Best Apps for Learning German: Top Picks Compared

By Apps For Refugees Information Desk · Updated on September 24, 2026

Learning German is a goal pursued by thousands of refugees, asylum seekers and newcomers to Germany every year, and the good news is that there is already a free and comprehensive toolkit. More than a dozen well-known free apps and platforms – from the government-funded Deutschtrainer A1 to Deutsche Welle’s Nicos Weg – cover vocabulary, grammar, exercises and speaking practice at all levels, from A1 to C1.

Key Takeaways

Free is really enough to reach B1. Deutsche Welle, the Goethe-Institut, VHS Lernportal and Ankommen are publicly funded and cost nothing; paid apps mostly add convenience, not content you can’t get elsewhere when using the best free apps for learning german.
Match the app to your goal. The alphabet and daily survival in german require different tools than Goethe or telc exam preparation; choose the best app for learning german based on your needs.
Offline access is important. Many people don’t have a stable Wi-Fi connection or a laptop; download the courses in advance to your phone to ensure your german learning app free remains accessible.
Combine listening, speaking and writing. No single app replaces the practice of talking with a real person when learning german.
Use official sources for exam preparation. The Goethe-Institut and telc publish free model tests that reflect the actual format, making them the best german learning app alternatives for test prep. For quick vocabulary, an in german translation app can also help.

learning german

Learning German in 2026 means choosing between a small number of excellent free platforms and a much larger number of paid platforms. The best free options—essentially the best free apps for learning german—are Nicos Weg and Deutschtrainer from Deutsche Welle, the free exercises from the Goethe-Institut, VHS Lernportal, Ankommen (made by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge in collaboration with public broadcasters) and the phase6 vocabulary app in its free tier. Each covers a different slice of the language: Nicos Weg builds complete courses from A1 to B1 around a video story, Deutschtrainer drills everyday vocabulary, and VHS Lernportal adds structured lessons with exercises and practices for people preparing for integration courses.

The German learning app market is divided into three types. The course apps (Nicos Weg, , Busuu) teach in a fixed order. Drill apps (Anki, phase6, Duolingo) repeat vocabulary and grammar until it sticks. The reference applications (Leo, dict.cc, DeepL), which serve as an in german translation app, translate and explain the words you encounter in daily life. Most successful learners use one from each category—combining a german learning app free of charge with paid tools—rather than searching for a single best german learning app or the one best app for learning german.

how learn german language

Learning the German language starts with the alphabet and pronunciation, then moves through the four skills – reading, listening, speaking and writing – in a structured order. German has three grammatical genders (der, die, das), four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) and a word order that places the verb second in main clauses. It is these characteristics that make German feel difficult at first, and it is also these characteristics that reward early and systematic study.

A practical sequence for a beginner looks like this:

Weeks 1-4: Alphabet, numbers, greetings and sounds that do not exist in your native language (ü, ö, ch, r).
Months 2-3: Present tense, basic sentence structure, everyday vocabulary for shopping, transportation, and appointments.
Months 4 to 6: Past tenses, modal verbs, cases and simple written messages.
Months 7-12: Longer texts, phone calls, and vocabulary for your specific situation (work, school, authorities).

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) defines the levels A1 to C2 used for German courses and exams. Knowing your target level – A1 for the Ankommen app, B1 for most integration course certificates, B2 for many jobs – tells you which app content is relevant and which is a distraction.

Related: — Bite-sized German lessons built around everyday migrant life.

how learn german

Learning German effectively depends less on the app you choose and more on how you use it. Three habits separate people who progress from those who stagnate: short daily sessions, active production (speaking and writing, not just typing answers), and contact with real German outside of the app.

Daily short sessions beat weekend marathons because vocabulary and grammar need repetition over time. Twenty minutes a day, six days a week, moves a learner through A1 in roughly three to four months.

Active production means saying words out loud, writing sentences by hand, and recording yourself; passive recognition of a word is not the same as being able to use it. Real-world contact means listening to German radio, reading signs and packaging, and — most importantly — speaking with people, whether in a course, a tandem partnership, or a volunteer conversation group.

