What is a flat rate? Easily explained

With mobile phone contracts, you can often choose between several flat rates. However, many do not know exactly what a flat rate is. Because the term has been used for many tariffs in recent years. We explain it to you and show you what the differences are.

Call cheaper with a flat rate

The term flat rate stands for flat rate or flat rate. This means: You pay a certain amount in advance and have a certain quota available.

• There are now countless different flat rate offers, especially for smartphones.
• A currently very common flat rate model for mobile phones is a flat rate for around 20 euros per month, which allows you to make as many calls and surf the Internet as you like. Depending on the contract, however, the high-speed access for the Internet is throttled after a certain limit. The flat rate is not unlimited in every case - be careful!
• There are also flat rates where you can call unlimited landline numbers from your mobile phone for a certain period of time.
• In addition to fixed-line calls, other flat rates also include calls to the mobile network.
• The respective service life of the individual flat rate is also very different. Flat rates are available for a day over a week or a month.
• Conclusion: A flat rate applies to certain areas (e.g. Internet, telephony in certain networks), but is not necessarily unlimited. Therefore, pay attention to your quota, otherwise your Internet speed will be throttled, for example. For DSL contracts, you should choose a flat rate model with throttling.

Select the right mobile flat rate

Before you decide on a flat rate, there are a few points to consider in advance. Because with a flat rate applies: Even if you do not use the flat rate, you usually do not get your money or talk time credited.

• First you should analyze your own telephone behavior yourself. So you can better decide which flat rate really makes sense for you.
• This includes, for example, the question of whether you call more yourself or whether you are more likely to be called. Do you often need or use the Internet on your smartphone? Is your telephone behavior relatively even or does it fluctuate?
• If you only use your cell phone very sporadically, the conclusion of a long-term flat rate is usually not worthwhile for you. In this case, a flat rate booked as needed is the better choice.
• With the mobile phone tariff comparison calculator you will find the best tariff.

Flat rates are not only available for mobile phones: You can also choose from numerous e-book flat rates or flat rates for films. We have summarized the best tariffs for your network in another article.