🇩🇪 Best SIM cards for Germany
Comparing 38 plans from 4 providers
💡 Telekom Deutschland has the best national coverage, including rural Bavaria, the Black Forest, North Sea and Baltic coasts. Congstar runs on the Telekom network and offers the same coverage at lower prices — excellent value. Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect are the cheapest options and also use the Telekom/Vodafone networks. O2 Germany has weaker rural coverage. Germany's autobahn has good 4G coverage. Some remote Alpine valleys and the eastern border regions may have limited signal. 5G is rolling out fast in major cities.
| Provider | Type | Data | Validity | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider Saily★ Recommended Perfect for a short trip or arrival day. | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $4.49Best price | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $4.49 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data1.00 GB | Validity7 days | Price $4.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly★ Recommended Holafly 1-day eSIM. Activate before boarding, works from the moment you land. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity1 days | Price $5.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Local Germany network. Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt. | TypeeSIM | Data3.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $8.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $10.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity3 days | Price $11.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best balance of data and price for Germany. | TypeeSIM | Data5.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $12.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $14.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $16.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $18.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Best value for Germany. Full month coverage. | TypeeSIM | Data10.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $19.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity5 days | Price $20.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $21.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 20 GB across 35 European countries. Best price/GB for Europe. No speed cap. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $22.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $23.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited data on O2. Good autobahn coverage. Cities have full 5G. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $24.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily Heavy data users — streaming, remote work. | TypeeSIM | Data20.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $25.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited across 42 European countries. One eSIM for the whole trip. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited across 33 European countries. One eSIM, no switching. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Unlimited in Germany. Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne. Autobahn covered. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity7 days | Price $27.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad 50 GB across 35 European countries at just $0.58/GB — lowest price in Europe. | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $29.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $30.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Nomad | TypeeSIM | Data50.00 GB | Validity30 days | Price $32.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $36.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Saily | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity10 days | Price $48.99 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly★ Recommended | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity15 days | Price $50.50 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited data on O2 for longer stays in Germany. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $59.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Airalo Unlimited across 42 European countries for a full month. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $72.00 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited Germany. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly Full month unlimited across 33 European countries. Hotspot included. | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
| Provider Holafly | TypeeSIM | DataUnlimited data | Validity30 days | Price $73.90 | Get this SIM |
Our recommendations for Germany
For your exact trip length
Tell us how many days you're traveling and we'll find the best match.
Hassle-free way
Order your eSIM before departure — nothing to buy on arrival. Works from the moment you land.
Best option for short trips or if you don't want to deal with local operator stores.
About these providers
Strengths
- +Largest selection — 200+ countries, multiple local operators per country
- +Very competitive data-capped plans (cheapest overall for data)
- +Instant QR code activation — works within seconds
- +Excellent iOS & Android app with real-time data tracking
- +Physical SIM available for some destinations
Weaknesses
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS on most plans
- −Too many options can be overwhelming
- −Prices displayed in AUD (confusing for non-Australians)
- −Customer support can be slow
Strengths
- +Unlimited data on ALL plans — no data stress ever
- +1-day plans from $5.90 — perfect for arrival day
- +Simple pricing — few options, no confusion
- +Live chat customer support
- +Social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) always free on top
Weaknesses
- −More expensive than Airalo for stays over 10 days
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −No physical SIM option
Strengths
- +Best multi-country regional plans in the market
- +Global plans up to 180 days or 1 year — ideal for long trips
- +Simple, clean interface — easy to choose
- +Competitive pricing for multi-destination trips
Weaknesses
- −Fewer individual country options than Airalo
- −Data-only — no calls or SMS
- −Less name recognition than Airalo/Holafly
Strengths
- +Made by Nord Security — the NordVPN creators (trusted brand)
- +Often cheaper than Airalo for data-capped plans
- +150+ countries covered
- +Clean app with real-time data usage tracker
- +Flexible packages: 1 GB to 20 GB
Weaknesses
- −Data-capped only — no unlimited plans
- −Newer provider (launched 2023) — fewer user reviews
- −No physical SIM
Getting a local SIM in Germany
🏪Where to buy
Airport stores at Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC): Telekom and Vodafone have kiosks in the arrivals area. In the city: Saturn and MediaMarkt electronics stores stock all brands. Rewe and Edeka supermarkets sell Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect SIMs. Telekom, Vodafone and O2 stores in city centers and shopping malls. Aldi and Lidl stores sell their own MVNO SIMs at very low prices.
📄Documents needed
Passport or EU ID required by German law. Identity verification is mandatory for all SIM purchases. In-store purchases require showing your document at the counter. Online MVNO registration (Congstar, Aldi Talk) uses video ID verification (VideoIdent) — you complete a short video call to verify your identity remotely.
💡Tips & coverage
Telekom Deutschland has the best national coverage, including rural Bavaria, the Black Forest, North Sea and Baltic coasts. Congstar runs on the Telekom network and offers the same coverage at lower prices — excellent value. Aldi Talk and Lidl Connect are the cheapest options and also use the Telekom/Vodafone networks. O2 Germany has weaker rural coverage. Germany's autobahn has good 4G coverage. Some remote Alpine valleys and the eastern border regions may have limited signal. 5G is rolling out fast in major cities.
Local SIM prices in Germany
Typical cost if you buy a physical SIM card on arrival (for comparison only).
| Data | Validity | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00 GB | 30 days | $8.00–$18.00 |
Prices are estimates based on tourist SIM cards available locally. Actual prices vary by operator and date.