1Health insurance
Health insurance is a legal duty in Germany: without proof of cover, your visa, enrolment and job all stall. Pick the right one and doctor visits and prescriptions are largely covered.
Check first
- Public or private? Students and employees earning under €77,400 a year are usually in public insurance
- Are you a student, on a language course, employed or freelance?
- What do your visa and enrolment require?
- By when do you have to show proof of insurance?
Read the full guide →Feather
Expat health insurance · public insurance sign-up
Good for：People who can't read German insurance forms and need proof of insurance for a visa
Why it is here：An English-language platform with interim health cover for newcomers, which can also enrol you in public insurance (e.g. TK, AOK)
From the official site
- The newcomer plan covers job-seeker, Opportunity Card, student, Blue Card (gap before the job), vocational training, family reunion and freelance visas, for up to 5 years
- Insurance documents arrive right after sign-up; usually a 31-day waiting period, and pre-existing conditions are not covered
- Full refund within 14 days if you have made no claim; contract, claims and support all in English
See costs and terms →ottonova
Student and expat private health insurance
Students from €116/mo · expats from €196/mo
Good for：People who qualify for and choose private insurance (students, or employees above the income threshold)
Why it is here：Germany's first fully digital private insurer: photograph your bills, English phone and chat support
From the official site
- Students: under 39 and enrolled at a German university; apply for exemption from public insurance within 3 months of enrolling; compliant for visa and enrolment (§257 SGB V)
- The expat plan is only for non-EU nationals on a limited residence permit (under 60 months), and you can start applying from abroad
- Employees qualify only above €77,400 a year; the self-employed can sign up
See costs and terms →TKPublic insurer
Public health insurance (students / employees)
Students 2026: €141.16–146.29/mo incl. long-term care
Good for：Students and most employees: public insurance is the default
Why it is here：One of Germany’s largest public insurers, with an English site, 24/7 English support and a Chinese info page
From the official site
- 2026 student rate: health €110.38/mo; with long-term care €141.16 (under 23 or with a child) or €146.29 (23+, no child)
- Employees: 14.6% plus TK’s 2.69% additional rate, split with your employer, so you pay 8.645% of gross pay
- TK suggests contacting them before you travel; request the enrolment confirmation in the TK app and it goes to your university automatically
See costs and terms →AOKPublic insurer
Public health insurance (regional AOK funds)
Students €87.38/mo + regional rate, plus long-term care
Good for：Students who want an adviser near campus
Why it is here：Run regionally, with advisers near many universities and a multilingual hotline
From the official site
- The additional rate varies by region: in 2026 from 2.47% (Rheinland-Pfalz/Saarland) to 3.5% (Nordost), split with your employer
- Students 2026: €87.38/mo + regional rate; long-term care €30.78 (under 23) or €35.91 (23+, no child)
- An English application process and English hotline; the member app is German only
See costs and terms →2Blocked account
A student visa needs proof of a year of living costs: €11,904 in 2026. The blocked account is that proof; open it a week late and your visa appointment may have to move.
Check first
- Does your visa need a blocked account? Student visas usually do; an employment contract usually does not
- When is your visa appointment? Opening the account and getting the confirmation usually takes one to two weeks
- Do you want the visa health insurance done at the same time?
Read the full guide →Expatrio
Blocked account (optional insurance bundle)
€119 setup + €9/mo
Good for：People who only need the blocked account and want a Chinese interface
Why it is here：The provider with the most Chinese-language guides; site in simplified and traditional Chinese, and cheaper when you only need the account
From the official site
- 2026 amount: €992 a month, €11,904 for 12 months
- Official opening confirmation within 24 hours; blocked-amount confirmation as soon as funds arrive
- Money back if the visa is refused; monthly payouts to a free Expatrio German account
See costs and terms →Fintiba
Fintiba Basic / Plus
€159 setup + €9.90/mo (new accounts from 3 Nov 2025)
Good for：People who want an established German provider, or insurance in the same step
Why it is here：An established German provider; the site states it is approved by the Federal Foreign Office and accepted by all German missions
From the official site
- Pay by credit card for an instant blocking confirmation; otherwise 1–5 working days after funds arrive
- Fintiba Plus bundles health insurance, from €95/mo (up to age 40)
- Site and service in English, German, Chinese, Arabic and Turkish
See costs and terms →3Bank account
Rent, salary and phone contracts all draw on a German IBAN. Open one on your phone in minutes.
Check first
- Have you registered your address yet?
- Do you want an online bank or a traditional one?
