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Best SIM Card in Germany for Tourists

In our ultimate guide to buying the best prepaid SIM card in Germany for tourists , you'll get all the information you need.

Learn how to find the best deals on German SIM cards as a traveler and find answers to key questions such as where and how to get a SIM card in Germany, which are the best SIM card deals for tourists and how much they cost. Also read about local mobile providers and the best network in Germany, as well as other ways to buy a SIM card, such as e-SIM cards .

Let's begin!

Do I really need a German SIM Card for Berlin?

If you are from Europe , you generally do not need a SIM card , as since 2017 roaming in the EU (and the European Economic Area) is free . Thus, in most cases, it is not necessary to purchase a German SIM card if you already have an SIM card from the EU/EEA. Note , however, that some mobile operators have special conditions , so you should check the terms of your home operator in advance.
If you are not from Europe, you will most likely need a German SIM Card , especially if you are from America. Otherwise, you will have to face expensive international roaming rates. By buying a German SIM card, you can also make sure that your mobile data connections are reliable, secure and fast .

Book your SIM Card for Germany online before your Trip

1. the holafly prepaid e-sim card for berlin.

For travelers who only need mobile data and no phone calls or SMS for their trip to Germany, we have the perfect solution: Holafly's easy-to-use prepaid e-SIM card.

Holafly offers a digital e-SIM card with unlimited mobile data service at 4G / LTE speed .

This way, you don’t have to worry about high roaming costs when traveling, and enjoy unlimited internet as if you were at home.

Let's have a look at the prices and conditions of this card.

How does Holafly work?

Choose the data plan you want and purchase the Holafly prepaid e-SIM card here . You will immediately receive a QR code containing the e-SIM Card by email.
Scan the QR code one day before your departure.
Turn off your local provider’s cellular data.
Set your phone's options so that your mobile phone uses Holafly's internet.
Activate your QR code after you arrive in Germany, turn on data roaming from your phone’s setting and use your Holafly SIM card during your stay.

Compatibly: Before purchasing the Holafly SIM card, make sure that your mobile phone is unlocked and compatible with the Holafly service. It is available for the following cell phones: From the iPhone XS, XR onward; Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Fold 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and onwards; Huawei P40, P0 Pro, Huawei Mate 40 Pro and later models; Google Pixel 3, 3a (some versions do not allow eSIM), Google Pixel 4, 4 XL, 4a, 5 and later models; Oppo Find X3 Pro, Oppo Reno 5A, Motorola Razr (2019) and Motorola Razr 5G (dual SIM).

The easy eSIM for Germany by Holafly ( recommended ):

Here are the prices and conditions for the eSIM by Holafly. The ones in red are the most popular ones picked by travelers.

5 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 19€ )
7 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 27€ )
10 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 34€ )
15 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 47€ )
20 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 57€ )
30 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 69€ )
60 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 87€ )
90 Days Unlimited Data in Germany (approx. 99€ )

Please visit these websites for more details and up-to-date prices on the various offers:

For more information and 5% discount , click on this link:

2. Rent a Pocket Wifi in Berlin

You can easily rent a Pocket Wifi Device for the time you are in Berlin and access internet through it anytime. It is a device that connects you to internet without limitation and through several devices (phone, tablet and computer). The access to internet is fast and covered anywhere in Germany and Europe at 4G/LTE speed.

The process to rent a pocket Wi-Fi is very easy:

Book your device on through this link
Get your device delivered to you at your hotel or any address you want in Berlin
Use the device(s) according to the guideline during your trip
Before leaving the country, return the device in the Pre-paid and self-addressed return envelope as instructed

And voilà! Now you have internet during your travel to Berlin. For more information, click the button below.

Where to buy your German SIM Card in Berlin?

1. in the city.

Everywhere in the city, there are plenty of opportunities to buy a prepaid SIM card for Germany. First and foremost, there are the official stores of the mobile operators , which we also recommend, as you can find both helpful staff and the best deals here.

But you can also easily buy prepaid SIM cards in phone stores, supermarkets, electronics stores like Mediamarkt, drugstores and even at gas stations .

2. At the Airport

It is also possible to buy your prepaid SIM card upon arrival at Berlin Airport . Although it can be an advantage to have your German SIM card as soon as you arrive in Berlin, keep in mind that the selection at the airport is very limited, and the prices are much higher than in the city.

Important: If you bought your prepaid SIM card in a store in Germany, where it couldn’t be activated on-site (e.g a drug store, gas station), you will need to activate it online via VideoID. Here are the relevant links for Telekom , for Vodafone Germany and for O2 Germany .

As the websites are only available in German , we advise tourists to buy their German SIM card directly from an official Vodafone, Telekom or O2 store, or a phone shop.

Things you need to buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany

In order to buy your German SIM card and register it, you will need the following items:

An unlocked phone
Official, valid photo ID or valid passport
German address (hotel or AirBnB)
Registration in person or online via VideoID

Mobile Operators in Germany

Germany has a well-developed 4G network ; rural areas may have limited 4G coverage, while larger cities have 5G network.
In Germany, there are three local mobile operators: Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and O2.
There are also some MNVOs that use the mobile network of the major operators. Normally, they do not have their own stores and have poorer network coverage, which is why they are not recommended for tourists.
Deutsche Telekom , formerly Telekom, has the best 4G/ 5G network coverage.
Vodafone has the second-best network coverage.
O2 has very good network coverage in major cities like Berlin, but not in rural areas.

Costs for buying a Prepaid SIM Card in Germany for Tourists

The three major mobile carriers do not offer prepaid SIM cards specifically designed for tourists in Germany.

Moreover, prepaid SIM cards with unlimited data plans are usually very expensive in Germany , with prices ranging from €69 to €99. That's why we haven't listed these offers.

Instead, below you can see the best German SIM card deals that we think are the most interesting for tourists:

1. Vodafone Germany

CallYa Allnet Flat S: This deal comes with 3 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 200 minutes or SMS from Germany to the EU. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 9.99€.
CallYa Allnet Flat M: This package includes 6 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 500 minutes or SMS from Germany to the EU. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 14.99€.
CallYa Digital: The CallYa Digital deal comes with 15 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 20€.

For more information and up-to-date prices, please refer to the Vodafone website (only in German).

2. Deutsche Telekom

MagentaMobil Prepaid M: This package includes 3 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 10€ starting credit . It is 4 weeks valid and costs 9.95€ + additional 9.95€ one-time card price.
MagentaMobil Prepaid L: This deal comes with 5 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 15€ starting credit . It is 4 weeks valid and costs 14.95€ + additional 14.95€ one-time card price.
MagentaMobil Prepaid XL: The XL deal includes 7 GB data (at 5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 20€ starting credit . It is 4 weeks valid and costs 19.95 € + additional 19.95 € one-time card price.

Please visit the official Telekom Website for more details and current prices (only in German).

3. O2 Germany

O2 Prepaid S: This plan includes 6 GB data ( at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 9.99€
O2 Prepaid M: This package comes with 12 GB data (at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 14.99€
02 Prepaid L: This plan includes 18 GB data (at LTE Max. Speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 19.99€

For more details and the current prices, please check the official 02 Germany website (only in German).

Bottom Line

We clearly recommend tourists in Germany the Holafly prepaid e-SIM card. This is not only the easiest way to buy a prepaid SIM card for Germany, but also the fastest. Since prepaid SIM cards in Germany are quite expensive, especially those with unlimited data plans, the Holafly e-SIM card is the best choice for travelers to get unlimited data for little money.

Besides, you can set up the card in just a few minutes and start using your phone as soon as you land in Berlin. As a plus, you don't have to worry about the SIM card registration procedure in Germany, and can keep your own phone number. And instead of making phone calls, you can simply use WhatsApp or similar apps.

If you are looking for a physical SIM card , Holafly offers that too. The great thing is that Holafly's SIM card provides unlimited data and can be used not only in Germany, but also in more than 30 countries in Europe . Therefore, this card is a fantastic option for travelers who want to take a road trip in Europe.

FAQ about SIM Card in Germany

How to get a SIM Card in Germany?

You can buy your German SIM card at the official stores of the mobile operators, at phone stores, supermarkets, electronics stores like Mediamarkt, drugstores and even at gas stations . We don’t recommend buying your German SIM card at the airport , as the prices are generally higher and the selection limited.

Keep in mind that you need to register your SIM card in Germany in person or via VideoID. Therefore, you need a valid ID, a German address and an unlocked phone.

Since the registration websites are only available in German , we advise tourists to buy their SIM card for Germany directly from an official Vodafone, Telekom or O2 store or from a phone shop that will do it for you.

What is the best SIM card in Germany?

We recommend the prepaid e-SIM card from Holafly. The digital SIM card offers excellent value for money, as well as numerous other advantages. Instead of wasting valuable time searching, registering and buying a SIM card on the spot in Berlin, you can easily buy the Holafly e-SIM card online at home, keep your own phone number and use the e-SIM in other European countries during the validity period.

Which SIM Card is the best for Internet in Germany?

We recommend buying Holafly’s e-SIM card. German prepaid SIM cards with unlimited data plans are very expensive and can range between 69€ and 99€. With the digital Holafly e-SIM card , you get unlimited internet, which can be used in more than 30 countries in Europe. That makes Holafly’s e-SIM card a very popular choice with travelers planning to visit multiple countries.

How much does a SIM card cost in Germany?

Prepaid SIM cards in Germany are much more expensive compared to other European cities. Here, you pay around €10 for a prepaid SIM card with a 3 GB data plan with unlimited calls/SMS in Germany and €20 for a 12 to 15 GB data plan with unlimited calls/SMS in Germany (valid for 4 weeks). Unlimited data plans even cost between 69€ and 99€ . Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to opt for a digital eSIM card instead, such as the Holafly eSIM card, where you pay €34 for a 10-day plan with unlimited data.

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How to Use Your Cell Phone While Traveling in Germany In 2024

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer policy.

Traveling to Germany soon? Consider buying a prepaid SIM card (e-SIM) for your trip if you can’t get international coverage through your current provider.

This guide shows you options for using your phone in Germany, including different kinds of SIM cards you can buy before you leave and after arriving in Germany, so you can choose the best option for staying connected while on your trip.

1 Quick Answer: Best E-SIM For 2024
2 Do I Need A Pre-Paid SIM Card or E-SIM For My Trip To Germany?
3 Let’s Look At 3 Ways You Can Use Your Phone While in Germany:
4 Why Buy A SIM Card For Germany?
5 How To Buy A Pre-Paid SIM Card For Germany Before Your Trip
6 What To Look For In A SIM Card Plan
7 Best Pre-paid SIM Cards To Buy For Germany
8 Where To Buy A SIM Card After Arriving In Germany
9 Can I Use A German SIM Card Outside Of Germany?
10 Can I Use A SIM Card From Elsewhere in Europe In Germany?

Quick Answer: Best E-SIM For 2024

Having continuous data access on your phone while traveling is a must these days. We recommend getting an Airalo e-SIM before leaving for Germany. That way you can enjoy your trip without having to waste time trying to set up a SIM card in Germany.

Click here to check out Airalo e-SIM!

Join our FREE Germany Trip Planning Facebook Group!

Do I Need A Pre-Paid SIM Card or E-SIM For My Trip To Germany?

When we first published this article, it was common to purchase a Germany SIM card after arriving in Germany. At that time, having a continuous connection to the internet while traveling was a nice to have and many people were happy to buy a pre-paid SIM card.

But these days, for most people, being able to use your phone on arrival – and the whole time while traveling in Germany – is a must.

Having a continuous internet connection is so helpful when trying to navigate to your hotel (whether in a rental car or on foot), check train or metro times, make a dinner reservation, call your hotel or text your Airbnb host, book a last-minute tour or skip-the-line ticket, etc.

And it’s a must if you have train tickets on your phone.

UPDATE: A lot has changed since we first published this article! Not only is having constant access to data a must for most people, e-SIMS are easy and popular to use. And many of our clients and Facebook group members have shared what’s worked and not worked for them in the past year.

That’s why we now recommend Airalo e-SIM . You do need an unlocked phone to use Airalo. If you do, you can get an e-sim for Germany (and other countries) here.

So, do you need a travel SIM card for your Germany trip? It depends. Today, buying a pre-paid SIM card is just one option.

Let’s Look At 3 Ways You Can Use Your Phone While in Germany:

1. airplane mode + wifi..

This is the easiest and cheapest option. And, of course, the most limited.

If you’re super prepared and organized before flying to Germany (and each day before leaving your hotel), and if you can make phone calls through Facetime, Skype, WhatsApp or other social media or service, you can probably get away with switching your phone to airplane mode and simply using WiFi at your hotel and here and there around the city. The benefit of this option is that it’s free and easy. The downside is that it can be difficult to connect with WiFi outside of your hotel and you can’t make phone calls, get turn-by-turn directions or access any data.

IMPORTANT: I f you’re using the Deutschland-Ticket or have your train tickets in the DB Navigator app on your phone, this option won’t work for you because you need to be able to access your tickets off WiFi anytime you’re on the train.

2. International plan through your cell phone company.

Depending on your provider, you can often pay an extra fee to use your phone while in Germany. The choice is often between paying per day or for a month for each phone you want connected while abroad.

The benefit of this option is that you can easily use your phone off WiFi, which means you can access train tickets in the DB Navigator app, check train and public transit schedules, call or text hotels or Airbnb hosts, and more.

The downsides? You’ll probably have to pay quite a bit over your typical monthly bill. And you often have to pay a fee for each phone you want connected. If you plan to pay per day and forget to switch your phone back to airplane mode, the fees can quickly add up. And some providers limit the amount or speed of data you can use abroad.

UPDATE: we switched to T-mobile several months ago and can now use our phones in Germany (and elsewhere) as soon as we walk off the plane. Since we’re currently nomadic it’s super convenient to pay one bill each month and be able to use our cell phone everywhere without incurring extra fees or buying SIM cards everywhere (we can still easily add an e-SIM if we wanted to, though). I wouldn’t switch to T-mobile just for a 2-week trip to Germany but if you’ve been thinking about switching, do it before you travel abroad!

3. Pre-paid SIM Card or E-SIM.

This option gives you consistant access to data, texting, and phone all over Germany, which means you can use Google maps, text or call family at home, check museum opening times while out and about, access train tickets, and more. The benefits of using a pre-paid SIM card are that it’s likely much cheaper than using your home cell service abroad and you won’t get stuck without an internet connection or ability to text or make calls on your phone. You don’t need to get a new phone, and can even get unlimited data for the time you’re in Germany without a long-term mobile phone contract.

UPDATE: e-SIMs are a popular option these days and we now generally recommend an e-SIM over getting a SIM card after arriving in Germany. We’ve heard great things about Airalo e-SIM.

If you’re not sure which mobile internet option you want to use on your trip, join our Germany Travel Planning Facebook group (it’s free to join) so you can hear from us and other travelers about our/their experiences and recommendations. There have been several conversations about this topic!

And, by the way, the German word for cell phone is “Handy” – das Handy (the cell phone) or ein Handy (a cell phone). Yes, really!

We’ve used all 3 options while in Germany and elsewhere in Europe (and the world).

For many years when I traveled solo I often just used WiFi because I’m super prepared and organized before going abroad and I could easily get by with offline maps, prepared notes on my phone or in a notebook, and connecting to WiFi here and there when I’m away from my hotel or apartment.

I also used SIM cards a few times when I wanted to have consistent access to data but didn’t want to pay the expensive daily feels to Verizon. It took 10-15 minutes to sign up for the SIM card but after that, it was super easy.

There was no long-term mobile contract and it was cheap. With some plans, a couple weeks worth of data cost less than 1 day using Verizon’s international plan. I wasn’t sure how quickly I’d use the data so I kept my phone in airplane mode until I wanted to use data.

When Aaron and I traveled together by rental car we often went off airplane mode for a day here and there and just paid $10 to Verizon so we could use navigation on our phones and connect with our apartment hosts or hotel while on the road.

Using the daily international option from Verizon worked well for us most of the time. There were, however, a couple times where we followed the directions Verizon gave us for using our international plan and it just wouldn’t connect. On those days we were stuck with no internet access.

UPDATE: Several months ago we switched to T-mobile.

Now we can use our phones in Germany (and elsewhere) as soon as we walk off the plane and don’t have to pay any extra fees or get SIM cards (though we can use an e-SIM if we want to at some point). It’s SO convenient and if you’ve been thinking about switching to T-mobile, I highly recommend doing so before your trip to Germany.

Grab our FREE Germany Trip Planning Checklist Now!

Why Buy A SIM Card For Germany?

There are many benefits to buying an e-SIM or local SIM card before or while you’re visiting Germany.

First of all, it can save you so much money. If you choose to just stick with your American mobile phone plan while abroad, chances are you’ll come home to a high phone bill.

That’s because EU roaming charges add up quickly and can get quite expensive, especially for longer stays. Not to mention that most of these overseas data roaming plans come with a lot of limitations. Most of them are capped at a certain GB, have limited internet speed, and sometimes you just can’t connect (that happened to us a few times when we had Verizon).

Second, using an e-SIM or local SIM card is much more reliable. Yes, you can often connect to public WiFi whenever you’re out and about, but you’re not guaranteed to find WiFi widely available in all establishments, and there have been times where I just couldn’t connect or the connection was so slow it was unusable.

If you quickly need to search for a restaurant review or look up the train schedule, having mobile data is much more handy. Plus, connecting to public WiFi isn’t always the safest option.

How To Buy A Pre-Paid SIM Card For Germany Before Your Trip

UPDATE: Many things have changed since we first published this article. We now recommend getting an e-SIM before leaving for Germany if you have an unlocked phone. Check out Airalo e-SIM.

There are many ways to buy a prepaid SIM card once you arrive in Germany. But if you prefer to order it before your arrival, you can order them online from the mobile providers’ official websites.

Keep in mind that you need to provide a valid ID and a valid German address, which is the standard procedure for buying SIM cards in the country. For the address, you can list down your accommodation and have it delivered there as well. You’ll more than likely also get a German phone number with your SIM card.

What To Look For In A SIM Card Plan

There are three main mobile network providers in Germany: Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. There are also smaller mobile providers that use one of the main networks instead of having their own.

Each offers their own prepaid SIM cards. Here are some things you should consider when deciding to buy a SIM card.

1. Coverage

This means 4G and 5G availability and coverage. Generally speaking, Telekom has the most extensive coverage and fastest network for both 4G and 5G. But the other two providers have good 4G/LTE availability as well so unless you’re staying in rural areas for long periods, you can’t go wrong with any.

2. Prepaid Plans

Each provider offers a variety of options and bundles that combine mobile data packages, text messages, and a certain number of free minutes for calls. Some include unlimited calls and/or texts. They come at different price points. It all really depends on your data usage and how long you’re staying.

When you buy a prepaid SIM card, you’ll receive the card with a starting balance or credit. Once you activate the card, the balance is deducted according to the data package that you avail. For 3GB, you can expect to pay around 10 euros.

4. EU Roaming

If you’ll be traveling around Europe, make sure to check that your chosen SIM card offers EU roaming so you can still use it outside while traveling within the European Union or European Economic Area.

5. Mobile Reloading

Most networks should have an official app where you can top-up using international debit cards and credit cards. Aside from their stores, vouchers should be easily available in grocery stores, corner shops, and electronic shops.

Best Pre-paid SIM Cards To Buy For Germany

1. telekom (deutsche telekom).

Telekom or Deutsche Telekom (also formerly T-Mobile) is the largest German mobile operator. Because of this, it’s proven to offer the best network performance and speed. However, compared to the other main networks, the prices of the different data plans are a bit higher.

If you’re mostly in major cities like Berlin or Munich , then you’re probably better off with another SIM card since you’ll still have access to good coverage at lower prices. But if you’ll find yourself traveling or staying frequently in more rural areas of Germany, then the Telekom network is the best option and the most reliable.

They have two types of prepaid SIM cards available: MagentaMobil Prepaid and Data Prepaid (data-only). We recommend the former since it includes data, calls and SMS. At the time of writing this article, the starter SIM card for MagentaMobil is €9.95 and comes with €10 credit.

Here’s a list of Telekom’s prepaid plans:

All of the listed plans have a validity of 4 weeks. They all include EU roaming + data usage in Switzerland.

Visit the official Telekom website for more information.

2. Vodafone Germany

Vodafone Germany is considered to be the mid-range option from the three main networks. They have pretty decent coverage throughout the country, though not to the same extent as Telekom. As a result, they do have data plans with similar amounts of GB of data as Telekom but at a better rate.

