Is the 1NCE SIM really cheaper?

For very low data volumes (<500 MB over 10 years) yes: €10 one-shot vs ~€0.60 per month at pay-as-you-go €0.005/MB. For usage above 500 MB the math flips: 1NCE's per-MB cost on top-ups exceeds iot.cards' pay-as-you-go. If your device sends 1 MB per day for 10 years, 1NCE is more expensive than pay-as-you-go.

Does 1NCE work with a private APN against my VPC?

The standard lifetime plan does not include private APN. 1NCE offers it in their enterprise plan at extra cost. iot.cards includes a dedicated private APN in the standard offer (with bounded recurring cost, not per-SIM).

If I have 5,000 sensors reporting 100 KB/day, which is better?

Math: 100 KB × 365 × 10 = 365 MB in 10 years, within 1NCE's lifetime cap. For that profile, 5,000 SIMs × €10 = €50,000 one-shot. On iot.cards: 100 KB × 365 = 36.5 MB/year per SIM, 5,000 SIMs × 36.5 MB × €0.005/MB = €912/year, ~€9,120 over 10 years. iot.cards comes out ~5× cheaper. But if those sensors ever start sending more data (feature expansion, OTA), 1NCE runs out of cap.

What if I need access to Movistar specifically because my client requires it?

iot.cards lets you pin the SIM to a specific operator if the use case requires it (e.g., metering under operator-assigned contracts). 1NCE depends on the underlying Deutsche Telekom agreement; control over the specific operator is more limited.

Does 1NCE have Spanish-language support?

1NCE is a German company with English and German support (and via local partners). iot.cards has an engineering team in Seville responding in Spanish by phone and email, with technical onboarding included.

What happens when the lifetime SIM hits 10 years?

The SIM deactivates. To continue, you have to buy a top-up or a new SIM. For devices that aren't easily accessible (remote installations, solderable MFF2), that means truck rolls + handling. iot.cards has no expiry date: the SIM stays active as long as you pay the plan, no need to touch the device.

Can I migrate between 1NCE and iot.cards later?

Yes, but it requires a physical SIM swap (the IMSI is different). That's why the initial decision matters: if you mis-size consumption, migration costs field time, especially with MFF2. We recommend starting with a 5-10% pilot to validate real usage profile before mass deployment.

Commercial comparison

1NCE vs iot.cards

Q: Does 1NCE work with a private APN against my VPC?

The standard lifetime plan does not include private APN. 1NCE offers it in their enterprise plan at extra cost. iot.cards includes a dedicated private APN in the standard offer (with bounded recurring cost, not per-SIM).

Q: If I have 5,000 sensors reporting 100 KB/day, which is better?

Math: 100 KB × 365 × 10 = 365 MB in 10 years, within 1NCE's lifetime cap. For that profile, 5,000 SIMs × €10 = €50,000 one-shot. On iot.cards: 100 KB × 365 = 36.5 MB/year per SIM, 5,000 SIMs × 36.5 MB × €0.005/MB = €912/year, ~€9,120 over 10 years. iot.cards comes out ~5× cheaper. But if those sensors ever start sending more data (feature expansion, OTA), 1NCE runs out of cap.

Q: What if I need access to Movistar specifically because my client requires it?

iot.cards lets you pin the SIM to a specific operator if the use case requires it (e.g., metering under operator-assigned contracts). 1NCE depends on the underlying Deutsche Telekom agreement; control over the specific operator is more limited.

Q: Does 1NCE have Spanish-language support?

1NCE is a German company with English and German support (and via local partners). iot.cards has an engineering team in Seville responding in Spanish by phone and email, with technical onboarding included.

Q: What happens when the lifetime SIM hits 10 years?

The SIM deactivates. To continue, you have to buy a top-up or a new SIM. For devices that aren't easily accessible (remote installations, solderable MFF2), that means truck rolls + handling. iot.cards has no expiry date: the SIM stays active as long as you pay the plan, no need to touch the device.

Q: Can I migrate between 1NCE and iot.cards later?

Yes, but it requires a physical SIM swap (the IMSI is different). That's why the initial decision matters: if you mis-size consumption, migration costs field time, especially with MFF2. We recommend starting with a 5-10% pilot to validate real usage profile before mass deployment.

How to choose between 1NCE's lifetime SIM and iot.cards' multi-carrier IoT SIM. Not a brand war: each model is optimized for a different profile. We explain when each one fits, without half-truths.

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Quick summary

1NCE is a good choice if your device uses little data, doesn't need static IP or private APN, and you're fine paying ~€10 upfront per SIM for a 10-year capped allowance. iot.cards is the reasonable choice if you need private APN, static IP, engineering support, full API integration, or if your real usage (video surveillance, OCPP, active fleet telemetry, SCADA) exceeds the lifetime cap.

Side-by-side feature comparison

Same device, two different commercial models. What changes is what you need behind the connectivity.

