Telekom, Vodafone, o2 or 1&1: which mobile network is best in Germany?

What sets Germany’s four mobile networks apart, how much more a tariff on the Telekom network costs, and how to check reception where you live.

All prices in this guide come from our comparison of 274 German mobile tariffs and are average prices per month over 24 months, one-time costs included. As of 18 Oct 2026.

Four networks, many brands

Germany has four mobile networks: Telekom, Vodafone, o2 (Telefónica) and, since late 2023, 1&1. Every tariff runs on one of them, even if the SIM card says congstar, ALDI TALK or winSIM. So the question “which provider?” is really two questions: which network, and which tariff on it.

The networks in our comparison today

Network	Tariffs	Providers	Cheapest from 20 GB	Cheapest from 50 GB	With 5G
Telekom network	47	8	EDEKA smart Jahrespaket Premium 5G 240 GB / year, Ø €7.91	fraenk 50 GB 50 GB, Ø €15.00	95 %
Vodafone network	24	4	Lidl Connect SMART S 25 GB / 4 weeks, Ø €9.74	Lidl Connect Unlimited on Demand S 25 GB / 4 weeks, then unlimited top-ups, Ø €10.82	70 %
o2 network	116	11	Lebara Allnet 20 GB 20 GB, Ø €5.20	Lebara Allnet 50 GB 50 GB, Ø €9.20	87 %
1&1 network	81	10	sim.de Allnet Flat 15 + 10 GB 25 GB, Ø €6.99	sim.de Allnet Flat 50 GB 50 GB, Ø €9.99	80 %

What sets the networks apart

• Telekom has come out on top in the big network tests for years, especially in rural areas and along railway lines. Tariffs on the Telekom network are often a little dearer.
• Vodafone is level in many regions and usually comes second nationwide.
• o2 has caught up a lot in recent years, especially in cities. The o2 network has the most budget brands.
• 1&1 is still building its own network. Where it has no antennas of its own, 1&1 customers use the Vodafone network (national roaming).

Today the cheapest tariff with at least 20 GB on the Telekom network costs €7.91 a month on average (EDEKA smart Jahrespaket Premium 5G), on the o2 network €5.20 (Lebara Allnet 20 GB). That is €2.71 more a month, €65.14 over 24 months.

How to find the right network for where you live

Nationwide test winners do not help much if your home is in a dead spot. Better:

1. Check your address on the mobile coverage map of the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, “Mobilfunk-Monitoring”) and on the operators’ own coverage maps.
2. Ask neighbours or colleagues which network works for them at home and at the office.
3. Try a network for a month with a monthly cancellable tariff or prepaid before committing for 24 months.

If you are mostly in the city, any network will usually do, and the o2 or Vodafone network saves money. If you travel a lot in the countryside or by train, the Telekom network is usually the best choice.