Recommendations
Tools we actually use.
A short, opinionated shortlist per category. Pros, cons, and the one we would reach for first, not whoever pays the most.
01 / Full comparisons
Compare options side by side
01
Bank accounts
Open a German bank account in minutes, English-first.
N26
4.5Free mobile bank account with a German IBAN. Fully digital, English-friendly app.
Why it wins: Fastest English-first German IBAN for new arrivals who do not need cash deposits.
Not for you if: You regularly deposit cash, or you need a full-service branch network.
How it was tested: Opened a real account, completed video identity, and used SEPA transfers for living expenses.
Pros
- Free standard account
- Full English app
- Fast setup (under 10 min)
Cons
- No cash deposits
- No physical branches
C24 Bank
4.3Free smart banking with up to 2.5% interest on your balance. German-only app.
Pros
- Free account with interest
- Excellent budgeting tools
- Up to 4 free sub-accounts
Cons
- App only in German
- Newer bank (less established)
DKB
4.4Germany's largest direct bank. Free Visa debit card, great for international travel.
Pros
- Free worldwide ATM withdrawals
- Free Visa debit card
- Very established and trusted
Cons
- App mostly in German
- Slow account opening
Vivid Money
4.1Mobile bank with cashback, sub-accounts, and investing built in. English app, German IBAN.
Pros
- English app
- Cashback rewards
- Invest from the app
Cons
- Premium tiers upsold
- Newer bank
Commerzbank
3.8Major traditional bank with physical branches and a welcome bonus. Good if you want in-person service.
Pros
- Physical branches nationwide
- Established and trusted
- Cash deposits easy
Cons
- Mostly German service
- Fees if conditions unmet
ING
4.2Germany's largest direct bank. Free current account, solid app, free ATM withdrawals from €50.
Pros
- Free current account
- Large, trusted bank
- Free ATM (€50+)
Cons
- App mostly German
- No branches
02
Investment platforms
Commission-free ETF Sparpläne for long-term wealth.
Trade Republic
4.5Commission-free investing in stocks, ETFs, and crypto. 1 EUR per trade for savings plans.
Pros
- Commission-free savings plans
- 3.25% interest on cash
- Simple, clean app
Cons
- Mobile-only (no desktop)
- Limited order types
Scalable Capital
4.3Modern broker with free ETF savings plans and a robo-advisor option.
Pros
- Free ETF savings plans
- Desktop + mobile
- Robo-advisor available
Cons
- Trading fees on free tier
- Interface can be complex
Interactive Brokers
4.4Global broker with the widest market access and lowest FX costs. Best for serious or international investors.
Pros
- Access to global exchanges
- Very low FX/trading fees
- Powerful tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Overkill for beginners
eToro
3.8Social/copy-trading platform, English-first. Popular for stocks and crypto, though costs are higher.
Pros
- Very easy to start
- Copy other investors
- Stocks + crypto
Cons
- Higher hidden costs
- Withdrawal fee
comdirect
4.0Established German broker (Commerzbank group) with a huge fund/ETF selection and savings plans.
Pros
- Huge ETF/fund range
- Free ETF savings plans
- Established broker
Cons
- German-only platform
- Higher single-trade fees
03
Health insurance
Public and private cover compared, English support.
TK (Techniker Krankenkasse)
4.6Germany's largest public health insurer. Excellent English support for expats.
Pros
- Best English support
- Excellent digital services
- Large network
Cons
- Same base rate as all public insurers
- Some premium add-ons cost extra
Feather Insurance
4.4Insurance broker for expats. Handles public and private health insurance in English.
Pros
- 100% English service
- Free consultation
- Handles all paperwork
Cons
- Broker (not direct insurer)
- Limited to partner insurers
Ottonova
4.4Germany's first fully digital private health insurer (PKV). English app and concierge, built for expats and freelancers earning above the threshold.
Pros
- Fully English app & concierge
- Digital claims (photo & submit)
- Strong for freelancers & high earners
Cons
- Private only (income/status requirements)
- Premiums rise with age
AOK
3.9One of Germany's largest public insurers with strong regional presence and many local offices.
Pros
- Large regional network
- In-person offices
- Established and stable
Cons
- Limited English
- Website mostly German
BARMER
3.9Major public insurer with a solid app and English-language onboarding help for expats.
