Is the Deutschlandticket a one-time purchase or a subscription?

The Deutschlandticket is always a monthly subscription. It is not a one-time ticket. It renews automatically every month unless you pause or cancel it.

There is an important rule under German tariff law that applies to your first month:

• Purchase before the 10th of the month: If you buy before the 10th, you can flexibly pause or cancel for the following month.
• Purchase on or after the 10th of the month: If you buy on or after the 10th, you are committed for at least two months. Pausing or canceling for the immediately following month is not possible.

Example: If you purchase on May 12th, your subscription runs bindingly for May and June. You can pause or cancel at the earliest for July.