New in Germany? Stay in touch with your neu friends und colleagues in Germany through our guide zu getting a German mobile phone and SIM card.

Du schaust: Vodafone prepaid neue sim karte

If you’re a recent arrival bei Germany, you’ll want kommen sie stay linked with friends und family wherever they are in the world. Thankfully, die country has a high-quality mobile phone call network with very great 4G coverage and bei ever-growing number von mobile operators. These operator offer wonderful SIM und mobile options for expats und visitors alike.

With end 83 million residents, competition an the German mobile call market ist fierce. This has actually pushed regional operators zu create a range of affordable options. Yet with deswegen much choice on offer, it tun können be confusing zum expats merely looking zum a German simkarte card or cell phone phone. To help, this overview includes die following information:

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The mobile network in Germany

As you would expect from die largest economy in Europe, Germany zu sein home to a high-quality mobile network that lets expats und visitors affix easily. Like other European countries, Germany uses the GSM network, instead von the CDMA network. However, most new arrivals shouldn’t find getting connected to the local network auch problematic. Even if you’re native a nation that uses the CDMA network, your smartphone will probably blieb work in Germany.

Germany has a relatively well-developed 4G network, with most des the country enjoying 4G or 4G+ connectivity. However, coverage kann sein vary fairly significantly between regions and German mobile operators. This ist particularly true bei largely countryside areas bei the ost of the country, which still have restricted 4G coverage. You should blieb be able kommen sie access 3G an these areas, return this can be temperamental. Bigger cities, including Frankfurt und those in the Rhineland, schutz local 5G networks.

Wi-Fi connectivity in Germany

Generally speaking, complimentary public Wi-Fi ist not widely accessible across Germany. Totally free Wi-Fi zu sein sometimes available in libraries und museums, and also airports und stations, return this tun können be limited. If sie want kommen sie set hoch Wi-Fi weist home, check out our guide zu setting nach oben your home phone, internet, and TV an Germany.

Can ich use mine mobile phone bei Germany?

New arrivals in Germany should uncover it simple enough kommen sie connect their mobile phone call (handy) to die local cell phone network offering they’re coming from a country that uses the GSM network. The said, also those showing up from nations using ns CDMA network – consisting of Japan, Canada, und parts des the united state – should so be able to connect v a contemporary smartphone. However, sie should always check connectivity und costs with your home operator before traveling zu avoid any type of unexpected disappointments.


If freundin can’t get your phone kommen sie connect to die local network, you might want zu consider purchase a cheap cell phone phone wie you arrive in Germany. These cost around €30 und are relatively basic, offering only call und SMS messages. However, you won’t be able to buy a German sim karte card without providing valid ID und proof des address in Germany. If this isn’t possible, freundin might want zu buy a sim card indigenous another eu country and take advantage des free eu roaming when in Germany. Alternatively, you kann sein pick trost a world phone prior to traveling kommen sie Germany.

If you’re relocating zu Germany – or, at the very least, plan a longer stay – you’ll more than likely want zu consider purchase a German sim card or signing up zum a German mobile contract. Obtaining a sim karte card wollen be ns cheapest option, although remember you’ll need to zeigen proof of address bei Germany. You’ll also need zu have an unlocked phone. Thankfully, there room plenty von German cell phone operators kommen sie choose from. Some, consisting of Telekom und Vodafone, market discounts if you deshalb sign up zum their residence phone, internet, und TV packages.

German mobile operators

The mobile call sector in Germany ist increasingly competitive, v a whole host of German cell phone companies vying zum your business. Zum new come to ns country, this method one thing: choice, und lots von it. Because of this, it pays to shop around and see what’s out there. It’s so a good idea kommen sie think around any other connections you might need, like residence internet und TV. This ist because numerous providers market discounts if freundin take out both mobile and home internet deals at die same time.

Mobile operators in Germany include:


In terms von subscribers, ns three greatest mobile operators in Germany have almost equal sector share. Telekom, Vodafone, und O2 each gain over 30% des the market. These 3 networks are often the best bei terms of coverage. Also, bear an mind the all three offer house internet and TV service that can be packaged in addition to a mobile phone contract.

Beyond ns three biggest operators, there are a cultivation number von German MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators). These companies use one des the three main networks instead des having your own. Typically speaking, MVNOs regularly don’t oase as an excellent a level of coverage in more rural locations as die bigger providers. However, in cities und urban areas, castle often schutz good coverage zum cheaper prices. Some so offer home internet und TV.

If her phone ist unlocked und compatible with die German mobile network, you tun können choose die mobile operator of your choice. However, if her previous operator has a presence an Germany, you might prefer to stay with die same provider.

Comparing German cell phone operators

With dafür many alternatives on offer when choosing a mobile operator in Germany, you might get confused as kommen sie which zu sein the best zum you. Thankfully, you kann sein use a compare website to help freundin decide. These give you in overview von what’s ~ above offer, too as ns occasional special deal. Compare websites in Germany include:


Prepaid mit mobile contracts

As in many countries, wie it comes to choosing her mobile phone call connection in Germany you schutz two options: a prepaid simkarte card or a mobile call contract. Prepaid SIMs are generally ns quickest and easiest way kommen sie get yourself a functioning phone number without die commitment von a contract. They’re deshalb a great möglichkeit if you nur need a quick and simple way kommen sie make calls, send text messages, und use mobile data.

The alternative zu signing up for a German simkarte card is taking the end a mobile phone contract. This wollen typically average you end up paying less zum calls, texts, and data, especially if you use her phone a lot. This kann sein be a great möglichkeit if you’re planning on staying bei Germany zum a while together contracts tend kommen sie be 12 or, much more commonly, 24 months. Contracts can also be a good choice if you’re thinking about getting die latest smartphone.

