Best Credit Card Germany

Find the best credit card in Germany – Best Credit Card Germany Comparison

best credit cards germany

Last update: 3 October 2023

Navigating the diverse landscape of credit cards in Germany is no easy feat. The market offers a multitude of options, each tailored to different financial needs and preferences. In this in-depth comparison article, we’ll delve into the realm of credit cards in Germany, focusing on the core features and benefits that matter most to consumers. Whether you’re looking for a card with low annual fees, competitive interest rates, or flexible payment options, our guide will provide you with the essential insights you need to make an informed decision about the best credit card for your needs. Join us as we explore the world of “Credit Card Germany” to help you select the card that aligns perfectly with your financial goals and lifestyle.

As always: If you have problems with the application process or questions, please feel free to send us a message via the contact form. We will help you!

At a glance – Best Credit Card Germany Overview

awa7 Visa
0 €per month
  • No monthly or annual fees
  • No foreign currency fee
  • Cash withdrawals free of charge
  • Flexible repayment options
  • Apple Pay & Google Pay
Bank Norwegian Visa
0 €per month
  • No monthly or annual fees
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Cash withdrawals free of charge
  • Apple Pay & Google Pay
Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold
0 €per month
  • No monthly or annual fees
  • No foreign currency fee
  • Mastercard Gold
  • Apple Pay & Google Pay
Looking for a bank account in Germany?

Check out our comparison of the best German bank accounts

Best Credit Card Germany – Detailed Overview

awa7 Visa

awa7 visa credit cardThe awa7 Visa is a German credit card that comes completely free of charge (i.e. no monthly or annual fees). There are no foreign exchange fees (e.g. if you pay in dollar) and cash withdrawals are also free of charge. The card supports both Apple Pay and Google pay and comes with flexible repayment options. You can either pay in monthly installments (i.e. you pay a partial amount on a monthly basis) or balance out your monthly bill in one go. When ordering the awa7 credit card you can apply for a an immediate credit of up to 2,500 EUR. The credit is interest-free when you pay back the money within the first three months after ordering the card. And the best thing is, that you can do good with the card! For every 100 EUR you spend with the card, awa7 plants one tree.

   Completely free of charge – no monthly or annual fees
   No foreign transaction fees – pay in any currency without paying exchange fees
   Cash withdrawals free of charge
   Flexible repayment options – one-off payment or monthly installments
   Plant one tree for every 100 EUR you spend
   Apple Pay & Google Pay supported

Get your free awa7 Visa card


Bank Norwegian Visa

bank norwegian free credit card germanyNorwegian… Isn’t that an airline? You’re right! Bank Norwegian was originally part of the airline Norwegian. However today Bank Norwegian is part of the Swedish Nordax bank. Here’s what’s in it for you: The Bank Norwegian Visa credit card is free of charge (i.e. no monthly or annual fees). There are no foreign transaction fees and you can withdraw cash free of charge worldwide (in Germany max. 500 EUR within 24 hours & 1,500 EUR per week / abroad 1,000 EUR within 24 hours & 3,000 EUR per week). The Bank Norwegian credit card comes with a comprehensive travel insurance package (e.g. travel cancellation and travel health insurance) and both Apple Pay and Google Pay are supported. On the downside you will have to pay your monthly credit card bill manually (i.e. no automatic deduction from your bank account). But overall the Bank Norwegian Visa is still a pretty good deal, if you are looking for free credit card in Germany.

[SPECIAL OFFER] Currently you get a 30 EUR welcome bonus from Bank Norwegian

   Completely free of charge – no monthly or annual fees
   No foreign transaction fees – pay in any currency without paying fees
   Comprehensive travel insurance package included
   Apple Pay & Google Pay supported

   No automatic deduction of monthly bill from bank account

Get your Bank Norwegian Visa!


Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold

best credit card germany gebuhrenfreiThe Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold is the perfect credit card if you’re looking for the best credit card in Germany that doesn’t cost you a penny but comes with a lot of nice features. There are no monthly or annual fees and no foreign currency fees for non-Euro payments. Cash withdrawals are free of charge, however interest rates apply from the day on you have withdrawn cash (1.86% per month). But if you are using the Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold mainly for paying and not for cash withdrawals this card is a good choice. Another drawback is the fact that you will have to pay your monthly credit card bill manually, i.e. there’s no automatic deduction from your bank account.