- Are you a student or already working? The right account differs
Read the full guide →N26
N26 mobile bank account
Standard free · Smart €4.90 / Go €9.90 / Metal €16.90 a month
Good for：People who want an English app and an account opened on the phone in minutes
Why it is here：A free basic account with a German IBAN, protected by German deposit insurance
From the official site
- Open on your phone with a passport; a virtual card and German IBAN in minutes
- Standard: 2 free eurozone ATM withdrawals a month; physical card a one-off €10, virtual card free
- Deposits protected up to €100,000; app and 24/7 support in English
See costs and terms →bunq
bunq personal account
Free · Core €3.99 / Pro €9.99 / Elite €18.99 a month
Good for：People who don't have a tax ID (Steuer-ID) yet and want an account now
Why it is here：The site states no tax ID is needed to open; add it within 90 days
From the official site
- Advertises a 5-minute sign-up with full English support
- Start banking right away and provide the tax ID within 90 days
- The free plan includes 3 sub-accounts to keep rent and living costs apart
See costs and terms →Vivid Money
Vivid personal account
Standard €0 for active customers (else €4.90/mo) · Plus €6.90 · Prime €7.90
Good for：People who want rent, living costs and savings in separate pots
Why it is here：German IBAN, every pocket with its own IBAN, clear cash-withdrawal allowance
From the official site
- Standard: up to 3 pockets, each with its own German IBAN
- Up to €200 a month in free cash withdrawals (at least €50 each)
- First physical card free, SEPA instant transfers included, opened online in minutes per the site
See costs and terms →Deutsche Bank
Das Junge Konto (young account)
No monthly fee for students and trainees under 30
Good for：Students under 30 who want a traditional bank with branches
Why it is here：No monthly fee for students, Cash Group ATMs across Germany, and a branch to walk into
From the official site
- Needs a registered address in the EU, a passport and proof of study or training
- Free Deutsche Bank Card; free withdrawals at Deutsche Bank, Postbank, Commerzbank and HypoVereinsbank ATMs
- Open online by video ID (7:00–22:00 daily) or in a branch; the site is German only
See costs and terms →4SIM card
Bank codes, landlord calls and appointment texts all go to a German number, and the cost of calling home varies hugely.
Check first
- Do you have a German bank account yet? If not, start with prepaid
- How much data do you use a month?
- Do you make international calls often?
- Does your phone support eSIM? If so, you can activate online on arrival day
Read the full guide →Lebara
HELLO! plans with international minutes
From €4.99/mo · 10 GB
Good for：People who call family in China often
Why it is here：Every plan includes minutes to China, and calls beyond them are cheap
From the official site
- Every HELLO! plan includes minutes to 50 countries, among them mainland China (mobile and landline), Hong Kong and Macao: 50 min on the €4.99 plan, 700 min on the €24.99 plan
- Beyond that, calls to China: landline €0.01/min, mobile €0.05/min, plus €0.19 per call
- Cancel monthly; €19.99 activation fee (per the official price list of 17 March 2026)
See costs and terms →congstar
Allnet Flat contracts · prepaid
Contract from €15/mo (15 GB) · prepaid from €2 per 4 weeks
Good for：People already registered at an address who want the Telekom network
Why it is here：Telekom network, contract or prepaid, with no-minimum-term options
From the official site
- Allnet Flat: XS €15 (15 GB), S €20 (50 GB), M €25 (125 GB), L €30 (200 GB) a month
- Prepaid annual pack: €100 for 12 months, 240 GB in total
- With only a passport (no German ID card) you must also show your registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
See costs and terms →simyo
simyo S / M / L (O2 network)
From €6.99/mo · 25 GB (promo)
Good for：People who accept a 24-month contract for the lowest monthly price
Why it is here：No connection fee on 24-month contracts, very low promo prices
From the official site
- 24 months: S 25 GB €6.99, M 35 GB €7.99, L 50 GB €9.99 (normally €9.99 / €14.99 / €19.99)
- Monthly-cancellable versions have the same promo prices plus a €19.99 connection fee
- Telefónica (O2) network; every plan works with an eSIM
See costs and terms →fraenk
fraenk (Telekom app-only brand)
€10/mo · 25 GB
Good for：People who mostly need data, not calls home
Why it is here：Telekom network, cancel monthly, no setup fee
From the official site
- €10 a month: 25 GB plus unlimited calls and texts in Germany; +25 GB for €5 more
- Pay by PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or SEPA
- Note: it cannot call Chinese numbers
See costs and terms →freenet FUNK
freenet FUNK unlimited
€0.99/day or €19.99/mo
Good for：Heavy data users
Why it is here：Unlimited data, by the day or the month
From the official site
- eSIM only, so your phone must support eSIM
- O2 network, up to about 50 Mbit/s
- Monthly billing: 1-month minimum, then cancel at any month-end
See costs and terms →5Personal liability insurance
Damage a landlord’s floor or lose the key to a whole building and one claim can run to thousands of euros. Liability insurance costs under €5 a month, and the insurer pays instead of you.
