Listicle · 6 picks
Which Austrian SIM is best for residents in 2026?
Updated May 14, 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · Six Austrian contract and prepaid options ranked for residents with Meldezettel, Austrian IBAN, and an appetite for bundled household value.
Updated May 2026. Austrian residents with a Meldezettel and Austrian IBAN unlock the best 24-month Vertrag rates. A1 wins overall on coverage at 8.4/10 Opensignal and bundles A1 Xplore TV. Magenta leads city 5G at 187.51 Mbps with Magenta One mobile+fibre+TV. Drei wins lowest latency at 24.86 ms plus fixed wireless home internet. Discount MVNOs HoT (Magenta), bob (A1) and yesss! (A1) cap monthly spend under EUR 13 for residents who refuse a 24-month lock-in.
Which Austrian SIM is best for residents in 2026?
Best overall · Bundle leader · Latency + home internet · Cheap prepaid · A1 at MVNO price · Family backup
Six providers cover the resident market. A1 is the default contract for anyone outside Vienna and Graz on the strength of its rural and Alpine coverage. Magenta takes Vienna on 5G speed and Magenta One mobile+fibre+TV bundling. Drei wins lowest latency and is the only network selling fixed wireless home internet as a contract perk. HoT, bob and yesss! are the cheap MVNOs residents pick when they want Big-Three coverage without the 24-month Vertrag.
A1 owns the most extensive rural and Alpine 4G/5G footprint in Austria, scoring 8.4/10 on Opensignal for coverage experience. The Mobil M tariff bundles 30 GB, unlimited minutes and SMS, 5G, EU roaming, and A1 Xplore TV at a discount when paired with A1 Net & Phone fibre. KSV1870 credit check applies. 24-month minimum term, then rolls monthly until you cancel in writing.
Magenta dominates Vienna on raw 5G download speed — Opensignal records an Austria-wide 187.51 Mbps mean download — and combines mobile with cable internet and Magenta TV under Magenta One. Households on Magenta cable broadband typically save EUR 10–15/month on each additional mobile line. Best for Viennese apartments already on UPC/Magenta cable.
Drei sells the most generous data buckets of the Big Three and is the only network bundling mobile with a 5G fixed-wireless router (Drei Net Cube) for apartments without fibre. RTR confirms Drei records the lowest mobile latency in Austria at 24.86 ms — meaningful for Zoom, Webex and gaming. Customer service in English. Drei+ rewards stack on every line.
Sold off the shelf at Hofer (Aldi Süd) and on the Magenta network, HoT remains the cheapest prepaid option residents reach for when a contract feels excessive. The Flex tariff ships EUR 9.90/4 weeks for unlimited minutes/SMS and 35 GB, no minimum term, no credit check. You still need a passport or Austrian Personalausweis to register the SIM under RTR rules.
bob is A1's own discount brand — same towers, same coverage map, fewer perks. The bobbel L tariff currently lists at EUR 12.99/month for 40 GB with unlimited minutes/SMS and EU roaming inside the fair-use cap. No TV bundle, no household discounts — bob exists to undercut A1 on price while keeping rural reception intact. Sign-up via SEPA direct debit from an Austrian IBAN.
yesss! is the second A1-network discount brand — sold at Billa and Hofer as a Wertkarte that converts to monthly. EUR 9.95/month for 25 GB, unlimited Austrian minutes and SMS, EU roaming, no annual price hike. Pick yesss! as the second or third line in a household where coverage matters but the user does not need TV bundling.
What contract perks come with Austrian SIM plans?
TV bundles · Fibre discounts · Family-line stacking · Device subsidies
Austrian Vertrag plans bundle perks the MVNOs and prepaid Wertkarten do not match. A1 Xplore TV ships 80+ live channels and a cloud DVR. Magenta One stacks mobile, fibre and Magenta TV under a single bill with a household discount. Drei+ Family reduces each additional line by up to 50%. Device subsidy on a 24-month contract typically saves EUR 200–400 against retail handset price.
| Network | Bundle programme | What it gives you | Requires | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | A1 Xplore TV + Net & Phone | 80+ live channels, fibre, mobile under one bill | A1 fixed broadband | EUR 10/mo |
| Magenta | Magenta One | Mobile + cable broadband + Magenta TV | Magenta cable or fibre | EUR 10–15/mo |
| Drei | Drei+ Family + Net Cube | Multi-line discount, 5G home router | 2+ Drei mobile lines | EUR 8–12/mo |
| HoT | Hofer SIM promo | Periodic in-store data top-ups | Hofer purchase | EUR 2–5/mo |
| bob | None | Flat discount vs A1 retail | SEPA direct debit | EUR 7–10/mo vs A1 |
| yesss! | None | Wertkarte + family-line top-ups | Billa / Hofer | EUR 5–8/mo vs A1 |
Source: Operator pricing pages and RTR market reporting, verified May 2026
Should you bundle Austrian SIM with home internet?