Pros
- Good app
- Nationwide
- Expat onboarding help
Cons
- English is partial
- German paperwork
04
Credit cards
Real credit cards with no annual fee, accepted everywhere.
Advanzia Mastercard Gold
4.2Free gold credit card with no foreign transaction fees and travel insurance included.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free travel insurance
Cons
- High interest on unpaid balance
- Must pay full balance monthly
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
4.1Free gold Mastercard with travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees. No German credit history needed.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Travel insurance included
Cons
- High interest on revolving balance
- Customer support in German only
Barclays Visa
4.0Free Visa credit card with up to 2 months interest-free on purchases. Good for building German credit history.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Up to 2 months interest-free
- Builds German credit history (SCHUFA)
Cons
- Requires German address and income proof
- Foreign transaction fees apply
American Express (DE)
4.0Strong rewards and travel perks, widely issued to expats with income proof. Not accepted everywhere in Germany.
Pros
- Excellent Membership Rewards
- Travel insurance perks
- Good sign-up bonuses
Cons
- Not accepted everywhere in DE
- Some cards have annual fees
N26 Credit Card
3.9Add-on card for N26 account holders. Fully English, instant in-app, good for expats already banking with N26.
Pros
- Instant in the N26 app
- Full English
- No FX fee on paid plans
Cons
- Requires N26 account
- Charge-card mechanics
05
Tax software
File your German tax return in English, get the refund.
Wundertax
4.3Simple online tax return software in English. Average refund: 1,063 EUR.
Pros
- Full English interface
- Simple step-by-step process
- Only pay if you file
Cons
- Not suitable for complex cases
- No personal advisor
SteuerGo
4.2Online tax return software with an English interface. Guided process walks you through every step.
Pros
- Full English interface
- Step-by-step guidance
- Cheaper than Wundertax at 34.95 EUR
Cons
- Limited freelancer support
- No personal tax advisor
Taxfix
4.3Mobile-first tax app that files your return in under 30 minutes. Simple Q&A format, average refund over 1,000 EUR.
Pros
- Very simple Q&A format
- Mobile-first design
- English available
Cons
- Not suitable for complex tax situations
- Freelancer support limited
Zasta
4.0Hands-off option: a real Steuerberater files for you, fee based on your refund. Good for complex situations.
Pros
- Real tax advisor files it
- Great for complex cases
- Nothing to fill in yourself
Cons
- Pricier than DIY apps
- Mostly German comms
ELSTER (official)
3.3The tax office's own free online portal. No cost, but German-only and no guidance. The baseline everything else beats on UX.
Pros
- Completely free
- Official and comprehensive
- No third party involved
Cons
- German only
- No guidance or hand-holding
06
SIM cards
Best networks, English signup, monthly cancellable.
fraenk
4.1Simple, no-contract mobile plan on Telekom's network. 5 GB for 10 EUR/month.
Pros
- Telekom network (best coverage)
- No contract, cancel anytime
- Simple pricing
Cons
- App only in German
- Limited data options
ALDI Talk
4.0Affordable prepaid SIM on the O2 network. Available at any ALDI store, no contract required.
Pros
- Available at every ALDI store
- No contract, fully prepaid
- Very affordable plans from 7.99 EUR
Cons
- O2 network (weaker rural coverage)
- App only in German
Lidl Connect
3.9Prepaid mobile on the Vodafone network. No contract, decent rural coverage, competitive pricing.
Pros
- Vodafone network (better rural coverage)
- No contract
- Good data packages
Cons
- Limited availability outside Lidl stores
- App only in German
o2
3.8Major carrier with contract and prepaid options, decent city coverage and frequent data deals.
Pros
- Own network
- Frequent promos
- eSIM support
Cons
- Weaker rural coverage
- German service
sim.on / simplytel
3.9Low-cost SIM on the Telekom network with app management. Good balance of price and coverage.
Pros
- Telekom network at low cost
- Monthly cancellable
- App-managed
Cons
- German app
- Fewer perks
07
Accommodation
Furnished rentals for the first months in Germany.
Wunderflats
4.2Furnished apartments for medium-term stays (1-24 months). Verified landlords, no SCHUFA needed.
Pros
- Furnished and ready to move in
- No SCHUFA required
- All-inclusive pricing
Cons
- Higher monthly rent than unfurnished
- Limited availability in smaller cities
08
Language learning
Apps and courses that actually move the needle.
