Unlimited data in Germany: flat rate or on demand?

True flat rate or Unlimited on Demand, what more speed costs, what applies elsewhere in the EU and who unlimited data is for.

All prices in this guide come from our comparison of 385 German mobile tariffs and are average prices per month over 24 months, one-time costs included. As of 10 Nov 2026.

Two kinds of “unlimited”

If you look for a tariff without a data limit in Germany, you will find two different models. We count both as unlimited, but they work differently in everyday use.

• True flat rate: there is no data allowance at all; use as much as you like. These tariffs differ mainly in their top speed, and true flat rates at full speed are among the most expensive tariffs on the market.
• Unlimited on Demand: the tariff includes a fixed volume, say 25 GB. Once it is used up, you add more for free by app or text message, usually in small packs of 1 GB or 2 GB, as often as you like. This is much cheaper, but you have to top up each time.

Of the 54 tariffs without a data limit in our comparison, 29 are “on demand”. Tariffs that only slow down to a very low speed once their volume is used up are not counted as unlimited.

Unlimited tariffs per network: number, how many are on demand, the cheapest and the cheapest true flat rate

Network	Tariffs	On demand	Cheapest	Cheapest true flat rate
Telekom network	3	0	freenet Magenta Mobil XL Unlimited, Ø €46.20 Go to provider	freenet Magenta Mobil XL Unlimited, Ø €46.20 Go to provider
Vodafone network	10	4	Lidl Connect Unlimited on Demand S 25 GB / 4 weeks, then unlimited top-ups, Ø €10.82 Go to provider	freenet Allnet Unlimited Advanced 50 Unlimited, Ø €26.24 Go to provider
o2 network	25	12	ALDI TALK Tarif S 25 GB / 4 weeks, then unlimited top-ups, Ø €10.82 Go to provider	freenet FUNK FUNK Unlimited Unlimited, Ø €20.03 Go to provider
1&1 network	16	13	winSIM Unlimited 1 GB on demand 30 GB 30 GB, then unlimited top-ups, Ø €17.99 Go to provider	SimDiscount Allnet-Flat unlimited on demand Unlimited, Ø €19.99 Go to provider

What more speed costs

With unlimited tariffs, speed is what drives the price. For HD streaming, video calls and browsing, 25 to 50 Mbit/s is plenty. More pays off if you download large files, connect several devices through a hotspot or use the tariff as your home internet.

Tariffs that state no speed are not in this table.

Unlimited elsewhere in the EU

Within the EU you use your German tariff on the same terms as at home. For unlimited and very cheap tariffs, however, providers may set a cap for use in other EU countries that depends on the tariff’s price (fair use). The cap is in your tariff’s price sheet; beyond it, data gets expensive. If you stay in another EU country for longer, check it beforehand.

Who unlimited is for

• If you use more than 50 GB every month, for instance by streaming on the go or running a hotspot for your laptop.
• If you want to use the tariff as internet at home. Check first whether the provider allows use in a router.
• If you don’t want to watch your data any more. With “on demand” you still top up, but the price is often half as high.

If you need less, a tariff with 50 GB or 100 GB usually costs less; how much data you really need is explained in How much data do I need?.

Comparisons: unlimited data, 100 GB or more, 50 GB or more.