Internet in Germany

What you need to know before you sign.

Everything you need to know about internet in Germany: how to get a connection or switch provider, what a contract really costs, how long it ties you and how to cancel – explained in English, with your rights.

Decoding what you see on screen

Unlike electricity, every provider presents its offer differently: the length of the promotion, the fees and the discounts change from one offer to the next. But the logic is always the same — and trap number one never changes: the big number on screen is an average over 24 months, not what your bank is charged.

• Durchschnitt pro Monat — The headline figure. It is an average calculated over 24 months, with fees and discounts already spread across it. It is never the amount taken from your account in a given month.
• Grundgebühr Monat 1–… / Monat …–24 — The base price changes during the contract, and the length of the cheap period varies by offer. Examples taken from the comparison tool: Telekom Glasfaser 150 → months 1–6 · Vodafone GigaZuhause 150 Kabel → months 1–9 · o2 Home M Kabel → months 1–12. Always read both lines, not just the first.
• Mtl. Kosten ab dem 25. Monat — What you pay once the 24 months are over. This is your real long-term price, often far above the headline figure.
• One-off fees (einmalig) — Depending on the provider: Bereitstellungsgebühr, Anschlussgebühr, Versandkosten. Some offers charge them, others waive them.
• One-off discounts — Depending on the offer: Cashback, Online-Vorteil, Routergutschrift. They pull the displayed average down but change nothing in your monthly payment. Many offers have none at all.
• Hardware & Optionen — The router rental, charged every month — including after the promotion ends. The amount varies a lot between providers.
• Download: “maximal” vs “normalerweise zur Verfügung stehend” — The theoretical maximum speed, then the speed normally available in practice. The second one is what counts.
• Mindestlaufzeit · Kündigungsfrist · Drosselung — The commitment (often 24 months), the notice period to cancel (often 1 month) and throttling (“keine” = no throttling).

The only question to ask: “What will I pay from month 25?” The answer is written in black and white under “Mtl. Kosten ab dem 25. Monat”, by opening Tarifdetails → Preisdetails. Also check the Anbieterinfos line: many offers are reserved for people who have had no contract with that provider for the last 3 to 12 months.

Worked example: how the headline price is built

An offer taken from the comparison tool, shown at €24.81/month — here is the exact arithmetic behind it.

Three offers seen on the same day — displayed price, then real price from month 25:

• Vodafone GigaZuhause 150 Kabel — displayed €24.81 → €48.98
• o2 Home M (Kabel) — displayed €36.81 → €45.98
• Telekom Glasfaser 150 — displayed €36.86 → €53.90

Look closely: the offer that is cheapest on screen (€24.81) becomes more expensive long term (€48.98) than an offer displayed €12 higher (€36.81 → €45.98). Comparing on the average can therefore lead you to the wrong choice. Compare on the month-25 price.

Figures taken from the comparison tool in July 2026, for illustration only. Offers, promotion lengths and fees change often: always check the numbers of the offer in front of you.

And the MBit/s? That is a data rate, not responsiveness: a bigger number does not open pages faster, it allows more use at the same time. For a household of 2 to 4 people, 50 to 100 MBit/s is plenty. If your line is slower than your contract, there is an official way to prove it — and a right to a price reduction. Internet speed: the full guide →

How to get internet in Germany: where to start

You need:

• Your exact address. Street and house number. Not every offer reaches every street.
• A German bank account (IBAN). You pay by direct debit.

How much does internet cost in Germany?

• The monthly price. It is often cheaper for the first months, then it goes up. Look for the price after the promotion.
• The activation fee. Once only, around €40 to €70. Sometimes waived.
• The router (the box). Renting costs about €5 a month, forever. Buying costs once.

How long does it take to get internet in Germany?

Two to six weeks. Not immediate. Sometimes a technician has to come to your home.

Your rights on an internet contract in Germany

This is German law (TKG). It applies to everyone.

• 24 months maximum. No contract can tie you for longer.
• You must be offered a 12-month contract. That is compulsory. It usually costs a little more.
• After the 24 months you are free. You can cancel any time, with one month's notice. At no cost.
• You must be warned before your contract renews on its own.
• Internet too slow? If the speed is consistently far below what was promised, you can pay less — or leave.
• Moving house? If your provider cannot serve your new address, you can cancel.
• Ordered online? You have 14 days to change your mind.

How to cancel an internet contract in Germany

Write it down. An email is enough. A phone call is not.

The provider must confirm in writing within 14 days.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur, § 56 and § 57 TKG. This is not legal advice.

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