Best app to learn German: every app that teaches it, compared
HalloHAH-loh“hello” in German
Start with Babbel ($107.40 a year) for the grammar explained, or Busuu ($72.99 a year) if the grammar scares you; add Clozemaster for vocabulary that sticks and Pimsleur to listen your way in.
Prices checked 6 Sept to 20 Oct 2026 · How we check
Our picks
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Best course with CEFR levels
Babbel
Course app
$107.40 a year$8.95 a month, billed yearly
Why it's here. Short dialogues and grammar notes help you understand why a sentence works. Speaking exercises let you practise saying it aloud before you need it in conversation.
Free: The first lesson of every course is free, and up to 80 free lessons depending on the language.
Skip it if you want to stay free for good (only the first lessons are free), or your language is not one of its 14.
German courses up to B2, with extra topics up to C1.
Photo: AmazonAmazon offers a free 30-day Prime trial, with free delivery on eligible items. Try Prime free; a paid link, like the Amazon buttons.
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Best when the grammar scares you
Busuu
Course app
$72.99 a year$6.08 a month, billed yearly · Premium
Why it's here. A structured course gives you a path through lessons, with corrections from native speakers. You can start with a free account before deciding whether the paid extras are useful.
Free: Free account with the complete course in each language, community feedback and basic progress tracking.
Skip it if you want live conversation with a person; Busuu has no live lessons.
Complete German, 420+ lessons labelled A1 to B2.
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Best for vocabulary that sticks
Clozemaster
Vocabulary and flashcards
$79.99 a year$6.67 a month, billed yearly
Why it's here. Fill-in-the-blank sentences make you recall words in context instead of recognising them on a flashcard. It is useful extra practice once you already know the basics.
Free: Up to 30 sentences a day; Pro adds unlimited play and advanced features.
Skip it if you are starting from zero: it is sentence practice, not a course.
German from English: a 10,000-sentence Fast Track in 10 levels.
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Best for listening your way in
Pimsleur
Audio course
$131.96 a year$11 a month, billed yearly · All Access
Why it's here. Half-hour audio lessons get you answering aloud, which suits a commute or a walk. Download lessons before you leave and you can practise without a connection.
Free: No free tier; 7-day free trial on subscriptions.
Skip it if you want to read and write, or want something free: it is audio first, with a 7-day trial.
Five levels of 30 half-hour lessons, with about 100 reading lessons.
56 of the 99 apps we cover list German; 24 of them are free to keep using and 25 more free to try.
With an exam in view, choose a course that names the CEFR level you need: Babbel's lessons explain the grammar, and Lingoda adds live classes organised by level. Check the German course itself before paying, because an app may reach different levels in different languages.
What a year of German costs
Every app that teaches German and sells a yearly plan, cheapest first, from the plans on each app's own pages. Not on it: DW Learn German, Language Transfer and LingoHut, which are free; Coffee Break German, italki, Lingoda, News in Slow, Pingo AI, Praktika and Preply, which publish no yearly price in dollars, and Assimil, Gus on the Go, Michel Thomas Method, Ouino, Rocket Languages and StoryLearning, bought once rather than by the year.
