Compare SIM & eSIM Providers in Germany

Most German prepaid (and some flanker contract) tariffs run on a 28-day option cycle, not a calendar month. A €9.99 tariff billed every 28 days renews 13× per year — that's €129.87/year, not €119.88. Brands like fraenk, 1&1, sim.de, winSIM, and Blau Flex use monthly billing instead. Always check the cadence before comparing headline prices.

German law (TKG) requires identity verification before any SIM activates. VideoIdent is a live video call with a verification agent who checks your passport or ID. The alternative is PostIdent at a Deutsche Post branch. Vodafone's CallYa eSIM flow and O2's prepaid activation both use VideoIdent by default.

Switzerland is not in the EU, so "Roam Like at Home" rules don't apply. Some providers include Switzerland anyway: Telekom, fraenk, KAUFLAND MOBIL, and NORMA connect treat Switzerland in zone-1 roaming. Vodafone CallYa sells Switzerland separately. The UK is post-Brexit out of EU roaming — Telekom and Vodafone still include it on most tariffs.

All four networks now offer 5G on prepaid, but speed caps differ. Telekom and Vodafone uncap on premium prepaid. Supermarket brands (LIDL, NORMA, KAUFLAND, ja!, Penny) typically cap 5G at 50-100 Mbit/s. congstar prepaid caps at 25 Mbit/s. 1&1 contracts reach 300 Mbit/s 5G.