DepositDirect review 2026

DepositDirect charges 4.2% of the deposit amount per year – the lowest rate in our comparison. On a typical standard deposit of €900 (three months' net rent at €300/month), that is only €37.80 a year – just €3.15 a month for being completely relieved of the deposit. Pricing is pleasingly transparent: no set-up fee, no hidden extra costs, no processing fees on cancellation. The guarantee certificate is delivered digitally by email immediately after purchase – no waiting for postal delivery. In a direct price comparison, you save around €4.50 a year with a €900 deposit against kautionsfrei.de (4.7% p.a.) – a good €22 over five years. Scoring (28/30): Cheapest provider with transparent pricing and an instant digital certificate. Only a minimal deduction because no tiered discounts are offered for very high deposit amounts.

The application process at DepositDirect is fully digital and completed in under 5 minutes. You enter your personal details, the rental address and the desired deposit amount. The credit check is automated and takes only seconds. After a successful check, the guarantee certificate is sent immediately as a PDF by email. That is a considerable advantage over providers such as Baloise, where you have to wait up to 24 hours for approval. Particularly for short-notice flat takeovers, immediate availability is worth its weight in gold. The website is modern in design and intuitive to use even for less technically minded users. A customer account is created automatically, through which you can manage the guarantee at any time. Scoring (18/20): A very fast, smooth digital process with an immediate certificate. A small deduction because no app is available and administration runs only through the website.

DepositDirect offers a classic rent deposit guarantee under section 551 of the German Civil Code (BGB). The guarantee is a recognised form of rental security; whether the landlord accepts it instead of a cash deposit depends on the tenancy agreement. In the event of a claim, the landlord can draw directly on the guarantee. However, DepositDirect offers no additional tenant protection – unlike kautionsfrei.de. There is no legal advice for rental disputes, no objection period for deposit demands and no move-out check. Anyone who wants pure deposit exemption at the lowest price is in the right place here. Anyone who wants more protection should consider kautionsfrei.de. Scoring (14/20): Solid basic service of a legally compliant rent deposit guarantee. Deduction for missing tenant protection and no objection period for deposit demands.

The guarantee at DepositDirect can be cancelled at any time – with no notice period and no extra costs. After cancellation, the landlord must send the original certificate back to DepositDirect; the contract then ends and payments stop immediately. This maximum flexibility is a considerable advantage over providers such as kautionsfrei.de, where an annual notice period applies. With an unplanned move or tenant change, you can potentially save months of unnecessary payments. Cancellation is also handled digitally through the customer account. You only have to contact the landlord and ask them to return the certificate. Scoring (16/18): Maximum flexibility with cancellation at any time and no deadlines. A small deduction because the landlord's return of the certificate sometimes causes delays.

DepositDirect offers online support by email and contact form. Response times are generally under 24 hours. There is no telephone support – understandable for a pure online provider, but a disadvantage for some users. The website offers an extensive FAQ that answers the most common questions about rent deposit guarantees clearly. The information is easy to understand even for tenants with no legal background. As a Dutch company, its website is fully available in German and support also replies in German. However, the personal advice you get from a traditional insurer such as Baloise is missing. Scoring (9/12): Solid online support with a good knowledge base. Deduction for the missing telephone support and the somewhat impersonal service of a pure online provider.