The yearly planPaying month to month for 12 monthsA price range; the app doesn't say which plan costs what
- Duolingoevery course free; Super's plan lengths not given $0 · Super $9.99 to $119.99 in the App Store
- uTalkone language; $29.99 on some visits $24.99 · $47.88 if you pay monthly
- Language Reactorall its languages · free tier $39.95 · $71.40 if you pay monthly
- Tandemall its languages · free tier $39.99
- Mondlyone language · free tier $47.99 · $119.88 if you pay monthly
- Speaklyall its languages $47.99 · $191.88 if you pay monthly
- Readlangall its languages · free tier $48 · $72 if you pay monthly
- Beelinguappall its languages · free tier $49.90 · $95.88 if you pay monthly
- Studycatone language $59.99 · $179.88 if you pay monthly
- Memriseall its languages · free tier $61.99 · $299.88 if you pay monthly
- Dropsall its languages · free tier $69.99 · $132 if you pay monthly
- Readleall its languages · free tier $69.99 · $179.88 if you pay monthly
- MosaLinguaall its languages $71.88 · $119.88 if you pay monthly
- Busuuall its languages · free tier $72.99
- Jumpspeakall its languages $79
- Clozemasterall its languages · free tier $79.99 · $155.88 if you pay monthly
- HelloTalkall its languages · free tier $79.99 · $155.88 if you pay monthly
- Langotalkall its languages $79.99 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Lingvistall its languages $79.99 · $119.88 if you pay monthly
- Lingopieall its languages $83.88
- Promovaall its languages · free tier $83.99 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Lingall its languages · free tier $89.99 · $203.88 if you pay monthly
- Fluent Foreverall its languages · free tier $95.88 · $143.88 if you pay monthly
- LingoDeerall its languages · free tier $95.99 · $179.88 if you pay monthly
- Migakuall 11 languages and every feature $96 · $120 if you pay monthly
- Teacher AIall its languages $97 · $180 if you pay monthly
- Yablaone language $99.95 · $155.40 if you pay monthly
- Babbelall its languages $107.40 · $215.88 if you pay monthly
- LingQall its languages · free tier $119.99 · $179.88 if you pay monthly
- Talkpalall its languages · free tier $119.99 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Univerbalall its languages $119.99 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Mango Languagesall its languages about $120 · $167.88 if you pay monthly
- Pimsleurall its languages $131.96 · $251.40 if you pay monthly
- FluentUall its languages $143.99 · $359.88 if you pay monthly
- Transparent Language Onlineone language $149.95 · $299.40 if you pay monthly
- Languaall its languages · free tier $149.99 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Rosetta Stoneall its languages $159 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Dinolingoall 50 languages, up to 6 children $199 · $228 if you pay monthly
- Glossikaone language about $199 · $239.88 if you pay monthly
- Gymglishone language $288
How far each German course goes
Each app's German course as its maker describes it: the level it says the course reaches, and how big it is. 14 of the 33 courses state a CEFR level; the rest use their own levels or state none. A course's level is what its lessons cover, not proof that you will reach it. Sizes are each maker's own measure (words, hours, lessons or units), so they cannot be compared directly. Read from each maker's pages on 11 Oct 2026, 12 Oct 2026, 13 Oct 2026, 14 Oct 2026, 15 Oct 2026 and 16 Oct 2026. What the CEFR levels mean.
| App and course | How far it goes | How big it is |
|---|---|---|
| DW Learn GermanGerman · DW Learn German: home page | A1 to C1Courses from the alphabet to C1: Nicos Weg, a video course, runs A1 to B1; from B1 every course is in GermanDW Learn German: courses for B1 and B2 (in German) | Not stated |
| GlossikaGerman · Glossika: German course | A1 to C1 | 5,000+ words and 6,700+ sentences |
| PromovaGerman · Promova help: languages and levels | A1 to C1A1, A2, B1, C1 | Not stated |
| StoryLearningGerman Uncovered · StoryLearning: German Uncovered Advanced | A1 to C13 levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)StoryLearning: choosing an Uncovered course and level | Beginner course: 10 chapters, 60+ video lessonsStoryLearning: German Uncovered |
| YablaGerman · Yabla German: home page | A1 to C1Lessons from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1); daily Fluency Club at Beg–Int and Int–Adv levels | 3,500+ videos |
| AssimilGerman With Ease · Assimil: German e-course | A1 to B2 | 100 lessons |
| BabbelGerman · Babbel help: languages and levels (UK) | Up to B2 | Not stated |
| BusuuComplete German · Busuu: German course | A1 to B2 | 420+ lessons |
| DuolingoGerman · Duolingo blog: courses now teach to B2 | Up to B2 | Not stated |
| MondlyGerman · Mondly FAQ: learning levels | A1 to B2Beginner to upper intermediate | 300+ lessons across 50 topicsMondly: learn German |
| Rocket LanguagesRocket German · Rocket Languages help | A1 to B2Levels 1 to 3Rocket Languages: German prices | 389 hours of lessons in Levels 1 to 3Rocket Languages: German prices |
