9 Best SIM Cards in Germany for Students

Getting a SIM card is one of the most important steps when moving to Germany. There are plenty of German sim card providers to choose from, and some even have special deals for students. The price of packages varies depending on your preferences, and how much mobile data you want if calls and SMS are included or aren’t.

The best SIM cards for students in Germany by far are:

• O2 Prepaid SIM card
• Aldi Talk
• Lebara
• WinSim
• Blau Allnet
• Airalo and Nomad for a short stay

As you can see, the SIM card choice in Germany is wide; thus, you might lose yourself in all tariffs and providers very quickly. But students have special needs when it comes to mobile, including a low monthly price and enough mobile data to surf the internet. In this article, we picked the best SIM cards for international students in Germany. Check out the best SIM cards in Germany in this post.

Best SIM cards for Students in Germany

We have picked the most suitable SIM cards for students in Germany, so you can have enough data to stay in touch with your friends online and call within Germany. All of those deals are prepaid SIM cards.

In fact, we recommend choosing a prepaid mobile plan since it’s prevalent in Germany. You can simply buy a SIM card online or in any grocery or phone stores.

	O2 Prepaid S	Aldi Talk	Lebara	WinSim	Blau Allnet Smart
Monthly price EUR	9,99	7,99	9,99	8,99	7,99
Data	3,5 GB	3 GB	3 GB	9 GB	3 GB
Network provider	O2	O2	Telekom	O2	O2
Downlod/Upload speed	50/225 MBit/s	25/10 MBit/s	18/2,5 MBit/s	50/32 MBit/s	12/25 MBit/s

1. Prepaid from O2

Provider O2 is also known as Telefonica and is the main competitor of German Deutsche Telekom, previously known as T Mobile. In fact, it’s a telecommunication company with one of the cheapest options in Germany – perfect for students. 

They have different packages ranging from Basic, S, M, and L. Prices vary from 0 EUR per month up to 20 EUR. Prepaid S has the best value – 9,99 EUR per month and 3,5 GB.

Source: O2 Prepaid

Prepaid M costs 14,99 EUR and offers 6,5 GB of mobile data. L package is excellent for someone with a need for a large amount of internet. 19,99 EUR per month will get you 12,5 GB. All deals include unlimited calls and SMS.

Highlights of O2 prepaid sim cards:

• No or short-term contract for 4 weeks
• Internet LTE 4G + EU roaming
• 25 EUR Bonus
• Free SIM card and shipping

Need a SIM card with the best internet? Check out this comparison.

Best Mobile Network in Germany for Internet

Best Mobile Network in Germany for Internet

2. Aldi Talk/Paket S

ALDI Talk has a similar concept to Lidl, and it’s a supermarket as well. They have affordable and the best prepaid SIM card based on the O2 network. The S package offers 3 GB of data for 7,99 EUR, M has 6 GB, and L – 12 GB.

Below are steps for activating your Aldi Talk sim card. 

Source: Aldi Talk 

ALDI talk SIM cards can be purchased in all ALDI supermarkets, which you will see everywhere in Germany.

• The best prepaid SIM card
• 10 EUR starting credit
• Unlimited calls & SMS
• No contract
• 10 EUR basic fee
• No minimum turnover

If you opt for a free ALDI SIM card (no monthly fee), calls and SMS will cost you 0,11 EUR per min/SMS.

3. Airalo

Airalo SIM cards strike with a low price, which is so attractive for students. You can get a mobile plan for as low as 5 EUR. Another key pro is that you can order your SIM card online and have it installed & activated upon landing in Germany.

Airalo is the best german SIM card provider for digital nomads and travelers who don’t plan to live in the country but rather will stay for a short period of time. This company offers SIM cards for over 190 countries. In Germany, its SIM cards run on the O2 network. 

You can preorder the e-SIM card online before you travel, so it takes away the hustle of trying to order or buy a SIM card in a phone shop when arriving in the country. The SIM card will be activated (the validity period starts) when you land and connect to the mobile network. 

Source: Airalo

With Airalo, you can choose between global coverage or opt only for usage in Germany, or in Europe.

There are four main data plan you can choose from in Germany:

• 7 days validity with 1 GB data for 5 EUR
• 30 days validity with 3 GB data for 10 EUR
• 30 days validity with 5 GB data for 15 EUR
• 30 days validity with 10 GB data for 22,5 EUR

Keep in mind that packages include only data for the internet. It doesn’t provide you with a local number, but you can easily make calls via apps like Whatsapp.

