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Despite English being a Germanic language, learning German can pose a significant hurdle for English speakers for many reasons. The German language has more complex grammar rules, a significantly larger basic vocabulary, and is more contextually nuanced than English.
You’ll need all the help you can find to learn German. Ideally, you should go full immersion or learn from native speakers who can teach German. However, that isn’t always feasible due to the high costs of either option. So, what to do?
Language learning apps are the next best thing. They are specifically crafted for learning German. These platforms have different approaches to language learning, with some of the most common ones being based on immersion, structured German course learning, audio lessons, and visual based-learning.
As such, the best language app for you is the one that suits your learning style best. We shall be looking at 14 of the best language apps for learning German. Each has been selected for its unique appeal.
TOP 3 Best German Learning Apps
Best Overall App to Learn German
A premium yet affordable German learning experience for beginners
- Material: 260+ hours
- Price: $14.95 – $349
- Refund policy: 20-day
- Free Trial: ✔️
Best German App for Beginners
An effortless German language learning with cutting-edge technology
- Material: 575+ hours
- Price: $9.90 – $89.99
- Refund policy: individual refunds
- Free Trial: ✔️
Best German App with Lifetime Plan
The most comprehensive audio-based German language learning platform
- Material: 300+ hours
- Price: $15 - $260
- Refund policy: 60-day
- Free Trial: ✔️
The Best German Learning Apps of 2023
- Babbel – Overall Best App to Learn German
- Mondly – Best German App for Beginners
- Rocket Languages – Best German App with Lifetime Plan
- German POD 101 – Best German App for Listening Practice
- Memrise – Best German App for Flashcards
- italki – Best German App to Find Tutors
- Pimsleur – Best App to Learn German Before a Trip
- Lingopie – Best German App for Visual Learning
- Rosetta Stone – Best German App for Alphabet Memorisation
- Duolingo – Best German App With Free Access
The language learning market is saturated, so finding the best apps to learn German is time-consuming. It takes throughout research and testing to see what’s actually effective. Here at Lingomee, we’re all about making it easier for you. We benchmark all products through the same measures.
| ⭐ Rating | A sum of user experience, content quality, features, customer support, and value for money. |
| 🥇 Available languages | Most relevant for studying multiple languages but tells a lot about the overall quality of the platform. |
| 📈 Suits best for | Evaluations are based on ACTFL guidelines, but we also measure how fast you will move up a level. |
| 🛒 Payment options | Shows how flexible the pricing plans are and, in most cases, how much you can save. |
| 💵 Price range | A measure of much you should expect to spend on a language-learning app. |
| 📚 Hours of study time | An approximate measure of how much language learning material there is for one language. |
| 🕒 Time commitment | Optimal daily dedication for the best results, as spending more time isn’t always the best strategy. |
| 💻 Platforms | Where you can use the language learning software. |
| 🔄 Refund policy | A money-back guarantee is a safeguard for your money. |
| 🎁 Free Trial | We prefer language learning programs not requiring a credit card to signup. |
Comparison Of The Best German Language Learning Apps
| Babbel | Mondly | Rocket Languages | German POD 101 | Memrise | Italki | Pimsleur | Lingopie | Drops App | Speechling | FluentU | Rosetta Stone | Busuu | Duolingo | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Review | Babbel Review | Mondly review | Rocket German review | GermanPod101 Review | Memrise Review | Italki review | Pimsleur review | Lingopie Review | Drops App review | Speechling Review | FluentU review | Rosetta Stone Reveiw | Busuu review | Duolingo review |
| Rating | 9.3 | 9.1 | 9.4 | 9 | 8.5 | 9.0 | 9 | 8.3 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 |
| Price | 14.95 – 349 $ | 9.9 – 89.99 $ | 15 – 260 $ | 4 – 552 $ | 8.49 – 119.99 $ | 4 – 50 $ per lesson | 14.95 – 575 $ | 12 – 199 $ | 13 – 159.99 $ | 19.99 – 239.99 $ | 29.99 – 143.99 $ | 11.99 – 179 $ | 9.99 – 79.99 $ | 9.99 – 79.99 $ |
Winner
TOP 10 Best Apps to Learn The X Language - Our Comprehensive List
Babbel
Overall Best App to Learn German
Why we like Babbel
Babbel is an easy-to-use and scientifically proven language-learning app. It’s full of engaging lessons, podcasts, review exercises, and games. Babbel is balanced for beginners, but every language learner will find a use for it.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Androis |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $14.95 – $349 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 20-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Speech Recognition System – test your pronunciation with what might be the most accurate voice recognition software on the market.
