Phone and Internet - staying connected in Germany

By: Simon Heinrich – Last updated: 03/2026 

A German mobile number and a reliable internet connection are among the first to-dos after you arrive in Germany. They’re important for apartment hunting, applications, online banking, appointments with authorities, and everyday life. On this page, you’ll get a structured overview of what kind of mobile plan in Germany you actually need, how to set up mobile service and home internet step by step, and what to watch out for when it comes to plans, contract terms, and costs.

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On this page you’ll find:

Who is this page for?

Whether you’re studying, starting your first job, or moving with your family—your phone and internet setup will look different depending on your situation. To make it easier to figure out what matters most for you, we’ll use three typical groups.

Students & apprentices

You’re coming to Germany for university, a language course, or vocational training and want to stay reachable without stress. Often you’ll live in a shared flat (WG), a dorm, or with a host family – sometimes with shared Wi‑Fi, sometimes without a fixed connection.​

For mobile service, the main things for you are a reliable network, enough data, and fair terms – especially if you occasionally call abroad. Here you’ll find guidance on which mix of prepaid, student plans, and existing internet connections best fits your everyday life and budget.

Career starters & skilled professionals

You’re starting in Germany with an employment contract, a trainee program, or as a skilled professional. For you, it’s important to be reachable from day one – for employers, clients, and authorities.

At the same time, working from home, video calls, and streaming often matter more: speed, stability, and customer service can be more important than just the lowest price. Here you’ll learn how to choose a suitable mobile plan and a strong home internet connection – including tips on contract length, cancellation deadlines, and bundle packages.

Families & accompanying partners

You’re planning your move to Germany as a family, or you’re joining your partner. Then it’s often not just one connection, but multiple phones, tablets, and Wi‑Fi for the household.

Predictable monthly costs matter a lot, as well as good reachability for school, daycare, and authorities – and stable connections for video calls with family and friends abroad. Here you’ll find guidance on how to bundle mobile and internet sensibly, which contract types work well for families, and what to watch out for so monthly costs don’t get out of hand.

How do other situations fit in?

Prepare for Germany is also relevant if you’re coming to Germany as an au pair, as part of a voluntary service program, for an exchange or program-based study stay, or with an Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte). Many phone and internet decisions can be mapped to one of the groups above:​

  • Au pairs and voluntary service:
    You usually live with a host family and often use their Wi‑Fi. The key is a mobile option that works well for everyday communication and navigation.

  • Exchange and program students:
    For longer stays, having your own internet contract in a shared flat can make sense. Short programs often work fine with a good mobile plan plus on-site Wi‑Fi.

  • Skilled professionals on an Opportunity Card or working on projects:
    Planning certainty matters—especially whether a 24‑month contract is really worth it, or whether flexible options make more sense.​

So you don’t have to check every special rule individually, you’ll find pointers below to help you choose the best category for your situation.

Which connections do you really need?

  • Mobile: Without a mobile plan, nothing works—you need a reachable number for banks, landlords, authorities, applications, and two-factor logins.

  • Home internet: Depending on your housing situation, Wi‑Fi from flatmates or your landlord might be enough. In other cases, you’ll need your own DSL, cable, or fibre contract to work reliably, stream, and make calls.

  • Landline: A classic landline number is rarely strictly necessary today—often it’s just included in bundle packages. What matters is whether you’ll actually use it, or whether a mobile plan is enough.

Goal: choose a setup that fits your everyday life and budget—without duplicate contracts you don’t end up using.

Mobile: choose a plan and set up your SIM card

For mobile service, three questions matter most: How much data do you need, how flexible do you want to be, and how important is good coverage where you live and work?

For the begining we recommend Vodafone Callya, later the offers from Simyo are a good option. (Ad)

Typical steps:

  • Clarify your needs:
    How much data do you realistically use per month? Do you stream a lot while out and about, or mostly use Wi‑Fi?
  • Choose a plan type:
    Prepaid, a monthly cancellable plan, or a fixed-term contract—depending on your planning horizon and your creditworthiness (Bonität), different options may be available.​
  • Check network coverage:
    Not every network is equally strong everywhere. Especially outside major cities, it’s worth checking coverage maps.
  • Order and register your SIM/eSIM:
    You order a SIM card or eSIM, verify your identity as required by German law, and activate your plan. After that, you can bring your existing number over to Germany (if possible) or port it later.