Our pick: — Live small-group German classes with certified teachers.

A common mistake is to collect apps instead of using one. Installing five vocabulary apps produces less progress than completing a course and repeating exercises until the material is automatic.

how learn german language free

Learning German for free is completely realistic, because the German state funds a large amount of high-quality material. Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international public broadcaster and publishes Nicos Weg, Deutschtrainer and Jojo sucht das Glück free of charge and without advertising.

The Goethe-Institut, Germany’s official cultural institute, offers free online exercises and practice material in addition to its paid courses. VHS Lernportal is operated by the German Adult Education Association (Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband) and offers free courses, exercises and learning for integration course content.

Other free resources to know for learning german:

Ankommen — a free app from the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF), the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, offering German lessons and practical information about life in Germany. This is one of the best free apps for learning german for newcomers.
Leo and dict.cc — free dictionaries and in german translation app options with forums where learners ask questions about grammar and usage.
Anki — free flashcard software; you create your own decks or download shared decks. It is a versatile german learning app free for desktop and Android.
phase6 — a German vocabulary app with a free tier widely used in German schools, often cited as the best german learning app for vocabulary.
YouTube channels from German teachers, which often include free exercises and practice in the descriptions. These can be a great supplement to the best app for learning german.

The main cost of free learning is your own time and the discipline to continue without a teacher monitoring you.

how learn german fast

Learning German quickly is possible to a certain extent, and the honest answer is that the speed depends on your source language, your available times, and whether you are in a German-speaking environment. A learner who already speaks English or Dutch has a great advantage in terms of vocabulary, because German and English share many cognates (Haus/house, Wasser/water, Finger/finger). A learner who speaks a Slavic or Romance language will find some grammar familiar but vocabulary less so.

Related: — Audio-first courses you can run while commuting or job-hunting.

Realistic timelines, based on CEFR guidance and the experience of integration course providers:

Goal	Hours of guided learning (CEFR estimate)	Typical calendar time at 20 hrs/week
A1	~80–100 hours	4–6 weeks
A2	~180–200 hours cumulative	2–3 months
B1	~350–480 hours cumulative	4–6 months
B2	~600–800 hours cumulative	6–9 months

These are estimates, not guarantees, and assume consistent study. To go faster: focus on vocabulary from your own life, speak from the first day even with mistakes, use spaced repetition for words that you keep forgetting and take a course with a fixed exam date. Exam deadlines are one of the few reliable motivators.

how learn german easily

Learning German easily means above all reducing the friction of daily practice. Choose one main app and one dictionary, set a set time each day, and keep sessions short enough that you never dread them. Use audio-first apps when you’re commuting or doing housework, and save writing exercises for when you can sit down.

Worth a look: — 1-on-1 tutors in German, Arabic and Farsi - you set the price.

Easier learning also comes from context. Words related to a real situation – a doctor’s appointment, a job interview, a form at the Bürgeramt – stick better than lists of abstract words.

The Ankommen app, a great german learning app free for many, is built around exactly this idea, combining language with practical orientation. If grammar seems overwhelming, learn it in small chunks: one case at a time, with exercises and practice sentences, rather than trying to master all four cases in a week.

how learn german language online

Learning German online works best when you combine self-study apps with live interaction. Self-study gives you vocabulary, grammar and exercises at your own pace; live interaction gives you the speaking practice that no app can fully replace. Free and low-cost options for live practice include tandem partnerships (language exchange), volunteer-run conversation cafés in many German cities, and online language exchange communities.

For structured online courses, VHS Lernportal and Deutsche Welle both offer sequenced material with exercises and learning checks. The free exercise pages from the Goethe-Institut are useful for exam-style practice. If you want a certificate, remember that the exams themselves aren’t free: the free part is the preparation, and there is a lot of it.

how learn germany

“Learning Germany” generally means learning how Germany works: the language and practical knowledge needed to live here. The Ankommen app, which serves as a best app for learning german and integration, covers both: German lessons as well as information on the asylum process, work, healthcare and everyday life.

