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Last Update: 14 September 2024

1. o2 Germany: Free SIM Card and Unlimited Data Plans

o2 is a subsidiary of the Spanish Telefonica Group, one of the leading telecommunications providers in the world. o2 Germany is one of Germany’s three large network providers offering mobile and fixed-line telecommunications services. It was founded in 1995 as Viag Interkom, underwent a name change to o2 Germany in 2002, and subsequently extended its network and services through acquisitions.

SIM cards and digital eSIMs are available for mobile services that use o2’s 4G LTE and the latest 5G networks. With a postpaid eSIM card by o2, you can obtain your SIM card instantly online without visiting a physical store.

Our review describes all available prepaid, capped data postpaid plans, unlimited data plans, and data-only SIM cards. We also give you some tips about phoning abroad, activating the SIM card, and improving the network quality.

2. o2 Prepaid SIM Cards in Germany

o2’s prepaid cards are marketed under the brand “o2 Freikarte “. The o2 prepaid SIM card itself is free. The physical SIM card is sent to you by post. To get an eSIM, you first have to order and activate a physical SIM card and then exchange it for an eSIM card through customer service.

With the o2 prepaid cards, you can either select a pay-as-you-go option without monthly base fees or a data plan with a duration of four weeks. It is automatically renewed if you do not cancel it or run out of credit. You can easily switch between the various plans or terminate your subscription anytime.

Your balance can be topped up via bank transfer (SEPA), direct debiting from your bank account, the o2 mobile application using various means of payment (e.g. credit card, Paypal), or through top-up cards you can buy in o2 stores, supermarkets, drug stores, or petrol stations. o2 offers a variety of prepaid plans:

  • o2 Freikarte is without a monthly base fee. You can use 150MB of data data for 1.49 Euros per day. Domestic minutes for calls or texts cost 9 cents.
  • Prepaid S includes 8 GB LTE or 5G data, unlimited domestic calls and texts within Germany.
  • Prepaid M includes 15 GB LTE or 5G data and unlimited minutes and texts to mobile and landline numbers within Germany.
  • Prepaid L includes 25 GB of high-speed data and unlimited domestic calls or texts.
  • Prepaid Max is the o2’s prepaid alternative to an unlimited data option. You can use 999 MB of data in Vodafone’s LTE and 5G network. Moreover, there are unlimited domestic calls or text messages.
  • Prepaid Smartphone Jahrespaket is the yearly plan. You can use 20 GB of high-speed data and unlimited domestic minutes or text messages for 365 days.
  • o2 Prepaid Internet-to-go is a data-only SIM option that you can – for example – use with your tablet. You do not have a phone number, so calls are not possible. There are two options with 40 or 100 MB of data for 365 days.

3. o2 Postpaid Plans for Mobile Phones

The o2 postpaid plans are available as SIM and eSIM plans. At the end of each month, you receive a bill with the amount due that is then automatically debited from your bank account.

When choosing the eSIM option, you receive a code by post (as a new customer) or by e-mail (as an existing customer) to install the eSIM on your device. Then, you can be online within a few minutes without leaving your home or waiting for a store to open. When opting for a multiSIM option, you can even combine eSIM and physical cards and use your plan on several devices, such as a phone and tablet.

o2 postpaid plans with capped data consumption are available as a flexible option with monthly cancellation or as a 24-month contract.

There are discounts of 50% available on selected postpaid SIM cards in the following cases:

  • Young people below 29 years
  • Existing o2 customers getting a second SIM card, e.g., for their family members or a secondary device
  • New customers using our exclusive 50% voucher code “O2DEAL50” thís link

The standard one-time setup fee is 39.99 Euros. However, with some limited promotional deals, this setup fee may be lower or not levied.

All o2 postpaid capped data plans include unlimited domestic calls and text messages. You can select between the following o2 postpaid plans:

  • Mobile S: 4 GB of data included
  • Mobile S Boost: 8 GB of data and 10 complementary multiSIM cards (physical or eSIM) to use plan on several devices
  • Mobile M: 25 GB of complementary data
  • Mobile M Boost: 50 GB of data and 10 multiSIM cards included
  • Mobile L: 70 GB included
  • Mobile L Boost: 140 GB of complementary data and 10 multiSIM
  • Mobile XL:  240 GB per month included

4. o2 Postpaid Unlimited Plans for Mobile Phones

There are various o2 unlimited data SIM plans. All of them are postpaid plans, so the same overarching conditions apply as for the other postpaid options.