The Vodafone prepaid SIM card is called “CallYa” and at the time of writing this article the starter card goes for €9.95 with €10 credit. If you’re not ordering it online, it’s recommended that you go to their official stores or MediaMarkt. If you buy from other retailers, they might charge you a €10 registration fee.

Here is a list of Vodafone’s prepaid plans (subject to change):

All of the listed plans have a validity of 4 weeks. They all include EU roaming.

Visit the official Vodafone website for more information.

O2 is a rapidly growing and improving network that provides competitive data plans. It has fairly good coverage though a bit lacking in the countryside and more remote areas. It can also be prone to overcrowding in city or event hotspots. But it’s also the only network that covers 4G/LTE for all tunnels and stations of the U-bahn in Berlin .

At the time of writing this article, you can get the O2 starter SIM card (called O2 My Prepaid) for €10 with €9.99 credit.

Here is a list of O2’s prepaid plans:

All of the listed plans have a validity of 4 weeks. They all include EU roaming. Keep in mind that these plans only offer 4G/LTE Max.

Visit the official O2 website for more information.

4. Lidl Connect (on Vodafone)

Lidl is also another large supermarket chain and a competitor to Aldi. At the time of writing this article, their SIM starter card called Lidl Connect Talk is sold at €9.95 with €10 credit. They are powered by the Vodafone network so you can expect good coverage for budget-friendly prices.

Here is a list of Lidl Connect’s prepaid plans:

All of the listed plans have a validity of 4 weeks. They all include EU roaming. Keep in mind that these plans only offer 4G/LTE.

Similarly to Aldi Talk, you can reload at any Lidl chain nationwide or online.

Visit the official Lidl Connect website for more information.

5. Aldi Talk (on O2)

Aldi is a major supermarket chain in Germany. At the time of writing this article, their SIM starter card Aldi Talk costs €9.99 with €10 credit. Keep in mind that they use O2 network so coverage is great in cities but not in rural areas. With all that being said, Aldi Talk has some of the best value plans in the market.

Here is a list of Aldi Talk’s prepaid plans:

Buying top-up credits is super convenient since you can do it in any Aldi supermarket nationwide or online.

Visit the official Aldi Talk website for more information.

Where To Buy A SIM Card After Arriving In Germany

There are different places where you can buy a SIM card once you land in Germany.

The first option that commonly comes to mind is the airport. Whether you’re coming in from Frankfurt Airport or Berlin Airport or any other airport in Germany, we don’t recommend doing this without prior research! You’re likely to find that they’re selling the same packages as the city but for double the price or even more. You may also be faced with very limited options.

We recommend saving your money and waiting to get a SIM card in the city. You can easily buy SIM cards in phone stores (Telekom, Vodafone, O2), electronic shops (Mediamarkt), grocery stores (Lidl, Aldi), gas stations, and kiosks.

Look ahead of time at prices and locations. That way, if you see a good price at the airport you’ll know it’s a good price. And if it’s not a good price, you’ll feel good about waiting until you get into the city to get your SIM.

After buying your SIM card, you’ll need to activate it. You need these two things:

A valid official ID with your name and photo on it, such as your passport or national ID card.
A valid German address (street name, house number, post code). You can use your accommodation’s address.

There are also different ways to activate your SIM card:

1. registration in store.

If you buy your SIM card from a physical store of any of the three main providers (Telekom, Vodafone, O2), the vendors will register it for you upon presenting your documents.

2. Video Verification

Follow the instructions that come with your SIM card. You’ll be directed to an online platform where you have to present your ID and address through a video call.

3. PostIdent (in post offices)

You can go to a nearby post office that offers PostIdent services to present your passport and a specific print out form that you can find in the website of the operator.

Can I Use A German SIM Card Outside Of Germany?

Yes, you can use a German SIM card outside of Germany. All of the ones listed in this article offer EU roaming. We recommend you read the fine print to see if each particular provider has different rates for Switzerland and the UK.

Can I Use A SIM Card From Elsewhere in Europe In Germany?

Yes, it goes both ways. If you bought your SIM card from another country in Europe but they offer EU roaming, then you won’t have a problem.

We’ll be sharing our current experiences with German SIM cards in our Germany Travel Planning Facebook group so be sure to join the conversation there (it’s free to join)!

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Cate has been traveling to Germany for 30+ years. She has lived in Germany, taught college German, and has a PhD in German Applied Linguistics. She loves helping travelers plan their dream trips to Germany!

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GERMANY TRAVEL PLANNER: Just getting started? Have questions about Germany’s confusing train tickets or how to find the best guided tours? Not sure which parts of Germany should be in your itinerary (and what to leave out)? Our Germany Travel Planner answers those questions and more via how-to videos, our interactive Germany Planning Map, City Cheatsheets, and MUCH more. Click here to unlock the best of Germany the easy way!

GERMANY TRAVEL CONSULT: Feeling overwhelmed? Itinerary just not coming together? Wonder if a few tweaks would take your trip to the next level? Book a Mini or Full consult with Cate! She’ll help you create or tweak your itinerary, recommend train tickets/passes, hotels, things to do, guided tours, show you how to buy train tickets, orient you to specific cities, help you plan out day trips, and answer your Germany travel questions.

ACCOMMODATIONS: We recommend using Booking.com since they have widest range of accommodations available from hostels, boutique hotels, luxury chains, aparthotels, at the best prices. Check out our accommodation guides for specific recommended hotels.

WHAT TO PACK: If you’re bringing your phone, be sure to bring this plug adapter , this power bank , and this wrist strap . They’ve been lifesavers for us! You can see our other packing essentials here and here .

TICKETS & TOURS: For guided tours, day trips, private tours, and skip-the-line tickets, Get Your Guide is our go-to!

TRAINS & BUSES: To research train schedules and buy tickets or a Germany Rail Pass, we recommend the official Deutsche Bahn (German Rail System) website (and download their DB Navigator app). For buses, look at FlixBus , which offers tickets for routes within Germany and to other European countries. FlixBus is often cheaper than trains but can take longer.

I’m planning to visit Germany next month and was just told by Telekom (via chat) that they would not sell me a prepaid sim card upon arrival in Frankfurt with an American passport??

I’d get an e-sim before you leave for Germany. For many people that’s the easiest option these days.

Ever since I signed up with T-Mobile over 20 years ago, I’ve traveled numerous times in Germany without doing anything! Since T-Mobile is a German company, coverage has been total, navigation has been superb, and I’ve NOT returned home to see my monthly bill having increased! No new SIM card was needed, just get off the plane, turn on the phone and use it as I would at home. No need for all the ‘extra work’ you describe to use my phone (and iPad).

We switched to T-mobile several months ago when we become nomadic and we love it!! Super easy, works everywhere as soon as we step off the plane. A lot has changed since we first published this article and I just made some updates (with more coming).

3 Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany For Expats

Researched & written

by Yvonne Koppen

July 1, 2024

Hey, welcome to my review of the best prepaid SIM cards in Germany for foreigners in 2024.

In the past 10 years, I’ve tried multiple prepaid SIM card providers in Germany. Including two of the three providers I reviewed in this guide.

Let’s get started with a quick overview :

If you have a German or any other EU bank account:

SIMon mobile : the best value for money. It’s a flexible post-paid plan that you can cancel monthly. The current offer is 15 GB for 11,99 euros/month for new customers. Price includes flat rate SMS & calls, roaming for EU & UK. They use Vodafone as their network provider. I’m a happy customer since 2021 🙂.

If you don’t have a German bank account, these two are great options:

Lidl Connect : A prepaid SIM card offer from the German supermarket chain Lidl. You can cancel anytime through their online form. Their current offer is 20 GB for 13,99 euros/4 weeks . Price includes flat rate SMS & calls, roaming for EU and UK. They use Vodafone as their network provider.
Aldi Talk : A prepaid SIM card offer from the German supermarket chain Aldi. Also 100% prepaid. Their current offer is 20 GB for 13,99 euros/4 weeks . Price includes flat rate SMS & calls, roaming for EU & UK. They use O2 as their network provider.

Simple Germany’s Hot Tip

Switching to SIMon mobile from another low-cost provider gives you a better deal. It’s a smart strategy to use a traditional prepaid SIM card for a few months and then switch to SIMon mobile to secure a great offer.

Please Note

This guide is intended for anyone moving to Germany. If you plan to visit Germany as a tourist , SIMon mobile is not for you. You can either purchase Lidl Connect or Aldi Talk at their respective supermarkets. All German SIM cards need to go through an ID verification before being able to use them. German providers do not ship SIM cards internationally.

How did we choose the best prepaid SIM cards in this review?

For this review, I researched the German market for offers with a good reputation, great value for the price, and ease of signing up and use. I then signed up for each provider’s current offer for 15-20 GB of data with a flat rate for SMS and calls.

Based on my experience and research, I ranked them on their product quality, user-friendliness, customer service channels, and digitalization. I would also usually rank them on their English-friendliness; however, we’ve found no competitive offer in English. I provide a final score for each offer using our Simple Germany Scoring System .

You don’t need to spend hours lost in Germany’s chaotic and complex market of prepaid SIM cards. Choose one of the providers listed in this guide and start surfing in no time!

We found two great offers from prepaid SIM card providers ( Lidl Connect and Aldi Talk ) and an amazing offer from a flexible postpaid provider ( SIMon mobile ).

The only difference between the prepaid and postpaid plans is that you must have a German or European bank account to sign up for the postpaid plan . What’s important is to have an IBAN number.

🖌️ Table of Contents

What are the best prepaid SIM cards in Germany?

Prepaid SIM cards offer the best value for money when it comes to mobile communication in Germany. We have chosen the top resellers of each mobile network to give you the best overview and options.

Most websites are in German; however, they are very straightforward. We recommend using Chrome’s Translate to English function to navigate easily.

Here are our top picks for the best prepaid SIM card in Germany.

1. SIMon mobile [Best Value for Price]

SIMon mobile is a sub-brand from Vodafone, aiming to compete with the prepaid tariffs from the discounters. SIMon mobile offers a postpaid contract ; however, you can cancel it every month, so you still keep your flexibility .

It stands out by offering 15 GB of data volume with its basic rate and having an eSIM as an option.

Additionally, you have unlimited phone calls, and texts, and no one-off fee . A great feature is the possibility to pause your contract for up to 3 months. This comes in handy, whenever you leave Europe to travel. The cost structure is very straightforward.

If you never had a German phone number and wish to get a new German phone number, you will pay 11,99 euros a month .

If you already have a German mobile phone numbe r and would like to switch to SIMon mobile, you have two options:

If you want to keep your current German mobile phone number and change to SIMon mobile, you either pay 8,99 euros or 14,99 euros a month, depending on the provider you want to change from. When entering the name of your previous provider on the homepage, you will immediately know which category your current provider falls under.
If you don’t want to keep your current number, you can select the 11,99 euros per month option, and you will also get a new number.

Additionally, you have two different options to upgrade to have even more data available:

Add 5 GB per month for only 3 euros extra per month (total of 20 GB per month)
Add 15 GB per month for only 8 euros extra per month (total of 30 GB per month)

You can book both add-ons permanently or for individual months, as you can always cancel them towards the end of each month.

SIMon mobile offers a very attractive mobile phone plan that is fast, modern, easy, and cheap .

If you purchase a physical SIM card, you do not need to verify your identity to activate your card. SIMon mobile uses your bank information and address to verify your identity.

If you purchase an eSIM at checkout, you must verify your identity via a video call or at a German post office. The available options for identity verification depend on your nationality. The system will show you the appropriate choices automatically. Easy!

Disclaimer: Paypal or credit cards are not possible for payment. The standard payment method is to set up a direct debit with your EU or German bank account during purchase.

Our Simple Germany Rating for SIMon mobile

Here is our rating for the 15 GB offer from SIMon mobile:

Overall Rating: 8.0

English-Friendly:

Product Quality:

User-Friendly:

Digital-First:

Customer Service Channels:

SIMon mobile gets a 8/10. It’s the only offer in this review where you can pause your contract for up to 3 months. This is amazing if you travel for long periods of time. Their offer is simple to understand. Their EU roaming includes the UK; however, it does not include Switzerland.

The only reason why it does not have a 10/10 is because everything is in German.

My Experience with SIMon mobile

I changed from LIDL Connect to SIMon mobile in 2021. I love how easy they are to use and understand. I don’t have to worry about topping-up my account (which was tedious with the other providers). Plus, I pay almost the same price as I did with the previous provider, but for almost double the GBs – that’s what I call amazing value for money.

For this review, I purchased a new SIM card to test their sign-up process again. I was able to purchase a new SIM card with my Wise bank account. It has an IBAN number from Belgium. So, this proves that any EU IBAN number works.

Important Note : After buying, you may need to wait for up to 24 hours to get the confirmation email for your order.

2. Lidl Connect

Lidl Connect is the prepaid mobile offer from the big German supermarket LIDL. It uses the Vodafone network lines (the second strongest network in Germany).

They have different plans based on the amount of gigabytes of data you need. Here is a quick overview:

10 GB for 8,99 euros / 4 weeks
20 GB for 13,99 euros / 4 weeks
30 GB for 18,99 euros / 4 weeks

All the plans mentioned above offer unlimited phone calls and text messages.

There is a one-time payment for the card, which is 9,99 euros; however, it comes with a balance of 10 euros. So basically, it is for free.

Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Lidl online account. You can change the tariff whenever you want or add data packages when needed.

With Lidl, you can either manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge from your bank account or via Paypal of let’s say 10 euros, whenever your balance drops below 10 euros.

I used to have Lidl Connect and was very happy with the value for the price. However, in 2021, I changed to SIMon mobile , the first option in this guide, which offers even better value for money.

You can purchase their SIM cards online or in their supermarkets.

Our Simple Germany Rating for Lidl Connect

Here is our rating for the 20 GB plan from Lidl Connect:

Overall Rating: 7.4

Lidl Connect is a great option for a prepaid plan. EU roaming includes the UK, and their SIM card is very easy to purchase online or in their supermarkets. You can pay with PayPal, credit card, or bank transfer.

It is also 100% in German. Their customer service phone number is not super easy to find. So, they rank a bit low on the Customer Service Channels score.

Although they advertise that eSIM is available, the process of getting it is a bit complicated. You first need to receive and activate your physical SIM card; then, you need to contact their customer support to get the eSIM. So, if eSIM is important to you, be aware of that extra step you must take.

My Experience with Lidl Connect

I was able to purchase a new SIM card with my credit card. The process was very easy. I immediately got the confirmation email for my order.

Lidl Connect sent me emails for every step in the process. I loved this because I knew exactly where my SIM card was. I ordered their SIM card on a Tuesday and received it on a Thursday. That is super quick!

3. Aldi Talk

Aldi Talk is the direct competitor of Lidl, not only in terms of the prepaid mobile phone offer but also with its core product, the supermarket.

Aldi offers a very similar product as Lidl; however, the most significant difference is that Aldi uses the O2 network, which is the smallest network in Germany. The O2 reception in cities is excellent, whereas if you spend a lot of time in rural areas, it is not a good choice for you.

They also have different plans:

The SIM card also costs 9,99 euros; however, it is preloaded with a balance of 10 euros. So it is basically free as well.

When you compare mobile phone contracts, those using O2 are always cheaper than those using Vodafone or Telekom. Therefore Aldi offers the same product for the same price on a weaker and cheaper network.

Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Aldi account. You can change the plan online, whenever you want.

With Aldi, you can also manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge of let’s say 10 euros each time your balance drops below 10 euros.

Of course, you again have the option to buy a top-up balance card at an Aldi supermarket. You will find them at the cashier counter.

Our Simple Germany Rating for Aldi Talk

Here is our rating for the 20 GB plan from Aldi Talk:

Overall Rating: 7.3

For those looking for coverage from O2, Aldi Talk is a great option. They are also 100% in German, and their EU roaming coverage includes the UK but not Switzerland.

Their customer service phone number is not super easy to find. So, they rank a bit low on the Customer Service Channels score. Also, I had a tough time finding more detailed information about their pricing and offer, so they also received a lower score in our User-Friendly criteria.

Just like with Lidl, they offer an eSIM only after purchasing and activating a physical SIM card.

How to get a prepaid SIM card in Germany?

You have two options to buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany:

1. Buying a prepaid SIM card online

Follow the link of one of the three mentioned resellers ( SIMon mobile , Lidl Connect , and Aldi Talk ) to buy a SIM card online. You will have to enter your German address, and the card will generally arrive in 2-3 business days via postal mail.

2. Buying a prepaid SIM card in a local store

You can buy Lidl Connect and Aldi Talk at the respective supermarkets. You can also find SIMon mobile and other prepaid SIM cards at gas stations, kiosks, and electronic shops.

How to activate your prepaid SIM card in Germany?

By law, since July 2017, all prepaid SIM cards must be registered in person or via VideoID to prevent crime and misuse.

If you purchase a physical SIM card with SIMon mobile online, you do not need to go through the verification process. They verify your ID in their background with your banking information and German address.

If you purchase a SIM card from other providers or an eSIM from SIMon mobile, you must verify your ID before activating it.

You will need your official ID card or passport and a German address to register. Our research shows that hotel addresses are also accepted.

Online is the fastest way to verify your identity, and it only takes a few minutes. However, not all passports are supported for online verification. If your nationality is not valid for online identification you can do this process at a German post office.

Once your ID is verified, your SIM card will be activated, and you can use it.

Simple Germany’s Hot Tip #1

All SIM cards are Triple-SIM, meaning they are compatible with all SIM sizes and fit in all phones.

Simple Germany’s Hot Tip #2

Be sure that you have an unlocked phone to use the SIM card in Germany.

Prepaid SIM cards from resellers offer better value than SIM cards and contracts from the network providers directly.

Lidl Connect is our top choice for Germany’s best prepaid SIM card due to its D-network, low price, and easy handling.

If you prefer to have a postpaid flexible contract with even better value, SIMon mobile from Vodafone is a fantastic option.

This article contains affiliate links . When you click on the links to the products we mention in this article and purchase them, we will receive a small commission. It will not make any difference to you in price; however, it allows us to keep Simple Germany alive and striving.

About the Author

Yvonne Koppen is a researcher and writer at Simple Germany, focusing on demystifying German bureaucracy for international skilled workers.

She has lived and worked abroad, which helps her understand how difficult a move to a new country can be. Beyond her professional pursuits, Yvonne loves to plan and go on road trips, puzzle, and do a triathlon here and there.

She is committed to creating accessible, empowering content through her writing and YouTube videos. Yvonne's passion for continuous learning and her ability to simplify complex topics make her an invaluable resource for expats seeking to navigate their new life in Germany.

Best SIM Cards for Expats in Germany 2024 – Expert Overview

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SIM Cards in Germany

Telekom provides the best network coverage and quality but with higher costs, while Vodafone offers good coverage and data deals, and O2 is more budget-friendly with strong urban coverage but weaker in rural areas.
Prepaid SIM cards cater to short-term visitors and offer flexibility with slightly higher calling and data rates, whereas mobile contracts are cost-effective for long-term residents and often include the latest smartphones.
Since 2017, everyone buying a German SIM card must activate it by providing an ID and address. Your temporary accommodation address should work just fine.

We are independent from the providers of the financial products that we test and evaluate.
We are transparent regarding our research processes and evaluation methods.
Our content undergoes careful quality check to ensure that it is well-researched, factually correct, and understandable.
We have 18+ years of experience with financial products. Our recommendations and evaluations are based on sound specialist knowledge. In addition, we have our life experience as expats, and we know first-hand what expats in Germany want and need.

German mobile operators

Germany has 3 main mobile operators: Telekom, Vodafone, and O2.

Telekom has the best coverage but charges higher monthly fees.
Vodafone offers good coverage at more affordable rates.
O2 delivers the least rural coverage but compensates with cheaper monthly fees.

Telekom, known internationally as T-Mobile, is Europe’s largest telecommunications company and the go-to German mobile provider for those seeking superior quality and coverage. Telekom’s network quality is unmatched, primarily due to its reliance on the state-owned D1-Netz network. This quality comes at a cost, with plans being pricier than those of its competitors.

According to an in-depth study across Germany, Telekom has consistently claimed the title of the best mobile network in Germany for the past twelve years. The excellent coverage and reliability make Telekom a top choice for those who prioritize quality and don’t mind higher prices.

Vodafone is the second-largest mobile network in Germany. It uses the D2-Netz network and delivers exceptional internet speed and good area coverage.

