Your checklist

SIM cards for newcomers to Germany: prepaid and flexible plans

Last checked

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In shortFor your first days, a prepaid SIM from a supermarket (ALDI TALK or Lidl Connect) or a no-contract plan is the safest choice: there is no long contract and no bank checks. Every SIM in Germany needs an identity check by law, so have your passport ready and check which verification method works for your nationality. If you call family abroad a lot, look at brands with international bundles.

New to this? Read the guide first: SIM card

Options for newcomers

1.

ALDI TALK

Good for your first days, straight from the supermarket

A prepaid SIM on the o2 network with 4-week options that only renew while you have credit, so there is no contract to cancel. We earn nothing from it.

Good for

  • Getting a SIM from a supermarket in your first days
  • Prepaid flexibility: options renew only while you have credit
  • No commission relationship with us

Watch out

  • German-language website and app (as far as we found)
  • Options run in 4-week cycles, not calendar months
Visit ALDI TALK (opens in a new tab)German onlyNot a partner link
2.

Lidl Connect

Good if you prefer the Vodafone network

Lidl's mobile service on the Vodafone network is an easy supermarket alternative. We earn nothing from it either.

Good for

  • Vodafone network coverage from a supermarket brand
  • No commission relationship with us

Watch out

  • German-language website only (as far as we found)
Visit Lidl Connect (opens in a new tab)German onlyNot a partner link
3.

Lyca Mobile

Good if you call family abroad

Lyca's English-language German site offers prepaid bundles with international minutes on the o2 network, as eSIM or physical SIM.

Good for

  • Calling family abroad (international bundles)
  • Prepaid with no contract
  • eSIM or physical SIM

Watch out

  • Bundles renew every 28 days, not monthly, so there are 13 renewals a year
  • Every SIM needs an ID check under German law
Visit Lyca Mobile (opens in a new tab)Some EnglishNot a partner link
4.

fraenk

Good if you want the Telekom network with no minimum term

An app-only plan on the Telekom network that you can cancel monthly. The app is in German.

Good for

  • People comfortable doing everything in an app
  • No minimum contract term
  • Telekom network coverage

Watch out

  • German-language website only (as far as we found)
  • App-only: there is no shop to walk into if identification fails
Visit fraenk (opens in a new tab)German onlyNot a partner link
5.

congstar

Good once you have a bank account and want Telekom coverage

Offers both prepaid and monthly-cancellable plans on the Telekom network.

Good for

  • Telekom (D-Netz) coverage at a budget-brand price
  • Choosing between prepaid and a monthly-cancellable plan

Watch out

  • German-language website only (as far as we found)
  • Every SIM needs an ID check under German law. See which methods work for your passport
Visit congstar (opens in a new tab)German onlyNot a partner link
6.

Lebara

Worth checking if you want an English-language prepaid brand

Lebara has an English section on its German website. We could not load it to verify current plans, so check the details yourself.

Good for

  • Prepaid use without a long contract
  • A website section in English

Watch out

  • We could not load Lebara's site to check current plans, network and ID methods. Confirm these on lebara.de before buying
Visit Lebara (opens in a new tab)Some EnglishNot a partner link

Other options

How we compared

CriterionWeightWhy it matters
Easy to get without Anmeldung or a German bank accountMost importantPrepaid SIMs you can buy in a shop or top up with cash or vouchers suit people who have not registered yet or have no account.
Contract flexibilityMost importantPrepaid, no minimum term, or monthly cancellation. Avoid 24-month contracts until you know you are staying.
IdentificationMost important§ 172 TKG requires ID checks for every SIM. Online video checks do not accept every passport, so a shop or post-office check can be the fallback.
NetworkImportantWhich network the brand uses (Telekom, Vodafone or o2) affects coverage where you live.
EnglishNice to haveMost budget brands are German-only. An English site helps but is rarely decisive.
International callsImportantBundles with minutes to other countries matter if you call family abroad.
  • We could not verify which ID methods each brand accepts for which passports. Check the brand's activation page before you buy.
  • Some brands renew every 4 weeks or 28 days rather than monthly, which means 13 renewals a year.

Conditions change. Check the current terms on the provider's website before you sign up. See our editorial policy.

Sources

Rules can change. These are the pages we checked — they have the final word. How we check facts