4. Nomad

The price for Nomad SIM cards starts from 6,5 EUR, and 1 GB data is included. Like with Airalo, it’s an eSIM card, which you can order online and have it installed & activated upon landing in Germany. No German address is needed; 100% online, hands-off process.

Nomad is a digital eSIM marketplace for travelers and, as the name might say – digital nomads. You will get an affordable data plan anywhere in the world, including Germany. In Germany, Nomad’s SIM cards use the O2 network – the second-largest German sim card provider.

You can pick from several German plans:

• 30 days validity with 3 GB data for 12,5 EUR
• 7 days validity with 1 GB data for 6,5 EUR

If you need more data, have a look at these packs:

• 30 days validity with 5 GB of data for 18 EUR
• 30 days validity with 10 GB of data for 25 EUR
• 30 days validity with 20 GB of data for 35,5 EUR

Optionally, you can book additional data via the app. For example, 1 GB costs 6,5 EUR, and 3 GB costs 12,5 EUR.

Similarly to Airalo, Nomad doesn’t include the ultimate unlimited data plan; it gives you only internet data but no calls and SMS. After the validity is over, your plan will expire. 

5. Lebara

Currently offering the best prepaid SIM card deal for 2,99 EUR per month and 3 GB data. Lebara’s prepaid sim card rates are as shown below.

Source: Lebara

With Lebara, you can get a starter SIM card for 9,99 EUR per month, which will give you 3 GB of data. It also sell SIM cards without

You can also upgrade to 14,99 EUR per month and enjoy 10 GB of data plus 250 min of calls. You also don’t need to sign any mobile phone contracts with this German sim card provider. Moreover, based on over 1,6k reviews, Lebara receives a rate of 4.41 out of 5.

As a bonus, Lebara has its website and support in English in addition to German.

Order a Lebara SIM card online, and it will be sent to your address within 48 hours. Get a basically free SIM card here. Lebara sell sim cards

Best SIM Cards in Germany

6. WinSim

WinSim provides probably the cheapest deals for everyone in Germany. 2GB data for just 4,99 EUR, these low rates I haven’t seen yet. You can get 9 GB of data for as low as 8,99 EUR per month.

• Get your 9 GB for only 8,99 EUR

Winsim has one of the best cell phone tariff rates.

Source: Winsim

WinSim has O2 as the only network provider. All SIM cards also include EU roaming, so you can surf the internet while traveling for free. A customer has an option to sign for a 24-month contract or no contract at all.

You can also get only data SIM cards for the internet at cheaper rates; check it here.

7. Blau Allnet Smart

Blau Allnet Smart is a prepaid SIM card in Germany hosted by the telecommunication company O2. It’s a good budget option for students: already for 7,99 EUR, you will get 3 GB of internet.

Blau Allnet L gives you 6 GB of data, calls, and sms, and EU roaming for only 8,99 EUR per month. The internet can be customized from 3 GB to 12 GB per month. In addition, a signed customer gets 14,99 EUR as a bonus on the account.

And with Allnet Plus, you get 15 GB of data for 14,99 EUR per month; it’s a great deal.

All these deals are available if you are ready to sign a 24-month-long contract. For someone not willing to commit, the provider has prepaid SIMs:

• Free SIM card and pay as you go
• 3 GB for 7,99 EUR
• 6 GB for 12,99 EUR

Blau Allnet prepaid tariff charges are as follows:

Source: Blau

EU roaming is included in all packages from all providers; however, you usually will need to book additional data and minutes for Switzerland.

8. Vodafone CallYa Allnet Flat S

Vodafone is one of the biggest mobile network providers in Germany. They have many branches in Germany where you can get personal assistance. The package CallYa Allnet S is perfect for students; for 9,99 EUR, you will get 6 GB of high-quality and even 200 min of calls plus sms. Below are other benefits of this German SIM card.

Source: Vodafone

There is also a more expensive Vodafone sim card package CallYa Digital for 14,99 EUR per month, and 8 GB of data, calls, and SMS are included in the price.

9. Free from O2

O2 also has SIM cards for someone looking for higher internet speed and more data for an affordable price. For example, you can get 20 GB, with speed up to 225 MBit/s for only 29,99 EUR per month; all calls and SMS within Germany are included in the price!

Additionally, you can enjoy fast internet, calls, and SMS in the entire EU without extra costs.

• 20 GB internet
• Unlimited calls and SMS flat to all German networks
• Speed up to 225 Mbit/s with 4G and up to 300 Mbit/s with 5G network
  
  

Don’t forget about your health insurance in Germany.

