Best Internet Providers in Germany – 2024 Top 4 Comparison

Wondering how to set up your internet connection in Germany? You are at the right place. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about connecting to the internet in Germany. We will talk about the process to set up your internet, the prices, the best internet providers in Germany, internet plans without a long contract, as well as tips on how to pick the best plan and save money.

A short summary of the 4 best internet providers in Germany

If you don’t have much time, here are the highlights of the 4 best internet providers in Germany: 

Vodafone – Fastest cable internet service.

O2 – DSL, cable, fiber optics, and LTE available. No minimum contract term possible.

1&1 – Fast internet including mobile SIM cards. No minimum contract term possible.

Telekom – Relatively pricy, but best for bundle package (with TV, mobile, etc.)

Keep on reading for more details about connecting to the internet in Germany. Scroll down for a detailed comparison table of the best internet providers in Germany.

Introduction

Let’s admit it. Nowadays, it is hard to live without the internet. You will need the internet for almost everything in Germany: looking for a place to live, finding a job, online shopping, streaming movies, looking for a date, socializing, and even making money from home in Germany. So, you have to consider your internet cost as part of your cost of living in Germany.

If you are moving into a new home in Germany, setting up your internet should be one of the first things to do. It is not that complicated to get your internet in Germany. Actually, it is quite straightforward to sign up for an internet plan and you can do this online.

In this article, we will talk about the best internet providers in Germany. They are generally the biggest providers in the market. There are also many small local internet providers in Germany. I have not included them in this article as they are very regional and may not be available at every address.

If you are looking for a mobile phone plan in Germany, check this out: Best Mobile Operator in Germany – Compare the Top Plans

What types of internet connections you can use in Germany?

The main types of internet connection in Germany include DSL, cable, optical fiber, LTE, and satellite connection. You can see in the below table what they are, and their pros and cons.

Using public Wi-Fi in Germany

In the past, it was difficult to find public Wi-Fi in Germany. There was a law in Germany that made the hotspot providers liable if their internet users were doing things illegally online. For example, downloading movies or films illegally from pirate websites. 

Fortunately, the law has changed now. Nowadays, you can easily find Wi-Fi in public places like restaurants, bars, hotels, or airports. If you are a student, you will likely find Wi-Fi in your university as well. 

Besides, you can also find internet café easily in Germany. The price of connecting to the internet in these cafes in Germany ranges from 1 to 3 Euros per hour.

Like anywhere in the world, you should be careful about online security if you are using public Wi-Fi in Germany. Do not conduct sensitive transactions like online banking while you are using public Wi-Fi. 

I highly recommend using a VPN service when you are connecting to the internet because of the following reasons:

• VPN protects you from hackers and malware.
• VPN protects your privacy by allowing you to browse the internet anonymously.
• You can avoid being incorrectly targeted by law firms when streaming content online.
• You can access geo-blocked content.

Even top VPN services like NordVPN costs only 2 – 3 Euros per month. For more details, check this out: VPN in Germany – Comparison of the best VPNs

How much do you need to pay for your internet in Germany?

The price of your internet plan in Germany depends on several factors:

• Types of internet connection, e.g. connection via optical fiber is usually more expensive
• Internet speed
• Extra services like TV or mobile

If you want a very average internet speed in Germany (e.g. 50 Mbit/s download), the price will be around 30 to 40 Euros per month with a German landline included. However, if you want super-fast internet in Germany with an optical fiber connection, the price can go up to 50 – 70 Euros a month.

Note that many internet providers in Germany offer a discount rate for the first 6 – 12 months in a two-year contract, and the monthly price can increase significantly after this period.

If you purchase a bundle package in Germany (e.g. internet + landline + TV), you can usually get a better price than just getting the internet alone. Another plus is that you only pay one single bill for all the services. 

Besides, many companies have promotional offers from time to time, e.g. Black Friday sales. You may get a big discount if you sign up with the promotional offer.

Note that depending on your contract, you may need to pay a one-time fee for your router or for the setup. Check your contract carefully to understand what fees are involved in setting up your internet.

How to pay for your internet in Germany?

You will usually pay for your internet monthly, either by bank transfer or direct debit to your bank account. To set up the payment, you may need to have a German bank account. If you don’t have one yet, you can apply for one directly online. For more info, check this out: Opening a Bank Account in Germany – Compare English Banking Options

What internet speed do you need in Germany?

