Best SIM Cards and Mobile Plans for Expats in Germany
Getting a German SIM card should be one of the first things you do after landing. You need it for two-factor authentication, contacting landlords, booking appointments, and basically functioning as a human in modern Germany. The good news: it's cheap, and you have solid options at every price point.
Germany's Mobile Networks
There are three networks in Germany, and coverage quality varies significantly:
- Telekom (D1) - best coverage overall, especially in rural areas. The premium choice
- Vodafone (D2) - solid coverage in cities, slightly weaker in rural areas
- O2/Telefonica - cheapest, decent in cities, weakest rural coverage. Has improved a lot recently
All budget carriers (ALDI Talk, Lidl Connect, fraenk, etc.) run on one of these three networks. Knowing which network your carrier uses tells you what coverage to expect.
Quick-Start: Prepaid Options
If you just arrived and need a number today, grab a prepaid SIM from any supermarket or electronics store:
ALDI Talk
Available at every ALDI store for about 13 EUR (includes 10 EUR credit). Uses the O2 network. Their Kombi-Paket S gives you 3 GB + 300 minutes for 7.99 EUR every 4 weeks. Dead simple, no contract.
Lidl Connect
Similar to ALDI Talk but on Vodafone's network, which means better rural coverage. Starter kit is about 10 EUR. Plans start at 7.99 EUR for 4 GB.
Important: German law requires identity verification for all SIM cards. You'll need to show your passport when buying. Some stores do it in person, others use video verification through the carrier's app.
Our Top Pick: fraenk
fraenk is a no-contract mobile plan that runs on Telekom's network, the best in Germany. For 10 EUR per month, you get 5 GB of data, unlimited calls and texts, and eSIM support. No minimum contract, cancel anytime. The only downside is the app is in German, but once set up you rarely need to open it.
For heavier data users, fraenk offers 12 GB for 15 EUR and 20 GB for 20 EUR. All on Telekom's network. Hard to beat.
Best Postpaid Plans
If you want a proper contract (usually 24 months but with better deals):
Telekom MagentaMobil
The premium option. Plans start at around 40 EUR per month for unlimited data. Excellent coverage and customer support. Worth it if coverage reliability is critical for your work.
Freenet FUNK
A unique option: pay per day. 99 cents per day for unlimited data (O2 network), cancel anytime. Works out to about 30 EUR per month. Great if you want unlimited data without a long-term commitment.
Pro Tip: If you're keeping your foreign SIM card, get a dual-SIM phone. Use your German SIM for local calls and data, and keep the foreign one for calls home. Most modern smartphones support eSIM + physical SIM.
What About Home Internet?
For home internet, the main options are:
- Deutsche Telekom - most reliable, 50 Mbit/s from about 40 EUR/month
- Vodafone - good value, often faster speeds available via cable
- O2 - cheapest, with decent performance in most areas
- 1&1 - competitive pricing, uses Telekom's or Vodafone's infrastructure
Check what's available at your address on check24.de or verivox.de. Speeds vary dramatically by location. Some buildings only have DSL (slower), while others have fiber (fast) or cable (fast but shared).
Tips for Saving Money
Compare plans on check24.de before signing anything. Avoid buying a phone on contract since German carrier phone deals are terrible compared to buying unlocked. And if you're on a 24-month contract, remember that German law requires providers to let you switch to a monthly plan after the minimum term expires. Don't let them auto-renew you into another 24 months.