- Babbel Live – participate in hour-long lessons with certified language instructors.
- Mini Games – break out of the rut with a variety of engaging language-learning games.
- Everyday Conversations – improve your speaking skills while following a dialogue in a real-world setting.
The Good
- Well-designed app
- Podcasts
- Live lessons
- Affordable
The Bad
- Course length varies by language
- Only 14 languages
Why Babbel is Overall Best App to Learn German
This professional interactive language app excels in every aspect of language learning, making it ideal for all levels of German language learners. With a comprehensive course that requires over 250 hours to complete, Babbel’s bite-sized lessons cover all aspects of the German language.
The app offers content for beginners and advanced learners, with each German lesson presented in a different format to keep the complete German course interesting. You will hone your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills with tons of drills. This German course also offers live classes to help you learn conversational German.
All of this is available at an affordable price, making Babbel the best app to learn German language learning overall.
Pricing
Babbel gives free access to the first class of all courses and two free Babbel Live lessons. A subscription costs $14.95 monthly, but an annual plan lowers the price to only $7.45. A lifetime subscription unlocks all languages forever for $349. But Babbel live lessons will still cost you from $50 per month
Mondly
Best German App for Beginners
Why we like Mondly
Mondly might be the most innovative language-learning app on the market. It appeals to language learners of various levels with gamified and even virtual reality lessons. Language learning is guaranteed to be fun with Mondly.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Androis |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $9.90 – $89.99 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | Individual refunds |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Speech Recognition Technology – gain confidence in speaking with advanced voice recognition.
- Interactive Chatbot – receive instant feedback on your conversational skills.
- AR and VR Modules – engage with digital characters and objects while learning a language.
- Mondly Kids – immerse your kids into a foreign language through interactive games.
The Good
- Large selection of languages
- Affordable
- AR and VR lessons
- Gamification
- Lessons for kids
The Bad
- Insufficient grammar coverage
- Lacks speaking practice
- Repetitive lessons
Why Mondly is The Best German App for Beginners
Mondly is the top German language learning app for beginners. The language app offers a personalized learning path with everyday topics like weather, romance, and family to focus on practical German vocabulary and phrases.
With engaging, easy-to-follow lessons and gamification features like leaderboards and VR/AR technology, Mondly’s German course makes language learning both effective and enjoyable for beginners.
It’s among the best language apps to learn German, whether you’re seeking to start speaking German or improve your comprehension and listening skills. Whichever type of German language learner you are, Mondly’s extensive range of features and tools can help you achieve fluency and master the German language.
Pricing
The payment options of Mondly are flexible – you can pay every month ($9.99), every three months ($29.97), or annually ($47.99). The lifetime subscription ($89.99) has great value for money, providing access to all languages and features. You can also try out Mondly with the seven-day free trial.
Rocket Languages
Best German App with Lifetime Plan
Why We Like Rocket Languages
Rocket languages covers everything you need to learn a new language – from speaking and grammar to culture and immersion. The highly interactive app is also affordable, which makes it a steal for its 14 languages.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 40 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $15 – $260 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 60-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Interactive Audio Lessons – talk the language of native speakers through real-life interactions –
- Play It! – take the role of a speaker in a dialogue and practice your pronunciation.
