01Basics
Without an active German number you can't register at a bank, register at the town hall, look for a flat, or even receive a parcel.
- Banks verify your identity via SMS, only to a German number.
- Flat applications get rejected without a reachable German number.
- The Ausländerbehörde phones you for certain appointments.
- In some cities, Anmeldung requires a local phone number.
TipKeep your home-country number active via virtual numbers (WhatsApp/Google Voice) for at least two months after arrival.
02Comparison
A decision that sets your flexibility and costs for two years. Choose based on your stability, not on the headline price.
- Prepaid: pay upfront, no contract, no Schufa, activated instantly.
- Vertrag: 24-month contract, lower rates, requires Schufa + a bank account.
- As a new student: start on Prepaid, then port your number to a Vertrag later.
- Vertrag with an iPhone/new phone: usually pricier than buying the phone separately.
03Networks
Three physical networks, and dozens of brands running on them. The actual network matters more than the name.
- Deutsche Telekom (D1): best coverage, especially in rural areas.
- Vodafone (D2): fastest in big cities, decent in villages.
- O2 (Telefónica): cheapest, good coverage in cities, weak in the countryside.
- Any small carrier (Aldi Talk, Lidl Connect, Congstar…) runs on one of these networks.
TipBefore picking a carrier, check coverage at your address on breitbandmessung.de or netzabdeckung.o2online.de.
04Telekom
If you live in a village or travel often by train, Telekom is the safe bet. High price, but worth it.
- MagentaMobil Start: €30/month, 20 GB, unlimited calls.
- Family plans (MagentaEins) excellent if you also have home internet with them.
- The only network stable on fast trains (ICE).
- 5G available in most large cities.
05Vodafone
A large carrier with a strong network and competitive plans. Ideal if you live in a large or medium-sized city.
- GigaMobil S: ~€25/month, 15 GB.
- Unlimited plans available at reasonable prices.
- 5G well rolled out in Hamburg, München, Köln, Berlin.
- Good "Unterwegs" coverage on the motorway.
06O2
If you live in a big city and use a lot of data, O2 is the best value. Avoid it in the countryside.
- o2 Mobile M: ~€20/month, 20 GB.
- Genuine Free Unlimited plans (€30–40).
- Weak coverage in villages and on some regional trains.
- Average customer service — usually German only.
07Aldi Talk
Used by hundreds of thousands. Low price, easy activation, runs on O2 in practice.
- Paket S: €7.99/2 weeks, 5 GB + unlimited calls.
- Paket M: €12.99/4 weeks, 12 GB + unlimited calls.
- Activation via PostIdent or VideoIdent in a few minutes.
- Available in every Aldi Süd and Aldi Nord store.
TipYour phone needs NFC for online activation. If it doesn't have it, walk into an Aldi store with your passport.
08Lidl
Runs on the Vodafone network, so better rural coverage than Aldi Talk.
- Smart S: €7.99/4 weeks, 5 GB.
- Smart L: €17.99/4 weeks, 25 GB.
- Sold in Lidl stores and online.
- Activation via VideoIdent or in-store.
09Congstar
Telekom's budget brand. You get the same excellent network for 30–40% less.
- Allnet Flat M: €17/month, 10 GB.
- 24-month or monthly contract (slightly pricier).
- Call quality identical to Telekom.
- Good German-language customer service.
10Blau
Vodafone's budget brand. Ideal for anyone who wants a strong network without paying Vodafone's list price.
- Blau Allnet L: €15/4 weeks, 15 GB.
- Monthly option available without a contract.
- Free roaming across the whole European Union.
- Fast activation via the app.
11Verification
You can't buy a SIM without proving your identity. Germany has taken this seriously since 2017.
- VideoIdent: 5-minute video call, passport + good lighting, available with most carriers.
- PostIdent: visit a post office with a printed form — free for the carrier.
- In-store: bring your passport, activation is done in 10 minutes.
- A foreign number isn't accepted for verification — you need an email.
12Porting
You can keep your number when switching carriers. The process is almost free.
- Give the new carrier: your old number + Kundennummer + Kündigungstermin.
- The new carrier handles almost everything.
- Port time: 1–7 days.
- Since 2020, the legal fee is capped at €6.82.
TipPort your number 3 months before the contract ends to avoid any break or loss of the number.
13eSIM
eSIM is available in Germany from most carriers. Ideal for recent phones and for travel.
- Telekom, Vodafone, O2, Congstar, 1&1 all support eSIM.
- Aldi Talk started supporting it in 2024.
- iPhone XS+ and Samsung Galaxy S20+ support eSIM.
- You can activate two lines at once (physical SIM + eSIM).
14Roaming
Since 2017, roaming within the EU is free on any German SIM. But there are limits.
- Fair Use: if you spend too long outside Germany, the carrier can throttle your usage.
- Daily use in France/Spain/Italy works just like in Germany, at no extra cost.
- Outside the EU = paid roaming (€10–20 per MB).
- Travelling outside the EU: buy a temporary travel eSIM (Holafly, Airalo).
15Home internet
Three technologies, a wide range of prices, and contracts that lock you in for 24 months. Take your time before signing.
- DSL: the most widespread, speeds 50–250 Mbit.
- Kabel: Vodafone + Pyur, speeds 100–1000 Mbit.
- Glasfaser: fibre, the fastest (1 GB+), but not available in every neighbourhood.
- Check your address on verfügbarkeit-check.de before signing.
- Activation time: 2–8 weeks — don't delay the order.
16LTE
If you're waiting for DSL hookup, an LTE router with a SIM gets you online right away. Handy for student housing.
- Mobile router (MiFi) + 50 GB/month SIM: ~€30/month.
- Congstar Homespot and Telekom SpeedStick are well-known options.
- Suitable for short stays (one-month Airbnb, long hotel stay).
- Not a long-term fix — more expensive than DSL over time.
17Cancellation
Every contract in Germany waits for a written Kündigung. Without an official letter, it renews automatically.
- Legal notice period: 3 months before the contract ends (maximum).
- Send the Kündigung in writing via Einschreiben (registered mail) or through the carrier's website.
- Ask for written confirmation (Kündigungsbestätigung).
- Since 2022, companies must provide a direct cancel button on their website.
TipThe site kuendigung.org generates a legal, official letter and sends it on your behalf — very reliable.
18Discounts
Many carriers offer discounts to student card holders or to anyone under 28.
- Telekom MagentaMobil Young: 30% off until age 28.
- Vodafone Young: 10 GB for €15 instead of €25.
- O2 My Young: similar terms.
- Apply for the discount via the carrier's website and upload your Studierendenausweis.
- The discount lasts until the day you turn 28.
19No address
What to do if you arrive in Germany without a fixed address yet. Limited options, but they exist.
- Lycamobile and Lebara Prepaid: accept registration with a hotel or Airbnb address.
- Aldi Talk: may accept a temporary address, to be updated later.
- Vodafone CallYa: buy in-store with just your passport.
- Once Anmeldung is done, update your address in the app.
20Warnings
Telecom shops in train stations and some websites sell contracts with hidden terms. A real risk.
- Never sign a document in German that you don't understand 100%.
- Avoid phone shops in big train stations — inflated prices.
- Beware calls from "the carrier" asking for personal data — fraud is widespread.
- Have a German friend read the contract before you sign.
- Keep the contract and any receipts for at least 3 years.
TipBest approach: open the contract online on the carrier's official site. No middleman, no trouble down the line.