A1 vs Magenta in Austria (2026): Which is Better?

Updated May 7, 2026 · Jules de Bruin, Editor · Verdict by user type at the bottom

Updated May 2026. A1 wins coverage, Magenta wins raw speed and 5G reach. A1 led Opensignal coverage experience at 8.4/10 in Q1 2025. Magenta won nPerf's 2026 Austria barometer with 187.51 Mbps download and led 5G coverage at 3.6/10. A1 is cheaper for like-for-like plans: SIMply S at EUR 14.90 beats Magenta's Mobile Sim Only M at EUR 24.90. Magenta wins for raw speed and city dwellers; A1 wins for travellers and rural users.

Side-by-side
Network
Prices
Verdict
FAQ

A1 vs Magenta at a glance

A1 A1

Market share: 36.2%
Coverage score: 8.4/10 (best)
Download speed: 65.9 Mbps (Opensignal)
5G coverage: 2nd in Austria
Cheapest plan: EUR 12.90 (Youth)
Unlimited from: EUR 24.90

M Magenta

Market share: 24.9%
Coverage score: 3rd of 3 networks
Download speed: 187.51 Mbps (nPerf #1)
5G coverage: 3.6/10 (best)
Cheapest plan: EUR 11.90 (Hi!Magenta)
Unlimited from: EUR 29.90

Whose network performs better in Austria?

Different metric, different winner. A1 wins on Opensignal's coverage experience. Magenta wins on Opensignal's 5G coverage, upload speed, and the entire nPerf 2026 leaderboard.

Network performance comparison: A1 vs Magenta on Opensignal Q1 2025 and nPerf 2026 metrics
Metric	A1	Magenta	Winner
Opensignal coverage	8.4/10	7.8/10 est.	A1
Opensignal 5G coverage	2.9/10 est.	3.6/10	Magenta
Opensignal download	65.9 Mbps	67.2 Mbps	Magenta
Opensignal upload	14.0 Mbps	16.9 Mbps	Magenta
nPerf 2026 download	~165 Mbps	187.51 Mbps	Magenta
nPerf 2026 upload	~30 Mbps	33.22 Mbps	Magenta
nPerf 2026 overall nPoints	99,082	107,724	Magenta

A1 vs Magenta prices side by side

Plan-by-plan price comparison between A1 and Magenta
Tier	A1 plan	A1 price	Magenta plan	Magenta price
Budget	SIMply Youth (under-26)	EUR 12.90	Hi!Magenta Sim Only	EUR 11.90
Entry	SIMply S (120 GB)	EUR 14.90 / 19.90	Mobile Sim Only M (70 GB)	EUR 24.90
Mid	SIMply M (200 GB)	EUR 21.90 / 26.90	—	—
Unlimited	SIMply L	EUR 24.90 / 29.90	Mobile Sim Only Unlimited	EUR 29.90

A1 is cheaper across the board for like-for-like plans by EUR 5 to EUR 10 per month at most price points. Magenta's premium reflects its raw-speed and 5G-coverage leadership.

Should I pick A1 or Magenta?

Pick A1 if:

· You live or travel in alpine or rural Austria
· Coverage matters more than peak speed
· You want the largest EU roaming bucket (48 GB on SIMply L)
· You are under 26 (SIMply Youth at EUR 12.90)
· You want EUR 5-10/month cheaper for the same data

View A1 plans →

Pick Magenta if:

· You live in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, or Innsbruck
· You want the fastest possible download speed
· You want the most-developed 5G layer in Austria
· You stream high-quality video on the go
· You can absorb the EUR 5/month premium

View Magenta plans →

Frequently asked questions

Which is better in Austria, A1 or Magenta?

It depends on your priority. A1 wins coverage at 8.4/10 in Opensignal Q1 2025. Magenta wins raw speed (187.51 Mbps in nPerf 2026) and 5G coverage at 3.6/10. If you live or travel in alpine or rural Austria, pick A1. If you live in a city and want the fastest possible speeds, pick Magenta.

Is A1 more expensive than Magenta?

No, the opposite. A1 SIMply S at EUR 14.90/month for A1 customers is cheaper than Magenta Mobile Sim Only M at EUR 24.90/month. A1 SIMply L at EUR 24.90 with unlimited data is cheaper than Magenta Unlimited at EUR 29.90. A1 is meaningfully cheaper for like-for-like plans.

Does A1 or Magenta have better 5G in Austria?

Magenta has better 5G coverage. Opensignal scored Magenta 3.6/10 on 5G coverage experience in Q1 2025, the highest of the three Austrian networks. Magenta also won the nPerf 2026 5G download benchmark. A1 has the best LTE coverage but trails Magenta on 5G reach.