Telekom
connect #1 - 13 years
~95% 5G
Hosts: Telekom, congstar, fraenk, ja! mobil, Penny Mobil, KAUFLAND, NORMA
Compare SIM & eSIM Providers in Germany
Independent 2026 ranking of every German SIM and eSIM plan. 26 brands, 26 active plans, prices verified weekly. Updated May 13, 2026 by Jules de Bruin.
Updated May 2026. Germany runs on four networks - Telekom, Vodafone, O2/Telefónica, 1&1. Most prepaid tariffs bill every 4 weeks, not monthly, so a €9.99 tariff costs €129.87/year, not €119.88. The cheapest mainstream prepaid is NORMA, LIDL Connect, KAUFLAND, ja! mobil or Penny Mobil at €8.99 for 25 GB; the cheapest 5G unlimited is Vodafone CallYa Black at €79.99/4w. Berlin reaches 99.97% 5G standalone coverage.
Master Comparison - All German Plans
26 plans · click any column header to sort · prices in EUR/month
| Provider | Data | Price | EU Data | Network | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Low-cost 5G LIDL Connect — XS 5G |
1 GB | EUR 4.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Lyca Mobile — Easy XS |
5 GB | EUR 4.99/4w | FUP | O2 | Claim Deal |
| Best Value 25 GB NORMA connect — S 5G |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
LIDL Connect — S 5G |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
KAUFLAND MOBIL — Smart S 5G |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
ja! mobil — Smart |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
Penny Mobil — Smart |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
ALDI TALK — S |
25 GB | EUR 8.99/4w | FUP | O2 | Claim Deal |
winSIM — 20 GB |
20 GB | EUR 8.99/mo | FUP | 1&1 | Claim Deal |
sim.de — 40 GB |
40 GB | EUR 8.99/mo | FUP | 1&1 | Claim Deal |
Telekom — M Prepaid |
20 GB | EUR 9.95/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
Vodafone — CallYa S |
25 GB | EUR 9.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
congstar — M |
25 GB | EUR 10/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
| eSIM-only fraenk — flat |
20 GB | EUR 10/mo | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
ALDI TALK — M |
50 GB | EUR 13.99/4w | FUP | O2 | Claim Deal |
LIDL Connect — M 5G |
50 GB | EUR 13.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
ja! mobil — Smart Plus |
50 GB | EUR 13.99/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
Telekom — L Prepaid |
40 GB | EUR 14.95/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
| Diaspora pick AY YILDIZ — Allnet Plus |
90 GB | EUR 17.99/mo | FUP | O2 | Claim Deal |
LIDL Connect — L 5G |
100 GB | EUR 18.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Vodafone — CallYa L |
100 GB | EUR 19.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Telekom — XL Prepaid |
80 GB | EUR 19.95/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
1&1 — 60 GB |
60 GB | EUR 19.99/mo | FUP | 1&1 | Claim Deal |
1&1 — 120 GB |
120 GB | EUR 24.99/mo | FUP | 1&1 | Claim Deal |
| Best Low-cost unlimited Vodafone — CallYa Black |
∞ Unlimited | EUR 79.99/4w | FUP | Vodafone | Claim Deal |
Telekom — Max Prepaid |
∞ Unlimited | EUR 99.95/4w | FUP | Telekom | Claim Deal |
Source: Operator tariff pages, BNetzA Q4 2024 market data · Verified May 2026
Which German Network Is Best in 2026?
Germany runs on four mobile networks. Three are full-spectrum incumbents; 1&1 is building its own and uses O2 for national roaming.
Vodafone
Largest 5G SA footprint
~92% 5G
Hosts: Vodafone, otelo, LIDL Connect, Blau
Value leader, cheapest 5G
~93% 5G
Hosts: O2, ALDI TALK, AY YILDIZ, Lycamobile
1&1
Newest network
Own + O2 roam
Hosts: 1&1, winSIM, sim.de
Source: connect Netztest 2025 · BNetzA 5G coverage report
Best German SIM by Use Case
Cheapest
Best German prepaid under €10
NORMA, LIDL, KAUFLAND, ja! mobil, Penny at €8.99 for 25 GB ranked.
Unlimited
Best unlimited German plan
Vodafone CallYa Black €79.99/4w vs Telekom Max compared.
EU Roaming
Best for EU travel
Telekom Switzerland-included prepaid vs CallYa vs congstar FUP.
5G
Cheapest 5G plan in Germany
LIDL Connect XS 5G at €4.99/4w — sub-€5 5G on Vodafone.
Annual prepaid
Best annual prepaid packs
Pay-once 12-month packs from Lebara, AY YILDIZ, O2 — cheaper per GB.
eSIM How-to
Activate an eSIM in Germany
VideoIdent or PostIdent, then QR scan — 10-minute setup.
How Do I Get a German SIM or eSIM?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mobile network is best in Germany in 2026?expand_more
Telekom (D-Netz) has won the connect Netztest 13 years running and leads rural coverage. Vodafone has the largest 5G standalone footprint. O2/Telefónica is the value leader with the cheapest mainstream tariffs and competitive urban 5G. 1&1, Germany's newest network, builds its own sites and uses O2 for national roaming.
What is the cheapest SIM in Germany?expand_more
In May 2026 the cheapest mainstream prepaid is NORMA, LIDL Connect, KAUFLAND, ja! mobil or Penny Mobil at €8.99 for 25 GB on a 4-week cycle (€116.87/year). The cheapest 5G unlimited is Vodafone CallYa Black at €79.99/4w. The cheapest sub-€5 5G tariff is LIDL Connect XS 5G at €4.99/4w.
Are German SIMs valid in the EU?expand_more
Yes. EU Roam Like at Home rules apply across the EU/EEA, with Switzerland excluded. Most German prepaid tariffs use a fair-use cap rather than a fixed GB number; Telekom and some others include Switzerland on selected tariffs as a bonus.
Do I need a passport to buy a German SIM?expand_more
Yes. Since 2017, TKG §111 requires identity verification for every German SIM. EU passport, ID card, or non-EU passport with German residence permit are accepted. Online activation uses VideoIdent (5-minute video call with Deutsche Post) or PostIdent at a post office.