📱 Top Apps for Life in Germany

Your smartphone is your main tool for surviving German bureaucracy and daily life. Here is the list of must-have apps.

Transport & Travel

The main Deutsche Bahn app. Buy tickets for ICE, IC, regional trains, and manage your Deutschlandticket (49€).

Local transit apps (BVG for Berlin, MVG for Munich). Shows real-time delays and route cancellations.

E-Scooter rentals. Essential for the last mile from the train station to your home.

The most popular neobank among expats. Open an account online in 10 minutes, fully English app interface.

A great alternative with a free account and good interest rates on savings (Tagesgeld).

For investing and earning 4% annual interest on your uninvested cash balance.

Find doctors (Hausarzt, specialists) and book appointments online. You can filter doctors by languages spoken.

TK App, Barmer, AOK. Needed for sending sick notes (eAU), getting visa certificates, and contacting insurance.

The monopoly for finding housing. Tip: for success in big cities, you often need the paid Plus subscription.

The German equivalent of Craigslist. Buy and sell used furniture, bikes, electronics. Watch out for scammers!

Official app to use the NFC chip in your residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). Allows online identification (e.g. for Elster).