Welcome to Germany! To start settling smoothly, you will want to have a local phone number and mobile internet available. To help you make a choice and not feel overwhelmed by the chaotic offer of mobile phone plans out there, we have selected the best prepaid SIM card in Germany in this guide and the best mobile contract providers in Germany in another guide.
Related Guide: Best Mobile Network In Germany [English Guide]
Generally speaking, you have three options for mobile connectivity in Germany:
- get a mobile contract that binds you for usually 24 months
- get a flexible and more affordable prepaid SIM card in Germany and choose the phone plan most suitable to you
- get a flexible postpaid contract with the best value for money
We talk about the latter at the end of this guide, which is our favorite option. SIMon mobile offers by far the best value for your money with a simply transparent offer and amazing data packages for little money. I changed to this provider in 2021 and love the value for a low price and especially the simplicity of it.
Table of Contents
Quick Overview Of The Best Prepaid SIM Card In Germany
If you are short on time and just want an answer, here is an overview of our comparison for the best prepaid SIM card in Germany.
| SIMon mobile | Lidl Connect | Aldi Talk | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Website & Support |  | | |
| Unlimited Calls & Data Plan | from €8,99 / month for 12 GB | €7,99 / 4 weeks for 4 GB | €8,99 / 4 weeks for 6 GB |
| Auto-Recharge Possible | yes (Postpaid) |  | |
| Network Provider | Vodafone | Vodafone | O2 |
| Download / Upload Speed | 5G - 50 / 25 Mbit/s | LTE - 25 / 10 Mbit/s | 5G - 50 / 25 Mbit/s |
| One-Time Purchase Cost | Free | €9,99 | €9,99 |
| Starter Balance | | €10 | €10 |
| EU Roaming Included | | | |
| Switzerland Roaming Included | | | |
| UK Roaming Included | | | |
| eSIM Available | | | |
❗️Please note: This guide is intended for anyone moving to Germany. If you plan to visit Germany as a tourist, it is best to get a SIM card directly from a shop of one of the three network providers below, once you arrive in Germany. German providers do not ship SIM cards internationally.
What are the best prepaid SIM cards in Germany?
Prepaid SIM cards offer the best value for money when it comes to mobile communication in Germany. We have chosen the top resellers of each mobile network to give you the best overview and options.
Most websites are in German; however, they are very straightforward. We recommend using Chrome’s Translate to English function to navigate easily.
Here are our top picks for the best prepaid SIM card in Germany.
1. Lidl Connect
Lidl Connect is the prepaid mobile offer from the big German supermarket LIDL. It uses the Vodafone network lines (the second strongest network in Germany) and offers LTE internet speed. Lidl offers different plans. Its basic Smart S plan was recently awarded as the best Prepaid Tariff by the renowned magazines CHIP and Connect.
The Smart S plan offers unlimited phone calls and SMS and 4 GB LTE data. It costs 7,99 euros for 4 weeks. The biggest plan, Smart XL brings 16 GB data for 17,99 euros. The card costs 9,99 euros; however, it comes with a balance of 10 euros. So basically, it is for free.
Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Lidl online account. You can change the tariff whenever you want or add data packages when needed.
With Lidl, you can either manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge from your bank account or via Paypal of let’s say 10 euros, each time your balance drops below 10 euros.
I used to have Lidl Connect and was very happy with the value for the price. However, in 2021 I changed to SIMon mobile, the bonus option at the end of the guide, which offers even better value for money.
2. Aldi Talk
Aldi Talk is the direct competitor of Lidl, not only in terms of the prepaid mobile phone offer but also with its core product, the supermarket. Aldi offers a very similar product as Lidl; however, the most significant difference is that Aldi uses the O2 network, which is the smallest network in Germany. The O2 reception in cities is excellent, whereas if you spend a lot of time in rural areas, it is not a good choice for you.
The Paket S plan offers unlimited calls and texts and 6 GB data including 5G. It costs 8,99 euros for 4 weeks. The biggest plan, Paket L brings 20 GB data for 19,99. The card also costs 9,99 euros; however, it is preloaded with a balance of 10 euros. So it is basically free as well.
When you compare mobile phone contracts, those using O2 are always cheaper than those using Vodafone or Telekom. Therefore Aldi offers the same product for the same price on a weaker and cheaper network.
