Honestly speaking, its quite easy to tell you what are the Top 3 Free Credit Cards in Germany. But depending on what you want, they might not be a great fit for you.
If you don’t have much time and you only want their names then my Top 3 Free Credit Cards in Germany are :
- TF Bank Mastercard Gold Credit Card
- Advanzia Gebührenfrei Credit Card
- Bank Norwegian Credit Card
Top Credit Cards in Germany
Ok, now you know what are my top 3 free credit cards in Germany. Let me tell you why these are on top of my list.
So in a Free Credit Card, you need it to be Free without any asterisks. These 3 are totally free without any card activation fees or monthly fees. The next thing that makes them great is that all of them are highly reputable. Obviously each person will have their own good or bad experiences with these Free Credit Cards but generally these have positive reviews with the expat community in Germany.
That said, not all three would be the best free credit card in Germany for YOU. For that lets dive deep into the specific details of the top 3 Free Credit Cards in Germany.
TF Bank Mastercard Gold Credit Card in Germany
Lets start with my Favorite!
The TF Bank Mastercard Gold Credit Card, is probably the most popular free credit card in Germany with the Expat community in Germany. The main reason is probably its high acceptance rate with foreigners. This is specially important if you are new in Germany and want to get a Free Credit Card with great features.
Some of the Best Features of the TF Bank Credit Card in Germany are
- Interest-free payment period of 51 days
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance plans (Free ofcourse)
- Cash-back on Holiday Trips
- Cash-back on Rental Cars
If you want to dive deep on the Features of this Top Free Credit Card in Germany you can read my detailed article below
Related Guide: TF Bank Credit Card in Germany (Review)
Bank Norwegian Credit Card in Germany
The Bank Norwegian credit card is one of the very few truly free credit cards in Germany. It doesn’t try to trick you with hidden conditions or minimum usage requirements.
There is no annual fee, no monthly fee, and you don’t even need to open a separate bank account with them to use it. What makes it especially powerful is that it’s a real Visa credit card, not a prepaid or debit card.
This means it works everywhere including hotels, car rentals, and international payments. On top of that, you get up to 45 days of interest-free payment period. This essentially means you can use the bank’s money temporarily without paying anythingas long as you pay the full balance on time.
But where the Bank Norwegian card really stands out is in its global usability and flexibility. You can pay worldwide without foreign transaction fees and withdraw cash from almost any Visa ATM. You can even connect it directly to your German bank account via SEPA direct debit so you never miss a payment.
This top Free Credit Card in Germany also comes with useful travel insurance coverage including travel health, cancellation, and baggage protection if you pay at least part of your trip with the card.
Related Guide: Bank Norwegian Credit Card – The best free credit card in Germany?
Advanzia Bank Credit Card
got the Advanzia Gebührenfrei Credit Card more than 10 years ago. Back when I was still a student and everyone was talking about free credit cards in Germany.
There wasn’t a clear winner, but Advanzia kept coming up again and again. What immediately stood out was that it was actually free no annual fee, no maintenance cost, and no requirement to open a separate bank account.
Even today, after almost a decade of using it, I can say it has lived up to its promise. The key reason is simple: Advanzia makes money only if you don’t pay your bill on time. So as long as you pay the full amount before the deadline, you can use it completely free exactly like I’ve been doing for years.
But there’s one important thing you need to understand: this card doesn’t automatically withdraw money from your bank account. Every month, you receive an invoice, and you have to manually transfer the full amount before the due date.
If you only pay the minimum amount or miss the deadline, the interest rate is extremely high, around 24.69% per year which can get expensive very quickly. On the positive side, the card offers up to 47 days of interest-free payment period, free travel insurance if you pay at least part of your trip with the card, and your credit limit can increase significantly over time if you use it responsibly.
Used correctly, the Advanzia credit card is one of the top 3 free credit cards in Germany but only if you treat it like a debit card and always pay the full balance on time.
Related Guide: Advanzia Credit Card in Germany (My 9+ Year Review)
What is my Favorite from the Top 3 Free Credit Cards in Germany
My top position in the top 3 Free Credit Cards in Germany keep switching between the three. Right now, I think the TF bank Mastercard Gold Credit Card is my favorite.
A few months ago it was Bank Norwegian and before that (about last year) it was the Advanzia Bank Gebührenfrei Credit Card. I know my favorite will change again in a couple of month but honestly speaking all three are great if you are looking for a Starter Free Credit Card in Germany as your first credit Card.
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Disclaimer: None of the content in this article is meant to be considered as investment advice, as I am not a financial expert and am only sharing my experience. The information is based on my own research and is only accurate at the time of posting this article but may not be accurate at the time you are reading it.