The Danish Rejsekort app is seeing rapid adoption, surpassing 2 million downloads, although older generations are slower to make the switch from physical cards.
Digital Travel Card Surpasses 2 Million Downloads
The digital version of Denmark’s national travel card, Rejsekortet, has reached a major milestone, with more than 2 million downloads recorded across the country. According to Rejsekort & Rejseplan A/S, the company behind the app, between 4,000 and 6,000 people are downloading the app daily. The app, designed to replace the traditional plastic Rejsekort, offers commuters an easy check-in and check-out system using their smartphones. Many now use the app for daily travel.
With the physical card set to be phased out by 2026, the transition to digital access represents a significant change in how Danes use public transportation. Currently, about 2.7 million Rejsekort cards are active, including 2.4 million personalized cards. It’s a big step for public transport in Denmark.
App Preferred by Younger Users
The Danish Rejsekort app has proven especially popular with users aged 26 to 66, with this group showing a 50/50 usage split between physical and digital cards. Senior citizens, however, remain hesitant. Among people aged 67 and older, only 28% have adopted the digital version, while 70% continue to use the physical card.
The company attributes the initial download spike to early adopters but says that renewed attention came once it was made clear that the current cards would be discontinued. The physical cards will no longer function starting in 2026, which has encouraged more users to migrate to the Danish Rejsekort app.
Automatic Features and User Experience
A key advantage of the app is its use of location data, which allows travelers to check in by swiping within the app as they board a bus, train, or metro. The app also enables automatic check-outs, which can prevent users from forgetting and incurring charges for incomplete trips. This contrasts with the physical system, which requires locating scanners to check in and out, especially during route changes.
Improved Data Privacy After Critical Feedback
User concerns regarding data privacy prompted significant changes. Initially, travel data was stored for three years but is now retained for only two months. While this is still longer than some would prefer, it allows the company to verify customer transactions in case of disputes.
One of the most common concerns from users involves running out of phone battery during a journey. If a rider checks in but their phone dies before check-out, they are still subject to standard fines, typically ranging from 750 to 1,000 kroner. Surveys reveal that while this risk worries passengers, very few have actually experienced it, making the fear greater than the actual occurrence.
Demographics and Usage Trends
Most journeys using the app, approximately 79.9%, take place in eastern Denmark, east of the Storebælt Bridge. Western Denmark accounts for 19.5%, with the remainder spread between across-region trips and use in Sweden. Impressively, over 57,000 of the app’s users are aged 77 or older, and 662 are over age 90, suggesting some older Danes are still embracing the digital transition.
Accessibility and Alternatives
The digital solution is now also available for people with disabilities, following adjustments to accommodate eligibility for discounted fares. For those who are not comfortable with smartphone-based systems, the company is preparing a basic version of the digital card. This new simplified card will allow check-ins and check-outs using a single terminal, unlike the current system, which requires users to locate separate check-in and check-out posts.
Fewer stations will be outfitted with these new card readers, as the company anticipates significantly reduced demand once the majority of passengers move to the app.
A Future with Payment Cards?
Looking further ahead, the Danish Rejsekort & Rejseplan A/S is exploring whether contactless payment cards, such as Denmark’s Dankort, could be used directly for public transportation. Inspired by systems already in place in cities like London, this feature could especially appeal to tourists, removing the need to download a local app or acquire a travel card upon arrival.
The project is being supported by a 400 million kroner budget shared across Denmark’s eight transport agencies. As part of the digital upgrade, regional public transportation apps are being phased out in favor of the centralized Rejsekort app. Only the state rail operator DSB will maintain a separate app tailored to its loyalty programs.
These advancements mark significant steps toward modernizing public transportation in Denmark, as the country moves toward a streamlined, app-based future.