- Reinforcement Activities – use multiple exercises to memorize the language in every aspect.
- Progress-Tracking – stay on your learning path with a gamified motivational system.
The Good
- Great value for money
- Voice recognition technology
- Prioritizes conversational fluency
- Offers American sign language
The Bad
- Not for visual-only learners
- Uneven level count
Why Rocket Languages is The Best German App with Lifetime Plan
Online language-learning resources should allow you to learn at your convenience, but some apps focus on forcing subscriptions. Not Rocket German, though, this German course provides lifetime access to its content without requiring a subscription from language learners.
Rocket German includes audio lessons that break down the German language to a granular level helping language learners understand it intuitively. The audio lessons involve listening to a podcast-style dialogue and a teacher breaking down the German vocabulary and grammar used, making it one of the best language apps for learning German grammar.
The German culture lessons provide insightful tips into customs, ensuring users know how to use the language appropriately. Additionally, Rocket German uses voice recognition technology powered by Google’s Web Speech API to help language learners improve their German pronunciation.
Pricing
Rocket German starts from $99.95, which might seem expensive. But it’s not. Instead of paying a subscription fee, you get access to a complete German course for one price. Forever. Rocket languages also have an unlimited free trial with access to some introductory content. There really isn’t any reason not to try it.
German POD 101
Best German App for Listening Practice
Why we like German Pod 101
German POD 101 provides an extensive collection of podcast-like German language courses with the same high-quality standard in each. Listen to native speaker dialogues adjusted for your level and accessible at your own pace.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 40 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $4 – $552 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 60-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Pathways – learn with personalized lesson plans suiting your interests.
- Dialogues – follow native speaker conversations while making notes and recording yourself.
- Vocabulary – study each word separately with its pronunciation and translation.
- Lesson Notes – read comprehensive yet concise notes on the most crucial concepts of your target language.
The Good
- Plenty of audio content
- Teaches culture
- Affordable
The Bad
- Lacks grammar explanations
- Design feels outdated
German POD 101 Overview
GermanPod 101 is an excellent language-learning app for those who prefer an auditory approach to learning German. With a podcast-like learning style, it allows you to listen to native German speakers in various contexts, followed by an explanation from a tutor.
This German course boasts over 1900 video and audio lessons, immersing you in the German language and expanding your basic vocabulary. The lessons also cover German grammar rules and cultural nuances essential for speaking German.
With GermanPod 101, you can practice your listening skills and gain a deeper understanding of the German language and culture.
Memrise
Best German App for Flashcards
Why we like Memrise
Powered by flashcards, spaced repetition, and AI, Memrise is a great app to memorize words and reach conversational fluency. Besides official tools, Memrise promotes language learners to upload courses on topics of interest.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $8.49 – $119.99 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Chats and Missions – get conversation practice with a chatbot and complete missions to use the language in everyday scenarios
- Review to Retain – flip flashcards with word translations and videos to memorize them.
- User-created Content – use relatable materials nourished by other students for language learning.
- Immerse – measure what you’ve learned in the material with fun videos.
The Good
- Videos of native speakers
- Various ways to improve conversation skills
- Plenty of user-created content
- Free courses
The Bad
- Falls behind on grammar
- No verbal practice tools
Memrise Overview
This language-learning app focuses on German vocabulary acquisition using flashcards and spaced repetition. The Memrise language app offers a wide range of topics, including Politics, Food, and Numbers, with each category comprising related German words.
Every German lesson in Memrise involves various drills and exercises, from fill-in-the-blank quizzes to multiple-choice questions. Unlike many other apps to learn German, it allows you to adjust the lesson length to suit various daily needs and learning styles.
Additionally, Memrise provides video lessons by native German speakers introducing you to basic German phrases and words. These videos are especially useful for improving German pronunciation.
italki
Best German App to Find Tutors
Why we like Italki
italki is the most popular online tutoring platform with a wide selection of teachers for any language. The language exchange provides all you need for tutoring and even some additional practice possibilities outside the classroom.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | Few hours a week |
| 💵 Price: | $4 – $50 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 100% satisfaction guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Teacher Filtering – find the right tutor with the help of relevant filters.
