1 GB
Valid for 7 days
$4.99
$4.99 per GB
eSIM for Germany
Germany runs on apps that assume you are online. The Deutschland-Ticket, €63 a month for every regional train, bus, tram and U-Bahn in the country, lives in the DB Navigator app and nowhere else. Your ICE seat reservation and the last-minute platform change arrive there too.
The catch is that German coverage is famously uneven. In October 2025 the Bundesnetzagentur still counted 2.1% of the country with no 4G or 5G at all. Another 14% is covered by some networks but not others. Telekom leads on 5G reach and speed, which matters on ICE lines and Autobahn stretches where every tunnel cuts the signal.
A FairSIM eSIM for Germany connects to Telekom or Vodafone at the wholesale rate. A German prepaid SIM has needed passport verification since 2017, often by queuing at a Deutsche Post counter with a PostIdent coupon. The eSIM installs at home in one tap and is live when you land in Frankfurt or Munich.
Germany eSIM plans
Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.
How long is your trip?
All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.
- Get it in the app for Germany
3 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Germany$9.99
$3.33 per GB
- Best value
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Germany$19.99
$2.00 per GB
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
Get it in the app for Germany$33.99
Speed policy shown in the app
Coverage in Germany
- 4G LTE
- 5G
- TelekomThe fastest network in Opensignal's November 2025 report at 68.9 Mbps average download, with the best 5G reach and reliability. The most common travel eSIM host.
- VodafoneSecond on 5G speed at about 154 Mbps, and the national roaming partner behind 1&1's new fourth network. A frequent travel eSIM host.
- O2 TelefónicaTook Opensignal's coverage award by a decimal over Telekom, and built the shared 4G and 5G systems in the Berlin and Munich U-Bahns.
Typical speed: About 77 Mbps median download (Ookla Speedtest Global Index, December 2025); Telekom 5G averages about 174 Mbps (Opensignal, November 2025).
Cities and towns are excellent. Gaps persist in rural Bavaria, parts of eastern Germany and forested Autobahn stretches, and tunnels on the high-speed rail lines drop the signal. Telekom has pledged gap-free coverage along all Deutsche Bahn lines by the end of 2026.
How much data do you need in Germany?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Berlin city break
Three to five days of museums, U-Bahn hopping, clubs and Currywurst.
Why data matters: BVG Fahrinfo and Jelbi for transit and shared bikes, Museum Island and Reichstag dome bookings, Google Maps, Bolt or FreeNow, Google Translate for menus.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Munich, Oktoberfest and Bavaria
Beer tents, Neuschwanstein and a day trip into the Alps.
Why data matters: MVGO for the S-Bahn, Neuschwanstein timed tickets that sell out days ahead, WhatsApp to find your group in a tent of 8,000 people, photo and video uploads.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Christmas markets by train
Nuremberg, Dresden, Cologne and Rothenburg in one December loop.
Why data matters: DB Navigator tickets and platform changes, the Deutschland-Ticket QR code at inspection, hotel check-ins, market maps and Glühwein money at an ATM.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Autobahn and Romantic Road road trip
A rental car from Frankfurt through Würzburg, Rothenburg and Füssen.
Why data matters: Google Maps or Waze for live traffic and Stau warnings, parking and EV-charging apps, castle bookings, and offline maps for the rural gaps.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Multi-country Europe rail trip
Berlin to Prague, Vienna or Amsterdam on ICE and EC trains.
Why data matters: DB Navigator and Trainline, maps and hotels in several cities, WhatsApp across borders. The Europe regional plan keeps working when the train crosses into Austria or the Netherlands.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 12 GB
- 30 days
- 25 GB
Business travel
Trade fairs in Frankfurt, Hanover and Munich, or meetings in Berlin and Hamburg.
Why data matters: Email, Teams or Zoom, tethering the laptop on the ICE, taxis via FreeNow, expense apps. ICE Wi-Fi is free but shared.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Germany
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Germany start at $4.99 and never bill per day.
EU and EEA residents roam free in Germany under Roam Like at Home. These prices apply to visitors from outside the EU.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per day, so $84 for a week | from $4.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day, slowed after 2 GB in 24 hours | from $4.99, no daily fee |
| T-Mobile (US) | Free 256 kbps on most plans; $5 per day for full speed | from $4.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | £2.47 per day or £25 per month with the Roam Abroad Pass | from $4.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day | from $4.99, no daily fee |
| Rogers (Canada) | C$18 per day with Roam Like Home | from $4.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
- 1
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
- 2
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
- 3
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Germany
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and switch data on when you land at Frankfurt, Munich or Berlin. It connects to Telekom or Vodafone automatically.
The Europe regional plan bought for Germany keeps working in Austria, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia and the rest of the EU. Switzerland sits outside EU roaming, so check the plan's country list before a Zurich day trip.
The Deutschland-Ticket is a €63 monthly subscription bought in DB Navigator and cancellable by the 10th. Inspectors scan the QR code in the app, so keep data on and the phone charged.
