How Do You Change Internet Providers in Germany?

Discover ways to save money, seamlessly switch internet providers, and optimize your internet connection. Learn actionable tips on changing internet service providers and unlocking faster, more cost-effective internet connections in Germany.

Key takeaways

• You can save between 100€ and 200€ by changing the internet provider every 2 years.
• You can get a new contract several months before canceling the old one.
• Usually, changing the internet providers goes smoothly. But you are also secured by law. Per the Telcommincoation Act 2021, your internet must work after 1 day of the switch. If the internet is not working, your old provider must restore the internet services.
• You also have special rights to terminate your internet contract early.
• You can get support from the Federal Network Agency if you face problems when switching internet providers.

This is how you do it

• You can compare the internet plans on comparison portals Check24* and Verivox*. 
• Apply for the change on the comparison portal directly.
• Check the box “Let the new internet provider cancel the old contract.”
• Plan a few months ahead when changing the internet providers.

Table of contents

People often don’t prefer changing their internet connection if the internet is working smoothly. But you can save between 100 € and 200 € if you change your internet every two years.

Moreover, you don’t have to worry about being without internet during the switch. Per the Telecommunication Act 2021, your old provider must resume the internet service if the new internet connection is not working.

In the worst-case scenario, you only have to spend a maximum of 1 day without internet. But usually, the internet change goes very smoothly.

When can you change the internet service provider in Germany?

In the following situations, you can change the internet connection in Germany.

• End of the minimum contract term. 
• You moved to a new address where your current internet provider doesn’t offer services. 
• You moved into a shared apartment that already has internet.
• You moved to a new address where your current internet provider doesn’t offer the same internet speed.

NOTE: You can even get a new internet contract several months ahead of canceling your current one. You only have to inform the new provider to start the internet contract once the old one ends.

End of the minimum contract term

Most German internet providers set a minimum contract term of two years. Once this term ends, you can cancel the internet contract by giving one month’s notice.

The 1-month notice rule applies to all internet contracts since the Telecommunication Act 2021. If your internet provider is causing problems during the switch, you can get help from the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).

Move to a new address

Moving to a new place doesn’t automatically give you the right to cancel the internet contract. It’s because you must take your internet contract with you.

However, you have a special right to terminate the internet contract in the following situations.

• Your internet provider doesn’t offer an internet connection at the new location.
• Your internet provider doesn’t offer the internet speed agreed in the contract at the new location.

Notice period: In this case, you must give three months’ notice to your internet provider. Moreover, the notice period starts from the day you move into your new home.

So, in the worst-case scenario, you must continue to pay the old internet provider for 3 months after moving in.

Move into a property that already has an internet connection

Suppose you move into an apartment with internet access, e.g., a shared apartment. In this case, you have a special right to cancel your contract.

It’s because your internet provider cannot offer internet as the cable slot is already occupied.

Moved into a property where two people brought the internet contract with them

In this case, you can choose which internet contract to continue and cancel the other.

If you both have contracts with the same internet provider, you may cancel one of the contracts without a notice period. But it depends on the internet provider.

Normally, you must give a 3-month notice.

Slow internet at the new location

You can have a special right to cancel the contract if your internet is slow at the new location. However, you must first check the internet speed on the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) website.

To exercise the right of contract cancellation, you must follow the guidelines mentioned on BNetzA’s website. Read our guide on slow internet to learn what steps you can take.

How can you change the internet provider in Germany?

Changing an internet provider is quite simple in Germany. There are two different scenarios.

• Changing the internet provider while keeping the same internet connection (DSL, cable, or Fibre-Optic).
• Changing the internet provider and the internet connection. For example, DSL to Cable or Cable to DSL, etc.

The process of changing the internet provider is similar but has a few differences. Let’s look at each case in detail.

Changing the internet provider while keeping the same internet connection (DSL, cable, or Fibre-Optic)

• Compare the internet plans on Check24 and Verivox comparison portals. 
• Apply for the change at the portal itself.
• We recommend checking the box “Let the new internet provider cancel the old internet contract.” It saves you the effort of canceling the internet contract. Moreover, the two internet providers can coordinate the switch better to give you a seamless transition.
• You can set up the internet yourself or get help from the new provider. But you must decide it while applying for the new internet tariff. 
• Setting up the internet is fairly simple. You’ll get the router from the internet provider. Plug in the router to the power socket. Connect the internet cable to the cable slot in your home. This is it. If everything is fine, you can access the Internet.

Here are some tips to make the transfer of the internet provider smooth.

• Plan the change of internet plan ahead of time: You should compare and order the new internet plan a few months before the end of your current contract. Ideally, you should get the new internet connection six months before the end of the current contract. Inform the new internet provider that the contract should only start when the old one ends.
• Double-check your information while applying: Your name and address while applying for the new internet connection must exactly match the old contract. Even a wrong character or a missing hyphen in the name can cause problems when changing the internet provider. You can change the personal information after the switch.

Changing the internet provider and the internet connection

The process to change the internet provider is the same.

• Compare the internet plans on Check24 and Verivox comparison portals. 
• Apply for the change at the portal itself.
• Check the box “Let the new internet provider cancel the old internet contract.”

You should be aware of a few things when changing the internet connection. For example, switching from DSL to Cable, Cable to DSL, or DSL to Fibre-optic.

• Changing the connection type is not possible without a technician. When you change the internet connection, you need support from the technician. The technician has to work with the “internet distributor” in your house. You can find this box in the basement if you live in an apartment. You probably won’t have a key for this box. Thus, you must coordinate with your building’s caretaker (Hausmaster) to get the keys.
• You can also transfer your existing phone number to the new connection later.

Read our guide on how to find the best internet provider to learn more.

Why should you change the internet service provider?

Here are a few reasons to change the internet provider.

• You are unhappy with the current internet service.
• Your current plan is too expensive.
• You are smart and want to save money by changing the internet providers regularly.

Who can help with the problems when changing the internet provider?

You can get support from the Federal Network Agency. If you apply for the new contract on Check24*, you can also get support from Check24.

Although rare, you may still face problems while switching the internet providers. However, you don’t have to worry about being offline for weeks. 

As per the new Telecommunication Act, you must have a working internet after 1 day of the switch ( Section 59 Paragraph 2 TKG ). Otherwise, the old internet provider must restore your internet connection.

The old internet provider must continue to offer internet access till the transfer is successful. Since you are getting the internet from your old service provider, you must pay them for the service. The subscription fee will be the same as what you used to pay.

NOTE: The old internet provider is only liable to offer services if the switch didn’t fail because of you. For example, the switch failed as you were not at home at the agreed technician appointment.

How do you proceed if the internet is not working after 1 day of the switch?

You should contact the new internet provider if the internet is not working. The new provider will coordinate with your previous provider to restore the internet connection until further notice.

You don’t pay the new internet provider until the internet connection is up and running.

In the worst-case scenario, suppose you can’t restore the old connection or are having problems with the internet providers. You can get support from the Federal Network Agency. 

FAQ

Can you transfer your internet contract to someone else?

Yes, you can transfer the internet contract from one person to another. Here are the steps to make the transfer. 

• Send an email to the internet provider about the transfer.
• Provide the following information in the email.
• Customer number (Kundennummer) or contract number (Vertragsnummer), 
• your current address,
• the address where the internet connection is active,
• and the personal information of the new contract owner.
• The internet service provider contacts the new owner and sends you the transfer confirmation.

The transfer is usually done within a week without internet interruptions.