| LingoDeerGerman · LingoDeer: German course | A1 to B1 | Not stated |
| Mango LanguagesGerman · Mango Languages: proficiency levels | A1 to B15 units, Beginner 1 to Skilled 3 | 5 units, 41 chapters, 721 lessonsMango Languages: languages and course sizes |
| uTalkGerman · uTalk: German | A1 to A2 | 2,500+ words and phrases in 60+ topicsuTalk: German |
The other 19 German courses: their own levels, or none stated
| App and course | How far it goes | How big it is |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee Break GermanGerman · Coffee Break German: course page | Three seasons: Absolute beginners, Lower Intermediate and Upper Intermediate | 120 lessons, 40 in each season, of about 15 to 20 minutes |
| FluentUGerman · FluentU: German | Beginner to advanced videos | Not stated |
| GymglishWunderbla · Gymglish: German lessons (Wunderbla) | One course for beginner to proficient learners; no separate beginner course is sold | Not stated |
| LingopieGerman · Lingopie: home page | Beginner to Advanced | Not stated |
| LingQGerman library · LingQ forum: how to set and change your level | Beginner 1 to Advanced 2 | Thousands of hours of audio lessons with transcriptsLingQ: learn German |
| MemriseGerman · Memrise: German course | All levels | 11,000+ words |
| Michel Thomas MethodGerman · Michel Thomas: German courses | Start, Foundation, Language Builder, Intermediate, Vocabulary, Insider's | 8-hour Foundation course; 5-hour Vocabulary course (over 1,000 words) |
| MosaLinguaMosaLingua Learn German App · Apple App Store: MosaLingua listing | Vocabulary sorted by topic and skill level, from the basics up to advanced technical terms (MosaLingua says this of all its apps) | 3,500+ flashcards (a figure MosaLingua gives for all its apps) |
| News in SlowNews in Slow German · News in Slow German: subscription rates | Beginner and Intermediate weekly news, with a Get Up To Speed course for beginners | Not stated |
| PimsleurGerman · Pimsleur: German | Levels 1 to 5 | 5 levels of 30 half-hour lessons; about 100 reading lessons |
| TalkpalGerman · Talkpal: courses | Absolute beginner to upper intermediate | 4 levels of 60 themed units each |
| ClozemasterGerman from English · Clozemaster news: the Fast Track | Not stated | A 10,000-sentence Fast Track in 10 levels |
| DropsGerman · Drops: German | Not stated | 2,000+ words |
| Fluent ForeverGerman | Not stated | Not stated |
| Language TransferComplete German · Language Transfer: Complete German | Not stated | Unfinished |
| LingGerman · Ling: FAQ | Not stated | More than 200 lessons |
| LingvistGerman · Lingvist help: how large is the course | Not stated | 6,009 words (general course) |
| OuinoOuino German · Ouino: German course | Not stated | 450+ lessons and 1,300+ exercises in five modules |
| Rosetta StoneGerman · Rosetta Stone help: course contents | Not stated | 20 units in 5 levels |
Every app that teaches German
Recommended first within each type of app. Sort any column or filter by what matters to you.
56 apps
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| Best for | Free tier | Speech | Tutor | Offline | CEFR | Refund or trial | Where to buy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course apps | |||||||||||
| DuolingoCourse appSuper in the US App Store: $9.99 to $119.99, depending on the plan. | A free daily habit | Freepaid tier priced in-app | — | — | Free to keep using Full free tier with ads and limits; Super removes the ads and limits, and Max adds AI practice (Video Call and Roleplay). | Yes | No | Yes · Limited lessons available offline; progress syncs when connected | Up to B2 | 1 week free trial on Super | |
| BusuuCourse app | Corrections from native speakers | $72.99 a year$6.08 a month, billed yearly | — | — | Free to keep using Free account with the complete course in each language, community feedback and basic progress tracking; Premium adds review tools, offline mode and no ads. | Yes | No · Live Lessons are exclusive to Busuu for Business, outside the consumer subscription | Yes | A1 to B2 | 14-day money-back guarantee on the initial Premium payment; no renewal refunds. Apple and mobile-operator purchases require a refund from that provider. | |
| PromovaCourse app | Short lessons with AI speaking practice | $83.99 a year$7 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | — | Free to keep using Courses are free if you watch an ad before each lesson; AI role-play is limited. | Yes | No | — | A1 to C1 | A free trial for new subscribers. Refunds for website and Google Play purchases are asked for by email; App Store purchases go through Apple. | |
| StoryLearningCourse app | One long story per course, with video lessons on it | $297Uncovered Beginner course | — | $997 | Free trial No | — | StoryLearning VIP: a 10-week programme with two coaching sessions a week, sold apart from the courses. | Yes | A1 to C1 | A 7-day free trial of each Uncovered course, then one payment with a 365-day money-back guarantee; bundles have 30 days. The StoryLearning App's page gives no trial or refund terms. | |