Mobile contracts in Germany

Generally speaking, German phone contracts market cheaper rates than prepaid sim cards. Contracts often incorporate a specific amount of call minutes und text messages and a mobile dünn allowance. The cost of your cell phone plan will depend on the tariff you choose, deshalb make sure sie choose die right phone contract zum your usage. Be aware that you kann sein often acquire discounts on your mobile phone plan if freundin package it along with your house phone, internet, und TV connections. These packages are available from a number of providers.


German mobile phone contracts room either SIM-only or encompass a handset. Typically, mobile contracts an Germany space 24 months bei length. Because des this, do sure freundin read the klein print about breaking die contract early before signing up if you’re not going kommen sie be bei the country zum that long. You wollen likely also have kommen sie pay a small, one-off activation fee hinweisen the anfang of your contract. Fees are frequently paid monthly von direct debit, deswegen you’ll need zu provide German bank account einzelheiten when sie sign up.

How zu get a mobile call contract in Germany

Getting yourself signed up to a German cell phone plan zu sein fairly straightforward. You kann either execute it online or über visiting your regional telecoms outlet. Many German towns and cities will schutz stores des the taste operators, although many MNVO operators will only be obtainable online. If freundin visit a store, however, just bear bei mind that the shop assistants may not speak English. Therefore, it can be a an excellent time to anfang practicing her Deutsch.

To authorize up, you’ll need zu provide die following:

proof von identity (passport)proof des address bei Germany (registration certificate, or Meldebescheinigung)German bank account zum payment

If you buy online, you’ll blieb need kommen sie go through bei activation process where freundin provide her registration documents. Each provider will oase its own activation process, which kann sein be done durch webcam or even hinweisen your local post office. If freundin don’t schutz a German bank account, you’ll it is in able kommen sie apply for one in minutes if sie choose zu sign hoch with a German mobile bank like N26. For more information, check out our guide kommen sie mobile banking an Germany.

German sim karte cards

Prepaid simkarte cards an Germany provide more freedom than lengthy mobile phone call contracts but are typically an ext expensive wie man calling, messaging, or making use of mobile data. This provides them a good möglichkeit if you don’t use your phone call much, or you’re just staying bei Germany zum a short time. However, because 2017, German legislation has forced anyone buying a prepaid sim karte card zu provide a precious ID und proof von address in Germany (via her registration certificate/Meldebescheinigung).

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All German cell phone operators market prepaid sim cards dafür shop around and find die right sim package weil das you and your needs. Sim cards are easily accessible from a number of resellers, consisting of telecom shops und supermarkets. You can so order online, although freundin will still need to provide valid ID and proof of address. Cell phone credit can then be included online, with your operator’s app, or über buying top-up cards native retailers. This are commonly available at €5, €10, €20 amounts.


Alternatively, in increasing number of operators are offering prepaid tariffs. This offers you die option of choosing a certain allowance des minutes, texts, and mobile data for 4 weeks. This are generally slightly more expensive than phone contract but, unequal mobile plans, there’s no contract and you kann sein cancel monthly. This makes these prepaid tariffs a great option zum those unsure of how lang they möchte stay bei Germany.

German mobile call numbers

Compared to other europe countries, getting kommen sie grips with ns phone numbering system an Germany can be confusing. Typically, call numbers space either 11 or 12 number (including the zuerst ‘0’), however, this kann vary substantially if die number is old. So, don’t be placed off über a phone number sie think is too long or short. Frustratingly for expats, these discrepancies mean there zu sein no universally agreed-upon way kommen sie write down German call numbers. In short, be prepared to seen plenty von variations.

Generally speaking, landline numbers in Germany are 12 digits long, including that all-important zuerst ‘0’. Number are distributed geographically. For example, this means that all landlines bei the South-West des the country anfang with 07. Phone call numbers in the ost of ns country anfang with 03. Landline call numbers in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, und Munich wollen usually be only 11 digits. However, be mindful that you may also come across older phone numbers through a last fewer digits.

Mobile phone call numbers in Germany are either 11 or 12 digits long (including the zuerst ‘0’). Numbers anfang with 015, 016, or 017 depending on your mobile operator. If you’re an altering mobile phone providers in Germany, sie might be able kommen sie keep the same number. Speak zu your new operator and see if they allow you kommen sie simply relocate your number across kommen sie their network.

When calling a German phone number native outside des Germany, you’ll need zu add the country’s international dialing code. This ist 0049 or +49. You then omit the anfangsverdacht 0 from the phone number.

Repairing a cell phone phone bei Germany

Has her mobile phone call dropped out of your pocket while to ride bicycle around ost Berlin? Or perhaps it’s been scratched throughout a hike through the spectacular schwarze farbe Forest? Whatever the reason, if you’re looking zum mobile call repairs in Germany there room plenty of options. Part operators wollen be able kommen sie provide in-store repair service at your outlets. Specific manufacturers, such together Apple, deshalb offer these in-store services. However, you’ll also find phone repair shops in most towns. Look at online zum your nearest phone shop that kann sein provide repairs.

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Making a complaint around a German mobile operator

Every German mobile operator will schutz its own complaints process should you have any troubles or feel that the dienstleistungen has notfall been what freundin expected. You’ll be able kommen sie find this info easily on their website. However, should sie want to complain about die operator itself, you kann sein do so von contacting Germany’sFederal Network Agency(Bundesnetzagentur). This zu sein the country’s telecoms regulator. Through ns agency, you will do it be able kommen sie submit her complaint together with any relevant supporting documents.