Check first
- Can you read German policy terms?
- Do you need cover for lost keys?
- Would you rather pay monthly or yearly?
Read the full guide →Feather
Personal liability (Haftpflicht)
From €4.94/mo single
Good for：People with no German at all
Why it is here：English interface and support, monthly payment, cancel anytime
From the official site
- €50M cover including lost-key replacement, no deductible
- No minimum term; cancel anytime, cover ends at month-end
- Starts immediately; you can sign up without a permanent address
See costs and terms →Getsafe
Personal liability (Haftpflicht)
From €2.90/mo
Good for：People who want the lowest monthly price and will check the terms in an English app
Why it is here：English app, low starting price, cancel in the app
From the official site
- Worldwide, up to €50M; lost keys and damage to your rented home covered
- "Takes 2 min" to sign up; cancel daily in the app
- 100% English and digital, claims in the app; you must live in Germany
See costs and terms →DEVK
Privathaftpflicht (personal liability)
Basis single from €3.50/mo
Good for：People who read German and want an established German insurer
Why it is here：A long-established German insurer with no deductible even on the basic tier
From the official site
- Basis: €20M cover, no deductible; lost keys up to €20,000
- No waiting period; cover can start the next day
- Website in German only
See costs and terms →CHECK24
CHECK24 liability comparison
Comparison is free
Good for：People who want to see the whole market first
Why it is here：Compares 260+ liability tariffs at once, free and non-binding
From the official site
- Compares Allianz Direct, ARAG, AXA, ERGO, VHV and others; not every insurer takes part
- Free and non-binding
- Website in German only
See costs and terms →6Internet
From order to working internet often takes two to five weeks. As soon as your move-in date is fixed, compare and order.
Check first
- Which connection can your address get: DSL, cable or fibre?
- Is your move-in date set? Ordering to online often takes two to five weeks
- Will you rent or buy the router?
Read the full guide →CHECK24
Good for：People with a move-in date who need a broadband contract
Why it is here：Enter your new address to compare every tariff it can get, sorted by 24-month average monthly cost; comparing and ordering are free for you
See costs and terms →7Electricity
Move in without an electricity contract and you are put on the default supply, usually the most expensive. Five minutes of comparing fixes it.
Check first
- Do you know your annual consumption?
- Are you on the expensive default supply?
- How long a contract can you accept?
Read the full guide →CHECK24
Good for：People who just moved in and are on default supply
Why it is here：Enter your postcode and consumption, sorted by total yearly price; signing and cancelling the old supplier in one flow, free for you
See costs and terms →8Tax return
Many people overpay tax in their first year in Germany, and one return brings it back: SteuerGo says its users get €1,370 back on average.
Check first
- Do you need to file this year? Students do not have to, but filing often brings money back
- Which costs can you deduct, such as tuition or moving?
- Is your case complex enough for a tax adviser?
Read the full guide →Wundertax
Wundertax online tax return
€34.99 per return · 3 for €89.99 · joint €49.99
Good for：People who want to fill in step by step, in German or English
Why it is here：Guided questions, German and English interfaces, grouped by occupation
From the official site
- Free to start; you pay only when you submit (SEPA, card or Klarna)
- File back up to 4 years
- Submits through the official ELSTER interface; the site says 100% English and 17 minutes on average
See costs and terms →SteuerGo
SteuerGo online tax return
€34.95 per return · 3 for €89.95
Good for：People with several income types, or who want another interface language
Why it is here：Five interface languages and the widest list of supported income types
From the official site
- Try free without registering; pay only on submission; the fee itself is tax-deductible
- The site claims an average refund of €1,370 and 25 minutes to complete
- Submits via ELSTER; interface in German, English, Polish, Romanian and Russian
See costs and terms →9Learning German
German decides which jobs and flats you can get. A few live classes a week beat learning words on your own.
Check first
- Is your goal an exam, or chatting with colleagues?
- How many hours a week can you set aside regularly?
