to happen without you having to remember.

Where to buy Lebara top-up vouchers

Lebara top-up vouchers are sold at most major UK retailers. Look for them at the till, the customer service desk, or any PayPoint counter.

Post Office Tesco Sainsbury's ASDA Co-op Morrisons PayPoint shops Independent newsagents International call shops

Lebara PAYG bundles

A snapshot of the most common 30-day bundles. Always check Lebara's website for the latest pricing before topping up.

Bundle Price Data
Lebara Plan £5 £5 2GB
Lebara Plan £10 £10 12GB
Lebara Plan £15 £15 30GB
Lebara Plan £20 £20 60GB
Lebara Plan £30 £30 Unlimited

Bundle pricing and allowances are indicative and may change. See the Lebara website for the most current details.

Topping up Lebara every month?

If you renew the same Lebara Plan each month, particularly one with international minutes, you may find a longer SIM-only contract from Lebara or another UK MVNO works out cheaper for the same allowance. Compare current SIM-only deals across all the major UK networks.

See SIM-only deals Compare Lebara plans

Lebara PAYG top-up FAQs

How long does my Lebara PAYG credit last?
Lebara PAYG credit lasts 6 months from your last top-up or chargeable activity. Any top-up resets the clock for another 180 days. If you do not top up within 6 months, Lebara may suspend the SIM and eventually recycle the number, so a small top-up at least twice a year keeps everything active.
Can I top up someone else's Lebara PAYG SIM?
Yes. On lebara.co.uk/topup or in the Lebara app, enter the Lebara mobile number you want to top up rather than your own. The credit is applied to their account immediately, and you do not need to be logged in. You can also buy a voucher in any shop and pass on the code so they can redeem it themselves.
Which countries do Lebara international minutes cover?
Lebara Plans include international minutes to a defined list of destinations that varies by Plan, but typically covers India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and most of the EU. The exact list of included destinations and minute limits is shown when you choose a Plan in the Lebara app or online. Calls to destinations not included in the bundle are charged at standard Lebara international rates.
What is the minimum top-up amount on Lebara?
The minimum top-up on Lebara is £5, whether you are paying online, through the app, with a voucher or in store. Lebara also offers Plans starting from £5, which usually offer better value than spending the same credit on pay-per-use rates.
How do I check my Lebara PAYG balance?
Dial 5588 from your Lebara phone for a free automated balance update. The Lebara app shows your balance, current Plan remaining UK and international allowances, and expiry date on the home screen. You can also text BAL to 5588 free of charge.
Will my Lebara Plan auto-renew?
Yes, Lebara Plans auto-renew each 30-day cycle by default if you have enough credit on the account when the Plan expires. If renewal fails because of low credit, your account falls back to standard PAYG rates until you top up. You can switch off auto-renew in the Lebara app or by dialling 5588 and following the prompts.