- italki Classroom – take classes with an in-built software without worrying about compatibility.
- italki Credits – pay with a virtual currency and save money.
- italki Discover – find various activities created by the italki community.
The Good
- Thousands of teachers
- Many languages
- Affordable prices
- Well-designed
- Free practice options
The Bad
- Needs more content moderation
- Tutor price differences
italki Overview
Finding the right German language tutors is key for every language learning journey, and italki makes it easy. The language exchange app provides German language learners with the flexibility to choose between a professional or native German speakers as their tutor.
You can easily filter tutors to learn German with based on factors such as price, location, and learning styles. Plus, German language learners can get a free lesson and read reviews that give insight into the tutor’s German course.
Pimsleur
Best App to Learn German Before a Trip
Why we like Pimsleur
Pimsleur gets you conversational in a new language with interactive audio lessons and games. A native speaker instructor will walk you through basic vocabulary and the most important concepts for reading, grammar, and writing.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $14.95 – $575 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Driving and Offline Mode – download audio lessons for offline use and easily control the app while driving.
- Speak Easy challenge – build conversational skills, expand vocabulary, and get conversational in real-life settings.
- Voice coach – advanced speech recognition technology for pronunciation practice.
- Speed Run Game – memorize and translate words quickly with an interactive game.
The Good
- Simple audio lessons
- Perfect for learning to speak
- Interactive exercises
- 50+ languages and ESL courses
The Bad
- Costlier than alternatives
- Largely overlooks reading and writing
Pimsleur Overview
Looking to speak German fluently before a trip? Pimsleur is one of the best apps to learn German for conversational skills. This language app focuses on improving listening and speaking skills through guided audio lessons followed by interactive exercises.
The lessons involve short conversations between native German speakers with a teacher interjecting to explain the grammar and vocabulary. You’ll repeat German phrases to practice speaking with the help of advanced voice recognition technology to provide pronunciation feedback.
Pimsleur helps to learn German conversationally through various themes such as travel, family, sports, and food, allowing you to connect with native speakers better. Learning German with quizzes, flashcards, and speed games on Pimsleur, you will certainly polish your conversational German before a trip.
Lingopie
Best German App for Visual Learning
Why we like Lingopie
Lingopie is a full-fledged TV learning experience. It provides an extensive library of different language video content for visual learners. There are multiple review options for memorization, a vibrant community, and even a private tutoring service.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 40 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $12 – $199 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 7-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- TV Shows And Movies – enjoy authentic TV content while learning languages.
- Audio Content – Listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks to learn a new language.
- Subtitles And Transcripts – follow subtitles of your target language and get instant translations.
- Review and Practice – study and memorize words with flashcards and spaced repetition.
The Good
- Well designed
- Improves listening and vocabulary
- Lots of quality content
- Great community
The Bad
- Unfit for beginners
- Lacks review options
- Refund policy
Lingopie Overview
Lingopie is one of the best apps to learn German for visual learners. It is an online movie streaming platform that immerses language learners in German culture and language through movies and TV shows.
Each show comes with a snippet box outlining the German vocabulary you will learn. The shows have both German and English subtitles, but you should use target language subtitles for an active German learning experience.
Lingopie also has a transcript feature, allowing visual learners to learn German words as the show plays. Additionally, Lingopie keeps track of the German words you ask for translations and creates a flashcard deck for you to review. For audio learners, Lingopie has a vast library of audio resources, including German music.
Rosetta Stone
Best German App for Alphabet Memorisation
Why we like Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone immerses you in the target language by associating pictures, audio, and the written word. You will pick up different language grammar naturally while various bonus features complement and speed up your language learning process.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $11.99 – $179 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Core Lessons – associate images with words and native speaker audio recordings.
