LoRaWAN vs Cellular — IoT Comms Guide

A plain-English comparison of the three main IoT connectivity options.

When choosing IoT connectivity for sensors and trackers, you have three main options: LoRaWAN (private network, long range, low power), Cellular IoT (4G LTE-M/NB-IoT, wide coverage, no gateway) and Sigfox (global public network, ultra-low cost). This guide explains each technology in plain English, compares range, power consumption, data capacity, cost and coverage, and recommends the best option for common use cases. No technical jargon — just practical advice to help you choose.

Key features

• Technology Overview. How each protocol works in simple terms. Radio frequencies, network architecture and data flow explained.
• Range Comparison. LoRaWAN: 2–15km. Cellular: mobile coverage. Sigfox: 10–50km. Real-world vs theoretical ranges.
• Battery Life Analysis. LoRaWAN: 3–10 years. NB-IoT: 5–10 years. Sigfox: 5–10 years. What affects battery life in practice.
• Cost Breakdown. Device costs, gateway costs, subscription fees and total cost of ownership for 100-device deployments.
• Coverage Maps. UK coverage comparison for each technology with rural blind-spot analysis.
• Use Case Recommendations. Best technology for: asset tracking, environmental monitoring, smart building, agriculture and utilities.

Which technology should I choose?

Start by asking where your devices will be located. If they're all on one site (a farm, factory or campus), LoRaWAN is usually the most cost-effective — one gateway covers the whole property and there are no monthly SIM fees. If your devices are spread across different locations or move around (vehicle trackers, portable equipment), cellular is the better choice because it works anywhere with mobile coverage.

Think about how much data you need to send. Cellular handles photos, video clips and frequent updates easily. LoRaWAN is perfect for simple sensor readings every few minutes (temperature, door status, tank levels). Sigfox suits very basic alerts sent once or twice a day. Most customers find LoRaWAN ideal for fixed sensors and cellular best for anything that moves or needs real-time alerts.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheapest?

Sigfox has the lowest per-device cost but limited data. LoRaWAN is cheapest at scale (no per-device subscription). Cellular has the highest per-device cost but best coverage.

Which is best for farms?

LoRaWAN is ideal for farms — one gateway covers the entire property, sensors last years, and there's no per-device SIM cost.

Can I mix technologies?

Yes — many deployments combine LoRaWAN for on-site sensors with cellular for mobile asset tracking. Our platforms support multi-protocol dashboards.

Do I need planning permission for a gateway?

No — LoRaWAN gateways are small, low-power devices similar to a WiFi router. They can be mounted indoors or outdoors without planning consent in most cases.

What happens if my gateway fails?

Your sensors will stop sending data until the gateway is replaced or repaired. We recommend keeping a spare gateway for critical deployments or using cellular backup for essential sensors.

Can I use these technologies indoors?

Yes, all three work indoors, though range is reduced by walls and metal structures. Cellular typically performs best indoors, followed by LoRaWAN, then Sigfox.

How quickly can I get started?

Cellular devices work immediately with a SIM card. LoRaWAN requires a gateway setup (30 minutes) then sensors connect automatically. Sigfox devices activate when first powered on.