- What is your budget? If your time is fixed, VHS is cheaper
Read the full guide →Babbel
Babbel self-study app
Good for：People who learn in spare moments
Why it is here：A self-study app for vocabulary, patterns and listening: the app handles input
From the official site
- The first lesson of every course is free to try
- Practise conversations with an AI partner
- English interface
See costs and terms →Lingoda
Lingoda live online small groups
From €79.99 per 4 weeks for 5 group classes (new-student first month)
Good for：People who want to go from passing exams to actually chatting
Why it is here：A few live small-group classes a week at flexible times: live classes get you speaking
From the official site
- 60-minute classes with 3–5 students, on Zoom
- A1 to C1, 50 classes per level, with a certificate per level
- 7-day free trial; unused credits roll over; 14-day money-back
See costs and terms →10CV tools
HR often spends about thirty seconds on a CV. Dozens of applications with no reply usually means the CV is the problem.
Check first
- Is your CV tailored to this role?
- Can HR tell who you are in thirty seconds?
- Do your strengths come across?
Read the full guide →The HHL CV competitiveness checker in the PathGo career guide checks your CV from seven hiring perspectives.
Read the full guide →11Money transfers
Bank transfers home are expensive and slow. Specialist services show how much CNY arrives before you pay, and the fast ones land in minutes.
Check first
- Are you sending money to Germany, or from Germany home?
- Do you care more about speed or total cost?
- Have you compared what actually arrives for the same amount?
Read the full guide →Wise
International transfers: EUR → CNY
Mid-market rate, fees shown upfront
Good for：People who compare and want to see every fee
Why it is here：Uses the mid-market rate and lists every fee before you pay, so it is a good yardstick against others
From the official site
- Pay out to Alipay, WeChat, UnionPay cards or a Chinese bank account, in CNY
- Per the site: 74% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds, 95% within a day
- Alipay and WeChat recipients may need to add a bank card to their wallet first
See costs and terms →LemFi
Remittance app for the Chinese diaspora
Transfer fee shown as €0
Good for：People who have settled and send money home from Germany
Why it is here：A remittance app built for overseas Chinese, with a Chinese interface; no transfer fee, the margin is in the rate, and you see the payout before you pay
From the official site
- Send EUR from Germany to China, to bank accounts, Alipay or WeChat
- Usually arrives within minutes, per the site; 30 Chinese banks supported
- Recipient details: bank — name matching ID plus ID number; WeChat — linked phone; Alipay — bank card number and linked phone
See costs and terms →WorldRemit
Transfers to Alipay · UnionPay cards
All fees shown before you pay
Good for：Families used to receiving on Alipay or a UnionPay debit card
Why it is here：Supports both Alipay and UnionPay payouts, with limits and timings stated clearly on the site
From the official site
- The recipient's Alipay ID is the phone number registered with Alipay
- Alipay limits: CNY 50,000 per transfer, CNY 500,000 per year, 5 transfers per month
- Minutes if the recipient has enabled cross-border receiving, otherwise up to 72 hours; UnionPay debit cards by the next working day
See costs and terms →12Legal insurance
Unfair dismissal, a deposit not returned, a landlord raising rent: lawyers and courts are expensive. Legal insurance pays, but only if you buy it before the dispute.
Check first
- Which disputes worry you most: work, renting or traffic?
- Has the dispute already started? Cases from before cover or within the waiting period usually are not paid
- How much deductible can you accept?
Read the full guide →ARAG
ARAG legal protection insurance
Priced online by module and deductible
Good for：People working or renting who worry about employment or landlord disputes
Why it is here：Buy only the modules you need: work, home, traffic, private
From the official site
- Modules: work (disputes, dismissal), home (landlord disputes), traffic, private life
- Most services have a 3-month waiting period, so buy before a dispute
- Deductible €0 / €150 / €250; website in German only
See costs and terms →ROLAND
ROLAND Top Rechtsschutz
Price shown after online configuration
Good for：People working in Germany who want employment-law advice included
Why it is here：Unlimited cover; the Komfort tier includes employment-law advice
From the official site
- Unlimited coverage sum
- Komfort adds employment-law and termination-agreement (Aufhebungsvertrag) advice, up to €1,250 a year
- No deductible on cases up to €250 or on out-of-court settlements; website in German only
See costs and terms →13Dental top-up
Public insurance pays for basic treatment only; implants and crowns are mostly out of pocket. A dental top-up covers that.
Check first
- Are you publicly insured? Public cover pays only basic treatment; implants and crowns cost a lot out of pocket
- Is any treatment already planned? Planned treatment is usually excluded
- How long a contract can you accept?