We made the selection of health insurance in Germany easier for students. As an international student, you have a wide range of insurance providers to pick from, but we compared the best of them here.

In this article, international students, exchange students, interns, trainees, or researchers will find the best coverages at affordable rates.

Best German Health Insurance for International Students

Compare German SIM cards on Verivox

You can also compare all existing SIM cards, providers, and rates in Germany via the platform Verivox.de. The search engine will give you information on:

• Monthly cost of the SIM card
• How much internet data do you get
• Internet speed
• SMS and phone calls prices
• And even more

To find a prepaid deal, select Handy on top of the page, then prepaid and “jetzt Prepaidtarife vergleichen.” To see all SIM cards choose Handytarife. To buy a SIM card, the platform will refer you to the provider.

Compare providers and rates of various insurances including car insurance, sim cards, credits & loans, internet, electricity, and much more. With this fair comparison, you will find the perfect deal for your situation. Check out some of the largest German platforms Verivox.de and Tarifcheck.de. You can purchase a favorable deal directly on the website.

Free prepaid SIM cards in Germany

Besides taking standard pre paid SIM cards with a fixed monthly price, you can get a free SIM card and pay as you go! The biggest benefit of free SIM cards is that if you don’t use the card, there are no costs.

These SIM cards allow you to stay flexible and don’t pay unnecessary monthly fees for unused data. Providers such as O2 and Vodafone Germany offer free SIM card deals. Usually, it’s 100% free, but some companies might charge an initial fee. However, this fee will be on your SIM card as a balance right after activating it.

Phone calls and SMS are charged separately depending on your consumption. A minute of call or one SMS can range from 8 to 15 cents. Internet data is billed between 8 to 15 cents per MB or as a package, e.g., 250 MB.

O2 Free card

Mobile network company O2 also offers free prepaid SIM cards in addition to regular ones. Here, you don’t need to sign any contract. The SIM card is 100% free, and you pay as you use data, call or send SMS.

As a bonus, O2 offers 500 MB of data per month for free!

• 100% free prepaid SIM card
• No contract
• No basic fee
• No minimum turnover
• 1 EUR starting credit
• 9 Cent per min/SMS

O2 provides the best free SIM cards on the German market.

Vodafone CallYa

• High-speed internet – 50 Mbit/s
• 9 Cent per min/SMS
• 3 cent/MB
• 100% free prepaid SIM card
• No contract
• No basic fee

Blau Basic

• Free SIM card
• 10 EUR initial fee, which will also be your starting balance
• 9 Cent per min/SMS
• No contract

What is a prepaid SIM card in Germany?

Prepaid SIM cards are prevalent among young people, e.g., students and apprentices in Germany. The concept of a prepaid SIM card tariff in Germany is simple, you preload it with some funds and spend it during the month how you want.

You can book a package of data and minutes or use it as you go and as long your balance allows. In most cases, unused internet will expire by the end of the 4-week period, but the remaining money won’t.

Generally, prepaid doesn’t have to be cheaper than contact, and the internet, in many instances, will cost you more with a prepaid SIM card. But it gives you total control of your mobile expenses.

When should you choose a mobile contact, and when a prepaid SIM card?

Mobile contract	Prepaid SIM card
Great for long-term stay (>1year)Include fast internet, unlimited call, text Has a long cancellation notice Requires German address and German bank account (IBAN)	Best for a short-term stay Best for low budget No contract and no cancelation period Slow & expensive ineternet

Canceling a SIM Card in Germany

Terminating SIM card contact isn’t some rare occasion; in fact, it happens pretty often. For this reason, it’s essential to read the conditions before you sign for a SIM card provider. Most companies mentioned in this article don’t require you to sign any contract, for example, WinSim.

Generally, most and the best prepaid SIM card offers are easily terminable.

Moreover, some providers have mobile apps where you can quit your package, but others might require you to visit the nearest office or at least call or email them.

Read more about cancelling mobile contract in Germany in this article.

How To Cancel A Mobile Phone Contract in Germany

How To Cancel A Mobile Phone Contract in Germany

Prepaid SIM cards or rates can usually be canceled at any time, with a period of 14-30 days to the end of the month. When you cancel, you can also decide if you want to keep the German phone number or not.

However, with prepaid sim card rates, you don’t even have to quit, you could just not recharge a balance anymore, and nothing will happen. But the best practice is, of course, to write an official termination if you no longer use it.

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