- The Phrasebook – practice real-life pronunciation with voice recognition software.
- Stories – improve reading and listening skills with native speaker-narrated material.
- Live tutoring – participate in twenty-five minutes long live lessons with experienced tutors.
The Good
- Quick language immersion
- Live tutoring
- Native speaker audio
- A lot of features
The Bad
- Lacks cultural relevance
- Can get repetitive
Rosetta Stone Overview
Rosetta Stone is a valuable German language learning app that offers practical tools for learning the German alphabet.
It features an Alphabet Table listing the German alphabet sounds along with a sample German word for each letter. Additionally, the interactive Stories section provides short stories that require German language learners to enunciate each syllable, allowing them to practice speaking German with the correct pronunciation.
Rosetta Stone has speech recognition software and writing exercises also help with alphabet memorization by prompting you to actively interact with German vocabulary. These features ensure the newly acquired knowledge is retained throughout the language-learning journey.
Duolingo
Best German App With Free Access
Why we like Duolingo
Duolingo is the most gamified language learning experience you can get. Just like in a video game, you must collect gems and earn XP while learning basic concepts of a new language.
| ⭐ Platforms: | Web, iOS, Android |
| ⌚ Time commitment: | 15 – 30 minutes per day |
| 💵 Price: | $9.99 – $79.99 |
| 🔄 Refund policy: | 48-hour refunds |
| 🎁 Free Trial: | ✔️ |
Key Features
- Gems, XP points, badges… – motivate yourself to learn with an abundance of elements from mobile games.
- Stories – read and listen to interactive stories bringing you closer to a real-life experience.
- Roleplay – converse with a chatbot that can adjust to your proficiency level.
- Personalized lessons – delve into short lessons teaching the basics of the target language while focusing on your weak spots.
The Good
- Free version
- Good gamification
- Easy to use
- 39+ languages
The Bad
- Lacks control over materials
- Repetitive
- Ad-supported
Duolingo Overview
Duolingo is one of the best apps to learn German with a free version. It has a comprehensive course subdivided into modules, and each one is categorized into different themes. Every free lesson takes 10-15 minutes to complete, making it easier to achieve the daily goals of learning German.
Duolingo gamifies the learning process by awarding points for completing a lesson. This free app also has speech recognition technology to help with speaking skills. Premium version users can jump around the German course while using it as a free language learning app will require to unlock lessons.
Wrap-Up
Learning German online can be an arduous task without proper guidance. Language apps are not created equal, meaning you must research platforms and find learning styles that are effective to learn German for you. We have done the hard part, so all you need is to choose one of the best apps above that suits your needs or preferences. Tschüss!
Best Apps To Learn German: FAQ
How long does it take to learn German?
Most German language learners should attain basic proficiency within three to six months. However, on average, it should take you about 750 hours of study time to become proficient in all aspects of the German language.
The time it takes to learn the German language is determined by factors such as learning styles, the language apps or resources you’re using, and how much time you’re willing to dedicate to learning German.
How difficult is C1 German?
To learn German at the C1 level is no easy feat, as it means that neither German vocabulary nor German grammar disturbs you. You need to be a master of both areas, expressing yourself fluently in German as if it were your native language to be considered C1-proficient.
This means you’ll have spent significant time and effort while learning German. That said, the difficulty of that endeavor will greatly depend on the language-learning resources you’re using. We found Glossika and FluentU are great for making the last steps to speaking German fluently.
Can I self-learn German?
Self-studying the German language isn’t as difficult as some might make it out to be. The only ingredients you need are a tested and proven German language-learning app, your time, and commitment. For example, you can learn German vocabulary by watching movies on Lingopie. Other apps to learn German can cover most other parts.
Of course, access to native speakers is incredibly beneficial, as that’s the only way to know whether you’re making improvements. Besides traveling to a country that is speaking German, we recommend subscribing to a language exchange app, such as italki.