An interesting feature of Vodafone is its ability to allow you to choose your most used apps (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Spotify, Netflix, etc.) and use them without data limitations.

O2, operated by Telefónica Germany since 2005, is the third-largest mobile network in Germany. It offers the lowest tariffs and the highest data volume, making it an excellent choice for those living in larger cities. However, O2’s rural network coverage is not as comprehensive as that of Telekom or Vodafone.

All three networks provide discounts for combining internet and TV services in your contract. It’s worth inquiring about these offers when signing up.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)

In addition to the big three mobile operators, Germany is also home to a growing number of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). These MVNOs are becoming increasingly prominent in the German mobile phone market. These providers use the networks of the 3 main mobile operators, often delivering good coverage in urban areas at cheaper prices. However, their coverage in more rural areas may not be as comprehensive.

The most popular MVNOs in Germany are:

on Telekom network: congstar, Edeka Smart, Penny Mobil, fraenk, and others.
on Vodafone network: otelo, Lidl Connect, Lycamobile, and others.
on O₂ network: Blau, Aldi Talk, Lebara, ortel mobile, and others.

As part of the EU, Germany enforces common roaming rules, allowing you to use your SIM like you’re at home without extra charges. This means you can make calls, send texts, and use mobile data at domestic rates across most European countries. Just keep in mind that while the United Kingdom is included in this group until at least the end of 2023, Switzerland is mostly not.

Prepaid SIM or mobile contract?

The choice between a prepaid SIM card and a mobile phone contract largely depends on your needs and the duration of your stay in Germany. Prepaid SIM cards allow more freedom and are typically pricier when calling, messaging, or using mobile data. These are suitable options if you don’t use your phone much or only stay in Germany briefly.

On the other hand, German phone contracts offer cheaper rates and are more popular among those intending to stay for a while.

Prepaid SIM

Prepaid SIM cards provide a convenient and fast way to obtain a functioning German phone number, all without the need for a contract. They are great for making calls, sending SMS messages, and using mobile data. Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 all offer prepaid SIM cards, and you can top up your mobile credit online, through your mobile operator’s app, or by buying top-up cards from retailers.

Prepaid tariffs generally cost slightly more than phone contracts but offer the flexibility of cancellation whenever you want, making them a suitable option for those unsure of how long they will stay in Germany.

Mobile contract

A mobile phone contract is a great option if you plan to stay in Germany for a while or use your phone a lot. Mobile phone contracts typically offer:

Cheaper rates
The latest smartphone
Binding for 24 months
Small, one-off activation fee at the start of the contract

They are ideal for expats planning to stay for a few years or for those who want to upgrade their phones.

The plan costs are paid off in monthly installments, and at the end of the contract, the phone is yours to keep.

Best prepaid SIM cards in Germany

The best prepaid SIM cards in Germany are Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid, Vodafone CallYa, and O2 Prepaid.

Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid

Telekom’s MagentaMobil Prepaid is a great option if you’re looking for excellent network coverage. They offer 6 tariffs for their Telekom prepaid SIM card in Germany:

Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid S – 1 GB at €4.95 per 4 weeks.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid M – 5 GB at €9.95 per 4 weeks.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid L – 10 GB at €14.95 per 4 weeks.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid XL Special – 18 GB at €19.95 per 4 weeks.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid XL – 24 GB at €24.95 per 4 weeks.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid Max – unlimited mobile data at €99.95 per 4 weeks.

All prepaid tariffs include unlimited calls and text messages to all German networks, except for the smallest tariff S that only gives 50 minutes with other networks (unlimited on the Telekom network).

Telekom has the mobile app in English, making it accessible for expats and non-German speakers.

Vodafone CallYa

Vodafone offers 6 tariffs for their Vodafone prepaid SIM card in Germany:

Vodafone CallYa Classic – €0 per 4 weeks (3 cents per MB, 9 cents per minute or SMS).
Vodafone CallYa Start – 1 GB at €4.99 per 4 weeks.
Vodafone CallYa Allnet Flat S – 6 GB at €9.99 per 4 weeks.
Vodafone CallYa Allnet Flat M – 10 GB at €14.99 per 4 weeks.
Vodafone CallYa Digital – 20 GB at €20.00 per 4 weeks.
Vodafone CallYa Black – unlimited mobile data at €79.99 per 4 weeks.

All prepaid tariffs include unlimited calls and text messages to all German networks, except for the Classic tariff — that is a free SIM card, and Start tariff — that only gives 100 minutes with other networks (unlimited on the Vodafone network).

Vodafone also offers an English language mobile app and customer service, which can be a significant advantage for expats and non-German speakers.

O2 Prepaid is a cheaper alternative with good coverage in urban areas. They offer 5 tariffs for their O2 prepaid SIM card in Germany:

O2 Prepaid Free Card – €0 per 4 weeks (99 cents per day for 30 MB, 9 cents per minute or SMS).
O2 Prepaid S – 6 GB at €9.99 per 4 weeks.
O2 Prepaid M – 18 GB at €14.99 per 4 weeks.
O2 Prepaid L – 24 GB at €19.99 per 4 weeks.
O2 Prepaid Max – 999 GB at €74.99 per 4 weeks.

All prepaid tariffs include unlimited calls and text messages to all German networks, except for the Free Card tariff — that is a free SIM card.

O2 has the website and the mobile app only in German, which might be a bit challenging for non-German speakers.

Best mobile contracts in Germany

The best mobile contracts in Germany are Telekom MagentaMobil, Vodafone GigaMobil, and O2 Mobile.

Telekom MagentaMobil

Telekom offers 5 mobile phone contract plans with excellent network coverage:

Telekom MagentaMobil XS – 5 GB at €34.95 per month.
Telekom MagentaMobil S – 10 GB at €39.95 per month.
Telekom MagentaMobil M – 20 GB at €49.95 per month.
Telekom MagentaMobil L – 40 GB at €59.95 per month.
Telekom MagentaMobil XL – unlimited mobile data at €84.95 per month.

All plans include unlimited calls and text messages to all German networks, free internet surfing at all Telekom hotspots within Germany, and EU roaming including UK and Switzerland.

You can choose a monthly or 24-month contract, with or without a new phone, and there are special prices for people younger than 28 years.

Vodafone GigaMobil

Vodafone offers 5 mobile phone contract plans with good coverage and affordable prices:

Vodafone GigaMobil XS – 5 GB at €23.99 per month.
Vodafone GigaMobil XS+ – 10 GB at €27.99 per month.
Vodafone GigaMobil S – 24 GB at €31.99 per month.
Vodafone GigaMobil M – 250 GB at €39.99 per month.
Vodafone GigaMobil XL – unlimited mobile data at €63.99 per month.

All plans come with 5G data, unlimited calls and texts, and no roaming charges in the EU and the UK.

Plus, they offer discounts if you also have internet and landline connected, or if you’re under 28 years old.

O2 offers 11 mobile phone contract plans with lower prices and good coverage in urban areas:

O2 Mobile S – 4 GB at €19.99 per month.
O2 Mobile S Boost – 8 GB at €24.99 per month.
O2 Mobile M – 25 GB at €29.99 per month.
O2 Mobile M Boost – 50 GB at €34.99 per month.
O2 Mobile L – 70 GB at €39.99 per month.
O2 Mobile L Boost – 140 GB at €44.99 per month.
O2 Mobile XL – 280 GB at €49.99 per month.
O2 Mobile Unlimited Basic – €29.99 per month (up to 3 MBit/s).
O2 Mobile Unlimited Smart – €39.99 per month (up to 15 MBit/s).
O2 Mobile Unlimited on Demand – €59.99 per month (up to 300 MBit/s on demand).
O2 Mobile Unlimited Max – €99.99 per month (up to 300 MBit/s).

The amount of GB you get for each plan grows every year.

All plans also include 4G LTE and 5G data, unlimited calls and texts, a flexible contract (24 months or monthly cancelable), and free EU roaming.

Best unlimited internet SIM cards in Germany

Best unlimited internet SIM cards in Germany are Telekom MagentaMobil XL, Vodafone GigaMobil XL, and O2 Mobile Unlimited.

Telekom MagentaMobil XL

Telekom offers 1 contract plan and 1 prepaid tariff with unlimited mobile internet in Germany:

Telekom MagentaMobil XL – €84.95 per month.
Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid Max – €99.95 per 4 weeks.

Both options provide access to the 4G and 5G networks with download speeds up to 300 Mbit/s and upload speeds up to 50 Mbit/s.

One interesting feature is that you can order additional SIM cards with the same data volume at a much lower price. The second adult pays €19.95 per month, and each additional person and everyone under 18 years only pays €9.95 per month.

Vodafone GigaMobil XL

Vodafone offers 1 contract plan and 1 prepaid tariff with unlimited mobile internet in Germany:

Vodafone GigaMobil XL – €63.99 per month.
Vodafone CallYa Black – €79.99 per 4 weeks.

Vodafone has the fastest mobile internet available, with download speeds up to 500 Mbit/s and upload speeds up to 100 Mbit/s.

O2 Mobile Unlimited

O2 offers 4 contract plans and 1 prepaid tariff with unlimited mobile internet in Germany:

O2 Mobile Unlimited Basic – €29.99 per month (up to 3 Mbit/s).
O2 Mobile Unlimited Smart – €39.99 per month (up to 15 Mbit/s).
O2 Mobile Unlimited on Demand – €59.99 per month (up to 300 Mbit/s on demand).
O2 Mobile Unlimited Max – €99.99 per month (up to 300 Mbit/s).

Cheapest SIM cards in Germany

If you’re on a tight budget and looking for a cheap SIM card in Germany, Lidl Connect and Aldi Talk are considered some of the best deals for budget travelers. They are also the most popular options among students.

Lidl Connect

Lidl Connect, offered by the German supermarket chain Lidl, is a prepaid SIM card that offers a great deal for students. Their current offer is 10 GB for €8.99 per 4 weeks, with unlimited calls and texts within Germany and roaming for EU and UK.

Aldi Talk, another supermarket chain that offers a prepaid SIM card, is also a popular option among students. Their current offer is 10 GB for €8.99 per 4 weeks. However, they use the O2 network, which has excellent reception in cities but not in rural areas.

Free SIM cards in Germany

Both Vodafone and O2 offer 1 prepaid SIM card tariff for free: Vodafone CallYa Classic and O2 Prepaid Free Card.

Vodafone CallYa Classic

Vodafone offers the CallYa Classic prepaid SIM card tariff for free, charging only 3 cents per MB and 9 cents per minute or SMS. This German pay-as-you-go SIM can be a cost-effective choice for those who don’t use their phones frequently.

O2 Prepaid Free Card

O2 offers the Prepaid Free Card tariff for free. They charge 99 cents per day for 30 MB, and 9 cents per minute or SMS. Similar to Vodafone’s CallYa Classic, this pay-as-you-go SIM in Germany is ideal for infrequent phone users.

How to get a German SIM card?

You can purchase a German SIM card either online or in physical stores such as:

grocery stores
cell phone stores
petrol stations
supermarkets

Buy a SIM card online

Follow the link of one of the mentioned providers to buy a SIM card online. You will have to enter your German address, and the card will generally arrive in 2-3 business days via mail.

After purchasing, you can top up your mobile credit through the mobile operator’s app or by purchasing top-up cards from retailers.

Activate your German prepaid SIM card

To activate your German prepaid SIM card, you’ll need to provide a valid ID and a German address. This process can either be done online using a webcam or in person at a German post office.

How to get a German mobile contract?

You have the option to do it online or by visiting a local telecom’s outlet. Both methods are available for your convenience. Just be mindful that shop assistants may not speak English.

To sign up, you’ll need to provide proof of identity, proof of address in Germany, and a German bank account for direct debit payments.

How to cancel a German mobile contract?

Cancelling a German mobile phone contract can be done via ordinary cancellation (after the fixed term) or extraordinary cancellation (before the agreed-upon period). However, for the latter, you either need to provide a valid reason or pay basic fees for another three months after the termination is confirmed. Cancellations are only valid if submitted in writing.

As of 2021, German law forbids network and internet providers to auto-renew your contract, allowing you to cancel it every month after the fixed term ends.

Final thoughts

Choosing the best SIM card or mobile contract in Germany largely depends on your needs and circumstances. While Telekom offers the best availability and most extensive mobile network, its high costs might not be suitable for everyone. Vodafone, on the other hand, offers the fastest data speeds and overall great quality at a better price.

There are also numerous third-party providers out there offering competitive rates. Just make sure that if you opt for a contract, you’re usually tied to a 24-month commitment. Furthermore, make sure you have an unlocked phone to use the SIM card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners buy a german sim card.

Yes, foreigners can purchase prepaid SIM cards for their mobile phones in Germany, but it’s important to ensure your phone is compatible with the local network .

Which mobile network provides the best coverage in Germany?

Telekom offers the best mobile network in Germany , relying on the formerly state-owned D1-Netz network, ensuring widespread coverage across the country.

What is the difference between a prepaid SIM card and a mobile contract?

Prepaid SIM cards offer more freedom but are usually more expensive, while mobile phone contracts provide cheaper rates and are suitable for long-term or heavy phone usage.

Which provider offers the cheapest unlimited data plan in Germany?

O2 offers the cheapest unlimited data plan in Germany, starting at €29.99 per month.

Can I get a free SIM card in Germany?

Yes, you can get a free SIM card in Germany from Vodafone or O2.

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The best prepaid mobile data plans and sim cards in germany | how to buy a sim card for germany.

A guide to everything you need to know about using data plans and SIM cards while traveling in Germany.

Money & Budgeting , phones and technology

Having fast and reliable mobile data while traveling around Germany is essential because modern German life relies on having mobile data—train tickets have gone digital, restaurant menus are digital, museum/event tickets are electronic, getting around with Google Maps, calling an UBER/taxi, and many other things require data. That’s why it’s smart to get a prepaid German SIM card with a mobile data plan when you visit.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a SIM Card in Germany and how to buy the best prepaid German high-speed mobile data plan that won’t cost you a lot of money.

How To Buy A SIM Card For Germany With A Prepaid High-Speed Data Plan

UPDATE: This article is about physical SIM Cards but most new phones are eSIM compatible. These new digital eSIM plans are more convenient than physical SIM cards because you simply purchase the prepaid data plan online, scan a QR code that’s sent to your email to install the digital “card”, and you’re ready to go (there are many other benefits as well). Learn more about eSIMs at The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To The Best eSIM Data Plans for Europe and my guide to the best eSIM for Germany .

There are two main options when it comes to buying a SIM Card for Germany:

The Easy Way – Buy a SIM Card Before Your Travel: Buying your prepaid SIM card before you travel is slightly more expensive but it’s much more convenient (and you have mobile data as soon as you arrive in Germany).
In general, it’s easier to pre-buy a prepaid data plan if you’re visiting for less than two weeks. But buying a local SIM card will be cheaper for longer trips.

How To Buy A Prepaid German SIM Card Before You Travel (i.e. The Easy Way)

The easiest way to get mobile data for your phone in Germany is to prepurchase a SIM card before you depart.

There are a handful of data plans aimed at visitors/non-residents that are a bit more expensive than buying a SIM card in Germany but there is zero hassle—no tracking down a mobile phone shop, no registering your SIM card, no having to deal with people who don’t speak English, etc.

You simply pop the SIM card into your phone once you’re in Germany and it will automatically connect to a local mobile data provider—the European Union banned data roaming charges so any European data plan will work in any EU country.

There are a number of different mobile data plans available at SimOptions.com (I’ve used them in the past) and they’ll ship the SIM card to you before your trip.

UPDATE: Most new phones now support eSIM data plans and they’re even more convenient than traditional SIM cards—instant delivery, no shipping charges, you can keep your regular SIM card, etc. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIMs in my Guide to Prepaid eSIM Data Plans in Europe .

QUICK MATH: You’ll typically spend a total of an extra $10-$20 over the course of a two-week trip if you buy your SIM card ahead at SimOptions.com vs waiting to buy in Germany—personally, I think the extra cost is worth the convenience.

The Best Tourist-Friendly, Pre-Paid SIM Cards For Germany

Here are my top SIM cards if you’re wanting a pre-purchase your SIM before arriving in Germany:

Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card

The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card is probably the best all-around option for SIM cards that can be purchased abroad because it offers a lot of data for a good price—and it includes a lot of worldwide calls and text.

Additionally, Orange is one of the largest mobile companies in Europe so they have great coverage throughout most of Europe (which isn’t always the case with smaller European carriers).

Plan Specs:

CALLS: Unlimted in Europe and 1200 minutes worldwide
TEXT: Unlimted in Europe and 1000 worldwide
USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: Yes
CREDIT VALID FOR: 14 Days

The Orange Holiday Europe plan is good because it gives you a lot of mobile data for a decent price but the only possible drawback is the 14-day validity period—which doesn’t matter if your trip is less than two weeks. That said, you can buy an extra 10GB of credit after the two weeks are up for around $25.

If you need less data and want to save a little money, check out the $30 Orange Holiday Zen plan that gives you 8GB of data for 14 days.

Update: The Orange Holiday plans are also available as an eSIM—which means you don’t have to wait for delivery or pay for shipping (assuming your phone is eSIM compatible). Check out the eSIM data plans at SimOptions to get the details on both the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM and the Orange Holiday Zen eSIM plans. Learn more about eSIM data plans and see if your phone accepts eSIM cards in my Guide to eSIM Prepaid Data Plans in Europe .

Three UK PAYG AIO15

Three UK is another large European mobile carrier and their PAYG AIO15 plan is a good value for people who don’t need the 20GB offered by the Orange Holiday Europe plan. I like how the plan has a validity period of 30 days so it’s good for longer trips.

CALLS: Unlimted in Europe
TEXT: Unlimted in Europe
USED AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT?: No
CREDIT VALID FOR: 30 Days

Note: SimOptions.com has other cards for sale but these are the best options/deals.

Where To Buy A SIM Card with a Data Plan in Germany?

Buying a SIM card in Germany is reasonably straightforward so keep reading to learn the best way to get your mobile data at the best price possible.

The first step is knowing where to go to buy SIM Cards that have prepaid mobile data. In general, there are three main places that sell SIM cards:

Carrier-Specific Mobile Carriers

The major mobile carriers will have brick-and-mortar shops throughout most major cities. The largest carriers are:

Deutsche Telekom
Lebara Germany
Telefonica O2

Most employees should speak some English. But even if they don’t, these folks install SIM cards all day so they should be able to set you up without much verbal communication needed.

If you’re not tech-savvy, then this is probably your best bet in getting your SIM card set up since the employees should be able to troubleshoot any issues while you’re in the store.

Third-Party Phone Shops

There are many mobile phone shops that sell a range of phone plans from multiple companies. Employees might be able to offer some help getting set up but service probably won’t be as good as carrier-specific shops.

Newsstands, Tobacco Shops, Grocery Stores, Vending Machines, etc

You can find SIM cards being sold in multiple smaller shops at airports, train stations, newsstands, bookshops, and randomly throughout most cities.

ALDI and Lidl are two popular budget grocery stores that sell their own mobile plans.

This is where you’ll find plans sold by smaller companies so prices might be a bit cheaper but your data speeds/coverage might be limited.

Also, don’t expect any customer service when buying from these kinds of shops so it’s not the place to go if you’re worried about getting your service set up correctly.

The Best SIM Cards and Mobile Data Plans in Germany

Germany is served by a handful of major mobile operators and a few smaller companies. I recommend sticking with the major companies we’ve listed below (especially for visitors) since the major carriers will have the best coverage, speeds, and customer service.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the various mobile data plans and prepaid mobile data plans available in Germany.

IMPORTANT: Many German mobile data plans can only be paid via a direct debit from a bank account—which can be difficult if you’re traveling and don’t have a German bank account (some can be paid via Paypal). It might be more convenient to buy a prepaid European SIM that can be paid with a credit card.

Telekom Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

Telekom (T-Mobile) is the largest mobile provider in Germany so they have the most extensive coverage and the fastest network. They’re also more expensive than the other German mobile carrier but they have the best service.

Lebara Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

Lebara offers a few different prepaid mobile data plans that range from €10-€30 per month depending on how many gigs of data you want. They also come with some international phone time which can come in handy if want to call home.

Vodafone Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

Vodafone is one of the largest mobile providers in Germany so you’ll have great coverage no matter where you go. Their prices are a bit higher than other companies but the service is solid.

ALDI Talk Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

ALDI , the budget grocery store chain, also sells a few different affordable mobile data plans in their stores but you shouldn’t expect any customer service (since it’s a grocery store). ALDI Talks uses the O2 network which typically works well in urban areas but coverage is much more limited outside cities.