The answer depends on what online activities do you need to do and how many devices are connected to the internet. According to Tom’s Guide, below is the recommended download speed based on your online activities and the number of your devices:

So, if you live in a shared flat in Germany, or you like to play online games a lot, you should try to get the internet with the highest possible speed in your region. If you love to watch Netflix like me, below is the average internet speed Netflix recommends:

Besides Netflix, there are many other ways you can stream in Germany. Check this out: Streaming in Germany – Different Ways To Do It Legally

Why is the internet so slow in Germany?

Depending on where you come from, you may feel that the internet in Germany is quite slow relative to your home country. In fact, the internet speed in Germany is not fast compared to many other countries. In the below table, you can see an extract of the median internet speed (fixed broadband) per country in Nov 2023.

	Country	Median internet speed (Mbit/s)
1	Singapore	263.51
2	Hong Kong	259.02
3	Chili	249.82
4	China	248.92
5	Monaco	247.37
6	UAE	239.4
7	Iceland	226.05
8	USA	219.71
9	Thailand	216.26
10	Denmark	209.52
…	….	…
52	Germany	89.93

Source: Speedtest

Even though the average internet speed in Germany is relatively slow compared to those in other countries, it should normally be fast enough for regular usages like working from home or streaming videos.

Not sure how fast is your internet? You can use this page to check your internet speed.

Why does Germany have such a slow internet speed compared to the other countries? 

We will have to look back at some history. Until the late 1990s, Deutsche Telekom was the only company providing internet services in Germany. Instead of investing in new optical fiber internet connections, it decided to improve its old copper telephone lines. It was much cheaper to improve the old technology than to install the new fiber-optic cables under the ground. 

That is why optical fiber internet connection is not available everywhere in Germany now. Even if it is available, many fiber-optic cables are only set up until a central place in the street. And the connection from the street to the individual houses is still with copper lines, which have less bandwidth.

Of course, your internet speed depends on where you live. 

You will probably have faster internet if you live in a city, compared to living in the rural area in Germany. For example, some people living in small villages in Germany had painfully slow internet. This became a problem for many people, especially when the pandemic started in 2020.

Many telecommunication companies focused on establishing faster internet connections in urban areas. They ignored rural places because customers there were few and far apart. Some small villages used the internet via copper phone lines that were 30 years old. This made it not possible for people in those villages to do remote work. They had to risk their health by going back to the office during the pandemic. Children were not able to attend online classes. 

The pandemic actually gave Germany motivation to improve its internet infrastructure. Germany also passed a new law in 2021, promising all citizens in Germany the right to fast internet. This will mainly help people who live in rural areas to have the right to “functional” internet.

What to do if your internet is very slow?

If you live in a shared flat in Germany, your landlord or housemates have probably already selected your internet. The internet connection may not be the best, especially because it is shared with other people. This can be a problem if you are working from home or watching a lot of live streaming videos.

If your internet speed is too slow for your daily use, you should try to talk to your landlord or housemates to switch to a better internet service. If that is not possible, you can try the following:

• Put the Wi-Fi router somewhere in an open area. If it is located inside a closed closet, it can affect your internet speed.
• Buy a network repeater or add an access point close to your room to improve the internet signal.
• Instead of using Wi-Fi, use a cable to connect your device directly to the router.

Get compensation if your internet is too slow!

Starting in December 2021, there is a new law in Germany that improves your position against your internet provider. If your internet speed is constantly too slow, you can actually reduce your monthly internet bill.

All you have to do is to use the official app from the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) to measure your internet speed. You will have to do several measurements on different days. 

This is to prove that your internet is not reaching the maximum speed promised in your contract most of the time. If that is the case, you can reduce your monthly internet bill. The slower your internet speed is, the more money you can get back.

You can see more details from the Federal Network Agency here. 

The 4 best internet providers in Germany

In the below table, you will see a comparison of the 4 best internet providers in Germany.

We picked the best internet providers in Germany based on our personal experience, online review, and in-depth research. We do not provide a complete market overview. Note that the data in this article is accurate as of the date when this article is written and is subject to change any time in the future. Please check the websites of the internet providers directly for the latest information.

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Vodafone – Fastest cable internet service

Vodafone is the biggest cable internet provider in Germany and offers the fastest cable internet service, with a fast speed of up to 1000 Mbit/s.

Vodafone offers complete and affordable packages. The prices of its cable internet contracts in Germany range from 39.99 Euros to 64.99 Euros per month. The cheapest cable internet plan offers 50 Mbit/s download speed, and the fastest plan can even reach 1000 Mbit/s.

