# Telekom vs Vodafone (2026): Which German Network Should You Pick? > Telekom vs Vodafone in Germany for 2026: network quality, prepaid prices, SIM cost, contract entry, roaming and English support, compared row by row. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/telecom/sim/telekom-vs-vodafone ## Telekom Deutsche Telekom AG Telekom sells the D1 network under its own MagentaMobil name. congstar and fraenk are its own value brands riding the same radio network, so a cheap congstar SIM gives you Telekom coverage. Cheapest entry: congstar Prepaid Allnet M, 30 GB for 10.00 EUR per 28 days on the Telekom network Wins 1 of 911%[Get a Telekom plan](https://www.telekom.de/mobilfunk/tarife)VSV ## Vodafone Vodafone Group plc Vodafone runs the D2 network. Lidl Connect and SIMon mobile are separate companies selling airtime on that same network, so their coverage matches Vodafone's. Cheapest entry: Lidl Connect Smart S, 25 GB for 8.99 EUR per 28 days on the Vodafone network Wins 4 of 944%[Get a Vodafone plan](https://www.vodafone.de/mobilfunk) ## Row by row Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data | Criterion | Telekom | Vodafone | | --- | --- | --- | | Network you actually useCoverage follows the radio network, not the brand | Telekom (D1), own networkTieOperated by Telekom Deutschland GmbH | Vodafone (D2), own networkTieOperated by Vodafone GmbH | | Published network verdictIndependent tests are the only neutral signal here | Best-rated German network, connect 01/2026 and Ookla Q1-Q2 2026WinsData in Switzerland is treated like EU data | Strong urban D2 5GRural gaps remain in parts of the south and east | | Allnet prepaid at around 10 EURThis is the tariff most new arrivals actually buy | MagentaMobil Prepaid M, 9.95 EUR per 28 days, 20 GBEffective 10.78 EUR a month across 13 cycles | CallYa Allnet Flat S, 9.99 EUR per 28 days, 25 GBWinsEffective 10.82 EUR a month across 13 cycles | | Cheapest 24-month contractWhat a SIM-only contract costs before any promo | MagentaMobil XS, 29.95 EUR a month for 20 GB39.95 EUR connection fee | Vodafone Mobil XS, 29.99 EUR a month for 25 GBWins22.45 EUR a month for the first 24 months, 39.99 EUR connection fee | | Peak speed on the prepaid planA capped plan feels slow on a modern phone | Up to 300 Mbit/s on 5GTieNo speed-cap surcharge | Up to 300 Mbit/s on 5GTieNo speed-cap surcharge | | What the SIM costs on day oneThe first payment people forget to budget for | 9.95 EURIncludes 10 EUR of starting credit | 0.00 EURWinsFree SIM with free shipping from vodafone.de | | CommitmentHow quickly you can walk away | Prepaid: none. Contract: 24 monthsTieContract adds a 39.95 EUR connection fee | Prepaid: none. Contract: 24 monthsTieContract adds a 39.99 EUR connection fee | | EU roaming allowanceWhether the plan travels with you | 20 GB, the full plan allowanceSwitzerland counts as EU on Telekom prepaid | 25 GB, the full plan allowanceWins200 EU call minutes included each month | | English-language supportDecisive in the first weeks after arriving | Full English supportTie | Full English supportTie | ## So which one ### Pick Telekom if - The network rated best in Germany by connect 01/2026 and Ookla Q1-Q2 2026 is worth the higher entry price - You want unused prepaid data to roll over into the next 28-day cycle - You leave the EU and want the 2 GB per year of non-EU roaming data included with MagentaMobil XS - You are under 28: MagentaMobil M Young is 100 GB at 24.95 EUR for the first 24 months - You want the same radio network for less: congstar Prepaid Allnet M is 30 GB for 10.00 EUR ### Pick Vodafone if - You want no SIM cost at all: CallYa Classic ships a free SIM with free delivery - You want more data for the same money: 25 GB for 9.99 EUR against 20 GB for 9.95 EUR - You are under 28: Vodafone Mobil Young M is 200 GB at 27.99 EUR for the first 24 months - You would rather pay once a year: CallYa Jahrespaket M is 250 GB for 99.99 EUR - You live in a city, where the D2 5G network is strong ## Other comparisons 4 more pairs[TvsOTelekom vs O2›](/telecom/sim/telekom-vs-o2)[VvsOVodafone vs O2›](/telecom/sim/vodafone-vs-o2)[CvsATcongstar vs ALDI TALK›](/telecom/sim/congstar-vs-aldi-talk)[ATvsLCALDI TALK vs Lidl Connect›](/telecom/sim/aldi-talk-vs-lidl-connect) ## How we compared these two ### The criteria are fixed Every comparison on this site uses the same 9 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it. ### A win is a stated threshold A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources. ### How we get paid Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed. Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026. ## Related Guides [### Telekom vs Vodafone vs O2 All three German networks in one comparison.](/telecom/sim/telekom-vs-vodafone-vs-o2)[### Best SIM cards in Germany Top picks ranked by value and coverage.](/telecom/sim) --- Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/telecom/sim/telekom-vs-vodafone Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.