Getting a German SIM card -The best prepaid SIM card with data in Germany

Categorie(s): Blog, Life in Germany

What is the best prepaid SIM card in Germany

What is the best German SIM card for foreign nationals?

I get this question a lot from expats and international students I’ve met throughout my university years who have just stepped out of the airplane and want to get a German SIM card asap. I always recommend the same prepaid SIM card with optional data upgrades:

Lidl connect from the correspondent supermarket chain.
Here is why:

#Easy to obtain

The first day you arrive in Germany is most likely the day you need to do your first grocery shopping. You can do that and conveniently obtain your German SIM card at the same time in one of over 1600 Lidl supermarkets.

Just enter the zip code of your residence in Germany to find the nearest Lidl.

You can find different prepaid SIM card options hanging at the checkout. Just pick one and put it together with your grocery on the conveyor belt. The cashier will either personally go to the back office to get your starter pack or call someone else to do it.

Like everything else, it will appear on your receipt after it is scanned.

The SIM card comes with a Triple-SIM-frame (standard, micro, nano) to fit in any tablet or smart-/mobile phone.

Lidl Connect has a cooperation agreement with Vodafone and hence uses its mobile phone network “D-Netz” in 2G and 3G (up to 21.6 Mbit/s,).

#Easy to top up credits

(Screenshot -Lidl Connect App)

All tariffs have a starting credit of 10 Euro.

Additional credits are available at every checkout (Guthabenkarte -s. picture). Again, put them on the conveyor belt and the cashier will hand you a voucher with a 12 digit-code.

To top up your balance, you need to enter the combination *100*yourcode# and press send. You will immediately receive a confirmation. To check your current balance you need to enter *100# and press send.

Via app: This is the most convenient method, but this only works if you have a German bank account to process the payment. The app even allows you to top up credits outside of Germany, when you are travelling within the EU.

Bonus: If you have a friend using a German SIM card from Lidl, tell him to register your number in his Lidl Web Account after you have activated your SIM. Each of you will then receive 5€ extra credit within 3 days. You can only recommend one friend per month.

#No roaming costs within the EU

It is convenient to travel, since Lidl does not charge roaming costs within the EU.

If you have booked a monthly unlimited plan in Germany, you can continue to use your anytime minutes or data to call/surf in every EU country without extra charges.

This is dope, because I always hate getting a new SIM card each time I travel outside of Germany.

Your credits don’t expire and all tariffs can be cancelled anytime from your web-account or app. Here is a short preview of the tariff (2016). Go to their website to see the latest prices.

I am currently using the smart s tariff for 7,99€/month which grants me 1GB and 300 anytime minutes or text messages. If everything is used up in a month, prices will be calculated based on the classic tariff. It worked for me and my everyday needs. Hence, I strongly recommend this tariff.

Here is how you activate your card:

1. Brake down the SIM together with frame that fits your device (standard, micro, nano). Put it in your device and enter your pin that is written on the back of your card
2. Go to lidl-connect.de and click on Als Neukunde freischalten to activate your card

If you don’t have internet access yet, you can alternatively call the customer service 0800 503 583 7. Simply provide: Name, address, birthdate, e-Mail and bank details (if you already have a German account)

How about other prepaid SIM cards in Germany?

You may also want to give the Aldi SIM card in Germany a try. It is also a prepaid SIM that is widely popular among locals with almost identical tariffs.

I will update this post in the near future to introduce other options for different needs. -Stay stuned!

FAQ

Do I need a bank account in Germany?
How do German phone numbers look like?
Do I need to show my ID to purchase a prepaid SIM card in Germany?
Why is this new ID regulation for German prepaid cards implemented?
Will German supermarkets continue to sell prepaid cards after July 2017?
Are post ID registrations required for sim cards bought before July 2017?
Do you think this ID regulation is effective to combat terrorism?

Credits either hang at the checkout or are available upon request. Simply ask the cashier

Do I need a bank account in Germany?

No.

As I already mentioned, you can top up credits each time you go grocery shopping. Most German supermarkets provide credits for major carriers such as Telekom, O2, and Vodafone.

Having a German bank account will just allow you to do the same with the respective app.

How do German phone numbers look like?

Landline and mobile phone numbers follow a distinct logic in Germany.

A German landline number…

consists of the country code (+49), an area code (eg. 069 for Frankfurt) and a personal number (111111).

• Calls from another country to a German landline number in Frankfurt: +49 69 111111
  Notice how the “0” was omitted from the area code
• Calling from another German city to Frankfurt: 069 111111
  Omit the country code and add the complete area code to the personal number.
  All area codes are available here
• For landline calls within the same city: 111111
  Omit the area code as well and directly enter the personal landline number

A German mobile number…

consists of the country code (+49), a carrier code (eg. 0174 ) and a personal number (111111).

• Calls from another country to a German Mobile: +49 174 111111
  Notice how the “0” was omitted from the carrier code
• Calls within Germany: 0174 111111
  Omit the country code and add the complete carrier code to the personal mobile number.All carrier codes:
  • O2: 0159, 0176, 0179
  • T-Mobile: 0151, 0160, 0170, 0171, 0175
  • Vodafone: 0152, 0162, 0172, 0173, 0174
  • E-Plus: 0155, 0157, 0161, 0163, 0164, 0177, 0178

Do I need to show my ID to purchase a prepaid SIM card in Germany?

Starting from July 2017, buying and activating a German SIM card will require an ID registration. Until then, you are free to anonymously purchase as many prepaid SIM cards as you like.

This is the main reason why I recommend getting it from a supermarket in the first place.

You stay anonymous.

On the contrary, if you obtain a German SIM card from an official shop of a mobile operator like O2 or Vodafone, you might be required to provide an ID. They will take down your contact details and annoy the crap out of you with ads, newsletter messages, surveys or promo calls.

I’ve made the same experience in Slovakia, China, Taiwan and other Asian countries.

So, stay away from these shops and be smart about where you buy your German SIM card.

I’ve been using Lidl connect for 3 years now and have never received unwanted ads, calls or messages. I can’t say the same thing about O2 and Co.

Why is this new ID regulation for German prepaid cards implemented?

To combat criminal activities and terrorism, the German government has tighten the laws on paragraph 111 TKG to restrict the sales of prepaid SIM cards.

In the past, terrorists excessively purchased prepaid SIM cards to conceal their identity and illegal activities.

Will German supermarkets continue to sell prepaid cards after July 2017?

At present, Lidl, Aldi & Rossmann are examining different ways to conveniently implement ID-Checks with extra terminals or apps. Since additional costs are involved, prices for prepaid SIM cards are expected to increase. It is very unlikely that this ID-registration will take place at the cashier where people are impatiently queuing.

With that said, Aldi Talk Belgium has already stopped selling prepaid SIM cards because of this complexity. Therefore, I wouldn’t completely rule out the same scenario for Germany.

I will you keep you guys up-to-date, once official plans are publicly disclosed.

Are post ID registrations required for SIM cards bought before July 2017?

No.

Do you think this regulation is effective to combat terrorism?

Not really.

I doubt it because you can still obtain:

• prepaid SIM cards in other EU countries without any ID (e.g.Austria)
• used prepaid cards without any ID
• fake IDs

Where there’s a will there’s a way.

Take a look at France where this regulation has already been implemented. Has this discouraged terrorist attacks?

-Nope.

So, what do you guys think?