Best Mobile Providers in Germany
So you’ve just moved to Germany and you’ve got this big pressing question: What are the best mobile providers in Germany?
It can be hard to know which phone company is the best, what will suit your needs and what will give you the best coverage.
So we’ve compiled a list of the best mobile providers in Germany to help you on your way.
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Best German mobile providers: Top 4 choices
There are a lot of networks (die Netzwerke) in Germany. Many of the smaller ones are subsidiaries of the bigger companies. The main thing to know is that there are four main mobile network providers in Germany:
1. Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile)
Price starts: at €39.95
Contract Duration: 2 years
Possibly the most expensive of all the networks, it has been rated Germany’s best provider of network coverage for several years. If you’re going to be living in a remote part of Germany or traveling a lot around the country, then Deutsche Telekom is worth paying that little bit extra for.
Other perks include very fast mobile internet with LTE speed. Deutsche Telekom offers LTE with 100Mb/s, in comparison with many other companies that offer only 50Mb/s. They also have good offers (Mobilfunk Angebot) for people under 25 years old. And lots of different plans to choose from, where you only pay for what you need.
If you don’t want a contract but just a prepaid sim, one of the subsidiaries of Deutsche Telekom is Congstar. It has lots of different plans for great prices that suit your needs. You can buy it online or in T-store, Kaufland, Real and Netto. There’s also Edeka Smart, which can be bought online or at an Edeka supermarket!
2. 1&1
Price starts: at €9.99
Contract Duration: 2 years
Not only has 1&1 been voted the best mobile provider in Germany for several years now, but it is known for its excellent customer service and its ability to offer different network options (die Netzwahl).
It uses the same network as Deutsche Telekom, which is called D-Netz. While this is slightly more expensive than E-Netz, it provides you with that great coverage in more rural areas.
However, you can choose the E-Netz network as well. With plans starting from as little as €9.99 a month, you get a great deal and good network quality in the city. There’s also a third option – LTE Max, which provides 225Mb/s, so it’s faster than the other three. And this option currently has four different plans to choose from. You can also sign up for a prepaid plan that you can cancel on a monthly basis.
3. Vodafone
Price starts: at €29,99
Contract duration: 2 years
This international network is often the most expensive to buy in the long run. With good offers upfront, you need to read the fine print and see how much you’re charged outside of your allotted minutes.
However, if you travel a lot in Europe, Vodafone is a good network to use as it has a presence in many European countries. Also, you can benefit from an even better deal if you buy your home internet through Vodafone as well.
Vodafone also has several subsidiaries offering prepaid plans, one of which is O.TEL.O, which can be bought at Media Markt and Saturn. This plan also offers good deals for those under 28 years old.
4. O2 (Telefónica)
Price starts: at €19.99
Contract duration: flexible
There are many benefits to having your plan with O2. Firstly, they provide flexible contracts between 1 to 24 months, so no signing up to a contract that you can’t get out of.
They have cheap packages to start with and fast mobile internet speed with LTE. However, they are known to only have good reception in large cities. And the better deals such as faster speed etc are more expensive.
But as one of the largest providers now in Germany, there is a strong possibility that a lot of your friends are signed up to them. This means you will most likely have free calls and texts on their phones.
Like a lot of the other networks, O2 also has a cheaper, contract-free subsidiary company called Tchibo. Where you can choose from different tariffs that meet your particular needs, such as low cost or lots of data.
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How to choose your mobile provider (Mobilfunkanbieter) in Germany
There are a few things you need to think about first.
1. Price
Do you prefer a cheap mobile phone provider or would you prefer a better internet connection? Depending on your plan, your needs and your budget, you need to consider all of this.
2. Contracts
Do you want a prepaid plan (Prepaid tarif ohne Vertrag) or a mobile contract (Mobil Vertrag)?
If you don’t intend to stay longer than a few months in Germany, a prepaid plan is perfect. While it usually offers a German number but limited phone calls (telefonieren), texts and data (Mobil surfen), there is no contract so you can leave the number behind you when you leave Germany. And German contracts can be notoriously difficult to get out of (Vertrag kündigen), so this will save you a lot of hassle.
If you plan to be here for a year or longer then a contract is the way to go. But bear in mind, companies will want to sign you up for 12 or 24 months (die Vertragslaufzeit – the contract term). The longer you sign up, the better the benefits but be sure to cancel before the end of your 24 months as they may automatically sign you up for another 12 months after that.
You could just sign up for a Sim-only plan. This is also a contract but apparently a bit easier to get out of if you need to cancel it early.
3. Unlocking your phone
German sims are sold separately from the phones. So if you’re not buying a new phone, just a SIM-only, be sure to have your current phone unlocked before you come here so that you can use the German sim.
4. Requirements
You need to bring some form of identification and proof of address with you when signing up for a mobile contract. Normally German identity cards (der Personalausweis) have their address on them but for the rest of us, we need to bring our Anmeldung (house registration certificate).
If you don’t have one, you can try a PO Box or a friend’s address. It may prove trickier to do this if you’re signing up for a bill contract. For any contract you do sign, you will be subject to a credit check.
Pick the best mobile network in Germany
This all may seem a little daunting, but it is possible to get a German number and find a mobile provider without having to donate your right kidney.
However, if you’ve just arrived, give yourself some time to settle before diving into this. If you’re here and you’re ready, then let’s have a look at the best mobile providers.
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Ciara Gillan
Ciara Gillan is an Irish writer living in Berlin. An avid storyteller with a Masters in Creative Writing and love for crime fiction podcasts, she currently works as a copywriter for Lingoda. In her spare time, she writes audio fiction scripts, is brushing up on her high school German and is currently learning Spanish. You can find her on LinkedIn and on her side hustle website, Reckless Fascination.
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