O2 Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

O2 is a large mobile provider that’s based in the UK but they also have a large presence in Germany as well. O2 isn’t as large as other German carriers so their service works well in urban areas but coverage can be spotty outside cities.

Lidl Connect Prepaid Mobile Data Plans

Lidl , another popular discount grocery chain, also sells its own mobile data plans in its shops. Lidl uses the Telekom network so it has good coverage but you have to pay via bank wire or Paypal so it is somewhat inconvenient for international travelers.

German SIM Card and Prepaid Data Plan Basics

Here is some helpful background info on mobile data plans so you have a better idea of how mobile data service works in Germany.

How Much Mobile Data Do You Need?

As long as you’re not streaming music/videos or uploading a ton of photos, you probably won’t use more than 3GB-6GB of mobile data a week. In fact, the average American smartphone owner uses around 10GB of mobile data each month.

If you’re spending a lot of time on social media (notably Instagram and TikTok) then you might use a bit more but if you’re just doing normal web browsing and using Google Maps then you might only use 1-2GB a week.

You’ll Need Your Passport and A Local Address

In many cases, you’ll need to provide your passport when purchasing a SIM card from a shop. You’ll also be asked to provide a local address but you can use your hotel/rental apartment’s address. This typically isn’t much of an issue but some shops aren’t used to dealing with non-German customers so there might be a few hiccups.

The benefit of using the Orange Holiday Europe SIM or the Orange Holiday eSIM is that you don’t need to provide this information.

All Data Plans Give European Union Wide Coverage With No Roaming Fees

A law was recently passed in the EU which banned mobile carriers from charging roaming fees within the EU—which means you can use a SIM card you bought in Germany and use it in Germany without paying any extra fees or data roaming charges. This is great for travelers because you can use one plan everywhere. However, some plans might limit the number of texts or mobile minutes if you’re out of the plan’s home country.

Here are the countries/areas where there is no data roaming: Andorra, Azores, Aland islands, Austria, Balearic Islands, Belgium, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Corfu, Crete, the Cyclades, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France mainland, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Jersey, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg. Madeira, Malta. Isle of Man, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Rhodes, Romania, Spain, United Kingdom, San Marino, Sardinia, Sicily, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Vatican

Your Phone Must Be Unlocked

Some mobile carriers (mainly in the US, Australia, and New Zealand) “lock” their phones so they’ll only work on that carrier’s network—this typically applies if you have a plan that includes a free phone with a multi-year contract. You’ll need to contact your carrier and have them “unlock” your phone so it will accept a third-party SIM card.

In the US, carriers are required to unlock phones if the customer requests it but it’s rarely unlocked by default. That said, a few carriers still make customers jump through hoops to unlock their phones so don’t put this off to the last minute or you could be out of luck.

A New SIM Card Gives You A New Phone Number

Installing a new SIM card gives you a new phone number so your old number won’t work until you reinstall your original SIM card [ Keep your other SIM card in a safe place! ]. So, if people need to reach you, you’ll need to tell people your new German number. NOTE: iMessage will still work like normal even with a new SIM card installed (your iPhone will update when you install the new SIM).

Remember, lots of websites and apps use two-factor authentication that’s connected to your phone number so that will no longer be an option with the new SIM installed. And if you use Uber/Lyft, you’ll need to update your new phone number in the app when you install your new SIM.

More Tips On Using Your Mobile Phone In Germany

I’ve written extensively about using smartphones and data plans in Europe as well as tips for buying SIM Cards For Visiting Europe but below are some more helpful tips about using your phone in Spain.

Buy A Portable Battery Charger

Traveling with your phone will quickly drain your battery so I highly recommend a portable battery. I use Anker PowerCore 10000 because it’s tiny and affordable but there are multiple options.

Take Steps To Lower Your Mobile Data Usage

Data can be expensive and it’s extremely easy to unknowingly burn through a lot of data because many apps use data in the background. Facebook, email, Instagram, Snapchat… those all constantly use data throughout the day without you knowing it. That’s it’s important to know how to limit your data usage.

Use Airplane Mode And Block Data to Specific Apps

I’ll put my phone in Airplane Mode because that disables all data (but GPS still works in Airplane Mode). You can also go into the settings and disable data access to each individual app. I’ll go in and turn every off except for things like Google Maps or others that I’ll use more frequently — this way when I turn off Airplane Mode only those apps that will use data. Then I’ll turn Airplane Mode back on when I’m done.

Download Offline Maps

Google Maps lets you download entire city maps so they can be used offline. As an added bonus, GPS doesn’t use data so offline Google Maps works fairly well (but not all functionality works). Here is a good YouTube video that explains everything.

Make Calls Over WiFi

WhatsApp is an excellent app for free calling and text messages — I’ve found that many Europeans exclusively use WhatsApp to communicate (including many Airbnb hosts).

More Germany Travel Tips From The Savvy Backpacker

Here are some more helpful articles we’ve written about visiting Germany on a budget:

How Much It Costs To Visit Berlin
How Much It Costs To Visit Hamburg
Munich Travel Guide
Backpacking Europe Packing List
Europe Packing List for Women
The Best Travel Shoes
The Best Travel Backpacks and The Best Travel Backpacks for Women
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Best Sim Card for Tourists in Germany

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You’re ready to embark on that fantastic trip to Germany that you’ve been looking forward to for a long time. You’ve purchased your tickets, reserved your lodging, packed your belongings, and are ready to depart. But not so quickly! There’s a good chance you’ve overlooked a few details, such as selecting the best phone plan for your vacation. In this article, we will be talking about Sim Card for Tourists in Germany.

If you use your American plan while vacationing in Germany, you will rack up euros due to roaming charges. To avoid being surprised by a large phone bill when you return home, we recommend purchasing a German SIM Card during your stay so you can call and surf like a native.

Top Sim Cards for tourists in Germany

In Germany, buying and using SIM cards is still rather simple, although it has unfortunately become significantly more difficult. Germany passed an anti-terrorism law in July 2017 that requires all pre-paid SIM cards to have an address and identification. However, don’t be concerned. You don’t need to be a European Union citizen; your passport and the address of your hotel or hostel should suffice.

There are several pre-paid SIM Card options available from O2 , Telekom , and Vodafone , as well as resellers who use their networks at lower pricing, so you’ll have plenty of options. Here are the three greatest affordable travel bargains we recommend:

Formerly known as T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom (formerly known as Telekom) continues to offer the finest coverage in Germany, but it is also the most expensive. If you want to stay in major cities such as Berlin or Munich, you can easily avoid the higher Telekom charges, but if you plan to travel to rural areas, you may want to consider their plans to ensure you have the coverage you require. Telekom also has the fastest network and offers roaming throughout the EU cost around 9.95 EUR-10 EUR. Congstar , ja!mobil, Penny Mobil, and Lebara Mobil are among the resellers.

2. Vodafone

When it comes to price, coverage, and speed, Vodafone is right in the middle. It costs around 20 EUR-4,99 EUR depending upon the number of days required. Although roaming within the EU is included, reception in rural areas can be poor. LIDL Connect, Otelo, and Lycamobile are some of the Vodafone resellers.

O2 is Germany’s cheapest provider, and its service has vastly improved after it acquired the E-Plus Network cost between 9.99 EUR-69.99 EUR. Except in rural areas, they have excellent coverage and are the only network with a reception on the Berlin U-Bahn train system, which is a significant advantage if you plan on spending a lot of time in the capital. Roaming within the EU is included. All O2 prepaid tourist sim cards are good for 4 weeks after which they may be topped off online. Aldi Talk and Blau, as well as Ortel Mobile and Ay Yildiz , are among the resellers we recommend.

Prepaid Offers – Overview

Germany’s cheapest cellular providers.

In Germany, individuals seeking cost-effective mobile options have various choices catering to different preferences and needs. Lebara offers cheap prepaid tariffs, providing users with flexibility and affordability. Ay Yildiz stands out with its simple prepaid card, offering a no-contract commitment along with a straightforward and inexpensive tariff structure. Congstar , recognized as the Mobile Phone Provider of the Year, distinguishes itself through its fair pricing, contract options, and a 5G option for speedy internet surfing.

On the other hand, EDEKA_smart introduces a smart approach to prepaid tariffs, combining esim technology with low prices for data volume and free minutes. Whether one prioritizes flexibility, fair contracts, or advanced technology, these providers offer diverse solutions for budget-conscious mobile users in Germany.

Other operators and their programs- Currently Running

Discover what mobile companies are doing right now. It’s like a sneak peek into what they’re offering at this very moment – all the cool plans, deals, and stuff. Stay in the loop and see what suits you best! 📱✨

1. winSIM top offers with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (512 GB)

Only valid until January 30th : Pre-order now and secure double storage! The larger storage variants are available at the price of the smaller storage variants.

winSIM Allnet Flat 10 GB : 5G Allnet Flat with 10 GB for just €59.99 per month , one-off €39.99
winSIM Allnet Flat 20 GB: 5G Allnet Flat with 20 GB for only €64.99 per month , one-time €19.99

The one-time provision price is €29.99 each.

2. Sensational offer: handyvertrag.de Allnet Flat 7 GB only €5.99 per month

All tariffs come with a 5G Allnet flat rate (max. 50 Mbit/s) and a price that remains the same – even after 24 months.

3. Double hammer: sim.de Allnet Flat 25 GB only €9.99 per month

sim.de delivers amazing tariff deals! All tariffs come with a 5G Allnet flat rate (max. 50 Mbit/s) and a price that remains the same – even after 24 months.

4. C ongstar Winter Promotion – More Data for the Same Price

Exciting news from congstar! From January 11th to 25th, 2024, enjoy no provision fees on postpaid Allnet Flats. Plus, don’t miss the winter promotion with increased data:

Allnet Flat M: 22GB for €22/month
Allnet Flat L: 32GB for €27/month

For Homespot, get 250GB for €40/month (instead of €55). Act fast, offers end January 25th!

Operators and their programs- Currently Running

Other cellular operators, 1. aldi talk (price ranges from €7.99 to €17.99, depending on the plan).

In Germany, Aldi Talk offers the greatest bargain on pre-paid SIM cards. They have a variety of options, the least of which is Paket S, which costs €7.99 for four weeks and includes 3 GB of data as well as unlimited calling and SMS. A second option, Paket M, costs €12.99 for 4 weeks and includes 6 GB of data , unlimited calls, and unlimited SMS. You may also buy just internet access, with the cheapest plan costing €3.99 for four weeks (Internet-Flatrate S, 1 GB data).

If you’re going to another European Union country, the Paket L rate is definitely the best option. For €17.99 for four weeks, you receive 12 GB of data and unlimited calls and messages, as well as EU roaming. Aldi Talk is also available at Aldi discount food stores, which are widely distributed across the country. You can either top it up online or at Aldi by purchasing a recharge coupon.

2. M. Blau Surf (€9.99 for 4 weeks if purchased in advance)

Blau Surf M is also a fantastic choice for visitors. For four weeks, this plan includes 3 GB of LTE data. Within Germany, calls and SMS cost 9 cents per minute/per text , with EU roaming included. This pre-paid plan comes with a €10 starting credit that you can easily top up online.

If at all feasible, try ordering your SIM card in advance and having it sent to your lodgings after passing the ID check online. If you decide to wait until you arrive, make sure you have your passport and proof of address on hand in case you need to purchase a card on the spot.

3. 1 & 1 Drillisch

A subsidiary of United Internet AG, focuses on mobile telephony and internet services. Although no recent ratings or reviews are available, they have been serving customers since 1988. To inquire about their services, you can contact them at 0721 9600.

4. Congstar

a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG, offers both postpaid and prepaid mobile plans, along with fixed-line telephony and internet services. Though recent ratings and reviews are unavailable, Congstar has been serving customers since 2007. You can reach them at 0221 797 007 00.

6. DeutschlandSIM

7. discotel, 10. ay yildiz, cell phone tariff comparison with check24.

When navigating the intricate landscape of cell phone tariffs, finding the most suitable plan can be a daunting task. To streamline this process and ensure you make an informed decision, Check24 stands out as a reliable ally.

✔ Comparison across over 60 mobile phone providers. ✔ Up to €460.00 cashback. ✔ Free cancellation service.

Unlimited Data Plans in Germany:

O2 is the cheapest provider offering unlimited data plans starting at €29.99 per month.
Telekom and O2 are the only providers that offer unlimited data plans in Germany.
Unlimited data plans are not common in Germany, and most providers offer high-speed allowances of a few gigabytes depending on the plan.

Price Range for Unlimited Data Plans in Germany:

As of September 2023, the price range for unlimited data plans in Germany is between €29.99 and €84.95 per month.
O2 offers the cheapest unlimited data plan starting at €29.99 per month.
The cost of data plans in Germany varies depending on the provider, plan type, and data allowance. Prepaid SIM cards for Germany can cost between $10 and $100, depending on the data plan and provider.
Some providers offer special deals for students or young people.
It is recommended to compare different providers and plans to find the best deal that fits your needs and budget.

In Germany, there are several ways to activate SIM cards :

Use a video verification technique to present your ID (passport) online.
Go to a mobile (Handy) phone shop or an electronics store right away (Saturn, MediaMarkt)
Purchase a SIM card from one of Germany’s three major telecommunications companies: O2, Vodafone, or Telekom.
Visit any German post office with a printed “Post Ident” document (Again, to do this, you need your passport and a valid German address.)

Prepaid SIM cards from resellers are more cost-effective than SIM cards and contracts purchased directly from network providers. In Germany getting a sim card for tourists is not a tough task. You can get a sim card if you have the correct information about their plans.

For more information:

Where to buy sim card in berlin, where to buy sim card in munich, buy a travel sim card in germany, share this:.

The Expatrist

11 Best SIM Cards in Germany: 2023 Guide

After your arrival to Germany, the first thing you will need to ensure is an internet connection. A local SIM card will do this job. Yet, mobile internet, like the general cost of living , is expensive in Germany. You might easily spend 20-30 EUR on data and calls by the end of the month.

A wise selection of the Germany SIM card provider and tariff is essential in that case. Here are our best Germany SIM card picks in terms of price, amount of data, speed, flexibility, and more.

The best SIM cards in Germany are :

Blau Allnet Smart
Vodafone CallYa Allnet
Airalo and Nomad for visitors and temporary stay

In Germany, all major mobile networks have their own SIM card deals, plans, and bargain bundles, but which one should you pick? Read on, and we will help you find out.

Check out the best SIM cards for students in Germany in this article .

Germany’s best sim cards

1. prepaid from o2.

Price: 9,99 EUR/month (3,5 GB) to 19,99/month (12,5 GB)

Provider O2 is the second-largest mobile network in Germany. They have some of the best rates on mobile in the country. You can choose between a wide range of SIM card deals, but the Prepaid S has the best value – 9,99 EUR per month and 3,5 GB.

The O2 reception in cities is excellent, whereas, if you spend a lot of time in rural areas, it’s not the best option out there.

Generally, prices vary from 0 EUR per month up to 20 EUR. Prepaid M costs 14,99 EUR and offers 6,5 GB of mobile data. L package is excellent for someone with a need for a large amount of internet. 19,99 EUR per month will get you 12,5 GB. All deals include unlimited calls and SMS.

Highlights of an O2 prepaid SIM card in Germany:

None or short-term contract for 4 weeks
Internet LTE 4G + EU roaming
25 EUR Bonus
Free SIM card and shipping

Need a SIM card with the best internet ? Check out this comparison .

Best Mobile Network in Germany for Internet

2. ALDI Talk

Price: 7,99 EUR/month (3 GB) to 17,99/month (12 GB)

ALDI Talk has affordable prepaid SIM cards based on the O2 network. The S package offers 3 GB of data for 7,99 EUR, M has 6 GB, and L – 12 GB. The prices for SIM cards respectively: 7,99 EUR, 12,99 EUR, and 17,99 EUR.

ALDI talk SIM cards can be purchased in all ALDI supermarkets, which you will see everywhere in Germany.

Prepaid SIM card
10 EUR starting credit
Unlimited calls & SMS
No contract
10 EUR basic fee
No minimum turnover

If you opt for a free ALDI SIM card (no monthly fee), calls and SMS will cost you 0,11 EUR per min/SMS.

9 Best SIM Cards in Germany for Students

Price: 5 EUR/7 days (1 GB) to 22,5 EUR/month (10 GB)

Pro: You can order your SIM card online and have it installed & activated upon landing in Germany.

Airalo is the best SIM card in Germany for digital nomads and travellers who don’t plan to live in the country but rather will stay for a short period of time. This company offers SIM cards for over 190 countries. In Germany, its SIM cards run on the O2 network.

You can preorder it online before you travel, so it takes away the hustle of trying to order or buy a SIM card when arriving in the country. The SIM card will be activated (the validity period starts) when you land and connect to the network.

With Airalo , you can choose between global coverage or opt only for usage in Germany, or in Europe.

There are four main plans you can choose from in Germany:

7 days validity with 1 GB data for 5 EUR
30 days validity with 3 GB data for 10 EUR
30 days validity with 5 GB data for 15 EUR
30 days validity with 10 GB data for 22,5 EUR

Keep in mind that packages include only data for the internet. It doesn’t provide you with a German phone number, but you can easily make calls via apps like Whatsapp.

Price: 6,5 EUR/7 days (1 GB) or 12,5 EUR/month (3 GB)

Pro: You can order your SIM card online and have it installed & activated upon landing in Germany. No valid German address is needed; 100% online, hands-off process.

Nomad is a digital eSIM marketplace for travelers and, as the name might say – digital nomads. You will get affordable data plans anywhere in the world, including Germany. In Germany, Nomad’s SIM cards use the O2 network – the second largest provider in the country.

You can pick from several German plans:

30 days validity with 3 GB data for 12,5 EUR
7 days validity with 1 GB data for 6,5 EUR

If you need more data, have a look at these packs:

30 days validity with 5 GB of data for 18 EUR
30 days validity with 10 GB of data for 25 EUR
30 days validity with 20 GB of data for 35,5 EUR

Optionally, you can book additional data via the app. For example, 1 GB costs 6,5 EUR, and 3 GB costs 12,5 EUR.

Similarly to Airalo, Nomad gives you only internet data but no calls and SMS. After the validity is over, your plan will expire.

Price: 9,99 EUR/month (3 GB) to 29,99/month (15 GB)

Currently offering the best prepaid SIM card deal for 2,99 EUR per month and 3 GB data.

Lebara is the only telecommunication provider in Germany that offers an English website and customer service. It uses the Telekom network, which is overall more expensive (and higher quality!). Hence, their physical SIM card is more pricey too.

With Lebara, you can get a starter German SIM card for free or for 9,99 EUR per month, which will give you 3 GB of 5G data.

You can also upgrade to 14,99 EUR per month and enjoy 10 GB of data plus 250 min of calls to 50 countries. The most expensive deal costs 29,99 EUR per month and includes:

15 GB of data
Unlimited calls
1000 free minutes to 50 countries

You also don’t need to sign any contracts with this provider . Moreover, based on over 1,6k reviews, Lebara receives a rate of 4.41 out of 5. As a bonus, Lebara has its website and support in English in addition to German.Order Lebara SIM card online, and it will be sent to your valid German address within 48 hours. Get your SIM card here .

Price: 4,99 EUR/month (2 GB) to 19,99/month (20 GB)

WinSim provides probably the cheapest deals for everyone in Germany. 2 GB data for just 4,99 EUR, I doubt if there are other companies offering these low rates. You can get 9 GB of data for as low as 8,99 EUR per month.

Generally, WinSim deals range from:

4,99 EUR – 2 GB
8,99 EUR- 9 GB
11,11 EUR- 15 GB
19,99 EUR – 20 GB

WinSim uses O2 as a network provider. All SIM cards also include EU roaming, so you can surf the internet while traveling for free. A customer has the option to sign a 24-month contract or get a SIM card with no commitment at the same price! Stay connected and flexible in Germany with WinSim .

7. Blau Allnet Smart

Price: 6,99 EUR/month (3 GB) to 14,99/month (15 GB)

Blau Allnet Smart is one of the best prepaid SIM card in Germany hosted by the telecommunication company O2. It’s a good budget option for students: already for 7,99 EUR, you will get 3 GB of internet. The speed for all SIM cards is 25 MBit – download and 11,2 MBit/s – upload.

If you are willing to sign a contract, Blau ensures even lower prices. 6,99 EUR per month, gets you 3 GB, including unlimited calls and SMS.

Blau Allnet M gives you 6 GB of data, unlimited calls & SMS, and EU roaming for only 8,99 EUR per month. And for 9,99 EUR, you will get the entire 10 GB of data!

Lastly, Allnet Plus gets you 15 GB of data for 14,99 EUR per month. It’s a great deal.

All these deals are available if you are ready to sign a 24-month-long contract. For someone not willing to commit, the provider has prepaid SIMs :

Free SIM and pay as you go
3 GB for 7,99 EUR
6 GB for 12,99 EUR

8. Vodafone CallYa Allnet

Price: 9,99 EUR/month (6 GB) to 20,00/month (18 GB)

Vodafone Germany is one of the biggest network providers in Germany. They have many branches in Germany where you can get personal assistance if needed. With the package CallYa Allnet S you get 6 GB, 200 min of calls, plus sms for 9,99 EUR per month.

A more extensive package CallYa Digital costs 14,99 and 20 EUR per month and offers 8 GB and 18 GB of data plus calls & SMS.

Vodafone deals:

Free Vodafone SIM card – pay as you go

9,99 EUR – 3 GB
14,99 EUR – 8 GB
20 EUR – 18 GB

9. O2 Free M

Price: 29,99 EUR/month (20 GB)

O2 also has SIM cards for someone looking for higher internet speed and more data for an affordable price. For example, you can get 20 GB, with speed up to 225 MBit/s for 29,99 EUR per month; all calls and SMS within Germany are included in the price!

20 GB internet
Unlimited calls and SMS flat to all German networks
Speed up to 225 Mbit/s with 4G and up to 300 Mbit/s with 5G network

10. Deutsche Telekom

Price: 24,95 EUR/month (5GB)

Telekom is the largest mobile network in Germany, with about 44.657 million users. With more than twenty-five years in the telecommunication industry, Telekom has about ten subsidiaries worldwide. T mobile US is one of their major subsidiaries.

Telekom offers several prepaid options with data packages, calls, and SMS. The Magenta mobile prepaid sim card in Germany includes M, L, and XL plans.

M prepaid SIM card plans go for 9,95 EUR and include 1.5GB of mobile data, 100 min of phone calls, and unlimited SMS with other Telekom users.

L prepaid SIM card plans, which cost 14,95 EUR, come with 2GB mobile data, 200 min of calls, and unlimited SMS.

XL prepaid SIM card packages are the largest with 3GB of mobile data and unlimited calls and SMS. They go for 24,95 EUR.

If these prepaid SIM card data packages aren’t enough for your internet usage, you can activate their prepaid day flat XXL, which comes with 5GB of data that lasts for twenty-four hours. It costs 4,95 EUR.

If you aren’t in need of the Magenta Mobile prepaid SIM card’s unlimited calls and SMS, you could go for the data-only SIM card. These will keep your social media updated as you find your way through this country.

Telekom data-only SIM cards include the S, M, L, and XL plans. S passes come with 500MB data valid for twenty-four hours and cost 2,95 EUR. M plans cost 7,95 EUR and include GB data valid for a week.

An L pass is 14,95 EUR and comes with 2GB of data for thirty days. Although XL passes also last a month, they come with 5GB of data and are worth 24,95 EUR.

11. Edeka Smart

Price : 9,95 EUR/month (4GB)

Edeka smart joined the German telecommunication market as a third-party reseller in 2020. Unlike most german sim card resellers, Edeka offers unlimited data plans, which include local prepaid SIM cards.

Being a Telekom reseller, Edeka smart faces close competition from Deutsche Telekom. Both offer almost similar plans. The only difference is Edeka plans are about five euros cheaper than Telekom.

Below are the charges for the most common Edeka Smart plans.

Source: Edeka Smart

Smart has several SIM card plans, ranging from four-week tariffs to annual packages. The cheapest two to four weeks data tariff goes for 4,95 EUR. This tariff comes with 1 GB data, 50 min of phone calls, and 50 SMS.

The Combi Max unlimited is the most expensive Edeka Smart four to six weeks tariff. It goes for 94,95 EUR. Aside from unlimited data, this plan includes a flat rate to all German networks. This incorporates both calls and SMS.

Edeka Smart offers two annual packages; begin and premium. The ‘begin’ package comes with 12GB worth of data, 1200 min of phone calls, and 1200 SMS. Premium plans include 3GB data per month and a flat rate to all German networks.

Begin packages cost 59,95 EUR, while the premium goes for 94,95 EUR.

All Edeka Smart cards are e-SIM cards; you don’t have to wait in line at gas stations and supermarkets that sell SIM cards.

Edeka Smart is huge on green energy. 1,00 EUR of every starter set sold goes to the forest protection program, WWF. So, you will not only get great mobile network tariffs but also help conserve the environment.

Edeka Smart sim cards make calls and surf via the D1 network, delivering the best network connection.

The only downside with the Edeka Smart SIM cards is that, like most of the Germ phone contracts, proving your identity via call or visiting a physical post office is mandatory.

Cheapest SIM card for Germany

What company has the cheapest SIM card in Germany? You can buy the most affordable prepaid SIM card at WinSim . It costs 4,99 EUR per month and gives you 2 GB.

If you come as a tourist to Germany, Airalo has the best and less expensive option. You pay 5 EUR for a 7-day SIM card and get 1 GB of data.

What is a prepaid SIM card?

Prepaid SIM cards are widely known, used, and favored in Germany. They are simple to use, don’t require a contract, and give your control over the expenses.

With a prepaid deal, you only pay a fixed price per month and have a limited amount of data to use. Most Germans pay about 9,99 EUR per month for a prepaid SIM card.

Pre-paid SIM cards are especially popular among young people and school students.

Prepaid is also a good choice for foreigners who stay less than 2 years in Germany, since with a regular mobile deal, you will sign a contract that lasts 12-24 months.

You can either order it online or purchase it in one of the physical stores in Germany (grocery stores, cell phone stores, petrol stations, supermarkets, etc.) Unlike the standard mobile deal, there is no requirement for the contract; you only need to have a valid German address.

It’s even possible to buy and use it with no German bank account. Prepaid SIM cards can be recharged at all gas stations.

Another benefit of the prepaid SIM card is that the charges don’t occur if you don’t load any credit onto your account. No money – no charges. Simply put some money on your German phone number and book a monthly package when you need it.

Nowadays, most German discounters and supermarkets offer prepaid SIM cards, which you can pick at the checkout, e.g., ALDI, LIDL, Edeka, REWE.

Free prepaid SIM cards

Besides taking a standard prepaid SIM with a fixed monthly price, you can get a free SIM card and pay as you go! The biggest benefit of free SIM cards is that if you don’t use the card, there are no costs.

These SIM cards allow you to stay flexible and don’t pay unnecessary monthly fees for unused data. Providers such as O2 and Vodafone Germany offer free SIM card deals. Usually, it’s 100% free, but some companies might charge an initial fee. However, this fee will be on your card as a balance right after activating it.

Calls and SMS are charged separately depending on your consumption. A minute of call or one SMS can range from 8 to 15 cents.

Internet data is billed between 8 to 15 cents per MB or as a package, e.g., 250 MB.

O2 Free card

Mobile network company O2 also offers free prepaid SIM cards in addition to regular ones. Here, you don’t need to sign any contract. The SIM is 100% free, and you pay as you use data, call or send SMS.

As a bonus, O2 offers 500 MB of data per month for free!

100% free prepaid SIM
No basic fee
1 EUR starting credit
9 Cent per min/SMS

O2 provides the best free SIM cards on the German market.

Vodafone CallYa

High-speed internet – 50 Mbit/s
Free SIM card
10 EUR initial fee, which will be also your starting balance

Best SIM Cards in Germany for Students

Compare SIM card deals on Verivox

You can also compare all existing SIM cards, providers, and rates in Germany via the platform Verivox.de . The search engine will give you information on the following:

The monthly price of the SIM card
Mobile data
Internet speed
Cost per call & SMS

To find a prepaid deal, you need to select Handy on top of the page, then prepaid and “jetzt Prepaidtarife vergleichen”. To see all SIM cards select Handytarife. The platform will refer you to the provider to buy a SIM card.

Compare providers and rates of various insurances including car insurance, sim cards, credits & loans, internet, electricity, and much more. With this fair comparison, you will find the perfect deal for your situation. Check out some of the largest German platforms Verivox.de and Tarifcheck.de . You can purchase a favorable deal directly on the website.

Mobile contact vs prepaid in Germany

Before you get a German mobile number, it’s good to consider which option is more suitable: a mobile contract or a prepaid SIM card.

A prepaid SIM card must be topped up regularly, and with a signed mobile contract, you pay a fixed monthly fee each time.

Ultimately, in most cases, you will get more internet for a lower price with a contract.

The unbeatable advantage of prepaid SIM is its flexibility – you can switch providers at any time or just stop using the card.

Pros and cons of prepaid SIM cards

Prepaid SIM cards indeed have many great things. Some of them are:

No contract commitment: prepaid SIM can be canceled or paused at any time.
Control of expenses: You recharge your balance manually instead of through automated renewals.
Low cost: Prepaid rates are usually very affordable, hence, preferred by students and apprentices.
Flexibility: You can book various packages every month and don’t have to stick to one tariff.
Free SIM card: Prepaid SIM cards are free, and if the initial price was charged it will be deposited as a starting balance onto your number.

Yet, prepaid deals have their negatives too:

Slow internet: Prepaid SIM cards are known to have very slow internet with limited speed.
Expensive internet: In addition to the slow speed, the internet can be quite expensive too.

Canceling a SIM card in Germany

If you want to cancel your SIM card or mobile contract in Germany, read this detailed guide.

Generally, prepaid SIM cards can be canceled at any time, with a period of 14-30 days to the end of the month. When you cancel, you can also decide whether you want to keep the number or not.

Some companies mentioned in this article don’t require you to sign any contract, for example, WinSim . Generally, most of the prepaid offers are easily terminable.

Moreover, some providers have mobile apps where you can quit your package, but others might require you to visit the nearest office or at least call or email them.

Most German sim card contracts have a minimum duration of twenty four months. For a successful cancellation, you should terminate the contract before the end of the minimum period. Otherwise, the contract renews itself automatically for another twelve months.

Additionally, the network provider must receive your written termination letter before the end of the minimum termination period to process the cancellation.

However, with many prepaid deals, you don’t even have to terminate officially, you could just stop recharging it, and nothing will happen. But the best practice is, of course, to write an official termination if you no longer use it.

Can I replace my home internet with an unlimited SIM card in Germany?

Mobile phone plans keep getting biggger and bigger with time. Whatsmore, unlimited SIM cards are cheaper than purchasing data, wifi, or home internet.

If your mobile SIM card speed works in your home, you may be easily tempted to replace your home or apartment internet connection with this service.

Although setting up your phone’s hotspot for your laptop or TV is easy, some mobile network provider’s terms and conditions prohibit full-time home usage.

The provider may block your mobile network contract and connection in case you consume excess data from your home address or one spot.

However, you can get away with this if you leave your home often and restrict your SIM card use to only when you’re around.

The network provider is also at liberty of terminating your contract if you use your SIM card with a wifi or LTE router.

Although with a plan you can use your SIM card at home, it may not be a very reliable internet source. Unlimited SIM card plans have speed caps, meaning their interent speeds dwindle to about 1.5MB per second after reaching a specific limit.

Such internet speed makes it impossible to stream movies, use at home, or even browse the internet.

Read more about cancelling mobile contracts in Germany in this article .

How To Cancel A Mobile Phone Contract in Germany

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The best Sim Cards in Germany to save on your phone bill

Nov 16, 2021

Rebeccah Dean

20 comments

You’re about to go on that great trip to Germany you’ve been planning for a long time. You’ve got your tickets, the hotels are booked, you’ve packed your bags, and it’s time to go.

But not so fast! Chances are, there are still a few details you’ve forgotten to consider — like choosing the right phone plan for your trip.

Thanks to roaming charges, you can rack up the euros if you use your U.S. plan while traveling in Germany. To avoid the shock of a major phone bill once you’re back home, we suggest buying a German SIM Card during your stay to call and surf like a local.

If you’ve never used a SIM Card overseas, read our guide to using a SIM Card in Europe before your trip. Just make sure to bring your phone along as well as an adapter for your charger! Or consider using another unlocked phone specifically for travel.

This article was updated in November 2021 with new information and prices.

EuroCheapo is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you!

Top Sim Cards for your trip to Germany

Although it’s still fairly easy to buy and use SIM Cards in Germany, it’s unfortunately gotten slightly more complicated. In July 2017, Germany passed an anti-terrorism law that requires all pre-paid SIM Cards to provide an address and ID. But no worries. You don’t have to be an EU citizen — the address of your hotel or hostel along with your passport should work just fine.

If possible, you may want to consider buying the SIM Card ahead of time by doing the ID check online and having the card shipped to your accommodations. If you wait until you arrive, make sure that you have your passport and proof of address ready to buy a card on the go.

• Top SIM Cards for your trip to France • Best SIM Cards in Spain for your travels

Once you buy a SIM Card from a German carrier, you’ll get a little chip with a German phone number. Insert this chip into your phone, start the activation process, and soon you’ll be phoning and web-surfing with ease. That said, if you do have any difficulties activating the card, just head over to MediaMarkt or Saturn, Germany’s major electronic store chains, where someone can walk you through the process. But don’t forget to bring your ID and hotel information!

Four ways to activate SIM Cards in Germany:

• Present your ID (passport) online through a video verification process • Go directly to a mobile (Handy) phone shop or electronics store (Saturn, MediaMarkt) • Buy the SIM Card from Germany’s three major telco providers: O2, Vodafone, and Telekom • Present a printed “Post Ident” document at any German post office (Again, to do this, you need your passport and a valid German address.)

Checking phones in Munich. Photo: Karlis

O2 , Telekom , and Vodafone have many pre-paid SIM Card options, while resellers use their networks at cheaper prices, so you’ll have many options to choose from.

Here are the two best deals we recommend for budget travelers:

1. Aldi Talk

Cost: €7.99 to €17.99, depending on the plan you choose Pros: Good deal, easy to use, offers 4G/LTE Cons: Uses the O2 network, which doesn’t always provide good coverage in rural areas

Aldi Talk is the best deal you’ll find for pre-paid SIM Cards in Germany. They offer many different plans, the cheapest being Paket S , which offers 3 GB data and unlimited telephoning and SMS at €7.99 for 4 weeks. A second option, Paket M , offers 6 GB data, unlimited calls and unlimited SMS for €12.99, valid for 4 weeks. You can also purchase internet access only, the cheapest plan starting at €3.99 for 4 weeks ( Internet-Flatrate S , 1 GB data).

If you’re traveling to any other countries in the European Union, the Paket L rate is probably the most ideal. This plan gets you 12 GB data and unlimited calls and texts for €17.99 for 4 weeks and includes EU roaming.

An added bonus is that Aldi Talk is sold at Aldi discount grocery stores , which are very easy to find anywhere in the country. You can either top it off online or buy a recharge voucher at Aldi.

2. Blau Surf M Prepaid

Cost: €9.99 for 4 weeks Pros: Low-cost, includes €10 start credit Cons: Charges for calls and SMS

Blau Surf M is also a great option for tourists. This plan offers 3 GB data with LTE for four weeks. Phone calls and SMS cost 9 cents (per minute/per text) within Germany and EU roaming is included. This pre-paid plan gets you a €10 start credit and can be easily topped off online.

A Vodafone SIM Card. Photo: CC

Telekom, Vodafone, O2, oh my!

Although these two resellers will get you the best deals, going with one of the top guns also won’t break the bank. In most cases, their plans cost around the same price as Aldi’s Paket L, but you get less data or bang for your buck. To help you understand the difference, here’s a little run down.

Formerly the market leader, Deutsche Telekom (formerly called T-Mobile), Telekom still provides the best coverage in Germany, but it’s on the pricey side. If you plan to stay in major cities like Berlin and Munich, you can easily steer clear of the higher Telekom prices, but if you plan on visiting rural areas, you may want to opt for their plans to make sure you get the coverage you need. Telekom also has the fastest network and EU roaming. Resellers include congstar , ja!mobil , Penny Mobil , and Lebara Mobil .

Vodafone is exactly in the middle when it comes to price, coverage and speed. EU roaming is included, but rural reception can be spotty. Resellers on the Vodafone network include LIDL Connect , Otelo and Lycamobile .

O2 is the cheapest provider in Germany and has greatly improved since acquiring the E-Plus Network. They have great coverage, except in rural areas, and are the only network that has reception in the Berlin U-Bahn train system, which is a big plus if you’re spending a lot of time in the city. EU roaming is included. Resellers include the two we recommended, Aldi Talk and Blau, as well as Ortel Mobile and Ay Yildiz .

Cheapo food for thought

If you really want to save, you might want to consider whether you need a SIM Card at all. You could also just put your phone in flight mode and seek out Wi-Fi at hotspots. There are lots of free Wi-Fi spots all over the country. If it doesn’t work out, you can always hop over to Aldi for that trusty SIM Card.

Have you used SIM Cards in Germany or elsewhere in Europe? Tell us your strategies for saving on your phone bill!

About the author

Rebeccah Dean is a freelance writer, translator and self-proclaimed bargain hunter based in Berlin. She has already traveled through most of Europe on a shoestring and hopes to soon add Asia to the mix. Read more on her blog, rebeccahtravels.com .

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20 thoughts on “The best Sim Cards in Germany to save on your phone bill”

Lycamobile is a popular prepaid mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that offers affordable SIM cards in Germany. Lycamobile uses the networks of Telekom and Vodafone, so you can be sure of good coverage. Lycamobile also offers a variety of plans to suit different needs, including plans with unlimited calls and texts, as well as plans with data only.

If you are looking for a way to save on your phone bill in Germany, Lycamobile is a great option. You can find Lycamobile SIM cards at many stores, including supermarkets, electronics stores, and even some train stations.

Here are some of the benefits of using Lycamobile in Germany:

Affordable plans Good coverage Variety of plans to choose from Easy to find If you are looking for a way to save on your phone bill in Germany, Lycamobile is a great option. I hope this helps!

Don’t forget to mention that a Traveller must unlock their phone (unlocking it from their carrier)before leaving on their trip. One major carrier ATT in the USA will only unlock phones that are not on a purchase installment plan, often 36 months. One can however pay off the balance of their phone purchase price after 6-12 months. If your carrier will not unlock that lovely pricey phone if yours then your options are to buy a cheapie from a nonATT carrier (must be Smart as you’ll want access to map apps or transport apps) or buy a cheapie in Germany (is that possible?) If you can’t unlock your phone, you can still use the phone in airplane mode at WIFI spots, if you write out directions and such while at the spot. That doesn’t help you though when you need to show train or bus personnel the tickets you bought online.

Additional note: many Germans and German businesses use WhatsApp (some Telegram)which are based on WIFI. With those one does not need to text or call the traditional way. Ask your family members back home to add the WhatsApp app to their phone and you can talk for free for hours. WhatsApp can be used without a WIFI access but then it begins to use your data.

GroupSim is one of the best company that provides you with unlimited calls and data at a very affordable price. We provide the best network of sim card.

I just returned from Germany and had a good experience with the O2 medium prepaid SIM card (3GB of data and unlimited domestic talk and text in EU). I first went to an O2 store, but they would not sell the cards. They said that stopped doing that because it was too much trouble to activate them and there was not enough profit in it to be worth their while. The 3GB card lasts for 4 weeks and only costs 15€, and the store only gets about a 1 or 2€ profit. They pointed out that they were not an O2 corporate store, but an independent store that sold O2 products and services. The agent suggested that I just buy them at a local grocery store, but warned me that it was hard to activate. So I went to a local Rewe and bought 2 of the cards (one for each my wife and I). Then I went to a local coffee shop and logged on to their Wifi with my iPad to go through the activation process. I admit that it was tedious and took over 2 hours to activate the 2 cards (you have to fill out online forms, download a special identification app, and then have a video conference with an agent who looks at you and your passport and verifies your identity. But once I got through all this, the cards worked just fine. We used them throughout big towns in Germany (Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Munich, and Berlin), as well as in Austria in Salzburg and Hallstatt, and in Amsterdam. In all cases I got good data service and could send and receive domestic text messages and make calls. I did have to turn “roaming” on to use them outside of Germany, but because they were prepaid cards their was no additional cost involved with roaming. We were there 3 weeks and used just under 2GB, primarily with Google maps, TripAdvisor, Safari, email, Facebook, and the apps for the train systems in Germany and Austria (DB and OBB). Another advantage of the O2 cards is that they provide coverage throughout the underground subway systems in Germany. We had a great experience with these and thought they were a great bargain at just 15€ each!

