Telekom vs Vodafone (2026): Which German Network Should You Pick?
The short answer
Telekom wins on tested network quality, Vodafone wins on what you pay to get started. MagentaMobil Prepaid M is 9.95 EUR per 28 days for 20 GB on the network rated best in Germany, but the SIM costs 9.95 EUR. CallYa Allnet Flat S is 9.99 EUR per 28 days for 25 GB and the SIM is free. Outside the big cities take Telekom, in town take 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
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
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 networkTie Operated by Telekom Deutschland GmbH | Vodafone (D2), own networkTie Operated by Vodafone GmbH |
| Published network verdictIndependent tests are the only neutral signal here | Best-rated German network, connect 01/2026 and Ookla Q1-Q2 2026Wins Data in Switzerland is treated like EU data | Strong urban D2 5G Rural 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 GB Effective 10.78 EUR a month across 13 cycles | CallYa Allnet Flat S, 9.99 EUR per 28 days, 25 GBWins Effective 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 GB 39.95 EUR connection fee | Vodafone Mobil XS, 29.99 EUR a month for 25 GBWins 22.45 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 5GTie No speed-cap surcharge | Up to 300 Mbit/s on 5GTie No speed-cap surcharge |
| What the SIM costs on day oneThe first payment people forget to budget for | 9.95 EUR Includes 10 EUR of starting credit | 0.00 EURWins Free SIM with free shipping from vodafone.de |
| CommitmentHow quickly you can walk away | Prepaid: none. Contract: 24 monthsTie Contract adds a 39.95 EUR connection fee | Prepaid: none. Contract: 24 monthsTie Contract adds a 39.99 EUR connection fee |
| EU roaming allowanceWhether the plan travels with you | 20 GB, the full plan allowance Switzerland counts as EU on Telekom prepaid | 25 GB, the full plan allowanceWins 200 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 pairsHow 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.