   Completely free of charge – no monthly or annual fees
   No foreign transaction fees – pay in any currency without paying fees
   Easy application process (no PostIdent required)
   Apple Pay & Google Pay supported

   Interests apply for cash withdrawals (1.86% per month)
   No automatic deduction of monthly bill from bank account

Get your Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold!


TF Bank Mastercard Gold

credit card germany tf bank mastercard goldThe TF Bank Mastercard Gold is your perfect travel companion. It is completely free of charge (i.e. no monthly or annual fees) and there are also no foreign transaction fees (e.g. when you pay in US Dollars or British Pound). The TF Bank credit card comes with a travel insurance package that includes for example a travel health insurance, a travel cancellation & interruption insurance and a baggage insurance. Furthermore you get a 5% cashback when you book your holidays or rental car via TF Bank. The credit card supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay and you can easily apply for the credit card online and verify your identity via app. The only minor drawbacks are that there is no automatic deduction of the monthly bill from your bank account and the interest rate of 22.96% per year on cash withdrawals.

   Completely free of charge – no monthly or annual fees
   No foreign transaction fees – pay in any currency without paying fees
   Easy online application process
   Apple Pay & Google Pay supported

   Interest rate of 22.96% per year for cash withdrawals
   No automatic deduction of monthly bill from bank account

Get your TF Bank Mastercard Gold!


Consors Finanz Mastercard

consors finanz free mastercardLooking for a credit card that won’t break the bank? The Consors Finanz Mastercard might be just what you need. This card is completely fee-free, making it an economical choice for various financial needs. You can use the Consors Finanz Mastercard without worrying about additional fees for foreign currency transactions and you have the freedom to switch between partial payments (with considerably high interest rates) and one-time payments through the app, giving you control over your spending. Furthermore you can seamlessly make payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay, even if you don’t have the physical card. However you need to keep in mind that this Mastercard functions as a debit card, and not all car rental agencies may accept it for reservations. While withdrawals over €300 are fee-free, they are processed as installment payments. This means that the high debit interest will be charged. You can avoid this by balancing the credit card account via manual bank transfer. Withdrawals under €300 incur a flat fee of 3.95 EUR/withdrawal.

   Completely free of charge – no monthly or annual fees
   No foreign transaction fees – pay in any currency without paying fees
   Apple Pay & Google Pay supported

   High interest rates for partial payments
   Fee of 3.95 EUR for cash withdrawals under 300 EUR

Get your Consors Finanz Mastercard!


What credit cards can I use in Germany?

Various types of credit cards are also issued in Germany. The two most important providers are undoubtedly Visa and Mastercard, which are fighting for market leadership in this country. There are more than 20 million cards of each of the two major credit card banks in this country. The cards are not issued directly by Visa or Mastercard. Rather, they are partner banks that issue credit cards from the two companies. So you can get your card directly from your savings bank or direct bank, for example.

An alternative is credit cards from American Express. There are currently just under two million of these cards in circulation in Germany. With American Express, the credit card is issued directly by the company. Other internationally known credit card providers are Diners Club, JCB International, China UnionPay.

Which is the best Mastercard or Visa Card in Germany?

Our winners for the best credit card in Germany are…

Before you can get your credit card you have to open either a bank account or a basic payment account or if you are an entrepreneur a business bank account.

Where can you pay with a credit card?

Credit cards are the most flexible means of payment. You can use credit cards in these cases, among others:

While you can only make purchases “offline” with a Girocard, for example, this is also possible online with a credit card. You can therefore use it to pay in stores as well as on the Internet. You therefore only need one means of payment and do not have to rely on a different option for every transaction. Credit cards can also be used to withdraw money. This applies both at home and abroad.

A decisive advantage of the best credit card in Germany is also the flexibility when traveling. You can pay with Visa or Mastercard at almost all major travel agencies, hotels, and airlines. In some cases, you even benefit from additional insurance services. Abroad, you can not only pay everywhere with your credit card but also get cash at most ATMs. So you benefit from maximum flexibility when traveling and have the ideal means of payment at hand, so to speak.

germany best credit cards
Visa Mastercard American Express

Which is the best credit card to use for shopping in Germany?