Depending on your need, you can also purchase complete packages, including landline, TV, and internet services in Germany at a great price.

We used to have Vodafone internet in the past and we were happy with the services. Unfortunately, Vodafone cable internet connection is not available everywhere in Germany. After we moved to our new house in the village, Vodafone internet was not available there and we had to switch to another provider.

Check if Vodafone is available at your address now!

O2 – DSL, cable, fiber optics, and LTE available. Contract without minimum duration possible.

O2 offers many different internet connection options, from DSL to cable and fiber optics to LTE. 

The price ranges from 29.99 Euros to 39.99 Euros monthly, for DSL internet connection in Germany with download speed from 50 Mbit/s to 250 Mbit/s. Under the two-year contract, you can get a cheaper rate in the first year. A German landline is also included. 

O2 provides LTE internet connections as well, which is a good replacement for DSL and cable internet if those are not available at your address. The good thing about LTE internet is that no technical setup is needed. You can connect to the internet right away.

O2 also has discounts for current O2 customers. If you are currently an O2 customer, you can also get a 5 Euros discount per month when you sign up for O2 internet.

Check if O2 is available at your address now!

Note: O2 also offers internet contracts in Germany without minimum duration. See more details here. 

1&1 – Fast internet including mobile SIM cards. Contract without minimum duration possible.

1&1 is one of the best internet providers in Germany, offering very fast optical fiber internet with speed up to 1,000 Mbit/s. It offers reliable and fast internet in Germany at a reasonable price.

1&1 has DSL internet packages in Germany from 16 Mbit/s to 250 Mbit/s download speed, and the price ranges from 34.99 Euros to 49.99 Euros per month. Some plans give you movie streaming for free.

These packages include also a German landline and SIM cards for your mobile. You can use the SIM cards for calling and also surfing the internet with your mobile (1 GB data per SIM card). If you pay an extra 4.99 Euros monthly, you can also add the TV option. 

Another good thing about 1&1 is that they will send you a SIM card to use until your broadband connection is set up at home. So, you can start to use the internet quickly at home. 

Check if 1&1 is available at your address now!

Note: 1&1 also offers internet contracts in Germany without minimum duration. See more details here. 

Telekom – Relatively pricy, but best for bundle package with TV, mobile, etc.

Until the late 1990s, Telekom was the only internet provider in Germany. Today, Telekom is still the biggest internet provider. Since it owns a lot of telephone lines, it offers very good DSL coverage, also in rural areas. 

Telekom is the best if you use its bundle package. For example, we have Telekom internet, telephone, and also Magenta TV, which is one of the best streaming options in Germany. 

The drawback of Telekom is that the price can be higher, especially if you only want to have internet in Germany without TV or mobile phone services.

Telekom offers internet plans in Germany from 16 Mbit/s to 250 Mbit/s download speed, and the price ranges from 34.95 Euros to 54.95 Euros per month. You only need to pay 19.95 Euros for the first 6 months. The minimum contract duration is 2 years. And if you are under 28 years old, you can get a discount of 5 Euros per month for each plan.

Internet contract in Germany without minimum duration

As mentioned before, most of the internet contracts in Germany have a minimum duration of 2 years. If you are staying in Germany temporarily (e.g. if you only study in Germany for 1 or 2 semesters), it will make sense for you to find an internet contract without minimum duration.

Use a dongle plan

One option would be to connect to the internet via a dongle, which is a small USB device that allows you to access the internet. The good thing about using a USB dongle is that it is very convenient. Just plug the dongle on your laptop and you can have internet anywhere.

1&1 offers dongle plans. Their prices range from 9.99 Euros to 29.99 Euros per month for data up to 50 GB, and they help you to connect to the internet in Germany without a minimum contract period. You just need to give a cancellation notice 14 days before.

Get an internet contract in Germany without minimum duration

Another option would be to get an internet contract in Germany without minimum duration (or a very short one). O2 and 1&1 offer such plans.  But they are more expensive than the normal 24-month internet plans in Germany as there is no more discounted price in the first year. But it is worth it if you know that you are not staying in Germany for the long term.

Tool to compare different internet service providers in Germany

So, we have talked about some best internet service providers in Germany. However, there are also small regional internet service providers in Germany, which can offer competitive packages.

To find them, the best is to use a comparison tool like Check24 or Verivox. These tools help to provide an easy comparison of the different internet providers in Germany so that you can find the best one based on your individual need.

