Best Prepaid SIM Cards Package in Germany [2024] - Navigate Germany
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“Discover the best prepaid credit card in Germany. Learn about the pros and cons to find the ideal card for your financial needs and spending habits.”
Best Prepaid Credit Card in Germany + Pros & Cons
A prepaid credit card is an amazing way to manage your finances, so when moving abroad, you must clearly know about the best prepaid credit cards in Germany.
Importance of Prepaid Credit Card
Here are the benefits of having prepaid credit cards in germany.
International Payments
With a prepaid credit card, ypu can easily make an international purchase without any issue.
Cash Withdrawal
Cash withdrawal is very simple with a prepaid credit card. You can withdraw cash at any time from any ATM worldwide.
Online Transactions
Prepaid credit cards are the best option to make online transactions.
schufa score
Your credit history (SCHUFA) have no impact on your prepaid credit card. You do not need to submit your bank statement when applying for a prepaid credit card.
Protection and Security
A prepaid credit card offers great protection and security. If there are any false payments, you can recall for up to eight weeks.
No Overspending
Prepaid credit card helps you to spend in a limit. You only use the credit you have in your card, so there are no chances of overspending which keeps you in your budget.
Parameters to Choose Best Prepaid Credit Card
These are the factors you must keep in mind when looking for a best prepaid credit card in Germany.
Issuance Fees
Some cerdit cards are free of cost while others have high issuance charges. Whenever selecting a prepaid credit card, check the issuance fee, set up charges, and annual costs.
Customer Service
Being expat, you might find it difficult to speak and understand German so choose a company that provides English support.
Balance Limit
It is the maximum amount you can load on your prepaid credit card. Some cards have no limit. Consider your usage before you select a credit card. If your usage is limited, have a credit card with a lower load limit.
Additional Charges
Do not forget to check the additional costs or hidden charges such as recharging costs, withdrawal costs, foreign currency fees.
Registration
People are more interested to do everything online with the comfort and ease, so choose a company that offer online registration.
Opening a Bank Account & Getting A Prepaid Credit Card
You have to submit a few documents if you want to open your bank account for having a prepaid credit card. These documents are proof of registration, income proof, ID or passport. Student registration proof is necessary to submit with the application if you are a student in Germany.
Best Prepaid Credit Cards in Germany
1- Mastercard VIABUY
2- Mastercard Black&White Card
3- Commerzbank Prepaid Mastercard/VISA
4- Bunq Mastercard
5- PayangoCard
Summary of Best Prepaid Credit Cards
Mastercard VIABUY | Black&White Mastercard | Commerzbank Prepaid | Bunq Mastercard | Payango Card | |
Issuance Fee | 69.9 € | 89.9 € | 0 | 0 | 25 € |
Annual Fee | 19.9 € | No fee | 39.9 € | 2.99 € | 25 € |
Recharging Fee | 0.9 % | 1.5 % | 0 with bank transfer | - | 0 with bank transfer |
Foreign Currency Fee | 2.75 % | 2.49 % | 1.75 % | 0 | 1.5 % |
Cash Withdrawal Fee | 5 € | 4.99 € | 1.95 % | 0.99 € | 2.0 % |
Mastercard VIABUY
Mastercard VIABUY offer a quick and smooth application process. You need to pay 69.90 Euros for issuance and 19.90 Euros as an annual fee of your credit card. Recharge fee of 0.9% applies when you recharge your prepaid credit card through SEPA bank transfer. If you are making purchase in euros, there are no charges but for foreign purchases, fee is 2.75%. Pay 5 Euros to withdraw your cash from ATM.
Pros
✅ Website and customer service in English.
✅ Quick and smooth application process.
✅ High quality cards.
✅ No need to submit income proof
✅ No credit check requirement.
Cons
⛔ Annual fee of 19.90 Euros.
⛔ Pay 9.95 Euros per month for inactivity for more than 12 months.
⛔ Cash withdrawal charges.
Mastercard Black & White Card
Process to apply for this card is very simple and easy as it takes only 3 to 5 minutes. One time issuance fee for this card is 89.90 Euros whereas the recharging fee is 1.5% on every recharge. Purchases in Euros are free but purchases in foreign currency charges a fee of 2.49%. Cash withdrawal charges irrespective of the currency are 4.99 Euros.
Pros
✅ Valid for 3 years
✅ Quick and easy online application process.
✅ No annual fee.
✅ No credit check requirement.
✅ High quality cards.
✅ No salary checks requirements.
✅ Economical
Cons
⛔ Hidden costs such as withdrawal fees, recharge fees.
⛔ No travel insurance
⛔ No deals and special discounts.
⛔ Cash withdrawal charges.
Commerzbank Prepaid Visa/Mastercard
If you are choosing Commerzbank, you have two options to choose either a Prepaid VisaCard or a MasterCard. Annual fee is 39.90 Euros whereas cash withdrawal charges are 4.95 Euros. If you recharge via bank transfer, no recharging fee applies. These cards are different from usual cards as they do not come with embossing.
Pros
✅ No issuence fee.
✅ Free recharging via bank transfer.
✅ Customer service in English.
✅ Distinctive than usual cards.
Cons
⛔ Highly expensive
⛔ Cash withdrawal charges.
Bunq Travel Card
Bunq Mastercard registration process is very simple and quick. Money transfers, Euro, and non Euro payments are free but the card charges the annual fee of 2.99 Euros. Cash withdrawal charges are 0.99 Euros.
Pros
✅ User-friendly interface.
✅ Low annual fee.
✅ Free foreign currency payments.
✅ Low cash withdrawal fee.
✅ No credit checks.
✅ Quick application process.
Cons
⛔ A new banking concept.
⛔ Cash withdrawal charges.
PayangoCard
The Visa card / debit card of Payango works as a prepaid credit card that can be received after completing an easy registration process. One time issuance fee of this card is 25 Euros whereas the annual cost is also 25 Euros. Foreign currency payment charges are 1.5%. Cash withdrawal charges are 2%.
Pros
✅ No balance limit.
✅ Valid for four years.
✅ Low issuance fee.
✅ No recharging fee via bank transfer.
Cons
⛔ No English support.
⛔ Cash withdrawal charges.
⛔ High annual fee.
Final Words
Prepaid credit cards comes in different prices so whenever selecting a prepaid credit card, you must look for your budget. Do not forget to consider your usage, and associated costs (issuence fee, registration fee, withdrawal costs, annual fees, and recharge fee) and select a card that best fulfill your requirements. Each credit card provider offer different application process but maximum time to apply for a credit card takes only 8 minutes.
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Jibran Shahid
Hi, I am Jibran, your Fellow Expat living in Germany since 2014, With my 10 years of experience, my aim is to bring you the well researched guides about life in Germany