All o2 unlimited data plans include unlimited data, domestic calls, and text messages. The fair-use policy applies to data roaming within the EU. The different unlimited data plans vary in terms of speed:

  • Unlimited Basic: 3 MBit/s speed for upload and download are available. This suits texting, browsing, music streaming, or low-quality video streaming. However, parallel use on several devices (e.g., with mobile hotspots) or watching HD videos and movies is not feasible.
  • Unlimited Smart: 15 MBit/s download and 10 MBit/s upload speed are available. You do not need to worry about texting, browsing, music streaming, and HD video streaming. Problems may arise when watching higher-quality movies or using several devices simultaneously (e.g., with mobile hotspots).
  • Unlimited-on-Demand: Includes 5G speeds of 300 MBit/ s for uploads and 50 MBit/s for downloads. Users get an initial 10 GB of data allowance per day. Afterward, by sending a text, you can quickly request more data in 2GB steps for free and as often as you want.
  • Unlimited Max: 300 MBit/ s upload and 50 MBit/s download 5G speeds are available.

5. o2 Postpaid Data Plans for Tablets and Mobile Routers

Suppose you exclusively require an o2 data SIM card for use with your tablet, laptop, smartwatch, or any similar device. In that case, o2 also offers data-only plans. These SIM cards have no phone number connected to them. Hence, phoning or texting is not possible.

All postpaid o2 data-only plans are only available with a 24-month contract. The following data volumes can be selected:

  • Data S: 5 GB of data per month
  • Data M: 50 GB of data per month
  • Data L: 100 GB of data per month
  • Data XL: 200 GB of data per month
  • Data XXL: 400 GB of data per month

6. EU Roaming for International Phoning, Data, and SMS

All o2 plans include free data roaming within the European Union and the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). You can travel across EU countries without suffering roaming charges. You enjoy the same benefits (e.g., complementary data, minutes, texts) as in Germany.

For unlimited data plans, a fair use policy with restrictions on data volume applies. Read more about the fair-use policy here.

7. How to Buy a SIM Card in an o2 Shop or Online

The easiest way to get an o2 SIM card is online. You can purchase a free o2 prepaid SIM card using the link here or a postpaid SIM card on the o2 website. When choosing a postpaid plan, you can also opt for an eSIM that you can set up immediately and fully digitally on your smartphone without the need to wait for the arrival of a physical SIM card.

eSIM selection o2Source: o2online.de

Ordering the SIM card online is generally the best option, as online customers benefit from many discounts and promotions. Alternatively, you can visit an o2 store and get your SIM card there in person. You can research your nearest o2 store here.

8. Activation Process for German SIM Cards

Before starting to use your new o2 SIM card, you need to activate it. How the activation process works is dependent on the type of card you purchased:

  • eSIM: If you ask for a digital eSIM, you receive a QR code you need to install on your smartphone (see eSIM instructions here). In case you are a new customer, this QR code is physically mailed to you. Otherwise, you can access it digitally in your online service account.
  • SIM card: A physical SIM card is posted to you within a few working days. You then need to activate it online by entering the SIM card number and putting the SIM card into your phone. If you request a prepaid SIM card, you must also identify yourself online by webcam or in a post office. In both cases, you need your valid ID.

When getting your SIM card in an o2 store, you can directly activate it in the shop.

9. Quality of Telefónica o2 Network in Germany

The network of Telefónica o2 is performant, providing 85.9% coverage of national territory for 4G and 55.6% for 5G according to July 2023 statistics of Germany’s official authority “Bundesnetzagentur.” Compared to the other three network providers, o2 has the least-performing network but often the most economical plans. Check the network coverage for your location on the o2 website.

Source: o2online.de (commercial partner)
Source: o2online.de (commercial partner)

10. What are Alternatives to o2 in Germany?

Other network carriers are Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone. Deutsche Telekom is known for having the best mobile network but for a premium price. Vodafone offers an excellent network with competitive pricing. Their prepaid plans are especially attractive as they can be ordered with a fully digital eSIM with real-time activation.

However, many more independent providers offer SIM cards within the Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and o2 networks.

We created an overview of all telecommunication providers and the best German SIM cards here. If you want an eSIM with immediate digital activation, check this overview to select a provider.

Get your free o2 prepaid SIM card!
Get your o2 pospaid SIM plan!

Disclaimer:

The information in this post is non-binding and for informational purposes only. It is not a complete market overview. We do not take responsibility for the accuracy and up-to-dateness of the data. Please re-check the final conditions and prices on the providers’ websites (§18 ZKG).

Some of the links in this article are promotional links. We gain a commission if you purchase an item or open an account following this link. It helps us keep this site running and does not come at any cost to you.

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