Once you activate your card, you can select the data plan you would like to choose on your Aldi account. You can change the plan online, whenever you want.
With Aldi, you can also manually wire money every 4 weeks to your account or activate an automatic recharge of let’s say 10 euros each time your balance drops below 10 euros.
Of course, you again have the option to buy a top-up balance card at an Aldi supermarket. You will find them at the cashier counter.
3. Bonus: SIMon mobile [Best Value for Price]
SIMon mobile is a sub-brand from Vodafone, aiming to compete with the prepaid tariffs from the discounters. SIMon mobile offers a postpaid contract; however, you can cancel it every month, so you still keep your flexibility.
It stands out by offering 12 GB of data volume with its basic rate and having an eSIM as an option. With 50 Mbits download speed in the 5G network, it offers double the data speed that most prepaid cards have. Additionally, you have unlimited phone calls, and texts, and no one-off fee. A great feature is the possibility to pause your contract for up to 3 months. This comes in handy, whenever you leave Europe to travel.
The cost structure is very straightforward. If you never had a German phone number and wish to get a new German phone number, you will pay 11,99 euros a month. Should you already have a German mobile phone number and would like to switch to SIMon mobile, you have two options:
- If you want to keep your current German mobile phone number and change to SIMon mobile, you either pay 8,99 euros or 14,99 euros a month, depending on the provider you want to change from. When entering the name of your previous provider on the homepage, you will immediately know which category your current provider falls under.
- If you don’t want to keep your current number, you can select the 11,99 euros per month option and you will get a new number as well.
Additionally, you have two different options to upgrade to have even more data available:
- Add 5 GB per month for only 3 euros extra per month (total of 17 GB per month)
- Add 15 GB per month for only 8 euros extra per month (total of 27 GB per month)
You can book both add-ons permanently or for individual months, as you can always cancel them towards the end of each month.
SIMon mobile offers a very attractive mobile phone plan that is fast, modern, easy, and cheap. This is why I changed to SIMon mobile from LIDL connect. I pay almost the same price but get 12 GB data instead of 3 GB – that’s what I call amazing value for money.
Simon mobile is the only provider on this list that offers eSim. To get your eSim, you simply need to select it during checkout.
💡No ID verification necessary! Another advantage of SIMon mobile is that if you order your physical SIM card online, you will not have to go through a video IDENT procedure to identify yourself. The card will already be activated once you receive it in your mailbox.
Disclaimer: Paypal or credit cards are not possible for payment. The standard payment method is to set up a direct debit with your German bank account during purchase.
How to get a prepaid SIM card in Germany?
You have two options to buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany:
1. Buying a prepaid SIM card online
Follow the link of one of the three mentioned resellers (Lidl Connect, Aldi Talk, and SIMon mobile) to buy a SIM card online. You will have to enter your German address, and the card will generally arrive in 2-3 days via postal mail.
2. Buying a prepaid SIM card in a local store
You can buy Lidl Connect and Aldi Talk at the respective supermarkets. You can also find other prepaid SIM cards at gas stations, kiosks, and electronic shops.
How To Activate Your Prepaid SIM Card In Germany?
Once you hold your card in hand, you need to activate it. Since July 2017, all prepaid SIM cards need to be registered in person or via VideoID, to prevent crime and misuse.
You will need your official ID card or passport and a German home address to register. Online is the fastest way and only takes a few minutes. However, not all passports are supported online. Should your nationality not be valid for online identification, you can go to your closest post office.
Once you activated the card, you can choose the tariff you like and your preferred top-up method in your online account.
🔥 Tip No.1: All SIM cards are Triple-SIM, meaning they are compatible with all SIM sizes and fit in all phones.
🔥 Tip No.2: Be sure that you have an unlocked phone to use the SIM card in Germany. Should your phone be locked, you can also purchase a new phone from the provider or any other shop.
Conclusion
Prepaid SIM cards from resellers offer better value compared to sim cards and contracts from the network providers directly. Lidl Connect is our top choice for the best prepaid SIM card in Germany, due to its D-network, low price, and easy handling. If you prefer to have a postpaid flexible contract with even better value, SIMon mobile from Vodafone is a fantastic option.