Tried Aldi Talk. Wasted 13 euros, directly to the trash. After wasting literally hours doing the “activation process”, with their app (terrible process involving scanning the passport, taking pictures, filling online forms written in German only (but it is an app! Why they can’t at least provide an English UI?), and talking with someone via the app, using wifi, I’ve got the “pre-approval” email some hours later. Great! No, not really. The email included a PDF with a form to be printed, completed and emailed!! WTF?? So, wasted time and money. Don’t do this unless you plan to stay in Berlin at least for one month.

Dear Rebeccah, In your article about “Best SIM cards in Germany” you wrote the following:

“If you really want to save, you might want to consider whether you need a SIM card at all. You could also just put your phone in flight mode and seek our Wi-Fi at hotspots. The Youth HotSpot Free Wi-Fi app will direct you to free Wi-Fi all over the country. If it doesn’t work out, you can always hop over to Aldi for that trusty SIM card.”

I tried your link “The Youth HotSpot Free Wi-Fi app” which led me to the ITunes site; this link does not give me the necessary lead, as you mentioned. Please do tell you how to get this app. Your article is great, except the reference to the hotspot app.

Thanks for the update Claudia. We removed the link because it is not available in the US iTunes store.

Thank you Craig Nelson. Can you recommend another app that lets you view hotspots in Germany? Claudia.

Hi Claudia, You could try “Wi-Fi Finder” in both the iTunes and Google stores.

Vodafone should be shunned simply for having terrible customer service, even by Berlin’s standards. I always purchase from small handy shops and never (or rarely) have to provide any personal information. Usually prefer Ortel, has given me the best results around Europe.

And, again, the reminder I post to all the get-a-SIM articles: If your U.S. phone is T-Mobile, check your plan. Nearly all include free data and fairly cheap calls in around 200 countries, making it unnecessary to buy a SIM.

My wife and I had T-Mobile plans in the US in 2018 when we traveled to Germany, and our plan worked fine over there. Data was unlimited, but it changed to a slower speed after 2 GB or so. We didn’t use our phones much, but it was nice to have when we needed it and didn’t have to buy a separate SIM.

Any idea on the sim card’s size?

Heard that the sim card are of the “regular” size. If one needs a nano sized sim card, it may cause another 10 plus euros?

Nearly all SIM cards these days come with all three sizes; you just pop out the part you need.

Hi Rebeccah, Thanks for the article. I’ve had a Blau SIM for many years, since they were simyo, but when they became Blau it became really hard to “top up on-line.” As I understand it, you can’t pay with credit cards anymore, so you need to connect to your German bank account to pay online. So I’ve been buying multiple pre-paid top-up certificates when I’m in Germany to use as needed. I’m wondering if you know something about Blau that I don’t, and whether Aldi or the other budget carriers are different? They’ve also changed their packages a bit now so your numbers aren’t quite right.

Also, everyone in Berlin should use the free wifi in all the metro stations, which is easy to connect to and works great!

Cheers, Mark

Thanks for your comments. That’s really helpful information. Yes, Berlin does have the free WiFi at the metro stations now, which is great. Library have it too, as do some cafes. I wasn’t aware that Blau doesn’t allow you to use a credit card to top up on-line. I’ll check on that though to make sure the information is correct. As for the packages, I got all the information from the company websites, so it should (hopefully) be up-to-date. Can you point out which ones seem a little off? Thanks!

Hi again Rebeccah, Thanks for your reply. I’m looking at the site now, with my pay as you go plan (Blau 9 Ct. Tarif), the Blau Surf M package offers 1.75GB of data for 28 days for 8.99EUR. Or currently I have 4GB for 13.99EUR (Blau Surf L). They changed their packages again fairly recently and actually added more data and slightly reduced the price, plus adding a Blau XS package. But maybe I have an older plan with different pricing or something… apologies if that’s the case. Thanks very much for checking on the credit cards. Since Germany is always so weird about credit cards I assumed it would be an industry-wide phenomenon, but I should shop around… Mark

I only just did a quick search and my German still needs work, but it’s possible Aldi also doesn’t allow online credit card top-ups? https://www.alditalk.de/guthaben-aufladen Um die Online Aufladung nutzen zu können, müssen Sie zuerst Ihre Bankdaten hinterlegen. Dies funktioniert ganz einfach über die ALDI TALK App oder Mein ALDI TALK. Ihre Guthabenaufladungen können dann ganz bequem von Ihrem Bankkonto abgebucht werden.

Hi Mark, yes, unfortunately it is not possible to top-up your card online with your credit card. You definitely need a bank account for that…

Best Regards, Dominik

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April 23, 2024

Wherever you may be traveling to, it is a must to have reliable and affordable connectivity whether it be for business or pleasure. This guide delves into the various aspects of purchasing a local physical SIM card and explains why eSIMs are now the obvious choice in every way.

Traveling to the United States can be an exhilarating experience, filled with diverse cultures, iconic landmarks, and vast landscapes. To stay connected during your trip, whether it’s for navigation, keeping in touch with loved ones, or handling business, a prepaid SIM card is a convenient and cost-effective solution. This guide delves into the various aspects of purchasing a prepaid SIM card in the USA, including where to buy one, the costs involved, and the benefits of different purchasing strategies.

Don't Buy SIM Cards, eSIMs Are Better - Get Yours Now!

Don't buy sim cards, esims are better.

Planning a trip to Germany, whether it’s to explore its rich cultural history, vibrant cities, or stunning landscapes, requires more than just itinerary planning—you’ll also need a reliable way to stay connected. Purchasing a SIM card in Germany can greatly enhance your experience by providing convenient access to mobile data, making calls, and sending texts. Here’s your complete guide to buying a SIM card or eSIM in Germany in 2024.

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Upon arriving at major German airports like Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport, or Berlin Brandenburg Airport, you will find several shops and kiosks that sell SIM cards. These are conveniently located in the arrivals halls, making it easy to pick up a SIM card right after you land.

Throughout Germany, you can visit retail stores of major mobile operators. These stores are typically found in large shopping centers, high streets, and tourist areas, offering a range of SIM card options with various data and call packages.

Stores like Saturn and MediaMarkt, which are major electronics retailers in Germany, also sell SIM cards. They offer a variety of options from different providers and can be a good place to compare plans.

For a quick pick-up, many convenience stores and supermarkets throughout Germany stock prepaid SIM cards. These are perfect for travelers who need immediate connectivity without the hassle of visiting a dedicated mobile store.

Purchase Before You Travel

Acquiring your SIM card before you depart for Germany offers several advantages:

Ready on Arrival : Have your mobile data and phone services sorted out before you even land.
Avoid Language Barriers : Choose your plan and purchase your SIM in your own language, ensuring you understand all the details.
Peace of Mind : Start your trip knowing that you’re already equipped to navigate, communicate, and explore.

Buy Your Tourist SIM Card in Germany

Germany’s mobile network market is served by several key providers, each known for good coverage and competitive pricing:

Telekom : Known for its excellent coverage and high-speed data services.
Vodafone : Offers robust coverage and a variety of plans suitable for tourists.
O2 : Known for competitive pricing and flexible data packages.

Visit any Telekom store, found in almost every major shopping area. Telekom offers various plans, including specific options tailored for tourists that often come with generous data allowances.

Vodafone stores are widespread across German cities. They provide a range of SIM card plans that cater to different needs, including those of international visitors.

O2 also has a significant presence in Germany. You can buy an O2 SIM card from their retail outlets across the country, offering several plans that are attractive due to their flexibility and affordability.

Purchasing a SIM card directly in Germany ensures:

Local Rates : Enjoy competitive local rates for data and calls.
Immediate Support : Access customer service easily if you encounter any issues or need to top up your plan.
Flexible Plans : Choose from a variety of options that can be adjusted based on your usage.

The cost of prepaid SIM cards in Germany varies, typically starting from around 10 EUR for basic packages with limited data and going up to 50 EUR for more comprehensive plans that include ample data, calls, and even international minutes.

For those with compatible devices, an eSIM offers a modern alternative to traditional SIM cards:

Instant Activation : Download and activate your eSIM before you arrive or right after landing.
No Physical SIM Required : Avoid the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards, while keeping your home number active.
Flexible Data Plans : Easily switch between data plans from different providers depending on your needs.

Using eSIM.net while traveling in Germany offers a seamless and efficient way to stay connected as you explore its rich history, vibrant cities, and stunning landscapes. Here’s how to make the most of your eSIM.net service during your visit to Germany:

Step 1: Choose Your eSIM Plan

Selecting the Right Plan: eSIM.net provides a variety of plans tailored to different needs. For your trip to Germany, consider whether a data-only plan is sufficient or if a more comprehensive package including voice and SMS would be better. Data-only plans are ideal for short visits or if you primarily need internet access, while full-service plans are better for longer stays or if you need to make frequent local and international calls.

Step 2: Purchase and Activate Your eSIM

Buying Your eSIM: You can select and purchase your desired eSIM plan directly from the eSIM.net website. The process is straightforward—choose a plan that matches your duration of stay and anticipated data usage, then complete the transaction. You’ll receive an email with a QR code.

Activating Your eSIM: Ensure your smartphone supports eSIM technology and is unlocked. Navigate to the cellular settings on your device, tap “Add Cellular Plan,” and scan the QR code. Follow the setup prompts, ideally while connected to Wi-Fi, as it requires internet access.

Step 3: Manage Your eSIM

Using the MyeSIM Portal: eSIM.net offers an online portal called MyeSIM, where you can manage your account. This portal allows you to check your data usage, top up your plan as needed, and adjust settings to suit your needs during your stay in Germany.

Customer Support: If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding your eSIM service, eSIM.net provides robust customer support. Assistance is available via email, or you can access an extensive FAQ section on their website for quick help.

Step 4: Understanding Mobile Usage in Germany

Data Roaming: If your itinerary includes visiting other EU countries, check if your eSIM plan covers EU-wide roaming. This feature is highly beneficial as it allows you to use your mobile device across the EU with no extra roaming charges.

Network Coverage: Germany boasts excellent mobile network coverage, ensuring reliable and fast connectivity across both urban and rural areas. However, coverage can be less consistent in very remote areas, such as some national parks.

Step 5: Maximizing Your eSIM Benefits

Cost-Effectiveness: Using an eSIM from eSIM.net can significantly reduce your roaming costs compared to traditional mobile services. It offers a straightforward solution for managing data and calls throughout Germany without the need for multiple SIM cards.

Flexibility and Convenience: eSIM technology allows easy switching between different plans or carriers without needing to physically change SIM cards. This flexibility is particularly useful if your travel plans are dynamic or if you visit multiple countries during your trip.

Additional Tips for Using eSIM in Germany

Device Compatibility: Before your trip, ensure that your device is compatible with eSIM technology and is unlocked. Most modern smartphones, including recent models from Apple, Samsung, and Google, support eSIMs.
Emergency Services: In Germany, you can dial 112 for emergency services, accessible free of charge from any phone, including those using an eSIM.
Public Wi-Fi Access: Take advantage of Germany’s extensive public Wi-Fi networks available in cafes, hotels, and public spaces. These can help save on data usage, but always ensure secure connections when accessing sensitive information.
Cultural Insights: Familiarize yourself with local customs and mobile usage etiquette to enhance your interactions and avoid any potential misunderstandings, especially in formal settings or when using your mobile device in public transport.

SIM Card Germany FAQs

To ensure affordable and reliable mobile data and voice communication during your stay, enhancing both convenience and security.

You can visit any store of your mobile provider where customer service will help resolve issues promptly.

Yes, free Wi-Fi is widely available in public spaces, cafes, and hotels throughout Germany, but a local SIM card provides a more consistent and secure connection.

The main mobile operators are Telekom, Vodafone, and O2.

Prices for SIM cards vary, starting as low as 10 EUR for basic packages, with more extensive options available for around 30 to 50 EUR.

Roaming can be expensive, especially for non-EU travelers. Purchasing a local SIM card usually provides a more cost-effective solution.

Yes, any traveler can easily purchase a SIM card in Germany by presenting a valid ID at the time of purchase.

With this guide, you’re well-prepared to buy a SIM card in Germany, ensuring that you can stay connected, navigate easily, and make the most of your visit. Whether you choose a traditional SIM card or a modern eSIM, staying connected will undoubtedly enhance your travel experience in Germany.

SIM Card Guide USA

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Find Rates for Calls, Text and Data per MB

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Works in over 200 countries, with a single card & phone number. (And get your card FAST with express delivery).

Find your SIM Card number on the back of the product package or if you no longer have the product package, you can also find the SIM Card phone number from the plastic card .

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Your Worry-Free Trip to Germany Starts With a TravelSim Prepaid SIM Card

Talk, text, data with germany prepaid sim card.

The Germany Prepaid SIM Card is the most convenient and economical solution for staying in touch.

Chat to your friends and family back home by easily connecting to the local German networks T-Mobile, Vodafone or O2. Your SIM can also be used in over 205 countries across 340 networks . Make a call as if you were back home, saving you up to 85% on roaming charges. Free incoming calls.

The one-size-fits-all Prepaid Germany SIM Card is suitable for use in any unlocked cell phone or wifi device. Simply add prepaid credit anytime online. We’ve got you covered across Germany + more.

Configure Your TravelSim

Universal SIM size — Mini, Macro & Nano Size

Choose credit for calls & texts

Unlimited USA calls voice package includes unlimited calls from USA to USA and European Union numbers. It does not include calls to voicemail and other TravelSim numbers. You can make unlimited calls from USA to following countries: USA, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech.Rep., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St. Barthelemy / St. Martin Island, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Burkina Faso
Central African Republic
Congo Democratic Republic
Cote d’Ivoire
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Sierra Leone
South Africa
South Sudan
Philippines
South Korea
Cook Islands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Antigua and Barbuda
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
Dominican Republic
Netherlands Antilles
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
St Kitts and Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Faroe Islands
Liechtenstein
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Vatican City
Afghanistan
Saudi Arabia
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States
United States Virgin Islands
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana

Add the best data plan to SIM card

Find your zone, add extra number.

Your SIM card phone number starts with +372 by default. In addition to that, you can choose to purchase a UK phone number (+44) or a US phone number (+1).

If you purchase a US number, it will become your primary phone number for outgoing calls. Your default +372 number will still work for incoming calls. Data usage is not affected by phone numbers. Incoming call 0.20$ or 0.15€/min. Incoming SMS is free. US numbers can only receive calls, no SMS service available for US numbers. Incoming call 0.20$ or 0.15€/min

Here are all the countries you can travel to when you select this data plan:

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Plans for germany, holiday germany 30gb.

30GB in 4G LTE

Unlimited in Germany

120 minutes to the rest of the world

Offer details

30GB in Germany

Unlimited calls from Germany to Germany

120 minutes from Germany to the world

1000 SMS from Germany to the world

Data tethering allowed and unrestricted

Holiday Germany 100GB

Lowest price in the last 30 days: €49.99

100GB in 5G

Only 11 days of promotion left!

100GB in Germany in 5G

120 minutes from Germany to the World

1000 SMS from Germany to the World

Holiday Germany 12GB

12GB in 4G LTE

30 minutes to the rest of the world

12GB in Germany

30 minutes from Germany to the world

200 SMS from Germany to the world

Holiday Germany 1GB

1GB in 4G LTE

Calls not included

SMS not included

1GB in Germany

Why choosing Orange?

With 250 million customers Orange is able to provide attractive offers worldwide for its tourists and business travelers.

As a telecom operator in 30 countries with partnerships with the best local carriers all over the world, Orange provides one of the best network quality worldwide

Our customer service is available 7/7 to assist you in finding the best offer and activating and using your travel SIM card

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This easy $30 tech purchase is the best travel investment I ever made

The best investment you can make for an overseas trip? Not jamming a week’s worth of clothes in a carry-on. Not paying hundreds for more legroom on the plane. It’s buying a local SIM or eSIM, specifically one that offers unlimited 5G data so you’re never disconnected.

In the past year, I’ve traveled to cover both Computex (in Taiwan) and IFA (in Germany), and on both occasions I purchased local SIM access for relative peanuts — about $30 or so for 7 to 10 days’ worth of data. Each plan I bought offered unlimited data on networks that were as good or better than what’s offered here in the United States.

Consider this: you’re likely going to be out and about, visiting museums, eating out at restaurants, streaming Netflix by the pool… Yes, you can use your hotel’s Wi-Fi, but only within range of the hotel. And with all the concerns about malicious actors lurking on public Wi-Fi , a dedicated cellular connection can be convenient and safe!

SIM and eSIM to the rescue

I opted for a local SIM over what my carrier already provides. T-Mobile (my wireless ISP) offers about 5GB of high-speed data when overseas, and your carrier may have a similar option. But if that limit is exceeded, throttling happens — not only does it slow down cellular data speeds, it also kicks you down to 4G or worse.

There’s a world of difference between the amount of data provided by a 4G network and how quick that data is. I’m willing to pay a little extra for the peace of mind in knowing that I’ll have all the data I want, when I want it! That’s thanks to local SIMs and eSIMs.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Most modern phones offer the option to use either a dedicated SIM card (physical) or an eSIM (digital). For the last several years, buying a new phone has generally meant swapping out your SIM card from the old phone to the new one. When you travel overseas, a local SIM provider gives you a different SIM card, which you then pop into your phone (and hold onto your personal SIM card for when you return home).

That process of popping a SIM in and out isn’t convenient, though. You have to make sure you don’t lose or break that tiny little card, and you need the dexterity to fiddle around with the SIM tray on your phone, get it open, insert your card, and close it again. That’s why eSIM is far more useful and what I recommend — if your phone supports it.

Why eSIM is better for travel

An eSIM (short for “embedded SIM”) essentially works by telling your phone to roam onto a local network with the authentication token to do so. When you buy an eSIM, the carrier sends data to your phone for activation, at which point you’re authorized to use their network.

What’s nice is that eSIMs work in conjunction with your home SIM — the eSIM can be programmed to access local data while your home SIM is still used for texts and calls. That’s especially useful if you rarely make phone calls but still want to send texts to friends and family.

Note: For me, T-Mobile offers unlimited texts overseas, so I can easily keep in touch with my friends and family that way. Just keep in mind that if you do place calls while overseas, you may be charged international rates.

When I visited Taiwan, I used a local SIM provider with my spare phone to be a dedicated “Taiwan” phone. And it worked! But having to walk around and hunt down a SIM provider after a 13-hour plane flight wasn’t exactly fun. That’s why when I visited Germany, I used this ByteSIM option that was about $30 for unlimited 5G data.

Picking the right eSIM provider does take a bit of research. Our sister site TechAdvisor recommends Saily , an app that serves as a front door to eSIM plans around the world. And if there’s a gotcha, it’s this: eSIM plans are activated in different ways. Some activate immediately (so your available time begins counting down as soon as the purchase is completed), others only kick in after you “redeem” the eSIM. The best ones only activate after your phone successfully connects to their network.

I particularly liked how ByteSIM advised me of what speeds to expect: I did get about 180Mbps on Germany’s Telekom network, and the SIM roamed freely between it and its competitors.

I also noticed an unexpected benefit: if you’re traveling in Europe, websites recognize you as an EU “citizen” and offer to clear your cookies. Hurray for EU privacy laws!

So, think about this the next time you’re traveling abroad: if you’re already going to spend thousands of dollars on airfare, hotels, meals, and activities, isn’t it worth spending just a few more bucks on a good foreign SIM or eSIM? Honestly, it’s the best travel investment you can make.

Further reading: Essential travel gadgets for your next trip

Author: Mark Hachman , Senior Editor, PCWorld

Mark has written for PCWorld for the last decade, with 30 years of experience covering technology. He has authored over 3,500 articles for PCWorld alone, covering PC microprocessors, peripherals, and Microsoft Windows, among other topics. Mark has written for publications including PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science and Electronic Buyers' News, where he shared a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. He recently handed over a collection of several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs because his office simply has no more room.

Best eSIM for Traveling to Germany in 2024

Are you planning to travel to Germany and looking to stay connected with an eSIM card? This is a complete guide with everything you need to know about using an eSIM card for traveling to Germany including a comparison of the best Germany eSIM cards for 2024.

Don't waste money on high roaming charges, read my recommendation and order an eSIM card for Germany on the internet and get connected in just a couple minutes. Below you will find up to date prices as per August 2024, including all specifications per eSIM card including info about EU data roaming.