Read the full guide →DFV
DFV-ZahnSchutz dental top-up
From €9.10/mo (Basis, 50% reimbursed)
Good for：Publicly insured people who want implants and crowns covered
Why it is here：Four clear reimbursement tiers, no waiting period
From the official site
- Four tiers: Basis 50% · Komfort 70% · Premium 80% · Exklusiv 100%, €9.10 to €17.80 a month
- No waiting period, but capped in the first 4 years (e.g. Exklusiv €1,750 in year one), unlimited from month 49; accidents exempt
- Minimum term 24 months; website in German only
See costs and terms →ottonova
ottonova dental top-up
From €8.80/mo
Good for：People who want English service and bills managed in an app
Why it is here：No waiting period; book and upload bills in the app
From the official site
- No waiting period
- Book appointments and upload bills in the app
- English phone and chat support
See costs and terms →14Sorting and comparing insurance
Policies pile up. Any overlap? Anything missing? Let an app sort it, or compare everything in one go.
Check first
- Which policies do you already have? Any overlap?
- Can you read a German interface?
- Do you want to compare yourself, or have someone sort it for you?
Read the full guide →CLARK
CLARK insurance manager app
Free for users
Good for：People whose policies keep piling up and who want them sorted
Why it is here：A licensed broker that puts all your policies in one app
From the official site
- Free for users, with free advice by phone, messenger or email
- Compares 180+ insurers; a registered insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler)
- iOS and Android apps; interface in German only
See costs and terms →CHECK24
CHECK24 insurance comparison
Comparison is free
Good for：People who want to compare the market themselves
Why it is here：Liability, contents and legal insurance all comparable, free and non-binding
From the official site
- Over 260 tariffs for liability alone
- Free and non-binding
- Website in German only
See costs and terms →15Freelance bookkeeping and invoicing
Freelancers issue their own invoices, keep books and file VAT. Software does it for less than an accountant, with fewer tax-office surprises.
Check first
- Are you a freelancer (Freiberufler) or running a trade (Gewerbe)?
- Do you have to file VAT pre-returns (UStVA)? Small businesses often do not
- Can you work in a German interface?
Read the full guide →sevDesk
sevDesk invoicing and bookkeeping
Free plan €0 · invoicing from €8.90/mo (plus VAT)
Good for：People just starting to take on work who want free invoices first
Why it is here：A permanent free plan with 3 invoices a month; the interface switches to English
From the official site
- Free plan: 3 invoices a month; paid plans billed monthly, yearly or every 2 years, cheaper the longer
- 14-day full trial with no credit card, then it drops to the free plan
- Paid bookkeeping plans file VAT pre-returns via ELSTER and include the EÜR profit statement
See costs and terms →Lexware Office
Lexware Office (formerly lexoffice)
S €7.90 / M €12.90 / L €21.90 a month (plus VAT)
Good for：People with steady business who need proper books and VAT returns
Why it is here：Established German accounting software, cancellable monthly
From the official site
- 30-day free trial with every feature of the top tier
- VAT pre-returns need plan L (€21.90/mo) or higher; S and M do not include them
- Cancel monthly; no English interface found, English invoices only on XL
See costs and terms →16Long-distance travel
Between cities, long-distance coaches are often far cheaper than trains: the site’s example is Berlin to Munich from €23.98.
Check first
- Which cities do you travel between most?
- Do you care more about price or time?
- Will you carry large luggage?
Read the full guide →FlixBus
FlixBus long-distance coach
e.g. Berlin–Munich from €23.98
Good for：People who want the cheapest way between cities
Why it is here：Low fares, many departures, one suitcase free
From the official site
- Site example: Berlin to Munich from €23.98, about 6 h 35 min, 18 departures a day
- Free: 1 hand bag (7 kg) and 1 checked bag (20 kg); an extra bag €4.99–18
- Free Wi-Fi, sockets and toilet on board; digital tickets and live tracking in the app
See costs and terms →17VPN
Streaming sites from home are often region-locked in Germany, and public Wi-Fi in cafés and trains is safer with one.
Check first
- What is it for: streaming from home, public Wi-Fi, or trips back?
- How many devices need it?
- Can you accept paying two years up front?
Read the full guide →NordVPN
NordVPN
2-year plan from €3.89/mo (€93.36 up front)
Good for：People who want a long-established provider with Chinese-language pages
Why it is here：10 devices at once on every plan, 30-day money-back guarantee
From the official site
- 2-year plans: Basic €3.89/mo, Complete €4.89/mo, Ultimate €8.89/mo; renews yearly at a higher price
- Up to 10 devices at once on every plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee; servers in 225 locations
See costs and terms →Surfshark
Surfshark
2-year plan from €2.49/mo (3 months extra)
Good for：Households with many devices who want the lowest monthly average
Why it is here：Unlimited devices, lower monthly average on long plans
From the official site
- 24 months plus 3 free: Starter €2.49/mo, One €2.79/mo, One+ €4.49/mo
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee; 4,500+ servers in 100 countries
See costs and terms →