Dispatches
Notes on digital everyday life in Germany. SIM cards, banking apps, privacy tools, home tech. No ads, no affiliate links, no sponsored content.
Getting a SIM card in Germany as a foreigner
The Telekommunikationsgesetz requires in-person identity verification, which surprises most people. Here is what to expect at the store, which documents to bring, and what the registration process looks like in practice.
Does a VPN actually matter living in Germany?
German ISPs operate under different data retention rules than in the UK or US, and the local geo-restriction landscape is its own thing. This looks at what a VPN changes in practice rather than in principle.
Neobank comparison for Germany residents in 2026
N26, Wise, and Revolut all operate in Germany but each handles local requirements differently. This looks at Lastschrift support, Schufa queries, and how each deals with German-language tax documentation.
Setting up a smart home in a German rental apartment
German tenancy law (Mietrecht) has real constraints on what you can mount, drill, and modify. This looks at a sensible automation setup that does not require landlord permission or wall-drilling.
eSIM vs physical SIM in Germany: a practical comparison
Not all German carriers support eSIM equally, and the registration process differs. This is what to expect when you try to set up an eSIM profile versus walking into a store with a passport.