Also find out where and when to order an eSIM card, more info about the network coverage and 4G/5G data speed, an answer to all FAQ about using eSIMs, a comparison with local prepaid sim cards for Germany and of course links to directly order your eSIM card for traveling to Germany online.

Since 2012 I am traveling the world full time and eventually turned my passion for traveling into a lifestyle and became a full time nomadic travel blogger . Since I travel to a different country pretty much every week I am always looking for a new sim card to stay connected.

In 2022 I visited for example 62 countries and in 2023 I traveled to 34 countries so imagine how many different prepaid and eSIM cards I used in the last 2 years.

In the past I used to buy a local prepaid sim card on arrival in every country, but nowadays I mostly use eSIM cards to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Helping other travelers to save money while traveling the world is one of the reasons I started this travel blog. Providing essential travel tips is what made me start writing sim card guides from every country I visited and now on Traveltomtom you can already find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world.

Of course I also wrote a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Germany in 2024 .

My recommendation

Let me first give you my eSIM card recommendation for Germany. Traveltomtom rates the following two eSIMs as the best eSIM cards for traveling to Germany in 2024:

1. Orange Holiday Europe eSIM - $59.90 USD

100 GB data in all of Europe
Unlimited calling/texting in all of Europe
120 international minutes
1,000 international sms
Valid for 28 days
$0.6 USD per Gigabyte

The Orange Holiday Europe eSIM is upgraded for Summer 2024 with NOW DOUBLE DATA up to 100 GB and therefore the best eSIM for Germany in 2024.

This eSIM comes with a phone number from France starting with +33 and is valid in 39 countries in Europe. Unlimited calls and sms within Europe are included.

Since the Orange Holiday eSIM comes with free EU data roaming and is valid in all countries in Europe it is therefore also listed as the best sim cards for traveling to Europe .

You can order the Orange Holiday Europe eSIM via SimOptions.

2. Jetpac eSIM for Germany - $15 USD

15 GB data-only eSIM
Valid in Germany only
Valid for 30 days
Only $1 USD per Gigabyte

The Jetpac eSIM card for Germany is data-only and does not support calling and texting and it does not come with a phone number. 5G is not supported but its rate of only $1 USD per Gigabyte makes Jetpac an excellent eSIM card for Germany.

There are 2 very important things to check before ordering an eSIM card for Germany or in general before using an eSIM card.

Unlocked phones only

Make sure your phone is unlocked. eSIM cards only work in unlocked phones. If you are not sure if your phone is unlocked then contact your mobile internet provider in your home country.

In general phones from Europe, Asia and the Middle East tend to be unlocked. Phones from North America are often locked.

If your smartphone is locked that means it does not allow another prepaid sim card or eSIM card to operate in the device. You can easily unlock your phone, but depending on your mobile internet provider you will be charged a fee for unlocking your phone.

eSIM compatible phones only

Second, and equally important: eSIM cards only work if your smartphone supports eSIM cards, also called eSIM compatible. All newer smartphones support eSIM cards. If you are not sure if your phone is eSIM compatible then simply go to Google and type in your mobile phone model in the search bar and ask if it is eSIM compatible. You will get the answer instantly.

If your phone is NOT eSIM compatible then there is no other solution and you can NOT use an eSIM card for traveling to Germany.

However, you can still order a sim card for Germany on the internet before your trip. Check out Traveltomtom’s complete guide for buying a sim card for Germany in 2024 or find out everything you need to know about international sim cards for traveling abroad in 2024 .

Comparison of the best eSIM cards for Germany

There are multiple website on the internet that sell eSIM cards for Germany. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an eSIM card for traveling in Germany from one of the well-known eSIM card providers that have proven to be reliable operators.

Traveltomtom tested and reviewed the following operators multiple times: SimOptions , Airalo , Holafly, Nomad , Jetpac .

Nowadays, you can buy an eSIM card for pretty much every country in the world. Order directly from one of the above eSIM card providers and instantly receive your eSIM card in your email. But before you buy an eSIM card first read all my tips below.

SimOptions also offers international prepaid sim cards for Germany . These are pre-activated physical prepaid sim cards and will be delivered to your home address before your trip to Germany and it is plug and play when you arrive in the Germany.

Airalo, Holafly, Jetpac and Nomad only sell eSIM cards for Germany.

SimOptions is a very reliable eSIM card provider and Traveltomtom has used SimOptions uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using SimOptions for ordering your Germany eSIM card.

Why using SimOptions? They offer eSIM cards including calling and texting. Airalo and Nomad only offer data-only eSIM cards.

Here are the SimOptions data-only eSIM card plans for Germany for 2024:

1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
3 GB data for 15 days = $9.90 USD
30 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
50 GB data for 60 days = $59.90 USD

These data-only eSIM cards are provided by SimOptions and are only valid in Germany. These SimOptions data-only eSIMs are 5G ready.

The SimOptions eSIM cards for Germany do NOT come with a phone number and they do not offer incoming/outgoing calls or sms services. The validity of these eSIM cards is 1 year and the credit validity starts instantly the first time it connects to a supported network in Germany.

In general these eSIM cards are not my first recommendation for traveling to Germany and/or Europe, but the 50 GB eSIM plan from SimOptions is valid for 60 days and especially for those people who are traveling to Germany for more than 1 month this is a perfect solution to stay connected during all of your trip with just 1 eSIM without the need to top up or extend.

Click here for more info or to order a data-only eSIM card for Germany from SimOptions .

simoptions international esim cards for germany 2024

SimOptions also provides international eSIM cards for traveling to Germany and these ones are more interesting as they come with a lot of advantages over the data-only eSIM cards from SimOptions.

The following international eSIMs are valid in all of Europe and thus include free EU data roaming:

10 GB data (5G ready) + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $22.90 USD
20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $23.90 USD
12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
100 GB data (5G ready) + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 28 days = $59.90 USD

Click here to order an international eSIM card for Germany directly online via SimOptions .

The best thing about the above eSIM cards for Europe is that they also include unlimited calling/texting.

The O2 Go Card eSIM and the Orange 100 GB eSIM card are both 5G ready, all other eSIMs do not support 5G, only 4G/LTE data speed.

These international eSIM cards for Germany are also valid for 1 year, but the credit validity starts only when the eSIM card connects the first time to a supported network. So you can instal the eSIM card even when you are not in Europe yet. The credit validity only starts upon arrival in Germany. For more info check the SimOptions website .

Airalo is another very reputable eSIM card provider that is very much recommended by Traveltomtom. Traveltomtom has used Airalo eSIMs for almost 5 years and in more than 50 countries around the world.

Why using Airalo?

Ordering your eSIM card for Germany through Airalo is done fast and easy. Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times for staying connected when traveling abroad. Very reliable, never an issue and often some of the cheapest eSIM card deals.

Especially if you only use a little bit of data while traveling and need just 1 or 2 GB to stay in touch through WhatsApp, check your email and get directions from Google Maps, Airalo is a great eSIM card for traveling to Germany.

Here are the Germany eSIM card plans for 2024 from Airalo:

1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD
3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $22.50 USD
20 GB data for 30 days = $26 USD

Click here to order an eSIM card for Germany from Airalo .

The Hallo! Mobil eSIM cards from Airalo operate on the O2 and Vodafone 4G/LTE network in Germany. Unfortunately the Airalo eSIM cards for Germany are not 5G ready.

The Airalo eSIM plan with 20 GB data for just $26 USD is one of the best-buy eSIM cards for Germany as it goes down to a rate of only $1.3 USD per Gigabyte.

It is a data-only sim card without a phone number, so any phone/sms service is NOT supported. An Airalo eSIM card has to be installed within 1 month and after activation the credit validity starts when it connects the first time to a supported network. For more info check out the Airalo website .

Another trusted and reviewed eSIM provider is Nomad and Traveltomtom has used Nomad in more than 10 countries. Nomad sometimes has amazing competitive eSIM card plans with cheap prices.

Nomad has two different types of eSIMs for France: Regular Plans and Daily Plans.

Regular eSIM plans

Here are the Nomad eSIM card plans for Germany in 2024:

3 GB data for 30 days = $8 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $14 USD
10 GB data for 30 days = $12 USD
15 GB data for 30 days = $27 USD
20 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD

Click here to order an eSIM card for Germany from Nomad .

Nomad has some ongoing eSIM card deals on sale and the best rate of Nomad eSIMs for Germany is at the moment is $0.9 USD per Gigabyte on their 20 GB data plan.

The Nomad eSIM cards for Germany are from 1Global and are 5G ready. They operate on the O2 and Vodafone network in Germany.

The Nomad Germany eSIM cards have to be installed on your phone within 60 days and after installation its validity starts when it connects for the first time to a supported network in Germany. Basically when the plane lands. For more info check the Nomad website .

Daily plans

Nomad also has daily plans. These eSIM cards could perfect for those going on a short trip to Germany. You basically get 1 GB high speed data per 24 hours. Then after you use 1 GB data your data speed is reduced to 512 Kbps, which is actually useless, basically like an E signal.

1 GB data per day for 1 day = $4 USD
1 GB data per day for 3 day = $5 USD
1 GB data per day for 5 day = $7 USD
1 GB data per day for 7 day = $10 USD
1 GB data per day for 10 day = $13 USD

When I saw the prices for these eSIMs I was pleasantly surprised. If you are careful with the amount of Gigabytes you use per day it could be a great eSIM.

Personally, it would not be enough for me as I can easily spend more than 1 GB data in just 1 hour bus or train ride.

Watching TikTok videos for about 45 minutes is about 1 GB data, watching Instagram reels for 30 minutes is also already 1 GB data. It depends how many gigabytes you use per day, but it could be a great eSIM card for traveling to Germany.

Click here to order this Nomad daily plan eSIM card for Germany from Nomad .

Traveltomtom found out that Jetpac also had some great eSIM plans for traveling to Germany:

1 GB data for 4 days = $1 USD
3 GB data for 7 days = $4 USD
5 GB data for 30 days = $7 USD
15 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
30 GB data for 30 days = $37 USD
40 GB data for 30 days = $48 USD

Click here for more info or to order an eSIM card for Germany via Jetpac .

The Jetpac eSIMs for Germany goes as low as $0.9 USD per Gigabyte. Which makes Jetpac among the best value eSIMs for Germany in 2024.

Jetpac eSIM cards are also data-only eSIMs and they do not come with a phone number. Incoming and outgoing calls/sms are not supported. Also Jetpac will need to upgrade their eSIMs for Germany soon as none of their plans support 5G, but only 4G/LTE.

Jetpac offers an additional service to its eSIM card users. What about a free VPN subscription? Jetpac offers it to its eSIM users. On topp of that you can also get free lounge access if your flight is delayed. However, you have to register your flight before your trip on the Jetpac platform.

The eSIM cards can be installed before traveling to Germany and from the first moment it connects to a supported network the eSIM validity of 30 days starts counting. For more info check out the Jetpac website .

Holafly is another well-known eSIM provider but unlike other eSIM providers they only offer eSIMs with unlimited data. However, there is a catch and that is a so-called FUP (Fair Use Policy). More about it later, but it could mean that you suddenly have a very slow data connection for a whole day until the data speed restores.

Here are the Holafly unlimited data eSIM plans for Germany:

1 day 'unlimited' data = $6 USD
2 days 'unlimited' data = $10 USD
3 days 'unlimited' data = $13 USD
4 days 'unlimited' data = $16 USD
5 days 'unlimited' data = $21 USD
6 days 'unlimited' data = $25 USD
7 days 'unlimited' data = $29 USD
8 days 'unlimited' data = $31 USD
9 days 'unlimited' data = $35 USD
10 days 'unlimited' data = $37 USD
11 days 'unlimited' data = $40 USD
14 days 'unlimited' data = $48 USD
20 days 'unlimited' data = $64 USD
30 days 'unlimited' data = $75 USD

As you can see the Holafly eSIMs are significantly more expensive than Jetpac, Airalo, Nomad and SimOptions. The Holafly eSIM cards for Germany are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls/sms are NOT supported. These eSIMs do also not come with a phone number.

According to the Holafly website these Holafly Germany eSIMs operate on the 4G/LTE network of Orange. However, Orange is NOT a mobile internet operator in Germany, so I am sure Holafly is making a mistake on their website.

You can use a hotspot on the Holafly eSIM cards, but it is capped at 500 MB per day.

Why 'unlimited'? Because there is a Fair Use Policy and Traveltomtom has had bad experiences with this in the past. Suddenly your data speed is slowed down for 24 hours because you apparently used too much data. More info later.

If I hate something then it is slow data speed. Therefore Traveltomtom's is not a fan of eSIM cards with 'unlimited' data with an FUP and therefore it is not my first recommendation when looking for an eSIM for Germany.

Also, Traveltomtom tested Holafly in another country and was very disappointed with the overall performance. Holafly was using the weakest mobile data network operator in that country and while people all around me constantly had a data connection I was pretty much offline for a whole week. Even when we were in big cities I constantly had to ask for the public WiFi of my hotels, restaurants and bars because my Holafly eSIM was super slow.

Why did Traveltomtom already used more than 100s of eSIM cards? I told you before that I travel full time and I am on the road constantly. On average I use about 40 to 50 prepaid and eSIM cards per year, making me a trustworthy source for all your sim card questions.

Traveltomtom is on the road to 197, meaning I would like to travel to every country in the world . As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, still more than 40 to go, but no rush.

What is the cheapest eSIM card for Germany?

At first the cheapest eSIM card for Germany was an eSIM card from Airalo for $5 USD with 1 GB data for 7 days. These Hallo! Mobil eSIMs are only valid in Germany and do not support calling and texting. Nomad eSIMs start from $5 USD and SimOptions even from $4.5 USD.

However, at the moment Jetpac has an ongoing promotion and they only charge $1 USD for 1 GB data for 4 days.

Why ordering an eSIM card for traveling in Germany

eSIM cards are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Germany in 2024 and you can arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping physical sim cards. Order online, scan the QR code, follow the steps and you are connected in less than 2 minutes.

The most important reason to get an eSIM card is because we would like to stay connected on our trip to Germany without wasting money on high roaming costs. Our smartphones are pretty useless without a working data connection. Think about ordering a taxi through an app, finding nearby friends, restaurants and bars. Get directions from Google Maps or simply staying in touch with family back home, check your social media apps on long bus rides or your banking apps when paying contactless.

One of the best things about arriving in Germany with an activated eSIM card is that you are online as soon as the plane lands. More about when to instal your eSIM card later.

There are so many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Germany, but the most important reason is that it makes your trip to Germany so much more convenient and fun!

At the same time we don’t want to waste money on high roaming charges. Many mobile internet operators still charge $3 USD per MB for data roaming, that means just opening the Instagram app will already cost you 20 MB * $3 USD = $60 USD! Not kidding… it still is very common in 2024.

eSIM cards are the easiest way to avoid high roaming charges!

International data roaming plans

So what about overseas data roaming plans? Well, not recommended! Why? Did you read the small letters at what data speed you can use data roaming? Pretty much all mobile internet operators limit the data speed for overseas data roaming plans, which means you end up with 3G data speed, but there is 4G/LTE in every tourist destination in Germany.

Actually even 5G, but most eSIM cards do not offer 5G, only 4G/LTE network is supported. Only the O2 Go Card eSIM and the Orange 50 GB eSIM from SimOptions support 5G in every country in Europe.

Uncountable times (mostly American) travel friends asked me: “can I use your hotspot? My data roaming plan is so slow, it is barely working!” Trust me, get yourself an eSIM card or an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Germany. Spend a couple dollars extra and be connected all the time instead of begging for WiFi or a hotspot from friends.

Where to buy an eSIM card for Germany?

You can only buy an eSIM card for Germany on the internet through an eSIM card provider. There are multiple eSIM card providers for Germany. Traveltomtom compared multiple eSIM card providers and concluded that the above mentioned ones ( SimOptions , Airalo , Holafly, Nomad , Jetpac ) are the best eSIM card providers for traveling to Germany in 2024.

Some mobile internet operators sell eSIM cards for Germany through their own website. Be prepared that with these eSIM cards a long and tiring registration process is needed. A copy of your passport is needed as well as an address. After ordering the eSIM card is NOT ready to use. You will need to confirm your identity with an official video call. You will need to download an app and during the video call you will need to hold your passport next to your head as identification, etc. This would be the last thing I recommend! I tried it myself and it was a nightmare. All in all it took about 30 minutes to get my eSIM card ready to use after purchasing it from the Vodafone Germany website.

Keep in mind that when buying an eSIM card for Germany through one of the above recommended providers you only need your email address and the eSIM card is instantly ready to use after installation. There is no ID registration needed.

On arrival in Germany

When you arrive in Germany and you want to buy an eSIM card for tourists then you will have to go to an official retail store of an internet provider. How to locate the nearest one to your hotel? Use Google Maps.

However, as of August 2024, none of the mobile internet operators in Germany offer eSIM cards for tourists. All prepaid tourist sim card plans are only available as a physical sim card in stores around Germany. They do NOT sell eSIM cards.

For more info about buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Germany in 2024 click on the link to read my complete guide and comparison of all the mobile internet providers in Germany, including a comparison of the 4G/5G network.

Flying into Germany and landing in Frankfurt or Berlin then you can also buy a sim card for Germany on arrival at the airport. However, there are NO eSIM cards sold at airports in Germany, only physical prepaid sim cards for tourists and expect to pay tourist prices when buying a sim card at the airport. The eSIM cards mentioned in this article are much cheaper.

Check out my complete guide for buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport in 2024 or my guide for buying a sim card at Berlin Airport in 2024 .

When to order an eSIM card for Germany?

You can order an eSIM card for Germany pretty much any time you want. Most eSIM cards have to be installed on a phone within 1 month after purchasing, some even within 1 year, so you have time.

More important therefore is when do you instal/activate the eSIM card. The validity of some eSIMs start straight after the installation, other eSIM cards only start their validity when they connect the first time to a supported network.

Traveltomtom advices to instal your eSIM card on the day of departure to Germany. Or if you want to maximise your validity then activate your Germany eSIM card on arrival after you connect to the free WiFi of the airport on arrival in Germany. All international airports in Germany have free public WiFi.

How do I know? Traveltomtom also wrote an arrival guide for Frankfurt Airport and Berlin Airport .

How to activate an eSIM card

Installing and activating an eSIM card is made as simple as possible. Everyone can activate an eSIM card and the instructions on how to are very detailed and will be send to you instantly by email. But wait, it gets even easier. Just scan the QR code.

When you order an eSIM card plan for Germany you instantly receive a summery of your order including a QR-code after the payment is processed.

You will see a summary of your eSIM card order including a QR code on your screen and at the same time you will also receive an email with the same QR code. The email contains instructions on how to instal and activate your Germany eSIM card.

But installing an activating an eSIM card is as easy as scanning the QR code with the same phone where you want to activate the eSIM card on. The QR contains all the information about your Germany eSIM card.

Once you scan the code you will be guided through a couple simple steps and within less than 1 minute your eSIM card is successfully installed.

Very important is that you are connected to the internet when installing your eSIM card otherwise you will get an error and issues can occur.

Tip: if you order an eSIM card with the same phone where you want to instal the eSIM card on then ask a friend or someone nearby to take a photo of the QR code and then you scan the QR code from his/her phone and start the installation.

Things to know before ordering an eSIM card for Germany

Here are some general tips for using eSIM cards when traveling abroad. These tips do not only apply for Germany eSIM cards, but are things you have to know before buying an eSIM card in general.

Make sure your phone is unlocked

To make sure you didn’t miss this, let me say this again: eSIM cards only work in UNLOCKED phones. If your phone is unlocked then you can use any eSIM card without any problems.

If your phone is locked then ask your mobile internet provider from your home country to unlock your phone before your trip to Germany. It is likely that your mobile internet provider will charge you a fee for unlocking your smartphone.

If you are unable to unlock your phone you can look into getting a portable WiFi device for staying connected when traveling to Germany or better… bring a second unlocked phone on your trip to Germany and use it as a portable WiFi device.

Which smartphones support eSIM cards?

Another very important thing you have to check before buying an eSIM card is if your smartphone supports eSIM cards. If you have any of the latest smartphones then there is no need to worry, all new smartphones of the well known brands support eSIM cards.

The fastest way to find out if your phone is eSIM compatible is by asking Google the question: is my (your phone model) eSIM compatible? Simple as that!

Can I trust these eSIM card providers?