Magenta One math · A1 Xplore math · When the bundle stops paying
Bundle when you would already pay for fixed broadband on the same network. A standalone Magenta One household runs roughly EUR 45 (mobile) + EUR 40 (fibre) + EUR 15 (TV) = EUR 100/month — bundled, Magenta typically prices the package at EUR 79–85, saving EUR 15–21/month. A1 Net & Phone + Xplore TV saves around EUR 10/month. Skip the bundle when your landlord already provides building broadband, or when you live in fibre-fed Vienna districts where third-party ISPs undercut both networks.
- Bundle if you watch Austrian live TV. ORF, ServusTV and Sky Sport are all on Magenta TV and A1 Xplore TV at no extra cost — replicating them on a standalone streaming stack costs more.
- Skip if your building has free WiFi. Vienna's Gemeindebauten and many newer apartment buildings include broadband in the rent. The bundle math collapses.
- Re-shop yearly. Bundle pricing rises with the consumer price index (VPI). Once the 24-month minimum term ends, call retention and request a Sondervertrag.
How much does an Austrian SIM contract typically cost?
Entry · Mid · Premium · One-off fees
Big-Three contracts cluster in three bands: EUR 9.90–14.90/month for sub-30 GB MVNO-style Vertrag (bob, yesss!, A1 Easy), EUR 19.90–29.90/month for 30–100 GB mid-tier with bundle eligibility, and EUR 34.90–49.90/month for unlimited 5G with device subsidy. A one-off SIM activation fee (Aktivierungsentgelt) of EUR 29.90–39.90 applies on most contracts, and an annual Service-Entgelt indexed to the Verbraucherpreisindex (VPI) of 3–5% compounds each year.
| Plan | Monthly | Data | Network | Activation fee | Annual VPI rise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Mobil M | EUR 19.90 | 30 GB | A1 | EUR 39.90 | ~4% |
| Magenta Mobile S | EUR 24.90 | Unlimited | Magenta | EUR 29.90 | ~3.5% |
| Drei Mobile L | EUR 19.90 | 30 GB | Drei | EUR 29.90 | ~3.5% |
| HoT Flex | EUR 9.90 / 4w | 35 GB | Magenta | EUR 9.90 (SIM) | None (prepaid) |
| bob bobbel L | EUR 12.99 | 40 GB | A1 | EUR 0–19.99 | Locked 12 mo |
| yesss! Komplett L | EUR 9.95 | 25 GB | A1 | EUR 9.90 (SIM) | None |
Source: Operator tariff pages, RTR Telekom Monitor Q1 2026, verified May 2026
Which Austrian network has the best coverage?
A1 in the Alps · Magenta in Vienna · Drei on latency
A1 records the highest coverage experience in Austria at 8.4/10 Opensignal, with the deepest reach into Tirol, Vorarlberg, and Salzkammergut Alpine valleys where Magenta and Drei still see drop-outs. Magenta wins urban 5G with the highest mean download speed at 187.51 Mbps. Drei wins latency at 24.86 ms, the lowest in Austria. MVNOs inherit the host's footprint — bob and yesss! ride A1 cells, HoT rides Magenta, spusu rides Drei.
| Network | Coverage score | Mean DL speed | Latency | Strongest in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 8.4 / 10 | 152 Mbps | 28.4 ms | Tirol, Vorarlberg, Burgenland, Alpine valleys |
| Magenta | 8.1 / 10 | 187.51 Mbps | 26.1 ms | Vienna, Graz, Linz urban cores |
| Drei | 7.9 / 10 | 141 Mbps | 24.86 ms | Vienna, ÖBB rail corridors |
Source: Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Austria April 2026, RTR Telekom Monitor
How do you cancel an Austrian SIM contract (Kuendigung)?
Written form · 1–3 month notice · Auto-roll to monthly
Austrian mobile contracts (Vertrag) auto-renew after the 24-month minimum term to a monthly rolling agreement. To cancel (Kuendigung) you must send a written notice — email, letter or in-app form — respecting the operator's notice period of 1 to 3 months. Miss the window and you sit on the rolling tariff for another notice cycle. RTR confirms the operator must honour any cancellation that arrives in writing before the deadline.
- Check your minimum term end date. Look in your A1 / Magenta / Drei app under "Vertragsdaten" — the Mindestvertragslaufzeit end date is listed. (usually 24 months from activation)
- Send written notice (Kuendigungsschreiben). Use the operator's online cancellation form, a signed PDF by email to kuendigung@, or registered post. Include name, customer number, mobile number, and requested termination date. (German or English both accepted)
- Respect the notice period. A1: 1 month. Magenta: 1 month. Drei: 1 month from receipt. HoT, bob, yesss!: end of current billing period. (verify in your tariff terms)
- Request a Rufnummernmitnahmebestaetigung if porting. Ask for confirmation of your number so the new operator can issue a portability code. (takes 1–3 business days)
- Confirm SEPA mandate termination. Once the final invoice is paid, revoke the SEPA mandate in your Austrian bank's app to prevent ghost charges. (belt-and-braces step)
Should you stay on prepaid (Wertkarte) or switch to contract (Vertrag)?