| LingCourse app | Asian and less-taught languages | $89.99 a year$7.50 a month, billed yearly | $16.99 | — | Free to keep using Free tier with limited lessons and limited dialogue practice, with ads | Yes | Live online tutors, booked separately through Ling Live. | — | — | 7-day free trial on the 12-month plan; 30-day money-back refund for yearly and lifetime subscriptions bought via Ling web (app-store purchases follow Apple's or Google's refund policy) | |
| Mango LanguagesCourse app | Free through many public libraries | About $120 a year$10 a month, billed yearly | $13.99 | — | Free sample Free trial on both personal plans; the first lesson of any language is free; 10 endangered and indigenous language courses are free; free full access through participating public libraries | No · You record yourself and compare with a native speaker by ear (Voice Comparison); nothing scores it. | No | Yes | A1 to B1 | Free trial on Individual and Family plans; cancel before it ends and you are not charged | |
| Rocket LanguagesCourse app | Paying once per level, not a subscription | $149.95Rocket German Level 1 | — | $449.85 | Free trial A free trial; the page does not say what it includes or for how long. | Yes | No | Yes · audio lessons download in the app; voice recognition needs a connection | A1 to B2 | A free trial; 60-day money-back guarantee on purchases. | |
| MondlyCourse app | A cheap yearly plan across many languages | $47.99 a year$4 a month, billed yearly | $9.99one language | — | Free to keep using Free version with Daily Lessons, the Hello category and a chatbot lesson. | Yes · Mondly's App Store description names voice recognition and speaking practice; it does not say how it marks what you say. | — | — | A1 to B2 | 7-day free trial | |
| LingoDeerCourse app | Grammar-led lessons, with alphabet units for Japanese and Korean | $95.99 a year$8 a month, billed yearly | $14.99 | — | Free to keep using A free version with limited lessons; a membership unlocks every course and feature. | — | — | Yes | A1 to B1 | A 7-day money-back guarantee on yearly and longer plans bought on LingoDeer's website, one request per person; no refund for part of a period or a renewal you forgot. | |
| BabbelCourse app | A structured course with grammar explained | $107.40 a year$8.95 a month, billed yearly | $17.99 | $299.99 | Free sample Free account; the first lesson of every course is free, and up to 80 free lessons depending on the language. | Yes | No · Babbel Live is no longer available to individual consumers | Yes · Downloaded lessons, vocabulary review and podcasts in the mobile app | Up to B2 | Bought from Babbel in the US: no refund promised if you cancel early. Outside the US: 14 days to change your mind, less what you have used. App store purchases: the store's rules. | |
| Rosetta StoneCourse app | Immersion without translation | $159 a year$13.25 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | — | Free sample Free sample lessons on its site and a one-time 7-day free trial in the app; no lasting free plan. | Yes | Coaching sessions with a Rosetta Stone certified tutor. | Yes | — | A one-time 7-day free trial in the app. Bought from Rosetta Stone: a 14-day money-back guarantee, refunded by its Memberships team by email or phone. App Store purchases go through Apple; a retailer's follow that retailer's policy. | |
| GymglishCourse app | Ten minutes a day of a comic story in the language, corrected for you | $288 a year$24 a month for a 12-month term | iPhone app onlynot in its shop; priced by course | — | Free trial No | — | No · No live lessons with a person are described; Aimigo, the AI, corrects you when you ask it to. | — | Its own levelsOne course for beginner to proficient learners; no separate beginner course is sold | A 7-day free trial with no commitment to buy. After you pay, its terms give 14 days from the order to withdraw for a refund, only if you have not used the lessons; its shop says "15 days to change your mind". Otherwise a subscription is a commitment for its whole length, and nothing is refunded for lessons you don't take. · Terms of sale v5.2, 27 Sept 2024. Purchases in the App Store or Google Play follow those stores' rules. | |
| DW Learn GermanCourse app | Free German from the alphabet to C1, with a video course for beginners | Free | — | — | Free to keep using Every course free, from the alphabet to C1, on the website or in the app; a free account opens your profile and the vocabulary trainer. | — | No | — | A1 to C1 | Free; nothing to buy. | |
