Data roaming in Germany can get very costly, particularly if you don’t know how international phone roaming fees are estimated. It’s crucial for visitors to Germany to know their options if they want to avoid paying expensive roaming fees or use internet connection other than roaming.
In this article, we will describe how data roaming functions in Germany, whether or not roaming costs are high, what alternatives there are to roaming for internet access, such as eSIM, and how to disable roaming in order to reduce costs when visiting Germany.
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There are a few things to think about when using your mobile device when roaming in Germany as a tourist:
Data roaming in Germany can be generally understood as the way to use your phone’s mobile data and internet connection when traveling overseas.
In Germany, the big three German mobile operators include: Vodafone, O2, Telekom, offer national roaming services.
How Data Roaming in Germany Works:
Yes, roaming costs in Germany are quite high. The following table lists the main carriers’ roaming charges for calls, messages, and data roaming in Germany:
| Network operator | Calls (per minute) | Texts (per message) | Data (per MB) |
| Vodafone | $2,15 | $2,15 | $5,33 |
| Telekom | $2.65 | $1.06 | $1.59 |
| O2 | $4.32 | $0.041 | $0.012 |
For EU residents, it is free to roam across 27 countries. But if you spend more time abroad than at home and consistently use more data while roaming than you do domestically, your mobile operator might apply surcharges to your roaming usage. Here’s a breakdown of these potential charges (excluding VAT):
► Recommendation: As a tourist to Germany, you can consider other connectivity options like prepaid SIM cards, prepaid eSIMs, portable WiFi as alternatives to roaming. Pocket WiFi for Germany travel is useful if you want to share Internet for multiple devices. but it is quite pricey and requires effort to bring along. On the other hand, prepaid SIM cards/eSIMs are more affordable and flexible. Therefore, if your phone is carrier-unlocked and compatible, consider using these options as alternatives to roaming.
Understanding roaming options beforehand can prevent unexpected charges. Here’s a guide of how to activate data roaming in Germany to ensure you stay online throughout your adventure. Typically, there are 4 steps:
Step 1: Check Your Home Carrier’s Coverage
Roaming policies vary by country. Before you depart, confirm with your home mobile service provider if they offer roaming coverage in Germany. You can consider roaming with a local mobile carrier. The three most recommended local roaming providers are Vodafone, O2, and Telekom.
Step 2: Activate Roaming for Germany
Activation methods differ depending on your home carrier. Check their website, social media, contact customer support or go to their official stores to ask for specific instructions to enable roaming on your phone number to use data roaming in Germany.
Step 3: Consider a Data Roaming Package
Standard roaming charges can be high, particularly for data usage. To save money, ask your provider about roaming packages. Such packages frequently include packed data, calls, and texts for a cheaper rate.
Step 4: Enable Roaming on Your Phone
Here’s a quick guide to enabling roaming on your phone:
By following these steps, you’ll be ready to use data roaming in Germany upon arrival.
Germany can be a bit pricey for phone roaming. Here are some clever ways to save money while staying connected:
Advice: It is advised that you should choose these alternative methods of accessing mobile internet in Germany in order to minimize expensive roaming fees.
Forget data roaming, either no more getting trouble with tiny SIM cards or carrying around a portable Wi-Fi device. eSIM is embedded directly into your phone, making it incredibly convenient. These can be a great budget-friendly option with easy online activation, avoiding high roaming charges from your home carrier.
Resellers like Gigago offer eSIM data plans specifically designed for tourists in Germany. A Gigago Germany eSIM offers a much more budget-friendly way to stay connected during your trip between $3.00 – $95.90 . Starting at just $3.00 for 1 GB of data valid for 3 days, Gigago offers a variety of affordable plans to suit your needs.
When visiting Germany, visitors have two options for disabling data roaming on their Android and iOS (iPhone) smartphones.
Please take the actions listed below for Android devices:
Just like Android phones, iPhones (which run iOS) have a similar step. Simply follow these steps to disable iPhone international roaming:
Yes. WiFi is widely available in cafes, hotels, and public spaces. You can purchase a Germany SIM card, eSIM or pocket wifi to access the internet.
Yes, airplane mode disables all data connections, including roaming, stopping you from being charged. However, it’s not a practical solution as you won’t be able to use your phone for calls, texts, or internet access. You should turn off the roaming button in your phone setting app.
Yes, data roaming charges can be very high in Germany, just like in most countries. Mobile carriers in your home country often add a significant markup to data usage when roaming compared to their domestic rates.
Germany offers a variety of data roaming plans, but for a smoother and potentially more affordable experience, consider using an eSIM. You can stay connected when visiting Germany without worrying about unforeseen roaming fees if you do some research before planning. We hope this information about data roaming options in Germany has been helpful.
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