No KSV1870 · Bundle perks · 24-month lock-in
Prepaid (Wertkarte) wins on flexibility — no credit check, no SEPA mandate, no minimum term, monthly spend visible up front. Contract (Vertrag) wins on bundle perks, device subsidy and higher data ceilings. The break-even sits around 30 GB/month and EUR 15/month: above that, contracts give better value per gigabyte; below it, HoT or yesss! Wertkarte is cheaper net of activation fees and VPI rises.
| Dimension | Wertkarte (prepaid) | Vertrag (24-mo contract) |
|---|---|---|
| Credit check | None | KSV1870 run on signup |
| Minimum term | None | 24 months |
| Bundle perks (TV, fibre) | No | Yes — Magenta One, A1 Xplore |
| Device subsidy | No | EUR 200–400 saving on handset |
| Annual price rise (VPI) | No | 3–5%/year (Service-Entgelt) |
| Typical cost (30 GB) | EUR 9.90–12.99/mo | EUR 19.90–24.90/mo + bundle |
Source: Operator terms and RTR consumer guidance, verified May 2026
How did we rank these Austrian SIMs?
Five-dimension scoring · operator-verified data · affiliate-independent
All six providers were scored on five equally-weighted dimensions: coverage (Opensignal experience score plus RTR drive-test data), monthly cost including activation fee and VPI rises, data allowance per euro, bundle value (mobile + fibre + TV uplift), and flexibility (minimum term, cancellation notice, prepaid options). Pricing pulled from operator tariff pages in May 2026 and cross-checked against RTR Telekom Monitor Q1 2026.
1. Coverage
Opensignal experience score, RTR rural drive-test data, Alpine valley reach.
2. Monthly cost
List price + Aktivierungsentgelt + 2-year VPI projection.
3. Data per euro
Gigabytes divided by total 24-month cost.
4. Bundle value
Mobile + fibre + TV discount relative to standalone pricing.
5. Flexibility
Minimum term, Kuendigung notice period, prepaid alternative.
Affiliate disclosure
SimCompare365 may earn a commission on confirmed sign-ups. Rankings are independent — see disclosure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Austrian contracts have an annual price increase clause? expand_more
Yes. Most Austrian post-paid contracts contain a Service-Entgelt clause that adjusts the monthly fee annually, indexed to the Verbraucherpreisindex (VPI). Increases typically run 3–5% per year and are legally enforceable provided the clause is in the original contract. HoT, bob and yesss! generally lock prices for the term.
Can I bundle Austrian mobile with home internet? expand_more
Yes. Magenta One is the most established — it discounts mobile when paired with Magenta cable broadband, fibre or Magenta TV. A1 Xplore TV + Net & Phone bundles mobile with A1 fixed broadband. Drei sells the Drei Net Cube 5G home-internet router as a contract bundle, which is the only fixed-wireless option of the three.
Do I need a Meldezettel and Austrian IBAN for an Austrian contract? expand_more
For a 24-month Vertrag: yes. Operators run a KSV1870 credit check against your Meldezettel address and require a SEPA mandate from an Austrian IBAN. For prepaid Wertkarten (HoT, yesss! Wertkarte, A1 Easy), a valid passport or EU ID is enough — under RTR rules since 2019 the operator must register the SIM holder's identity, but no credit check or Austrian bank is required.
How do I cancel an Austrian mobile contract? expand_more
Send a written Kuendigung via the operator's online form, email, or registered post. Include your customer number, mobile number, and requested termination date. Notice period is 1 month for A1, Magenta and Drei. Send it at least one month before the next billing cycle, then revoke the SEPA mandate after the final invoice.
What happens after the 24-month minimum term? expand_more
The contract auto-renews to a monthly rolling agreement at the latest list price (with VPI rises baked in). You can cancel at any time with the standard 1-month notice. Most users either call retention for a Sondervertrag discount or port out using a Rufnummernmitnahmebestaetigung. Sitting on the rolling tariff is the most expensive option.
Is HoT still the cheapest prepaid for residents? expand_more
For raw monthly spend, yes. HoT Flex at EUR 9.90 / 4 weeks for 35 GB on the Magenta network is the cheapest unlimited-minutes prepaid Wertkarte sold in Austria. yesss! Komplett L runs EUR 9.95/mo for 25 GB on A1 if you prefer A1 coverage. Both beat any Big-Three Vertrag on a pure euros-per-month basis, ignoring bundles.
Can I keep my number when switching Austrian providers? expand_more
Yes — Austrian number portability (Rufnummernmitnahme) is mandatory under RTR rules and free of charge. Request a Rufnummernmitnahmebestaetigung from your old operator, hand it to the new one at signup, and porting completes within 1–3 business days. See our step-by-step number-porting guide.