| OuinoCourse app | A full course with grammar explained in English and verb drills, owned for good on your computer, phone and tablet | $83.88 for 12 months$6.99 a month, paid once, doesn't renew | — | $95.76German only; all 5 languages, $191.52 | Free sample A free demo in the browser: one sample lesson from each part of the course, such as definite articles, colours, a key verb and a conversation. | No · You record yourself and compare with a native speaker. | No · No lessons with a teacher; lifetime buyers can ask Ouino's team for advice when they feel stuck. | Yes | — | Try the free demo first. Lifetime access comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee and the 3-, 6- and 12-month passes with 30 days: if you're not satisfied, Ouino refunds your purchase. | |
| Transparent Language OnlineCourse app | Words and everyday phrases in about 100 languages, free if your library subscribes | $149.95 a year$12.50 a month, billed yearly | $24.95one language | — | Free trial Free with a card at participating public libraries, which give the whole course in every language; otherwise a 14-day free trial. | Yes · EveryVoice compares what you say with the native speaker's recording. | Transparent Connect: six 30-minute one-to-one sessions with a tutor over two months, sold apart from the subscription, in 11 languages. | Yes · Lessons downloaded in the mobile app work offline, and Hands-Free Autoplay plays them for listening and speaking practice. | — | A 14-day free trial. Cancel any time: Transparent Language gives a full refund for the current subscription period if you ask before the next billing date; earlier periods are not refunded. | |
| AssimilCourse app | A dialogue a day with native audio and notes, the method of the Assimil books, paid once | $44.99German course | — | $44.99 | Free sample The first 7 lessons of each course, free in the app; the rest of the course is bought once. | — | No · A self-study course: no lessons with a person are described. | Yes | A1 to B2 | The first 7 lessons of each course are free to try. A course bought in the app is paid through the App Store or Google Play, so a refund is asked of the store; Assimil's terms of use for the app give no refund terms of their own. | |
| StudycatCourse app | Children from 3 who cannot read yet | $59.99 a year$5 a month, billed yearly | $14.99 | — | Free trial No | — | — | Yes | — | A 7-day free trial with no payment required to start; App Store purchases follow Apple's rules. | |
| DinolingoCourse app | Children from 2 to 14, in 50 languages | $199 a year$16.58 a month, billed yearly | $19 | — | Free trial No | — | — | — | — | A 7-day free trial; cancel before it ends and nothing is charged. | |
| Gus on the GoCourse app | A toddler's first words, bought once | — | — | — | No | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Audio courses | |||||||||||
| PimsleurAudio course | Audio lessons for a commute | $131.96 a year$11 a month, billed yearly | $19.95one language | $478.80 | No | Yes | — | Yes | — | A 7-day free trial on subscriptions. Pimsleur's 30-day money-back guarantee covers only a subscription bought on pimsleur.com or by phone without a free trial of 7 days or more, once per customer; App Store and Google Play purchases are not covered. | |
| GlossikaAudio course | Sentence drills by ear | About $199 a year$16.58 a month, billed yearly | $19.99one language | — | Free trial 7-day full access with no credit card, plus a permanent Freemium tier covering nine minoritized languages | No · You say each sentence aloud and are prompted to record yourself after it; nothing scores it. | No | Yes | A1 to C1 | 7-day free trial with no credit card; monthly payments are non-refundable, annual plans refundable pro rata within 60 days of purchase | |
| Language TransferAudio course | A free audio course that explains as it goes | Free | — | — | Free to keep using Every course free, with no adverts and no sign-up; it runs on donations. | No · You answer aloud before the student on the recording does; nothing listens to you or scores you. | No | Yes | — | Free; nothing to buy. | |
| Coffee Break GermanAudio course | German by ear in 15 to 20-minute lessons, free as a podcast, from absolute beginner to upper intermediate | FreeOne season's online course: $269 once | — | $269 | Free to keep using The podcast, free for good: the audio lessons of all three seasons, about 15 to 20 minutes each. A season's paid course adds a bonus audio lesson, notes and a video for each lesson. | — | No | Yes | — | The podcast is free to try any season. No refund once a course has been downloaded: its policy says all sales are then final; within 7 days it will consider swapping a course for another level if it is too easy or too hard. | |
| Michel Thomas MethodAudio course | Speaking from the first hour, with no writing or homework | $11.99Start course | — | $273 | Free sample A free lesson and a free booklet for every course (sign-up needed, no card); the app that plays the courses is free. | — | No | Yes | — | A refund or exchange within 14 days of buying, if you have not finished the course; the Start course is not refunded if you then buy Foundation. | |
| Vocabulary and flashcard apps | |||||||||||
