Prepaid: full cost control and short commitment
With prepaid you stay in full control of costs. But watch the billing period: 28-day packs are charged 13 times a year instead of 12 – which raises the annual cost.
The comparison and application process are provided by Verivox. Thinkstars GmbH does not broker or advise; if you sign a contract, it may receive a commission.Learn morePrepaid suits people who want to stay flexible or keep a strict limit on costs. Check whether the pack price is charged every four weeks or monthly – it changes the annual cost.
Four weeks are not a month
With billing every 28 days, a year regularly brings 13 pack prices instead of 12. So always scale up to twelve months.
Check the convenience features
Automatic top-up, eSIM, 5G access and roaming vary from provider to provider. For occasional use, a smaller pack can make more sense than a large all-in option.
- Billing period
- Automatic top-up
- Included data and throttling
- eSIM, 5G and EU roaming
Frequently asked questions
What happens if my credit isn't enough for the next prepaid pack?
That depends on the tariff: the pack may pause or only renew once you top up. Check whether a basic tariff with pay-as-you-go charges applies in the meantime. Any automatic top-up should fit your spending limit.
Is a prepaid tariff with automatic top-up still easy to control?
Automatic top-up makes things more convenient, but can trigger several charges. Check the top-up threshold, the amount and any limits. Without these controls, the credit alone is not a reliable monthly spending limit.
What is the difference between 4-week and monthly packs?
With billing every 28 days, you pay 13 pack prices a year instead of 12. Over a year, a 4-week pack is therefore around eight per cent more expensive than a monthly pack at the same price. So always scale prepaid offers up to twelve months before comparing them.
Does prepaid credit expire?
Credit you have topped up does not expire simply because time passes; if you cancel, you can in principle have any remaining credit paid out. Providers may, however, deactivate a card after a long period of inactivity. The specific deadlines are in the provider's price list and service terms.
Can I keep my phone number with prepaid?
Yes, prepaid numbers can be ported too. The request goes through the new provider. Any remaining credit on the old card is not transferred automatically – before porting, find out how to have it paid out.
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