ICE Wi-Fi is free but shared and slow. Your eSIM is faster on most lines, but the Cologne to Frankfurt and Nuremberg to Munich high-speed lines run through many tunnels, so download before boarding.
The Berlin U-Bahn has had 4G on all three networks since May 2024. Munich's U-Bahn has 4G on every line and 5G on O2, so maps work underground.
Oktoberfest tents are the most crowded cells in the country. Telekom moved a record 299,138 GB on the Wiesn in 2025, so send the meeting point before you go in and expect slow uploads inside.
Rural Bavaria, the Black Forest valleys and stretches of Autobahn through the eastern states still have dead spots. Download offline Google Maps for the drive.
Keep your home SIM active for banking SMS codes and turn off its data roaming to avoid $12 daily passes.
Apps you will actually use
- DB Navigator ICE and regional tickets, live platform changes, and the Deutschland-Ticket subscription.
- BVG Fahrinfo and Jelbi Berlin U-Bahn, S-Bahn and shared bikes and scooters in one app.
- MVGO Munich U-Bahn and S-Bahn tickets, including the airport.
- FreeNow, Uber and Bolt FreeNow is the taxi app that works in every city; Uber and Bolt cover the big ones.
- Google Maps and Waze driving with live Stau warnings; both handle transit routing well.
- Timed tickets Neuschwanstein, the Reichstag dome and Berlin's Museum Island book online and sell out in season.
- Google Translate camera mode for menus and ticket machines.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted at most shops and chains, less so at bakeries, kiosks and market stalls.
Cashless only overtook cash in Germany in 2025, and 45% of purchases are still paid in cash, so carry euros for beer gardens, bakeries and Christmas-market stalls.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Better than its reputation in transport, weaker in cafés. Deutsche Bahn offers free WIFI@DB at about 600 stations and free WIFIonICE on every ICE and IC. Train speeds are usually 5 to 20 Mbps and drop in tunnels. Berlin runs more than 2,000 public hotspots. Many cafés and small hotels still have none, or a password on request.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Germany?
German prepaid SIMs are cheap but slow to get going. Telekom's MagentaMobil Prepaid S is €4.95 for 1 GB per four weeks, O2 Prepaid S is €9.99 for 6 GB, and supermarket brands sell about 25 GB for €8.99. Since July 2017 every SIM must be tied to a verified identity. Tourists do a VideoIdent call or take a PostIdent coupon and their passport to a Deutsche Post counter, and the SIM stays dead until that clears. Shops close on Sundays.
For most visits a travel eSIM is the simpler choice: no Deutsche Post queue, no passport video call, no physical SIM swap, and the Europe regional plan works across the EU. A local SIM only wins if you need a German phone number.
Good to know before you land in Germany
- Currency
- Euro (€, EUR)
- Plug type
- Type C and F (European two-pin)
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency number
- 112 for fire and ambulance, 110 for police
- Language
- German
- Time zone
- UTC+1, UTC+2 in summer
- Capital
- Berlin
Germany eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Germany?
Yes. Telekom, Vodafone and O2 all support eSIM roaming, with 4G on 97.6% of the land area and 5G in every city and along most major routes. Any eSIM-compatible iPhone (XS and newer) connects automatically.
Which network will my FairSIM eSIM use in Germany?
Plans typically connect to Telekom or Vodafone, the two fastest 5G networks in Opensignal's November 2025 report. The app shows the network for each plan.
Do I get 5G in Germany with an eSIM?
Usually, on a 5G phone in cities and along Autobahns and ICE lines. Telekom's 5G reaches about 87% of the land area. 4G remains the fallback and is fine for maps and video.
Can I use hotspot or tethering?
Most FairSIM plans support Personal Hotspot; the plan details in the app confirm it. Handy for a laptop on the ICE when the train Wi-Fi crawls.
Should I install the eSIM before or after landing?
Install before you leave, over Wi-Fi, and activate data on arrival. Installation needs an internet connection; Frankfurt and Munich airports have free Wi-Fi if you forgot.
Can I make calls with a Germany eSIM?
FairSIM is data-only. Calls and texts run over WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram or Google Voice. Keep your home SIM for incoming SMS codes.
How much data do I need for 7 days in Germany?
About 3 to 5 GB for maps, DB Navigator, messaging and photos; 10 GB if you stream, work on the train or navigate by car every day. Top up in the app if you run low.
Is an eSIM better than a German prepaid SIM?
For most trips, yes: no PostIdent or VideoIdent passport check, no wait for activation, no swapping your physical SIM, and the same plan works across the EU. A local SIM only wins if you need a German phone number for months.
Will my Germany eSIM work in Austria, France or Switzerland?
The Europe regional plan works across the EU and EEA, including Austria, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Czechia. Switzerland is outside EU roaming rules, so check that it appears on the plan's country list.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer. iOS 17.4 or later unlocks the one-tap install with no QR code. Check the full list on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
Traveling beyond Germany?
Get your Germany eSIM in the app
Plans from $4.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.
Download on theApp Store
iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install
