Get connected in Germany. Compare eSIMs you can activate before landing with local prepaid and contract options.
Activate instantly before arrival. No German bank account required. Perfect for having data from day one.
Destination eSIM plans for international travel
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Lowest per-GB on longer plans
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Worldwide eSIM plans with instant activation and in-app management
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Unlimited data, works around the China firewall
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Get a real German phone number. No Schufa required, no long contracts.
Germany's largest network, strong reliability
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Telekom network at a lower price
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Major carrier prepaid flexibility
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Lowest cost options once settled in Germany. Buy SIM cards at any supermarket or discounter.
Cheapest prepaid via Aldi supermarkets
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Budget prepaid from Lidl
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An option if you would rather not buy a device outright before your income is settled.
Flexible rentals for laptops, phones, tablets and home-office equipment
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Connectivity is one of the few things you can genuinely solve before you land, and doing so removes a surprising amount of early friction. An eSIM activated before departure means you have working data the moment you clear the airport, which matters when you need maps, translation and the ability to contact a landlord on your first day.
Many travel eSIM plans listed here provide data without a local phone number. Other eSIM products can include calls and SMS. Check the exact plan. For a longer stay, a German prepaid SIM or eSIM with a local number may be useful; compare identity, address and contract requirements.
Mobile contracts vary in minimum term, data allowance, speed and credit checks. Shorter-term options exist. After a tacit extension beyond the initial term, German telecom contracts can generally be cancelled with one month’s notice. Check the contract summary and use an eligible SEPA account for direct debit.
Prepaid avoids all of this. There is no credit check, no commitment, and you can move to a contract after six to twelve months once you have a Schufa history and know whether you are staying. The price difference over a first year is small compared with the cost of being locked into the wrong plan.
Germany has four mobile network operators: Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica/O2 and 1&1. Reseller plans may use these networks or roaming arrangements. Check coverage at your home, campus and regular travel routes, plus the plan’s speed and data limits.
This is why a budget brand running on the Telekom network can be a better choice than a premium-priced plan on a weaker one. Check which network a provider uses rather than comparing on price alone.
One practical note: German law requires identity verification for every SIM. For supermarket brands that usually means an in-store or video check, so a SIM bought online cannot simply be inserted and used.
Compare German mobile contracts by total cost, coverage and minimum term: