Best SIM cards for Germany

If your EE SIM cards are still active, you may be able to use them in Germany (though not sure about topping up to add more credit).

Still, you can use SIM cards from other European countries and roam in Germany. E.g. this UK Vodafone SIM:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tech-tips/vodafone-uk-sim-card-for-use-in-europe

Thanks Andrew! Unfortunately, the EE cards are only good for 6 months unless you keep using them... I might email EE to see if they’d ship me one... 😁

Juliana, I wouldn't recommend buying a European SIM card on Amazon. You really don't know what you are getting from third-party sellers.

Also, you'd still have to verify your identity before using the SIM card. As of a few years ago, EU law requires -- and member countries have implemented -- identity verification for prepaid SIM card customers.

Each SIM card brand has its own verification process. Some brands require you to visit a branded store or the post office, some support online verification from a desktop computer, some support online verification (over WiFi) from the cell phone itself, and some have a paper form (in France, it's one step forward, two steps back; La Poste now sells its SIM cards from automated vending machines, but these come with a paper form to mail in with a photocopy of your passport). Sometimes, activating the SIM card and/or adding funds to the account will only succeed once the cell phone (with the new SIM card inserted) is physically in Europe.

I've had great experiences with prepaid SIM cards from O2 Germany, for myself and several family members. German post offices and convenience stores like Rossman sell them for €10. Expect to add €15-30 (buy vouchers in person at convenience stores, supermarkets and department stores in Germany, or top up on the Web, US credit cards accepted!) if you will be actively calling and texting for more than 30 days at a time, or if you need a significant cellular data allowance. The SIM card and phone number remain active if you add money to the account at least every six months. With any provider, be sure to turn off auto-renewal of specific service plans.

I've also had a good experience with LycaMobile, in this case, in Switzerland (neither part of the EU, nor part of the EU roam-like-at-home arrangement). Lyca SIMs are available at shops throughout the UK and Europe; it's a truly international product. One drawback with Lyca, compared to O2, is that the basic plans don't include tethering. If you'll be traveling with a tablet, smart watch, etc., or if you intend to use your cell phone as a mobile hotspot so that family members won't need their own European SIM cards, Lyca is not ideal.

O2 supports ID verification from the cell phone itself, over WiFi, using the PostIdent app. The only drawback is that a PostIdent video interview takes a little time. Lyca goes one better, with a fully-automated verification workflow. Though T-Mobile supports online verification, their Web site uses Adobe Flash, which means you can't start the online verification from an Apple iPhone. Going to a store or a post office works fine, but why waste precious vacation time?

If you try O2, check my post history for a detailed explanation of how it works.

Good luck, and please let other people know what solution you eventually choose and how it worked for you.

Also, you'd still have to verify your identity before using the SIM card. As of a few years ago, EU law requires -- and member countries have implemented -- identity verification for prepaid SIM card customers.

This is not true. The laws vary from country to country, and some countries are more strict than others. I have been using a Dutch Vodafone SIM for years and have never needed to verify my identity - I bought it on eBay (unopened) and registered it but did not need to verify anything. The Netherlands does not require identity verification. (Germany does.) I've still never used it in the Netherlands.

In any case, EU laws don't have much reach anymore when it comes to SIM cards from the UK like some that we are talking about.