If you want to use your credit card only in Germany, it is clear in principle which card you should go for. Your choice for the best credit card in Germany basically cannot go past Visa or Mastercard. The two card providers enjoy by far the greater acceptance in this country. Cards from Diners Club, JCB International, and China UnionPay, on the other hand, are only accepted in Germany in exceptional cases. This applies, for example to expensive boutiques or luxury hotels.

American Express is something of a lucky bag when it comes to acceptance. You can usually use this credit card for luxury purchases and at most gas stations without any problems. In stationary retail and e-commerce, however, things get more complicated. Recently, however, the acceptance of American Express credit cards has increased significantly.

What credit cards and billing models do they have in Germany?

Charge Card

The charge card is the most common in Germany (most MasterCards are charge cards). With them, the credit card provider creates an invoice once a month and debits the accrued amount from the agreed account. The time delay gives you a free credit or interest advantage for several weeks. This is convenient if you have unexpected expenses, for example, a car repair on vacation: you first pay the repair shop bill with the credit card and only need to worry about the credit card statement and the balance on your private account after your return.

Debit Card

The credit card statement looks different from the debit card. Here, similar to the bank or former EC card, the amount is immediately debited from the account. The advantage of this is that larger amounts do not accumulate and then become due all at once – a risk of running into debt that should not be underestimated. Prepaid credit cards are also debit cards, except that the amount is deducted immediately from the credit balance.

Credit Card

The third variant, the credit card (a credit card with a credit line) is what is often called a “real” credit card: It is a charge card combined with the option of paying the amount due in one go or installments. However, interest is charged on the outstanding amount, which is higher than that of the overdraft facility of a normal account. This “credit” can be paid off in fixed installments, the amount of which is freely selectable, with only a minimum amount being fixed (usually 50 euros); unscheduled repayments are possible at any time. The best-known credit cards of this type are the American Express cards, but many Visa cards also offer this credit card payment option.


Best Credit Card Germany Comparison

So now it’s up to you… Get the best credit card in Germany! If you have problems applying for a credit card or if you simply have questions, please send us a message via the contact form. We will help you!


Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I earn a commission if you use those links.

40 Comments. Leave new

  • Hi ,

    I am new in Germany. If you can let me know which credit card have free access to lounges across the globe.

    Reply
    • Dear Jayant,
      the American Express Platinum card offers unlimited lounge access for up to four people. And there are many more benefits such as status upgrades with hotel and rental car companies. However it costs 60 EUR/month.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Omar Hafsa
    June 22, 2022 15:31

    Hello,
    I’m new in Germany and I’m waiting for my residence card. is it possible to apply for Barclays credit card now or I have to wait for the residence card.
    now, I have my ”Anmeldung” that improve that I’m living in Germany. is it enough.

    thanks in advance for your reponse.

    Reply
    • Dear Omar,
      the required documents for the completion of the ID verification process depend on your nationality. In most cases your ID or passport in combination with your “Anmeldung” are sufficient. If not Barclays will let you know.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Dear Dominik,
    Thank you for all your useful information.
    I wish to apply for a Barclays visa credit card and I want to pay the full outstanding on the due date. Can I set up a 100% auto debit from my bank account ( SEPA No) with the Barclays card or do I have to settle that manually on a monthly basis? I don’t wish to go with the partial instalment but The Full 100% settlement on the due date.
    Thank you so very much
    Best,
    Alii

    Reply
    • Dear Ali,
      yes, that’s possible with the Barclays Visa Card. You can set up 100% settlement on the due date in the online banking portal of your Barclays Visa Card.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hi Ijust want to ask, regarding Advanzia.
    1. Ist advanzia still active? I mean, I cant access anymore the advanzia App.
    2. Can I still use it even though i cant access the Advanzia App?
    3. Since my advanzia credit card was activated i didnt use it till now., My question here, can i still use it or its already deactivated?
    4. Can I take another credit card, even if i already had one?(which is im not sure if it is still active)
    I hope someone will notice this and enlighten me. Thanks in advance for the answer.

    Reply
    • Dear Jenny,
      regarding your Advanzia Bank questions (1. – 3.) I would recommend to get in touch with their customer service. I’m sure they will be able to answer all your questions.
      If you have already an active credit card from Advanzia Bank you won’t be able to request another one.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hi,
    Does the Barclaycard have Airport lounge access in Germany? Or does any other card offer this facility?

