Hi there, friends, today I would like to talk to you about learning German!

Yes, exactly. Learning German has been one of the longest relationships of my life. And it was never love at first sights either. It was more like one of those marriages of convenience, where I had to learn it because I studied and consequently lived in Germany.

When I first moved to Germany, language learning apps were relatively simple. Fast forward to 2026, and there are hundreds of options promising fluency, perfect pronunciation, and apparently a new personality. Spoiler alert: no app will magically make you fluent. I know, that’s rather shocking. What apps can really do for you – is help you build consistency in your learning, expand your vocabulary, practise speaking, and survive those awkward moments when you accidentally order six breads instead of one.

Duolingo

Let’s start with our favorite green owl (special shout-out to it’s social media marketing team).

Duolingo remains one of the easiest ways to build a daily language-learning habit. The lessons are short, colourful, and designed to make you feel productive even when you’re sitting on the sofa in your pyjamas pretending to be a serious student.

What I like:

• Excellent for beginners (even my mother tried it and she is sooooo hard to make her learn anything language)
• Encourages consistency through streaks (and once you enable notifications, you are in for one guilt-trip after another)
• Free version is still useful
• Great for learning basic vocabulary

What I don’t like:

• Grammar explanations can be a bit limited
• Real-life conversations are not the best
• Not much speaking practice

My verdict:

Duolingo is quite good for daily learning, but you will surely need to compliment it with other means if you really want to learn the language, especially speaking.

DW Learn German App for levels A1, A2 and B1

While DW does offer mobile apps, I have to admit that I rarely use them. Most of the time, I simply visit the website directly. Since I spend a large part of my day working on a laptop, learning on a bigger screen feels much more comfortable. The website also gives access to a wider range of materials and language levels, including B2 and C-level content, which can be harder to find in many free learning apps.

One feature I particularly appreciate is the free placement test. If you’re not sure whether you’re an A2, B1, or somewhere in the mysterious land between “I understand everything” and “I have absolutely no idea what that person just said,” the test can help you find your current level and start with the most suitable course.

The platform offers learning materials from A1 all the way to C-level German. Depending on your level, you’ll find interactive exercises, videos, audio lessons, grammar explanations, articles, transcripts and manuscript as well as vocabulary practice. Isn’t that cool or what?

What I really like is that the materials feel practical and engaging rather than overly academic. You get exposure to real German while still having enough support to understand what’s going on.

What I Like

• Completely free
• Excellent content from A1 to C1/C2 level
• Free placement test
• High-quality videos and audio materials
• Great listening practice
• Lessons include transcripts and exercises
• Website offers much more content than many language-learning apps
• Perfect for independent learners

What I Don’t Like

• The platform can feel overwhelming at first because there is so much content available
• Less gamified than apps like Duolingo, so you need a bit more self-discipline
• Progress tracking isn’t as motivating as some dedicated language-learning apps
• The website navigation can take some getting used to

My Verdict

If I could only recommend one completely free resource for learning German, DW would be near the top of the list. It may not have a green owl threatening your daily streak, but it offers something even more valuable: a huge library of high-quality learning materials that can support you from your first German words all the way to advanced levels.

I’ve used many different language-learning apps and websites over the years, but DW remains one of the resources I return to again and again. If you’re serious about learning German and don’t want to spend a fortune, I highly recommend giving it a try.

Volkshochschule Apps & Website for levels A1-B2 Beruf

I first encountered this website/app while doing my Integration Course in German and immediately fall in love with it. It is totally free, you just have to sign up for it and you can immediately start learning. The courses are from A1 to B2 Beruf (Profession/Work) and they cover many different topics. Each level provides all spectrum of exercises – grammar, listening skills, vocabulary. After each topic, you will be given a test, which will check your understanding of the material.

What I like:

• Writing exercises.
• Assignment correction by a tutor (you have to be patient and wait a bit for it –  can imagine that many people are doing this course and tutors will need some time to get back to you)
• Clear explanations

What I don’t like:

• No speaking training or feedback
• No levels further than B2
• Could be a bit more interactive

My verdict:

Very underestimated website, provides great value for no cost and is very useful for beginners. 

Busuu

If Duolingo is the fun friend, Busuu is the organised friend with colour-coded spreadsheets.

Busuu follows CEFR language levels and feels much more structured. One feature I particularly like is the ability to receive feedback from native speakers. And you also can contribute by helping other students who currently learn your native language (give and take).

What I like:

• Clear progression from A1 onwards
• Strong grammar focus
• Speaking and writing exercises
• Useful vocabulary and tons of repetitions for better memorization
• Native-speaker corrections

What I don’t like:

• Less playful than Duolingo
• Some features require a subscription

My verdict:

If you’re serious about improving your German rather than just maintaining a 300-day streak, Busuu deserves a place on your phone.

 

I hope this post was helpful for you! I, myself, know the struggle of learning German and trying to find the best possible way of learning. I wish you luck with your present and future endeavors with German language and hope you will reach the results you are looking for!