The option to suggest a tip when paying electronically is now common in many shops and restaurants, but it meets with hesitation from Germans.
Only 29 % of Germans consider the suggested tip amounts practical, according to a Bitkom survey. The scepticism is strongest among older people: among those over 65 years only 22 % approve of the proposed tips, well below the overall average.
Overall, roughly two‑thirds (64 %) of respondents say that suggested amounts lead to giving more tip than originally planned. A striking 68 % find it inappropriate that card terminals show only tip options starting at 10 %.
When it comes to the idea of digital tipping itself, the opinion is mixed. A slim majority-55 %-believe that it should become standard to tip digitally. Even here, the older cohort is less convinced, with only 51 % of people aged 65 + expressing agreement.
Trust in the payment system also varies by age. Across the board, just 52 % trust that digital tips reach the staff in full. Trust is highest among the youngest group (16-29 years) at 63 %, but drops to 47 % for those aged 50-64 and 48 % for those over 65.
The survey was conducted by Bitkom Research, interviewing 1 004 people in Germany aged 16 and older by telephone between week 9 and week 12 of 2026.