    Reply
    • Dear Saha,
      no, the Barclays Visa does not include airport lounge access. There are a few credit cards in Germany that offer lounge access such as the American Express Platinum or the Sparda Bank Hessen Mastercard Platinum. However these cards are usually not free of charge or you need a minimum turnover per year.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Arush Bhandari
    October 16, 2021 17:59

    Hi,

    1. Is there any credit card which offers travel miles on making payments? If yes, are they worth it?

    2. I see none of the cards mentioned have any sort of a cash back type feature, is that not a common thing in Germany?

    3. Which credit cards have an English support or app?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Dear Arush,

      1. Yes there are a few and the most popular one is probably the Lufthansa Miles & More card. In the lowest tier (blue card) you get 1 mile for each 2 EUR spent. However compared to mile programs in the US, the German programs are definitely not as attractive.
      2. Credit card cashback programs are also not that common in Germany. A promising program that has been started recently is Vivid Money. There you can get up to 25% cahsback and earn up to 150 EUR per month by using the Vivid card.
      3. The Hanseatic Bank app is also available in English. Their GenialCard is completely free of charge

      Hope this helps!

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • What about online shopping or booking hotels and flight? Does Barclays card charges you with a fee for this, for the transaction?

    Reply
    • Dear Elona,
      no, there are no additional fees for such transactions. Even when you’re paying in a foreign currency there are no charges as Barclaycard does not charge foreign transaction fees. The only exception is, when you use your Barclaycard in casinos or for sport betting. Then a charge of 4% per transaction applies.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hello, what would be better in terms of banks availability and conditions as well for credit cards between Barclay’s and Hanseatic. Here in Germany

    Reply
    • Dear Felipe,
      as both cards are Visa credit cards, they are widely accepted. They are pretty much accepted everywhere when it comes to shopping, you can withdraw cash free of charge and they both support Apple Pay and Google Pay.
      Therefore the difference are only marginal. The advantage of the Barclaycard Visa is that they currently offer a bonus of 50 EUR.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hello,
    I started using my Visa Barclaycard for my purchases. I want to know will, the amounts of purchases I spent, be deducted directly from my main account (on which I receive salary) to Visa Barclaycard or I have to do that manually every month?
    Furthermore do you know are these money transfers (from main account to Barclaycard) free or I have to pay some charges when I do that?
    It would mean a lot if you could help me with these questions.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Dear Daglas,
      with the Barclaycard you have both options. You can either balance out your monthly credit card bill manually by transferring money from your bank account to your credit card account. Alternatively you can opt for an automatic monthly deduction from your bank account. If you decide to pay in installments (i.e. only pay your monthly bill partially), Barclaycard will charge interest on that. Otherwise there are no fees for transfers from your bank account to your credit card. Unless your bank has charges for this.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hello,
    I was wondering if there are any credit cards in Germany whom have Purchase Protections?
    Insurance for purchases, for example if they are broken, stolen or failed.

    Usually, found on cards in North America.

    Reply
    • Dear Jose,
      yes, there are credit cards with an included shopping insurance. However these cards are usually not free of charge and come with an annual fee.
      The awa7 credit card presented in this article also comes with a shopping insurance that is free of charge in the first 12 months. After that you have to pay for it.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Good afternoon,
    I’m interested in what would be the procedure for canceling, for example, a bank card if I have a GenialCard, and if I can get you professional advice, which do you think would be better to choose and would be used more for shopping in installments: GenialCard or Barclaycard?
    Thanks in advance for the possible answers, have a nice day 🙂

    Reply
    • Dear Daglas,
      well cancelling an existing card is usually pretty easy… Just send a message to your bank and let them know what account/card you would like to cancel.
      Regarding your question, which card is better for shopping in installments, my recommendation would be the Barclaycard. Why? Because you pay 0% interest for up to three months for expenses under 500 EUR.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Which card do you think is the better choice to buy in installments and which gives a higher limit?
    Thanks for the possible answer.