In the tool, you can choose if you need landline, TV, or mobile services as well. Simply enter your area code (Vorwahl) to see which internet service providers are available in your region and their offers. Not sure about your area code? You can check it here.

Note that if you use a regional internet service provider, you may not be able to continue to use it if you move to another region in Germany.

What is the process to set up your internet in Germany?

The process of setting up your internet at home in Germany typically looks like this:

1. Search for the best internet offer that fits your need
2. Check if the offer is available at your address
3. Sign up online and wait for the contract confirmation
4. Receive your Wi-Fi router
5. Wait for a technician to come and set up your line (if applicable)

If you are buying a new property in Germany, you will probably need to take care of your own internet, landline, and TV services. Depending on the type of internet connection you want, you may need to wait for a while until your Wi-Fi router arrives and a technician comes to your home for the setup. Sometimes, this process can take up to a few weeks.

If you are renting an apartment in Germany and paying a warm rent (e.g. in a shared flat), it is likely that your landlord or housemates have already set up the internet and the internet service is included in your monthly rent payments.

If you are simply switching your internet provider, there is usually no need for a technician to come. Therefore, the process to set up your internet should be much faster (in a few days).

How to change your internet provider in Germany?

Changing your internet provider in Germany is very easy. The only thing you have to do is to find a new internet provider. Your new internet provider will then take care of the termination and the switch for you.

It is better to wait until the end of your current contract before changing your internet provider. Quitting your current internet contract earlier in Germany usually leads to a high price for you. Therefore, if you want to be flexible, you should get an internet contract in Germany without minimum duration.

Our trick to get a big discount from our existing internet provider

If you change your internet provider every time when your contract ends, you can save a lot of money. Most people just stick with the same internet provider because they have not thought about changing, or they don’t want to do the research and the work. 

In my opinion, it is worth it to shop around when your contract ends. There is usually a discount if you change to a new internet provider. But what if you want to stay with your current provider after the contract ends but still want to have a discount?

Here is what we did:

We knew that our internet contract was ending in a few months. So, we called our internet provider and asked if we could get a discount by renewing our contract. The reply we got was that it was not possible because the discount was only for “new customers” and we were “existing customers”. We didn’t get anything out of it even when we threatened to switch to another internet provider.

So, we went to look for another provider. Instead of using the switchover service, we sent a letter to our old provider to quit our existing contract.

And you know what? After quitting our contract, we got a call from our old provider within 2 days, giving us a big discount if we signed a new contract with them. Since we quitted our old contract, we were suddenly “new customers” instead of “existing customers”. Therefore, we were eligible for the discount. 

I know that it is scary to take the action to quit your contract. But only then, you will get the best deal. In the worst case, you can still change to another provider. That is why you should look for a new provider as a backup plan before you cancel your old contract. But I bet your current provider will want to keep you.

No guarantee that this trick will work for every internet provider. But this worked for us last time and so I want to help you to save money by sharing our story. It can be a good try in case you want to stay with the same provider but still want a discount.

12 Tips to find the best internet provider in Germany

So, now you know our trick to save money when staying with the same internet provider. Below are another 12 tips to find the best internet provider in Germany that best suits your needs.

1. Internet speed

Remember that the internet speed in the package is the maximum speed, not the guaranteed speed. If you see a DSL plan and a cable plan where both have 100 Mbit/s, it doesn’t mean that their speed is the same.

As mentioned before, cable internet connection can slow down at peak hours, while DSL can be slower if you are farther away from the internet provider. You may not get the promised speed from your internet provider. So, the best is to ask your neighbors or colleagues or do a speed test yourself.

And don’t forget that you can actually ask for a reduction of your monthly bill if your internet is constantly too slow!

2. Check the availability first

Before digging into the details of each internet plan, make sure to check if the plan is available at your address first. You can check the availability by going to the page from each of the best internet providers in Germany I mentioned above. If you are using a comparison tool, make sure to put your area code first to get the relevant results.

3. Know what you need

Many internet providers offer discounts if you get a bundle package, e.g. internet + TV + phone, etc. While it can be a great deal, you should ask yourself if you really need these extra services.

If you just move to Germany and do not have anything yet, it may make sense to go with a bundle package so that you can get all you need at once (including your mobile subscription too). 

If you need to buy a new mobile phone or a tablet, it is also good to look for a bundle deal that may save you a lot of money. 

On the other hand, if you do not need a German landline (Festnetz), and don’t watch any TV, it doesn’t make sense to have a bundle package with such services. If you are using a comparison tool, uncheck the “Festnetz” and “Fernsehen” boxes to see the offers for the internet only.