Integration courses (Integrationskurse), funded by BAMF, combine language teaching up to B1 with an orientation course on German law, history and society. Participation in an integration course is often free or heavily subsidized for eligible participants, and ends with the Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer (DTZ).

Understanding the system is part of learning the language: knowing which office handles which document, what a Termin is, and how to write a formal email in German are skills that apps alone rarely teach well. Pair your app with real-world interactions and, where available, a course.

how learn german reddit

Reddit’s r/German community is one of the most active places where learners discuss which apps actually work. Recurring themes in those discussions: Nicos Weg is frequently recommended as the best free structured course; Anki is praised for vocabulary retention but criticised for the time it takes to build good decks; Duolingo is seen as useful for habit-building but weak for grammar and speaking; and almost everyone advises supplementing apps with real conversation. Reddit threads are useful for honest, unfiltered opinions, but treat individual claims about “learning German in three months” with caution — they rarely describe the full picture. When searching for the best german learning app or the best free apps for learning german, these community threads provide a balanced view, though some still prefer a dedicated in german translation app for quick needs.

How to choose: a criteria list

Use these criteria to compare any German learning app before spending time on it:

Level Coverage: Does it take you from A1 to at least B1, or does it stop after beginner phrases?
Balance of skills: Does it include listening, speaking, reading and writing, or just vocabulary exercises?
Offline mode: Can you download lessons to use without internet?
Free Tier Cost: Is the free version actually usable or a trial that expires?
Exam alignment: Does it prepare for Goethe, telc or the DTZ if you need a certificate?
Language of instruction: Can you learn through your native language, or only through English or German?
Data and privacy: What does the app do with your data and does it work without an account?

Sources & Further Reading

The Awful German Language — Wikipedia: “The Awful German Language” is an 1880 essay by Mark Twain published as Appendix D in A Tramp Abroad. The essay is a humorous exploration of the frustrations a…
German language — Wikipedia: German (Deutsch, pronounced [dɔɪ̯tʃ] ) is a West Germanic language in the Indo-European language family, mainly spoken in Western and Central Europe. It is the majority…

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I learn the German language from zero?

Start with the alphabet, pronunciation and everyday phrases, then follow a structured A1 course like Nicos Weg or an integration course. Add a dictionary app like Leo for words you encounter in daily life and practice speaking within the first week. Consistency matters more than the specific app you choose for learning German.

How can I learn German for free?

The Deutsche Welle, the Goethe-Institut, the VHS Lernportal and the BAMF Ankommen app all offer free, high-quality materials with exercises and practice. Free dictionaries, Anki flashcards, and YouTube lessons fill in the gaps. The only real cost is your time and the discipline to study regularly.

How can I learn German fast?

Aim for daily study, prioritize the vocabulary you actually use, and speak from day one, even with mistakes. CEFR estimates suggest around 350 to 480 guided hours to reach B1, so the fastest realistic route is several hours per week plus immersion in a German-speaking environment. Booking an exam date adds useful pressure.

How do I learn German easily?

Keep sessions short and regular, use audio apps during downtime, and learn grammar in small chunks with drills and practice rather than all at once. Attach vocabulary to real-life situations (appointments, work, forms) so that the words have context. One well-used app beats five half-used apps.

Can I learn German online without a course?

Yes. Self-study platforms like Nicos Weg and VHS Lernportal provide full sequenced courses online, and free exercise pages from the Goethe-Institut cover exam-style practice. Adding live conversation through tandem partners or volunteer groups makes the biggest difference to speaking ability.

Which free app is best for learning German?

For a comprehensive free course, Nicos Weg from Deutsche Welle is the most frequently recommended best app for learning German, covering A1 to B1 with video, exercises and practice. Ankommen is the best German learning app if you also need a practical orientation on life in Germany. Anki is the best app for learning German vocabulary retention once you have a course to take. If you are looking for the best free apps for learning German or a German learning app free of charge, these are the top choices, alongside a reliable in German translation app for daily use.

Authoritative sources

P.S. A few readers have asked which tutor marketplace we actually reach for — it's Preply; if you want the current details.

Frequently asked questions