	1NCE	iot.cards
Commercial model	Lifetime SIM: one-shot ~€10 per SIM with 500 MB / 250 SMS / 250 min spread over 10 years. No monthly fee.	SIM with pooled fleet tariff (€0.005/MB at low usage, volume-discounted bundles). No lock-in, no per-SIM minimum.
Coverage in Spain	Multi-IMSI via partners. Spanish coverage through Vodafone (legacy Deutsche Telekom agreement).	Multi-IMSI with access to Movistar, Vodafone and Orange in Spain. Automatic switching across all three.
Radio technologies	2G, 3G, 4G LTE; LTE-M and NB-IoT where the underlying operator offers them and per plan.	2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, LTE-M and NB-IoT where the local operator offers them. Per-country availability documented.
Private APN	Available only in enterprise plans (not in the standard lifetime plan).	Dedicated APN with your CIDR range + IPSec/WireGuard tunnel into your VPC, included in standard offer.
Static IP	Available in enterprise plans at extra cost.	Static IPv4 (public or private) per SIM, contractable as an additional layer.
Permanent roaming	Yes, no 90-day restriction.	Yes, no 90-day restriction.
REST API	Documented REST API available.	Documented REST API with HMAC-signed webhooks and ICCID idempotency.
Technical support	Self-service via portal and docs; ticket support.	Engineering team in Seville, phone and email support. Technical onboarding from day one.
Billing model	One-shot per SIM (capex). No monthly invoice.	Monthly invoice for actual pooled consumption.
When the SIM runs out	When you consume the cap (500 MB, 250 SMS, 250 min) or when the 10 years expire, whichever comes first. After that: top-up or new SIM.	Never by exhaustion; the plan is billed while the SIM is active.

When to choose which

Choose 1NCE if…

Your device consumes very little (sensors reporting a few KB per day).
You want to turn connectivity into capex and forget the monthly bill.
The deployment is "fire and forget" for years (few changes, low support).
You don't need private APN or static IP.
You don't need active switching between Movistar, Vodafone and Orange.
Self-service portal support is enough.

Choose iot.cards if…

Your real usage may exceed 500 MB lifetime (video, active fleet, EV chargers, SCADA).
You need a dedicated private APN against your VPC.
You need end-to-end static IP.
You want access to all three Spanish national networks, not just one.
You need full API integration with webhooks and per-ICCID traceability.
You want engineering support in Spanish, not just tickets.
Your deployment is regulated (metering, healthcare, critical infrastructure) and needs a written SLA.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1NCE SIM really cheaper?: For very low data volumes (<500 MB over 10 years) yes: €10 one-shot vs ~€0.60 per month at pay-as-you-go €0.005/MB. For usage above 500 MB the math flips: 1NCE's per-MB cost on top-ups exceeds iot.cards' pay-as-you-go. If your device sends 1 MB per day for 10 years, 1NCE is more expensive than pay-as-you-go.
Does 1NCE work with a private APN against my VPC?: The standard lifetime plan does not include private APN. 1NCE offers it in their enterprise plan at extra cost. iot.cards includes a dedicated private APN in the standard offer (with bounded recurring cost, not per-SIM).
If I have 5,000 sensors reporting 100 KB/day, which is better?: Math: 100 KB × 365 × 10 = 365 MB in 10 years, within 1NCE's lifetime cap. For that profile, 5,000 SIMs × €10 = €50,000 one-shot. On iot.cards: 100 KB × 365 = 36.5 MB/year per SIM, 5,000 SIMs × 36.5 MB × €0.005/MB = €912/year, ~€9,120 over 10 years. iot.cards comes out ~5× cheaper. But if those sensors ever start sending more data (feature expansion, OTA), 1NCE runs out of cap.
What if I need access to Movistar specifically because my client requires it?: iot.cards lets you pin the SIM to a specific operator if the use case requires it (e.g., metering under operator-assigned contracts). 1NCE depends on the underlying Deutsche Telekom agreement; control over the specific operator is more limited.
Does 1NCE have Spanish-language support?: 1NCE is a German company with English and German support (and via local partners). iot.cards has an engineering team in Seville responding in Spanish by phone and email, with technical onboarding included.
What happens when the lifetime SIM hits 10 years?: The SIM deactivates. To continue, you have to buy a top-up or a new SIM. For devices that aren't easily accessible (remote installations, solderable MFF2), that means truck rolls + handling. iot.cards has no expiry date: the SIM stays active as long as you pay the plan, no need to touch the device.
Can I migrate between 1NCE and iot.cards later?: Yes, but it requires a physical SIM swap (the IMSI is different). That's why the initial decision matters: if you mis-size consumption, migration costs field time, especially with MFF2. We recommend starting with a 5-10% pilot to validate real usage profile before mass deployment.

Want us to size your case?

Tell us how many devices, what they consume and what your requirements are (APN, IP, regulated vertical). We'll honestly tell you which model fits — even if the answer is "stay with 1NCE".