All the eSIM card providers for Germany recommended above ( SimOptions , Airalo , Holafly, Nomad , Jetpac ) are reputable eSIM card providers reviewed and tested by Traveltomtom. All of them are licensed third party companies and resellers that partner or work directly with the mobile internet providers in Germany.

Traveltomtom has used Airalo and SimOptions sim cards now for more than 5 years and never really faced a major issue.

The Traveltomtom Team has extensively tested and reviewed Nomad and they have proven to be a reliable eSIM card provider. However, some mixed reviews have come back from the Traveltomtom Team about connectivity and activation.

Jetpac is a fairly new eSIM provider, but Traveltomtom only received positive feedback and excellent reviews about the eSIMs and services of Jetpac.

Since Traveltomtom is not a fan of eSIM cards with unlimited data and an FUP I hardly use Holafly, but when I did I was not happy. So now I let the Traveltomtom Team randomly test Holafly and just like myself, mixed reviews have come back. Some positive, some negative.

Traveltomtom does NOT sell Germany eSIMs, Traveltomtom only compares and recommends you to use eSIM cards for traveling to Germany.

All eSIM card providers have their own Helpdesk which you can contact may you encounter any problems or in case you want to claim a refund.

Can I keep my phone number from home with a Germany eSIM card?

Yes, you can and this is for many people a reason to order an eSIM card to stay connected when traveling to Germany. An eSIM card can be used next to your physical or eSIM card from your home country at the same time. You do not need a dual-sim phone for using an eSIM card.

So you can have multiple eSIM cards installed on your phone? Yes, no problem at all!

For example: you can turn off the mobile data from your sim card from home but still use it for texting and calling. Your new Germany eSIM card you can be used at the same time just for data to ensure you are not wasting money on high roaming costs.

If your Germany eSIM card also allows you to make phone calls and you want to make a local call in Germany, you simply switch between the sim cards and make a local phone call with your Germany eSIM card.

Switching between physical and eSIM cards is a matter of turning them on/off in the settings.

Can I make phone calls with a Germany eSIM card?

Only the international eSIM cards from SimOptions support incoming and outgoing calls/sms. Most of these international eSIMs that are valid all across Europe include unlimited calling and texting in all of Europe at no extra cost.

SimOptions is the only eSIM provider that offers eSIMs with calling options. All the eSIM cards from Nomad, Holafly, Jetpac and Airalo are data-only and any incoming/outgoing calls/sms are not supported.

Does a Germany eSIM card come with a phone number?

This depends on the type of eSIM card that you order. eSIMs that support calls and sms they come with a phone number.

All the international eSIM cards from SimOptions come with a phone number, which means they can also receive calls and sms as well as make phone calls and send text.

In the above Germany eSIM card comparison you can find all the specifications per eSIM card.

Can I use 5G on a Germany eSIM card?

Luckily most of the Germany eSIM cards are 5G ready as of August 2024. All the Nomad and Holafly eSIMs are 5G ready as well as some of the SimOptions eSIM plans for Germany.

Unfortunately the Jetpac and Airalo eSIMs and some of the international eSIMs from SimOptions only support 4G/LTE.

However, there is an amazing eSIM card deal for those who are heavy data users and also want 5G data speed. Check out the following Orange eSIM card for Europe, now with 100 GB data!

Click here for more info or to order this Orange 5G ready eSIM card for Germany via SimOptions .

This eSIM card is valid in all of Europe, includes unlimited calls/sms and is therefore also rated as one of the best sim cards for traveling to Europe in 2024 .

Are there eSIM cards for Germany with unlimited data?

Yes, the Holafly eSIM cards for Germany include unlimited data. However, Traveltomtom is not a big fan of unlimited data sim cards.

Always ask yourself is unlimited truly unlimited. Is there a catch? If the unlimited data is not on max data speed, then there is a so called FUP. Which means that your data speed will be capped after you used an X amount of Gigabytes.

A great example are the Nomad eSIMs with a daily plan. These plans give you 1, 2 or 3 GB high speed data per day and then after you can use unlimited data up to a speed of 512 Kbps. That data speed is useless, only good for WhatsApp or email.

Holafly is an eSIM provider that sells eSIMs with unlimited data for Germany and uses a so-called Fair Use Policy (FUP). Holafly does NOT specify what the FUP is. Which is very dissatisfying.

Traveltomtom does NOT recommend Germany eSIM cards with unlimited data plans with an FUP. On Holafly sim cards I experienced a reduce in data speed after using more than 2 GB per day. After I contacted support they explained me that I had to wait for 24 hours until my data speed was restored to normal.

Those 24 hours were a nightmare as my data speed was barely enough to use WhatsApp. Social media was not even loading!

Especially on days that you have a long bus or train ride and you need a lot of data, you definitely don't want any data speed restrictions that day.

Again, Traveltomtom does NOT recommend eSIM cards for Germany with unlimited data. But if you think you will never use more than 2 GB per day, then Holafly might be your favorite eSIM card.

However, if you don't use so much data per day then what's the point of an eSIM with unlimited data!?

For $59.90 USD you get 100 GB data on a Germany eSIM card you can order via SimOptions or 20 GB data for $26 USD on a Germany eSIM card via Airalo or just $15 USD for 15 GB data via Jetpac .

These eSIMs offer a lot of data and there is no real need for an eSIM card with unlimited data unless you want to upload your whole camera roll to a Google Drive or iCloud via 4G instead of WiFi.

But even then... remember that after 2 GB per day your internet speed is reduced similar to an E signal. Useless!

There are a lot of different specifications per eSIM card. Another reason why I advice you to take a close at my comparison of the best eSIM cards for traveling to Germany in 2024 before choosing your favorite.

Are eSIM cards the best way to stay connected when traveling to Germany?

eSIM cards are the easiest and fastest way to get data on your phone when traveling to Germany, but are they also the best way to stay connected when traveling to Germany?

There are 3 ways to stay connected when traveling to Germany:

Local prepaid sim cards

International prepaid sim cards.

Let's compare eSIM cards, local prepaid sim cards and international prepaid sim cards, for you to find out what is your preferred way of staying connected.

If you use a lot of data then local prepaid sim cards are probably a cheaper way to stay connected, depending on the length of your trip. Local prepaid sim cards often offer bigger data plans than eSIM cards. However, local prepaid sim cards can only be purchased on arrival in Germany in a phone store and NOT on the internet.

More info about the best Germany sim cards for tourists can be found in my complete guide for buying a sim card for Germany in 2024.

For example in the link above in my comparison of the best prepaid sim cards for tourist in Germany you will find that for €20 EUR you can buy a local prepaid sim card with 15 GB data in Germany and all of Europe + unlimited calling/texting in Europe.

If this sounds like something you want then on arrival in Germany you will need to find a sim card shop nearby your hotel.

They also sell Vodafone sim cards at Frankfurt Airport , but at tourist prices, no way near €12 EUR ($13 USD).

The advantage of local prepaid sim cards is that you buy them directly from the mobile internet provider. You get the cheapest prices, (unlimited) local calls & sms included, the biggest data packages and the fastest data speed.

Be aware that the local prepaid sim cards for tourists you buy in Germany are in general NOT 5G ready. All of the mobile internet operators in Germany (Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile) do NOT allow prepaid users to use the 5G network, 4G/LTE is the max data speed on prepaid sim cards.

The only exception is the most expensive prepaid sim card plan from Vodafone Germany.

international prepaid sim card for germany

If your smartphone is not eSIM compatible you can order an international prepaid sim card for traveling to Germany. Some of them are great for using in Germany as well as in all other countries in Europe and you can easily order them online.

Traveltomtom also put together a list of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2024 .

A pre-activated physical sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip. You put this physical sim card in your phone and as soon as the plane touches the ground and the sim card connects to a supported network you are online. Plug and play!

Click here to order an international prepaid sim card for Germany directly online .

The advantage of an international prepaid sim card is they all included calling and texting. Most eSIM cards are data-only sim cards.

There are two different eSIM cards:

eSIM cards that you buy on the internet through a third party
eSIM cards that you buy in Germany in a mobile internet provider store

The big difference is that eSIM cards provided by the local internet operators in Germany: O2, Vodafone and T-Mobile can only be purchased at one of their phone stores around Germany.

However, as of August 2024 eSIM cards are NOT available for prepaid tourist sim cards. Traveltomtom personally shopped around to find out if eSIM cards were available for tourists. Every phone store I called in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, gave me a clear NO!

This also counts for buying a sim card on arrival at the airport in Germany. Read all about it in my detailed guide about buying a sim card at Frankfurt Airport and Berlin Airport .

eSIM cards vs. local prepaid sim cards

Getting an eSIM card is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Germany, no doubt! You arrange everything online within just a couple click. Right here, right now and you are all set for your trip to Germany. You arrive prepared and there is no need to visit a sim card shop. As soon as the plane lands, you are online.

But what is cheaper? An eSIM card or a local prepaid sim card for tourists? When we compare Germany eSIM card prices with local prepaid sim cards for Germany Traveltomtom comes to the simple conclusion that eSIM cards for Germany that you buy on the internet are cheaper than local prepaid sim cards for tourists that they sell in Germany in stores.

After a long flight you just want to go to your hotel and it is often a big task to go to a sim card store and get connected. On top of that there are much better deals online and as soon as the plane lands you are connected. Therefore Traveltomtom recommends to order one of the listed best eSIM cards for Germany.

Many reasons why a lot of travelers simply get an eSIM card for Germany. Faster, easier, less stress and even cheaper.

Another difference between a local prepaid sim card and an eSIM card is that eSIM cards are often through a third party, a so called MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). These MVNO's operate on the network of one of the main mobile internet operators and basically buy bandwidth.

This may sound a little bit too technical, but what it means is that eSIM cards through an MVNO are the last ones in line when the line is busy. Especially during peak times, the performance of an eSIM cards is less compared to a local prepaid sim card from a mobile internet operator.

Bottomline: the data speed of eSIM cards can be less compared to a local prepaid sim card.

I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best eSIM card for your trip to Germany were helpful. I hope that after reading through my comparison, tips and tricks it was easier to make a decision and order your eSIM card for Germany right away.

If you still have any questions about eSIM cards then please leave me a comment below or reach out to me on social media and I am more than happy to help you out.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world ? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Germany!

frankfurt airport

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COMMENTS

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Don't Rely on a Single Carrier: Get eSIM Card for Multi-Carrier Signal Coverage. As a Licensed Operator, Stay connected in over 150 countries with Bytesim eSIM
How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Germany in 2024
Airalo. Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Airalo offers the following e-sim card deals for Germany in 2024: 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD. 2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD. 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD. 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD.
Best SIM Card in Germany for Tourists
Instead, below you can see the best German SIM card deals that we think are the most interesting for tourists: 1. Vodafone Germany. CallYa Allnet Flat S: This deal comes with 3 GB data (at 4G/5G speed) + unlimited calling/SMS in Germany + 200 minutes or SMS from Germany to the EU. It is 4 weeks valid and costs 9.99€.
How to Use Your Cell Phone While Traveling in Germany In 2024
Quick Answer: Best E-SIM For 2024. Having continuous data access on your phone while traveling is a must these days. We recommend getting an Airalo e-SIM before leaving for Germany. That way you can enjoy your trip without having to waste time trying to set up a SIM card in Germany. Click here to check out Airalo e-SIM!
3 Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany For Expats
If you don't have a German bank account, these two are great options: Lidl Connect: A prepaid SIM card offer from the German supermarket chain Lidl. You can cancel anytime through their online form. Their current offer is 20 GB for 13,99 euros/4 weeks. Price includes flat rate SMS & calls, roaming for EU and UK.
Best SIM Cards for Expats in Germany 2024
They offer 6 tariffs for their Telekom prepaid SIM card in Germany: Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid S - 1 GB at €4.95 per 4 weeks. Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid M - 5 GB at €9.95 per 4 weeks. Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid L - 10 GB at €14.95 per 4 weeks. Telekom MagentaMobil Prepaid XL Special - 18 GB at €19.95 per 4 weeks.
Guide To Prepaid Mobile Data Plans and SIM Cards in Germany (2023)
Here are my top SIM cards if you're wanting a pre-purchase your SIM before arriving in Germany: Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card. The Orange Holiday Europe Prepaid SIM Card is probably the best all-around option for SIM cards that can be purchased abroad because it offers a lot of data for a good price—and it includes a lot of worldwide calls and text.
The Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany in 2024
2. Vodafone Germany. Vodafone Germany offers prepaid SIM card packages under the CallYa range, including several 5G ready data packages also valid for 4 weeks and featuring EU data roaming. Vodafone starts from €4.99 for 1 GB of data with 100 minutes or SMS, up to €20 for 20 GB of data with unlimited calling and SMS.
SIM Cards in Germany: The Best Prepaid Plans
You can expect to pay the following for German SIM cards: Telekom Germany (formerly T-Mobile Germany): 9.95 EUR (regular & data-only) O2 Germany: 10 EUR (regular) or 69.99 EUR (data-only) Vodafone Germany: 9.95 EUR. Note that SIM cards can be more expensive than those listed above when purchased at an airport.
Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany: A Comprehensive 2024 Guide
Related: Mobile Networks in Germany: The Top 3 in 2023. Cost Structures. Prepaid SIM cards in Germany generally follow a few different pricing models. Here's what to expect: Pay-As-You-Go. This is the most basic form of a prepaid SIM, where you pay for each call, text, and megabyte of data you use.
Germany SIM Cards: Everything You Need To Know
Aldi Talk SIM Cards. Aldi is also a major supermarket chain in Germany that offers SIM card plans: Combi S: 4 weeks, 3 GB data for EUR 7.99. Combi M: 4 weeks, 6 GB data for EUR 12.99. Combi L: 4 weeks, 12 GB data for EUR 17.99. Please note that the Aldi Talk website and customer support are only offered in German at this time.
SIM Cards in Germany
3 Major SIM Card Providers in Germany. Germany has three major mobile network providers: Telekom, Vodafone, and O2. Additionally, smaller mobile service providers operate by utilizing the infrastructure of the main networks instead of having their own. Each of these major providers offers its own prepaid SIM cards. 1.
Best Sim Card for Tourists in Germany
Price Range for Unlimited Data Plans in Germany: As of September 2023, the price range for unlimited data plans in Germany is between €29.99 and €84.95 per month. O2 offers the cheapest unlimited data plan starting at €29.99 per month. Telekom and O2 are the only providers that offer unlimited data plans in Germany.
11 Best SIM Cards in Germany: 2023 Guide
Germany's best sim cards 1. Prepaid from O2. Price: 9,99 EUR/month (3,5 GB) to 19,99/month (12,5 GB) Provider O2 is the second-largest mobile network in Germany. They have some of the best rates on mobile in the country. You can choose between a wide range of SIM card deals, but the Prepaid S has the best value - 9,99 EUR per month and 3,5 GB.
The Best SIM Cards in Germany for your Trip
Aldi Talk is the best deal you'll find for pre-paid SIM Cards in Germany. They offer many different plans, the cheapest being Paket S, which offers 3 GB data and unlimited telephoning and SMS at €7.99 for 4 weeks. A second option, Paket M, offers 6 GB data, unlimited calls and unlimited SMS for €12.99, valid for 4 weeks.
The 5 best international SIM cards for traveling in Europe
2: Bouygues my European SIM/eSIM². Another French network, Bouygues Telecom offers a choice of a SIM card or eSIM for a cost of €39.90 (around $44). It could potentially be better value than the Orange Holiday Europe SIM, as it has a longer validity period, wider country coverage and more data. Here's what you get:
Where to get a tourist (e)SIM card in Germany?
Get a travel SIM card before you arrive in Germany. Although you can easily pick up a SIM card upon arrival in Germany, you will likely need to do some substantial research to find the most cost-effective option. Unfortunately, the websites of the major telcos (Telekom, Vodafone, O2) are mostly in German, which could make your research much ...
Buying a Sim Card at Frankfurt Airport in 2024
There is very limited choice when it comes to buying a sim card for your trip to Germany at Frankfurt International Airport. Two shops, two sim card deals, that is it! All info below is updated as per August 2024 and prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.92 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.09 USD. As of August 2024 it is not possible to buy an eSIM for ...
Germany eSIM: 5 Best Data Plans for Tourists
3. 4G Germany eSIM with Unlimited Data by Frewie. The best Germany eSIM is from Frewie, an eSIM service provider that provides fast and unlimited data plans! Check out their offer on Klook below: Travel eSIM for Germany with unlimited data. PRICE: Book here starting at $6.6 (vs. regular price of $7)!
Where to Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Germany in 2024
Step 1: Choose Your eSIM Plan. Selecting the Right Plan: eSIM.net provides a variety of plans tailored to different needs. For your trip to Germany, consider whether a data-only plan is sufficient or if a more comprehensive package including voice and SMS would be better.
Prepaid International SIM Cards For Germany
The Germany Prepaid SIM Card is the most convenient and economical solution for staying in touch. Chat to your friends and family back home by easily connecting to the local German networks T-Mobile, Vodafone or O2. Your SIM can also be used in over 205 countries across 340 networks. Make a call as if you were back home, saving you up to 85% on ...
How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Germany in 2024
Airalo. Airalo is a reliable e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards from pretty much every country in the world. Airalo offers the following e-sim card deals for Germany in 2024: 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD. 2 GB data for 15 days = $6.5 USD. 3 GB data for 30 days = $10 USD. 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD.
Buy a SIM or eSIM
Promotion -10%. Buy. The promotion ends in less than an hour! Offer details. 100GB in Germany in 5G. Unlimited calls from Germany to Germany. 120 minutes from Germany to the World. 1000 ...
A $30 overseas SIM card is the best travel investment I ever made
Most modern phones offer the option to use either a dedicated SIM card (physical) or an eSIM (digital). For the last several years, buying a new phone has generally meant swapping out your SIM ...
Best eSIM for Traveling to Germany in 2024
Here are the SimOptions data-only eSIM card plans for Germany for 2024: 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD. 3 GB data for 15 days = $9.90 USD. 30 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD. 50 GB data for 60 days = $59.90 USD. These data-only eSIM cards are provided by SimOptions and are only valid in Germany.

Best SIM Card in Germany for Tourists

In our ultimate guide to buying the best prepaid SIM card in Germany for tourists , you'll get all the information you need.

Do I really need a German SIM Card for Berlin?

Book your SIM Card for Germany online before your Trip

How does Holafly work?

The easy eSIM for Germany by Holafly ( recommended ):

2. Rent a Pocket Wifi in Berlin

Where to buy your German SIM Card in Berlin?

2. At the Airport

Things you need to buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany

Mobile Operators in Germany

Costs for buying a Prepaid SIM Card in Germany for Tourists

1. Vodafone Germany

2. Deutsche Telekom

3. O2 Germany

Bottom Line

FAQ about SIM Card in Germany

Related Articles:

How to Use Your Cell Phone While Traveling in Germany In 2024

Quick Answer: Best E-SIM For 2024

Do I Need A Pre-Paid SIM Card or E-SIM For My Trip To Germany?

Let’s Look At 3 Ways You Can Use Your Phone While in Germany:

2. International plan through your cell phone company.

3. Pre-paid SIM Card or E-SIM.

Why Buy A SIM Card For Germany?

How To Buy A Pre-Paid SIM Card For Germany Before Your Trip

What To Look For In A SIM Card Plan

1. Coverage

2. Prepaid Plans

4. EU Roaming

5. Mobile Reloading

Best Pre-paid SIM Cards To Buy For Germany

2. Vodafone Germany

4. Lidl Connect (on Vodafone)

5. Aldi Talk (on O2)

Where To Buy A SIM Card After Arriving In Germany

After buying your SIM card, you’ll need to activate it. You need these two things:

There are also different ways to activate your SIM card:

2. Video Verification

3. PostIdent (in post offices)

Can I Use A German SIM Card Outside Of Germany?

Can I Use A SIM Card From Elsewhere in Europe In Germany?

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3 Best Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany For Expats

How did we choose the best prepaid SIM cards in this review?

What are the best prepaid SIM cards in Germany?

1. SIMon mobile [Best Value for Price]

Our Simple Germany Rating for SIMon mobile

My Experience with SIMon mobile

2. Lidl Connect

Our Simple Germany Rating for Lidl Connect

My Experience with Lidl Connect

3. Aldi Talk

Our Simple Germany Rating for Aldi Talk

How to get a prepaid SIM card in Germany?

1. Buying a prepaid SIM card online

2. Buying a prepaid SIM card in a local store

How to activate your prepaid SIM card in Germany?

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