You’ll find more detailed comparisons of specific providers on the dedicated page for mobile plans.

Home internet: plan your connection

For home internet, what matters most is which technology is already available in the building—and how quickly you need the connection.

If the provider is available at your address, we recommend 1&1; if you don’t need a landline number and want maximum flexibility, it’s worth taking a look at Congstar. (Ad)

Typical steps:

  • Check the available technology:
    DSL, cable, or fibre—often there are existing installations you can continue using. Sometimes only one option is available.
  • Estimate your needs:
    Do you live alone or with others? Do you work from home, use video calls, or mainly stream?
  • Contract length and moving:
    24‑month contracts are often cheaper, but less flexible. If you’re not sure how long you’ll stay, shorter terms or special cancellation rights can matter more.
  • Scheduling:
    It can take a few weeks for a connection to become active. Plan your start date so you’re not without internet for weeks.

Here as well, you’ll later be able to compare concrete providers, speeds, and packages on a separate comparison page.

Bundle deals, contracts & cost control

Many providers bundle mobile and home internet into one package. This can be worth it – but it’s not automatically the best solution.

With this comparison calculator, you can check whether your existing mobile plan qualifies you for a discount on your DSL contract.

What to watch out for:

  • Bundle vs. separate contracts:
    Bundles are often cheaper if you actually need the included features. Otherwise, you pay for components you never use.
  • Contract terms & cancellation deadlines:
    Watch out for automatic renewals after the minimum term and save cancellation dates early in your calendar.
  • Add-ons:
    TV packages, streaming subscriptions, or roaming bundles can sound attractive—but they can noticeably increase your monthly costs.
  • Payment method & cost control:
    Check whether you can set spending limits and how you receive invoices (app, email, customer portal).

Goal: a setup you understand and can actively manage—without surprises on your bill.

Common mistakes - and how to avoid them

With phone and internet, typical mistakes can quickly lead to unnecessary costs or poor reachability. Common pitfalls:

  • Waiting too long:
    Without an active SIM card and internet access, many things become more complicated—from apartment hunting to online appointments.
  • Only looking at the price:
    Cheap plans don’t help much if coverage, speed, or customer service don’t fit your situation.
  • Duplicate contracts:
    Mobile, home internet, Wi‑Fi from the landlord, plus another bundle—suddenly you’re paying for overlapping services.
  • Not keeping track of cancellations:
    Without an overview of contract terms and deadlines, contracts renew automatically—often on worse conditions.

If you keep these points in mind from the beginning, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money later.

FAQ: common questions about phone & internet

Many questions about phone and internet come up for almost everyone new to Germany—regardless of their status or where they live. In this section, you’ll find short answers to common questions about registration, contract terms, cancellation, and switching options. They don’t replace individual advice, but they can help you make better decisions.

Do I need a German mobile plan before entering Germany?

In many cases, a plan from your home country or an international plan is enough at first. But for apartment hunting, opening a bank account, and dealing with authorities, a German number is very helpful—especially for SMS codes and call-backs.

Do I need a German mobile plan before entering Germany?

For email, browsing, and video calls, 50–100 Mbit/s is often enough. If multiple people stream, game, or work from home at the same time, a faster plan can be worth it. More important than the maximum speed is a stable connection.

What if I leave Germany again after a short time?

Look for monthly cancellable plans or options with a short minimum term. That helps you avoid a 24‑month contract continuing even after you’ve left the country.

Can I switch my mobile plan and internet contract later without problems?

Yes: you can cancel once the contract term ends. Depending on the provider, contracts usually run between one month and 24 months. Note the cancellation/switching date right when you sign, so you don’t miss the deadline.

Keep everything on track - with your roadmap

Phone and internet are just one building block of your start in Germany. In parallel, you’ll deal with your bank account, health insurance, housing, residence permit, official letters, and more. Many decisions are connected—for example, you often need a German mobile number and stable internet first for online banking, job portals, or communicating with landlords.

So you don’t lose track, you can get your personal roadmap. It shows you the best order for tackling the most important topics—from bank accounts and insurance to housing, phone, internet, and everyday life in Germany. That way you can keep deadlines, documents, and next steps under control and plan your move and start more smoothly.

Get the roadmap

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