4. Pay attention to the small details

Read the contract and understand the small details like internet speed, contract duration, and so on. Understand if there are any other costs involved in setting up your internet. For example, shipping cost, setup fees, or any other equipment costs like the router.

5. Pay attention to the minimum contract duration

For most of the internet plans in Germany, the minimum contract duration is 2 years. The cost for early cancellation is high. So, if you want to stay flexible, you should get an internet contract without minimum duration.

If you are using a comparison tool, you should look for the term “Laufzeit” in the filter, which means the contract duration. Select a one-month duration if you need to be very flexible.

Note that even if you have a flexible contract, it is still common to have a notice period of one month. Remember to cancel your contract on time if you do not need it anymore.

6. The cancellation notice period

Like any other contract in Germany, if you do not cancel your internet contract on time, your contract will continue. In the past, your contract would be renewed for another year automatically. This was very bad for us consumers. We had to always cancel our contracts on time. If we missed the “deadline” to cancel our contracts, we would have no choice but stick with our internet providers for another year.

Luckily, there is a new law that strengthens our rights as consumers. Starting from December 2021, if we have passed the minimum duration of our internet contracts, we will have the right to quit our contracts monthly. You can see more information from the Federal Network Agency here.

You should also know that you have a special termination right (Sonderkündigung) if you move away from Germany or if you move to a new place in Germany where your current internet provider cannot provide you the service.

7. Let your new internet provider do the switch for you

If you are changing to another internet provider, just let the new provider handle the switch so that you can have a smooth transition. You don’t have to cancel the current contract yourself. Your new internet provider will help to terminate it. It is easy and convenient.

8. The router

Your internet provider in Germany may charge you a monthly fee for using the router, and the price can be a few Euros per month. 

Besides, you may have to send back the router to the internet provider if you cancel your contract later. For example, if you change to another internet provider or move to another place.

9. Setting up an internet connection may take time

Depending on the type of internet connection you want, a technician may need to come and do the setup. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes quite some time until a technician comes (even a few weeks). Therefore, make sure that you look for your internet provider early enough to avoid any delay. 

Some internet providers like 1&1 provide you with a SIM card after signing up so that you can still have internet during the waiting period.

10. Look for any promotion

From time to time, internet providers will offer some time-limited promotions. For example, Black Friday sales. If you can, wait until the promotion period to sign up for the internet.

If you are a student or younger than 28 years old, remember to check if there is any special discount. Some internet providers offer discounts to young people.

11. Be careful when comparing different internet plans

Many internet providers offer different extra services on top of their plans, like TV and landline services. Besides, many also offer a discounted price for the first 6 – 12 months. While the price in the first year can be very attractive, the price can rise significantly once the first months are over. If you renew your internet contract in Germany after the two-year term, the regular (higher) price will apply. 

Because of this, it can be quite difficult to compare plans from different internet providers in Germany to see which one is the best. You should understand the “real price” before you sign your internet contract in Germany. This is especially important if you want to stick with the same provider for a longer time. You should consider the regular price rather than the discounted price in the first months.

Besides, you should not compromise on internet speed by selecting the cheapest plan. Consider carefully what internet speed you really need by reviewing your online activities and the number of people using your internet. It is very painful if you need to use the internet (especially for remote work) and realize that your internet speed is not sufficient.

12. No English service

Unfortunately, most of the big internet service providers in Germany only offer services in German. Their websites have no English version. However, you can use Chrome to translate their websites into English.

Read also:

• 10 Best Apps to Learn German – Free and Paid
• How to learn German: My 11 secret fun ways

How to make a complaint?

All the telecommunication companies are regulated by the Telecommunications Act (Telekommunikationsgesetz) in Germany. If you are not happy with your internet service, you should contact your internet provider and try to sort things out with them. 

In case you have a conflict with your internet provider, you can also contact the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) for help. Just submit your complaint to them and they will provide a mediation service.

Conclusion

So, we have talked about some best internet providers in Germany. I hope you find our tips useful and they help you to find the internet plan that best suits your needs.

Pin it for later:

We picked the best internet providers in Germany based on our personal experience, online review, and in-depth research. We do not provide a complete market overview. Note that the data in this article is accurate as of the date when this article is written and is subject to change any time in the future. Please check the websites of the internet providers directly for the latest information.

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Which internet provider do you think is the best in Germany? Are you happy with your internet service? Leave a comment below and share your experience!