(Updated on June 17th, 2011)

Picture: Fonic

Getting a new landline is pretty expensive, using call-through services is quite complicated – thus, two adequate alternatives for making international calls at low rates are not available to many phone users. Another way to make phone calls from Germany to other countries in the world at comparably low rates is to buy a prepaid SIM card of a German discount provider specialized in international calls such as Blauworld, Lebara Mobile or Ortel Mobile. They offer cell phone plans with which mobile phone users staying in Germany can call family members, friends or acquaintances back at home for rates beginning at € 0.04 per minute. However, prices vary and interested parties should select their prepaid starter package carefully.

How to Buy a Prepaid Starter Package

It is advisable to compare rates for international calls to those countries most mobile phone calls will go to. If the prepaid SIM card will be used for national calls within Germany as well, rates for these calls should also be considered when deciding on a price plan. For international calls on a regular basis the purchase price for a prepaid starter package and the amount of calling credit or free phone minutes play a lesser role since such differences are usually small: Expect purchase prices of around € 10.00 or € 15.00 for prepaid starter packages including a calling credit of € 5.00 to € 10.00. Some providers also offer free calling minutes to new customers or for topping up new calling credit.

For buying a prepaid card at a store of a mobile phone provider new customers have to show their ID. When buying a prepaid starter package at web stores, they have to indicate a residence in Germany and sometimes also a German banking account. Since prepaid price plans come without monthly fees and with short minimum term, users pay only when actually using the SIM card for making a mobile phone call and the prepaid contract can be canceled at any time. Thus, these pay as you go tariffs are a good alternative for exchange students, business men or tourists coming to Germany just for a certain period of time who want to keep in touch with family and friends at home. Calling credit can be topped up by buying vouchers at supermarkets, kiosks or gas stations, by direct debit or by credit card.

Keep in mind: Most prepaid price plans for international calls from Germany to other countries are not a good choice for roaming calls from outside of Germany because of comparably high rates.

Overview of Prepaid Price Plans for International Calls

The following overview of pay as you go tariffs for international calls from Germany to other countries gives you an idea what rates to expect. The overview does not show all charges in detail, for example charges for SMS, for mobile Internet access via GPRS or UMTS or for community calls are not included. Prices for phone calls are in euros per minute. This overview does only show pay as you go tariffs of which the starter packages with SIM card can be bought at supermarkets, kiosks, calling shops or gas stations. It does not include offers that are only available at web stores.