Babbel
4.4Structured German language courses built by linguists. Berlin-based company with the best German course on the market.
Pros
- Best structured German course
- Speech recognition for pronunciation
- Offline mode available
Cons
- About 7 EUR per month
- Limited conversation practice
09
Job platforms
Tech and professional roles with visa sponsorship.
Relocate.me
4.0Job board for tech roles that include relocation and visa-sponsorship support, popular with expats moving to Germany.
Pros
- Relocation-focused listings
- Visa sponsorship filter
- English-first
Cons
- Tech-leaning
- Smaller volume
Indeed
4.2The largest job board in Germany by listing volume. Aggregates postings from company sites and other boards, with a huge range across every industry and seniority.
Pros
- Largest volume of listings in Germany
- Free to use, easy apply
- Salary insights and company reviews
Cons
- Many duplicate/aggregated posts
- Some listings are stale
StepStone
4.1One of Germany's most established job boards, strong for permanent professional and mid-to-senior roles across traditional industries.
Pros
- Strong in engineering, finance, sales
- Established employer relationships
- Good salary planner tool
Cons
- Most listings require German
- Fewer startup/tech roles
LinkedIn Jobs
4.4The default professional network for expats. Best for English-speaking roles at international companies, recruiter outreach, and roles that value your existing network.
Pros
- Most English-speaking & international roles
- Recruiters reach out to you
- Company + people research in one place
Cons
- Premium pushed hard
- High applicant competition
The German-speaking equivalent of LinkedIn, still widely used by recruiters for the DACH region, especially for German-language and local roles.
Pros
- Strong with German recruiters
- Good for local, German-language roles
- Regional events and groups
Cons
- Mostly German-language
- Losing ground to LinkedIn
German Tech Jobs
4.2Job board focused purely on tech roles in Germany, with transparent salary ranges and an English-first audience.
Pros
- Salary ranges shown upfront
- English-first, expat-friendly
- Visa-sponsorship filter
Cons
- Tech roles only
- Smaller volume than Indeed
Monster
3.7Long-running global job board with a solid German presence across many industries and experience levels.
Pros
- Wide industry range
- CV database for recruiters
- Career advice content
Cons
- Fewer listings than Indeed
- Some dated postings
Arbeitsagentur (Jobbörse)
3.8The Federal Employment Agency's official job portal. The largest single database of German job listings, free and full.
Pros
- Huge official database
- Completely free
- Covers all regions and sectors
Cons
- German only
- Dated interface
Jobware
3.6German job board focused on qualified professional and specialist roles across engineering, IT, and business.
Pros
- Quality professional roles
- Good for engineers/specialists
- Less spam
Cons
- Mostly German
- Smaller volume
Glassdoor
4.0Job listings plus salary data and employee reviews. Great for researching a German employer before you apply.
Pros
- Salary transparency
- Real employee reviews
- English-friendly
Cons
- Fewer exclusive listings
- Reviews can be biased
kununu
3.8The German-speaking Glassdoor: employer reviews and ratings for the DACH region, with linked job listings.
Pros
- Best DACH employer reviews
- Salary insights
- Culture signals before applying
Cons
- Reviews skew negative
- Fewer direct listings
The Local Jobs
3.6Job board from The Local (English-language German news), aimed squarely at English-speaking internationals.
Pros
- English-first audience
- Curated international roles
- From a trusted expat brand
Cons
- Smaller volume
- Fewer tech roles
Berlin Startup Jobs
4.0The go-to board for startup roles in Berlin and beyond: tech, marketing, product, and ops, mostly English.
Pros
- Startup-focused
- English-first
- Beyond just engineering (marketing, ops)
Cons
- Berlin-heavy
- Smaller companies
Arbeitnow
4.1English-first job board highlighting visa-sponsorship and English-speaking roles across Germany, strong in tech.
Pros
- Visa-sponsorship filter
- English-first
- Clean, fast interface
Cons
- Newer, smaller
- Tech-leaning
JOIN
3.8Startup and SME hiring platform popular across Europe; many English-speaking tech and operations roles.
Pros
- Many startup/SME roles
- English-friendly
- Simple one-click apply
Cons
- Smaller brand
- Variable listing quality