Apps or NFC tags are used where I live.

I charge at home myself, but in the odd case where I’ve used public chargers I’ve had to install an app from whatever charging company it is, because I can never find one that takes cards directly, though they all ought to do that by now.

For people who use public chargers a lot, it makes most sense to get some subscription and get a tag for that. Some of them works across different networks. It’s a bit of jungle.

The apps probably do require a card to setup, unless you get it through some company where you already have direct debit (f.i. your electricity provider or gas station monthly billing etc.)

It’s not that different from gas stations. It’s not possible to pay those in cash anymore anyway.