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Credit Card with Apple Pay in Germany 2026
New to Germany and want to pay with your iPhone? You do not need a German credit history to start. Several cards with no annual fee work with Apple Pay, and so do the debit cards newcomers can open in their first week. This guide explains which cards actually work, how to add one to your Apple Wallet, and what to watch out for before you apply.
Key takeaways
- No annual fee: Cards like the Hanseatic GenialCard, easybank Visa (formerly Barclays) and awa7 Visa cost 0 € per year and support Apple Pay (sources: issuer sites and Finanztip, June 2026).
- No Schufa history? Start with a debit card: N26, bunq and the DKB Visa Debit work with Apple Pay and are easier to open in your first weeks in Germany.
- Apple Pay is free: It adds no fee of its own. You only pay the normal costs of your card, which on a genuinely free card can be 0 € for euro purchases.
- Watch the small print: Most free cards are revolving credit cards. Pay the full balance each month, or interest applies. The Apple Card is not available in Germany (as of June 2026).
Advertising disclosure: The comparison below is provided by our partners Tarifcheck and CHECK24. If you sign up through it we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This does not affect the results shown or our editorial assessment.
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Free credit cards with Apple Pay compared
These cards charge no annual fee and work with Apple Pay. Conditions verified against issuer sites and Finanztip (June 2026).
| Card | Type | Annual fee | Foreign use | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanseatic GenialCard | Visa credit | 0 € | 0% | Free cash abroad; revolving, pay in full to avoid interest |
| easybank Visa | Visa credit | 0 € | 0% | Renamed from Barclays (Feb 2026); no current account needed |
| awa7 Visa | Visa credit | 0 € | 0% | Hanseatic Bank; sustainability focus; revolving |
| DKB Visa | Debit | 0 € | 0%* | *Free abroad only as "Aktivkund:in" (≥ 700 €/mo); needs DKB account |
| TF Bank Mastercard Gold | Mastercard credit | 0 € | 0% | Cash withdrawals charge interest from day one |
| Bank Norwegian Visa | Visa credit | 0 € | 0% | New customers: cash-withdrawal interest from 12 Mar 2026 |
All cards listed support Apple Pay. The credit cards are revolving cards: pay the full balance each month to avoid interest. Sources: issuer websites and Finanztip, June 2026. Conditions can change; no claim to completeness.
How to set up Apple Pay, step by step
Open Wallet
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus (+) button.
Add your card
Hold your card in front of the camera or type the details by hand.
Verify
Your bank confirms the card by SMS code or through its banking app.
Pay
Double-click the side button, confirm with Face ID, hold the iPhone to the terminal.
Tip: Apple Pay also works on the Apple Watch. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to "Wallet & Apple Pay" and add your card there too.
How secure is Apple Pay?
Your card number stays hidden
Apple does not pass your real card number to the shop. It uses a one-time token for each payment instead.
Biometric confirmation
Every payment needs Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode. Without it, nothing goes through.
Device protection
If you lose your iPhone, lock it through "Find My" or icloud.com. Your card data is not stored on the phone.
Credit card or debit card with Apple Pay?
| Point | Credit card | Debit card |
|---|---|---|
| When money leaves | Collected, billed monthly | Instantly from your account |
| Schufa check | Usually yes | Often not needed |
| Newcomer-friendly | Harder without a Schufa history | Easier (N26, bunq, DKB) |
| Hotel & car-rental deposits | Accepted | Often refused |
| Best for | Travel, online shopping | Everyday spending, budgeting |
Tip: Both card types work with Apple Pay. For a US trip or a rental car you will want a real credit card for the deposit. See our credit card for USA travel guide, or browse the full credit card comparison.
Getting a card with Apple Pay when you just arrived
Your options depend on whether you already have a German credit history.
If you already have a Schufa history
Once you have lived in Germany for a while and built a Schufa record, you can apply for any of the free credit cards above. Approval depends on your credit standing, so it helps to compare a few offers since approval rates differ from bank to bank.
Schufa (German: Schufa) is Germany's main credit-scoring system, similar to a credit score in the US or UK.
If you have no Schufa history yet
Without a German payment record, a classic credit card is often declined. These alternatives also support Apple Pay and need no Schufa check:
- N26 debit card (no Schufa check to open)
- bunq debit card (EU account, no German Schufa)
- Prepaid credit cards (top up, no credit line)
Key German terms / Wichtige Begriffe
Apple Pay credit cards: common questions
Häufig gestellte Fragen
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