Just landed and need a German number for your landlord, your bank or the first WhatsApp group from uni? Prepaid gets you there in a day.
Why prepaid is the easiest start
- No credit check: You pay in advance, so the provider doesn't ask SCHUFA, the German credit agency.
- No contract: Most packages run for 4 weeks and renew from your credit. If you stop topping up, the package simply stops.
- No German bank account needed: You can top up with vouchers from supermarkets and drugstores. Many providers also take cards or PayPal online.
Cheapest prepaid plans
Lyca Easy XS
Lyca Mobile All ages Prepaid
- Data
- 5 GBup to 50 Mbit/s
- Network
- Telefónica (o2)
- Term
- 4 weeksprepaid, no contract
- Age
- All ages18 and over
- Unlimited calls & texts in Germany
Average per month€5.41
Price per 4 weeks €4.99
Starter kit €0.00
Details
Average over 24 months including one-time costs.
One package lasts 4 weeks, that's 26 packages in 24 months.
As stated by Lyca Mobile, 17 October 2026, no guarantee.
MagentaMobil Prepaid S
Telekom All ages Prepaid
- Data
- 1 GBup to 300 Mbit/s
- Network
- Telekom
- Term
- 4 weeksprepaid, no contract
- Age
- All ages18 and over
Average per month€5.78
Price per 4 weeks €4.95
Starter kit €9.95
Details
Average over 24 months including one-time costs.
One package lasts 4 weeks, that's 26 packages in 24 months.
As stated by Telekom, 17 October 2026, no guarantee.
FYVE Smart XS
FYVE All ages Prepaid
- Data
- 14 GBup to 50 Mbit/s
- Network
- Vodafone
- Term
- 30 daysprepaid, no contract
- Age
- All ages18 and over
- Unlimited calls & texts in Germany
Average per month€7.37
Price per 30 days €6.95
Starter kit €10.00
Details
Average over 24 months including one-time costs.
One package lasts 30 days, that's 24 packages in 24 months.
As stated by FYVE, 17 October 2026, no guarantee.
Prepaid Allnet S mit 5G 25
congstar All ages Prepaid
- Data
- 5 GBup to 25 Mbit/s
- Network
- Telekom
- Term
- 4 weeksprepaid, no contract
- Age
- All ages18 and over
- Unlimited calls & texts in Germany
Average per month€8.00
Price per 4 weeks €7.00
Starter kit €9.99
Details
Average over 24 months including one-time costs.
One package lasts 4 weeks, that's 26 packages in 24 months.
As stated by congstar, 12 October 2026, no guarantee.
As stated by the providers, 17 October 2026, no guarantee. Providers' order pages are in German, your browser can translate them.
Where to buy one
- Online from the provider. The SIM comes by post, or you get an eSIM right away.
- Supermarkets and drugstores: Aldi sells Aldi Talk, Lidl sells Lidl Connect. Many other shops sell starter kits too, which you register yourself.
- Provider shops of Telekom, Vodafone and o2. That's the best place if the online ID check doesn't work with your passport.
The ID check
German law (§ 172 TKG) says every SIM has to be registered to a person, prepaid included. Your SIM only works after the check. These are the usual ways:
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| Video check (VideoIdent) | A short video call in the provider's app or website. You hold your passport up to the camera. |
| Online ID (eID) | Works with a German residence permit card (eAT) that has the online function turned on. |
| In the shop | Show your passport at the counter. |
| PostIdent | At a Deutsche Post branch, if your provider offers it. |
You'll also need an address in Germany. If you don't have your flat yet, ask the provider whether your temporary address works.
Tip: Type your name exactly as it is in your passport. For the video call, find a bright spot without glare on the passport. If your passport isn't accepted online, go to a shop.
Packages: 4 weeks, not a month
Most prepaid packages run for 4 weeks, not a calendar month. That's 13 packages a year instead of 12. The plans below show the price per package and, where it's known, the average per month over 24 months.
Topping up
Vouchers are sold at almost every supermarket checkout. Online you can usually pay by card, PayPal or direct debit, depending on the provider. With auto top-up your package renews by itself.
Later switch to a contract?
Once you have a German bank account and an address, a contract can be cheaper per GB. You can take your number with you. Read more in Phone contract in Germany.