Mobile and home internet in Austria: where to buy your sim-card?

In Austria, mobile phone services are surprisingly affordable compared to other European countries, and nearly all providers offer solid coverage and service. You can’t really go wrong, and if you do want to change later, don’t worry—number portability (Rufnummernmitnahme) lets you keep your number when switching providers.

If you're using eSIM (a digital SIM card) and want mobile service as soon as you arrive, you can purchase a data package from airalo.com before your trip. However, it’s not essential, as local options are usually sufficient.

Prepaid SIM Cards

Once you arrive, prepaid SIM cards (often called Wertkarte in Austria) are widely available in nearly every store. You can buy one without hassle, but you’ll need to register (Sim-Karte registrieren) it with your passport for activation, either in-store or online—no other documents are necessary. While you may be tempted to pick one up at the airport, we recommend waiting; there’s free Wi-Fi (called WLAN in German) in the airport, and Drei sells a decent option in Bipa if you’re in a rush.

Supermarkets like Hofer (HoT), Lidl (Lidl-Connect), and Spar (S-Budget) also offer their own SIM cards through virtual operators. These providers lease networks from Austria’s big three operators, so coverage is great. Since they avoid running their own shops, prices are often cheaper, and you can buy extra international packages.

Until you set up a local bank account, recharging your card (Aufladen) is easiest with a Ladebon (top-up code), which you can buy with cash at supermarkets, gas stations, or kiosks. Prepaid SIMs don’t require ongoing payments; you pay for a set amount of data or minutes that typically last a month, and you recharge as needed.

Roaming

When traveling abroad, keep an eye on roaming policies. Although EU roaming is free, some providers like S-Budget require activation of this feature in-store. Others like HoT might need manual configuration, but details are usually available in FAQs on their websites. Non-EU roaming can also be blocked to avoid high costs, which you can manage through your provider’s settings.

Contracts

Contracts are often a bit cheaper than prepaid options and are paid monthly. Some providers offer flexible contracts without long-term commitments, like spusu (on the Drei network). We also recommend educom (Drei network) and XOXO (A1 network), both offering great student discounts and referral bonuses. If you’re interested in eSIM, check if your chosen provider supports it.

For easy coverage, go to rtr.at to view a map showing network coverage by region.

In a Nutshell

Still unsure? We suggest heading to Hofer to grab a prepaid HoT SIM card when you arrive. Once you’ve set up a local bank account, consider switching to a contract with spusu, educom, or XOXO—depending on which network has the best coverage where you live.

If you bundle your mobile and internet services, Drei might have cost-saving offers, but always check if they’re providing mobile network or cable internet, as cable tends to be more reliable.

For price comparisons across mobile, internet, and utilities, check out durchblicker.at and tarife.at, though bear in mind they might take commissions from companies. Arbeiterkammer’s comparison tool is more neutral. Lastly, if you’re a student, iamstudent.at offers discounts on electronics and services, and edustore.at sells discounted tech gear for students as well.

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