Recommendations
Tools we actually use.
A short, opinionated shortlist per category. Pros, cons, and the one we’d reach for first — not whoever pays the most.
Bank accounts
Bank accounts
Open a German bank account in minutes, English-first.
N26
Free mobile bank account with a German IBAN. Fully digital, English-friendly app.
- Free standard account
- Full English app
- Fast setup (under 10 min)
- No cash deposits
- No physical branches
C24 Bank
Free smart banking with up to 2.5% interest on your balance. German-only app.
- Free account with interest
- Excellent budgeting tools
- Up to 4 free sub-accounts
- App only in German
- Newer bank (less established)
DKB
Germany's largest direct bank. Free Visa debit card, great for international travel.
- Free worldwide ATM withdrawals
- Free Visa debit card
- Very established and trusted
- App mostly in German
- Slow account opening
Investment platforms
Investment platforms
Commission-free ETF Sparpläne for long-term wealth.
Trade Republic
Commission-free investing in stocks, ETFs, and crypto. 1 EUR per trade for savings plans.
- Commission-free savings plans
- 3.25% interest on cash
- Simple, clean app
- Mobile-only (no desktop)
- Limited order types
Scalable Capital
Modern broker with free ETF savings plans and a robo-advisor option.
- Free ETF savings plans
- Desktop + mobile
- Robo-advisor available
- Trading fees on free tier
- Interface can be complex
Health insurance
Health insurance
Public and private cover compared, English support.
TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)
Germany's largest public health insurer. Excellent English support for expats.
- Best English support
- Excellent digital services
- Large network
- Same base rate as all public insurers
- Some premium add-ons cost extra
Feather Insurance
Insurance broker for expats. Handles public and private health insurance in English.
- 100% English service
- Free consultation
- Handles all paperwork
- Broker (not direct insurer)
- Limited to partner insurers
Credit cards
Credit cards
Real credit cards with no annual fee, accepted everywhere.
Advanzia Mastercard Gold
Free gold credit card with no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance included.
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free travel insurance
- High interest on unpaid balance
- Must pay full balance monthly
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
Free gold Mastercard with travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees. No German credit history needed.
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel insurance included
- High interest on revolving balance
- Customer support in German only
Barclays Visa
Free Visa credit card with up to 2 months interest-free on purchases. Good for building German credit history.
- No annual fee
- Up to 2 months interest-free
- Builds German credit history (SCHUFA)
- Requires German address and income proof
- Foreign transaction fees apply
Tax software
Tax software
File your German tax return in English, get the refund.
Wundertax
Simple online tax return software in English. Average refund: 1,063 EUR.
- Full English interface
- Simple step-by-step process
- Only pay if you file
- Not suitable for complex cases
- No personal advisor
SteuerGo
Online tax return software with an English interface. Guided process walks you through every step.
- Full English interface
- Step-by-step guidance
- Cheaper than Wundertax at 34.95 EUR
- Limited freelancer support
- No personal tax advisor
Taxfix
Mobile-first tax app that files your return in under 30 minutes. Simple Q&A format, average refund over 1,000 EUR.
- Very simple Q&A format
- Mobile-first design
- English available
- Not suitable for complex tax situations
- Freelancer support limited
SIM cards
SIM cards
Best networks, English signup, monthly cancellable.
fraenk
Simple, no-contract mobile plan on Telekom's network. 5 GB for 10 EUR/month.
- Telekom network (best coverage)
- No contract, cancel anytime
- Simple pricing
- App only in German
- Limited data options
ALDI Talk
Affordable prepaid SIM on the O2 network. Available at any ALDI store, no contract required.
- Available at every ALDI store
- No contract, fully prepaid
- Very affordable plans from 7.99 EUR
- O2 network (weaker rural coverage)
- App only in German
Lidl Connect
Prepaid mobile on the Vodafone network. No contract, decent rural coverage, competitive pricing.
- Vodafone network (better rural coverage)
- No contract
- Good data packages
- Limited availability outside Lidl stores
- App only in German
Accommodation
Accommodation
Furnished rentals for the first months in Germany.
Wunderflats
Furnished apartments for medium-term stays (1-24 months). Verified landlords, no SCHUFA needed.
- Furnished and ready to move in
- No SCHUFA required
- All-inclusive pricing
- Higher monthly rent than unfurnished
- Limited availability in smaller cities
Language learning
Language learning
Apps and courses that actually move the needle.
Babbel
Structured German language courses built by linguists. Berlin-based company with the best German course on the market.
- Best structured German course
- Speech recognition for pronunciation
- Offline mode available
- About 7 EUR per month
- Limited conversation practice
Job platforms
Job platforms
Tech and professional roles with visa sponsorship.
Honeypot
Tech-focused job platform where companies apply to you. Strong presence in Germany, supports visa sponsorship.
- Companies apply to you
- Tech-focused (developers, data, product)
- Visa sponsorship support
- Tech roles only
- Requires coding profile/assessment