    Reply
    • Dear Dag,
      both Barclaycard and the Hanseatic GenialCard offer payments in installments.
      The limit depends on various personal factors that are usually considered by the banks (e.g. your salary, your payment history etc.). Therefore I cannot answer your question which bank gives a higher limit.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • ADVANZIA says no foreign transaction fee but I tried earlier, it is there, so I stopped using it outside Euro. Can any body has experience of this zero transaction fee?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Dear Adapa,
      according to the terms and conditions of Advanzia Bank there is indeed no foreign transaction fee for the Gebuhrenfrei Mastercard Gold.
      However there is a fee for cash withdrawals (irrelevant if in Euro or a foreign currency). Do you maybe mean that? In which currency did the charge you a foreign transaction fee?

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • Hey Dominik,

    Thank you for the informative post. I am being indecisive between the Barclaycard and Genialcard. Which one would you recommend? Also I know Genialcard let’s you transfer money to your current account, does Barclaycard let you do that? Also are there are any charges for the transfer?

    Reply
    • Dear Tariq,
      both GenialCard and Barclaycard are great options when you are looking for a credit card in Germany.
      With the Barclaycard you can also transfer money to your bank account (up to 90% of your credit card limit). The cost is 7.50 EUR/transfer.
      The GenialCard offers this service free of charge if you do it via the online banking (via phone they charge a fee of 3.95 EUR).
      So if this is an important criterion for your I would recommend the GenialCard.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • What’s your view on Amazon’s credit card, I think it’s an extremely good option considering the fact that you receive at least 0.5% cashback. Granted there’s an annual fees but that can be waived off if you are a prime member.

    Reply
    • Hello,
      the Amazon credit card is definitely a good choice if you are shopping regularly on Amazon and if you are already an Amazon Prime member. In that case there’s no annual fee. If you are not a Prime member, the annual fee is 20 EUR.
      Other drawbacks of the Amazon credit cards are the 1.75% foreign currency fee (e.g. if you pay in dollars) and cash withdrawals are also not for free (min. 7.50 EUR in Germany and 5 EUR abroad).

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • So does it means if I use Hanseatic Bank GenialCard VISA Card I will have no monthly or annual fee. Only additional cost will be applicable if I delay the payment against any bill?

    Reply
    • Dear Ahmad,
      that’s correct. No monthly/annual fees and no foreign transaction fees or fees for withdrawing cash.
      If you pay your monthly bill only partially, the interest rate is 12.82 % per year.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
    • Hello, I need an advice. I live in Germany and I have my salary Account and I need antoher Card especially for Onlineshopping or paying things in installments,flexible. Which card would you in this case recommend GenialCard or Barclaycard? Thanks in advance.

      Reply
      • Dear Daglas,
        both cards are great options as they are free of charge and they offer payments in installments. Also all other major features such as cash withdrawals, foreign exchange fees or Apple/Google pay are very much the same. Therefore I would say it’s up to you to make a choice 😉

        Best Regards,
        Dominik

        Reply
  • Mehedi Hasan
    August 5, 2020 04:22

    How many credit cards a person can hold in Germany…
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Dear Mehedi,
      there is no limit. Each bank decides on their own if they accept you as a customer or not. And as long as you have a good Schufa score and have proven that you’ve met your financial obligations you shouldn’t have problems applying for multiple credit cards.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • A. Sanchez
    May 22, 2020 07:35

    How do I find out about the interest rate?, credit cards don’t seem to advertise that.
    Is there any credit card that offer zero or low interest rate for balance transfer from another credit card?

    Reply
    • Hello,
      this is due to the fact that the most common credit card type in Germany is the so-called “charge credit card”. This means that your monthly credit card bill is usually automatically deducted/charged from your bank account on a monthly basis. Therefore interest rates would only apply if you decide not to pay your monthly credit card bill.
      However banks are obliged to advertise the interest rate (“Sollzinssatz” = borrowing rate & “eff. Jahreszins” = annual percentage rate) and they are usually somewhere between 10% – 20%.

      The Hanseatic GenialCard offers the possibility to transfer money to your bank account that you could then use to balance out another credit card. The interest rate for this credit card is currently at 13.60% (annual percentage rate).

      Hope this helps!

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply
  • How can i stop my master card if I don’t need it again

    Reply
    • Hi Peter,
      the easiest way to cancel your credit card contract is to send an email to the credit card provider.

      Best Regards,
      Dominik

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Fill out this field
Fill out this field
Please enter a valid email address.