What the app does
From a quick overview to a detailed comparison of individual provision options.
Statutory pension, net
From gross to net: health and care contributions and tax are taken into account, optionally inflation-adjusted.
Needs & pension gap
How much you need in retirement and how big the gap is, in a scenario matrix by return and pension growth.
Pension points vs ETF
Voluntary contributions to the statutory pension against an ETF, at equal net outlay, with a break-even.
Private provision
ETF savings plan, private annuity, Riester and Altersvorsorgedepot, each with the right German taxation.
Buy-to-let property
Net rental income after tax and costs, today and in retirement, with depreciation, loan interest and value after your holding period.
German rules
Entgeltpunkte, pension value, taxable share, capital-gains tax and more, with current figures.
How the app calculates
Transparent, not a black box: the app uses the official rules of the German statutory pension and discloses its assumptions.
2026 values: pension value 42.52 €/point (since July 2026), average earnings 51,944 €, taxable share depending on the retirement year.
From gross to net: health and care contributions and income tax are deducted.
Today or nominal: all results optionally in today's purchasing power, to strip out inflation.
Not a Deutsche Rentenversicherung calculator
Rentenlücke is an independent planning tool. For your actually accrued pension your Renteninformation is authoritative, here you use it to run scenarios: earlier or later retirement, salary growth, ETF, buying points, or a buy-to-let property.
Your data stays with you
Rentenlücke processes no personal data on servers.
Everything you enter stays solely on your device.
No sign-up, no account, no tracking, no ads.
No sharing with third parties. The optional in-app purchase is handled only by Google Play.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pension gap?
The difference between what you will need to live on in retirement and your expected net pension. The app estimates both and shows how big the gap is.
How do I calculate my pension gap?
Enter your birth year, planned retirement age and income (or the figures from your Renteninformation). The app estimates your net pension from that and compares it with your needs.
Is the app free?
The basics are free. Advanced features are unlocked with a one-time in-app purchase, no subscription.
Is my data stored?
No. Everything stays on your device. No servers, no sign-up, no tracking.
Is this the official Deutsche Rentenversicherung pension?
No. Rentenlücke is an independent planning tool, not the DRV. For your actually accrued pension your Renteninformation is authoritative; the app helps you run scenarios with it.
How accurate is the estimate?
The statutory pension calculation follows the official formula and is reliable with correct inputs. Projections over 20 to 40 years (salary growth, returns, taxes, inflation) depend heavily on the assumptions and are deliberately meant as an estimate.
Buying pension points or an ETF?
The app compares both at equal net outlay and shows the break-even. They are two different things: points are a lifelong, indexed annuity, an ETF is capital you draw down. The app shows you the numbers, the decision stays with you.
Does the app show nominal or today's values?
Both. You can switch between the nominal amount at the retirement year and the value in today's purchasing power. Today's value is usually more meaningful for context.
Rentenlücke is an information and calculation tool and does not replace financial, tax or pension advice. All results are non-binding estimates based on your inputs and simplified assumptions.