Drei Austria SIM & eSIM Plans Reviewed (2026)

Updated May 7, 2026 · Jules de Bruin, Editor · Verified against current Drei and up tariff pages

Updated May 2026. Hutchison Drei Austria is the country's third mobile network operator, with 20.4% of consumer SIMs in Q2 2025 and the "Best Network" award from Opensignal's Q1 2025 Austria report. Drei led overall download speed at 68.0 Mbps and posted the lowest nPerf 2026 latency at 24.86 ms. Plans split into two ranges: classic Drei contracts (Basic S, SIM Unlimited M, Unlimited L) and the app-native up by Drei brand starting at EUR 6.90 for 10 GB and scaling to EUR 24.90 for unlimited data.

Plans
Network
Pros & cons
Sign up
Alternatives
FAQ

Market share

20.4%

~2.80M consumer SIMs

Best Network award

68.0 Mbps

Opensignal Q1 2025

Latency

24.86 ms

nPerf 2026, lowest in Austria

Cheapest plan

EUR 6.90

up Start, no binding

Which Drei plan is best for me?

Drei has two product families. The up by Drei range is app-native and no-binding, ideal for digital-first users. up Pure at EUR 9.90 for 55 GB is the value sweet spot. up Unlimited+ at EUR 24.90 is the cheapest unlimited plan on Drei. Drei classic contracts (24 months) make sense if you want a handset bundle or shop support; otherwise stick with up.

Comparison of Drei and up by Drei tariffs: price, data, EU roaming, speed cap, term
Plan	Brand	Price	Data	EU data	Speed cap	Term	Action
up Start	up by Drei	EUR 6.90/mo	10 GB	in plan	100 Mbps	No binding	Claim Deal
up Pure	up by Drei	EUR 9.90/mo	55 GB	15 GB	100 Mbps	No binding	Claim Deal
up Smart	up by Drei	EUR 14.90/mo	70 GB	23 GB	150 Mbps	No binding	Claim Deal
up Unlimited+	up by Drei	EUR 24.90/mo	Unlimited	40 GB	250 Mbps	No binding	Claim Deal
up Under27	up by Drei	EUR 14.90/mo	Unlimited	23 GB	150 Mbps	Age 18-27	Claim Deal
Drei Basic S	Drei classic	EUR 24.90/mo	80 GB	in plan	150 Mbps	24 months	Claim Deal
Drei SIM Unlimited M	Drei classic	EUR 24.90/mo	Unlimited	in plan	unspecified	24 months	Claim Deal
Drei Unlimited L	Drei classic	EUR 44.90/mo	Unlimited	in plan	unspecified	24 months	Claim Deal

up plans activate via the up app in roughly five minutes. Drei classic contracts include handset bundles and shop-based support.

How is the Drei network in Austria?

Drei runs Austria's best overall network experience. Drei won Opensignal's "Best Network" award in Q1 2025, with 68.0 Mbps overall download, the highest of the three networks. nPerf 2026 measured Drei's average latency at 24.86 ms, the lowest in Austria. Magenta wins on 5G reach. A1 wins on coverage. Drei's strength is the real-world feel of the network: fast video starts, low ping, low jitter.

5G availability is strong on Drei in Vienna, Linz, Graz, and along the major motorway corridors. Verify against the RTR coverage map for your specific address before switching.

What are the pros and cons of Drei?

Pros

Opensignal Best Network winner (Q1 2025)
Lowest network latency in Austria (24.86 ms)
up by Drei: app-native, no-binding, 5-minute activation
up Unlimited+ is the cheapest unlimited plan on a top-tier network
Team-Abo discount on second up subscription
Shared radio with Lidl Connect and educom for value alternatives

Cons

A1 wins coverage in alpine and rural areas
Magenta wins on 5G coverage reach
Classic Drei contracts still default to 24-month binding
up requires app-based onboarding, less suited to non-digital users
Drei classic Basic S costs the same as up Unlimited+ for less data

How do I sign up for up by Drei?

1
Download the up app from the App Store or Google Play.
2
Pick your plan in the app. up Pure is the value default; up Unlimited+ is the unlimited choice.
3
Verify your identity with passport or Austrian ID via in-app video-ID.
4
Pick eSIM. up is eSIM-first. The QR code activates inside the app in roughly five minutes.
5
Port your number if you want to keep it. Cancel by giving five days' notice to month-end. See our number-porting guide for the NÜV process.

What are the best alternatives to Drei?

Lidl Connect Tarif L

EUR 9.50/30d · 100 GB · Drei network · Prepaid

educom vamos olé

EUR 9.99/mo · 60 GB · Drei coverage · Education-only

Compare A1 vs Drei →

Coverage king vs Best Network winner.

Compare Magenta vs Drei →

5G reach vs latency.

Frequently asked questions about Drei

Is Drei the best network in Austria?

Yes for overall network experience. Drei won Opensignal's Best Network title in the Q1 2025 Austria report and led overall download speed at 68.0 Mbps. Drei also recorded the lowest nPerf 2026 latency at 24.86 ms. A1 wins coverage. Magenta wins 5G reach and raw speed in nPerf 2026.

What is up by Drei?

up is Drei's app-native digital sub-brand. Plans start at EUR 6.90 for up Start with 10 GB and scale to EUR 24.90 for up Unlimited+ with unlimited data at 250 Mbps and 40 GB EU roaming. Activation runs through the up app in about five minutes. up Under27 offers unlimited data for EUR 14.90/month for users aged 18 to 27.

Does Drei have 5G?

Yes. Drei runs 5G across major cities and includes it on every up plan from up Smart upward, plus all classic Drei SIM-only Unlimited plans. Drei wins overall network experience but trails Magenta on 5G coverage reach.

How much does Drei cost?

Classic Drei SIM Unlimited M is EUR 24.90/month with a 24-month commitment. up by Drei is no-binding: up Pure EUR 9.90, up Smart EUR 14.90, up Unlimited+ EUR 24.90. Tariff Basic S is EUR 24.90 with 80 GB on a classic contract.

What is the difference between Drei and up by Drei?

Drei is the classic operator brand with handset bundles, classic 24-month contracts, and shop-led sales. up by Drei is the app-native, no-binding digital brand with five-minute activation. Both run on the same Drei radio network.