| ClozemasterVocabulary and flashcards | Free vocabulary practice in context | $79.99 a year$6.67 a month, billed yearly | $12.99 | — | Free to keep using Free account with up to 30 sentences a day; Pro adds unlimited play and advanced features | — | — | Yes · on Pro, in the mobile app | — | 30-day money back guarantee on the Yearly plan; no refunds on Monthly plans | |
| uTalkVocabulary and flashcards | Phrases in 160 languages | $24.99 or $29.99 a yearfor German alone, or $3.99 or $4.99 month to month; uTalk's page shows the lower or the higher price from visit to visit | $3.99 or $4.99for German | — | Free sample Starter Words, a free 26-word pack in every language, plus an online demo at demo.utalk.com | No | No | Yes | A1 to A2 | 28-day money-back guarantee | |
| SpeaklyVocabulary and flashcards | The most-used words first, practised in sentences you say | $47.99 a year$4 a month, billed yearly | $15.99 | — | Free trial Speakly says some features are free without saying which; a 7-day free trial opens the paid plans. | Yes | LIVE© course: eight 45-minute sessions a month with your own tutor, the app included, sold apart from the app plans. | No | — | A 7-day free trial. Bought on Speakly's website: 14 days to withdraw if you live in the EU, the EEA or the UK, and the Lifetime page promises a full refund if you email within 14 days. App Store and Google Play purchases go through Apple or Google. | |
| Fluent ForeverVocabulary and flashcards | Pronunciation first, then flashcards you build yourself | $95.88 a year$7.99 a month, billed yearly | $11.99 | — | Free to keep using Free with no time limit and no card: the language-learning videos and basic learning content, with no ads. Unlimited flashcards and reviews, all the pronunciation lessons, sentences, every language and the AI pronunciation feedback need Premium. | Yes · A Premium feature. | Online Coaching: one-to-one sessions with a coach on Google Meet, 20 minutes once or twice a week or 10 minutes every weekday, sold apart from the app. | No | — | The free version has no time limit. A subscription bought on Fluent Forever's website can be cancelled at any time and stays open to the end of the term, with no refund promised; App Store and Google Play purchases follow Apple's or Google's rules. Online Coaching is refundable for 24 hours after the first purchase, and renewals are not. | |
| MemriseVocabulary and flashcards | Native-speaker clips and review | $61.99 a year$5.17 a month, billed yearly | $24.99 | $329.99 | Free to keep using Limited free version of the app; the paid plan unlocks the rest. | Yes | — | No · The current experience needs cloud-based tools | — | 30-day money-back guarantee; monthly plans have a 14-day refund window. Apple purchases require a refund from Apple. | |
| LingvistVocabulary and flashcards | Fast vocabulary with a placement test | $79.99 a year$6.67 a month, billed yearly | $9.99 | — | Free trial Free level placement before subscribing, and a 14-day free trial on the annual plan; the monthly plan has no trial | Yes | No | — | — | 14-day free trial on the annual plan; cancel before it ends and you are not charged | |
| DropsVocabulary and flashcards | Five-minute vocabulary sessions | $69.99 a year$5.83 a month, billed yearly | $11 | $150 | Free to keep using Free access capped at 5 minutes of play every 10 hours, with topics unlocked one at a time through gameplay | — | — | Yes | — | 7-day free trial on the Yearly plan; affiliate terms reference a 14-day refund period | |
| MosaLinguaVocabulary and flashcards | The most useful words first, on a review schedule | $71.88 a year$5.99 a month, billed yearly | $9.99 | — | Free trial Free download and a free trial; the full set of features needs a Premium subscription. | — | — | Yes | — | A free trial first, then a 30-day money-back guarantee on website and Android purchases; not on App Store purchases. | |
| LingoHutVocabulary and flashcards | Everyday words and phrases with audio in 50 languages, free and with no sign-up | Free | — | — | Free to keep using Every lesson free, with ads and no sign-up: about 125 lessons of phrases with audio in each language, with flashcards and games. | No · Its FAQ describes a recording feature that uses your microphone; no page says anything scores or answers what you say. | No | — | — | Free; nothing to buy. | |
| Learning from real video, text and audio | |||||||||||
| Language ReactorImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Learning from Netflix and YouTube with two sets of subtitles | $39.95 a year$3.33 a month, billed yearly | $5.95 | — | Free to keep using The extension and website are free: dual subtitles (Netflix's own), pop-up dictionary, playback controls, YouTube and podcast catalogue, basic AI helper and chat with Aria; saving words is limited to PhrasePump. Pro adds machine translation, speech recognition on Netflix and saving everywhere. | Yes · You can speak to the Aria chat; Pro's 'speech recognition' also makes subtitles from Netflix audio. No pronunciation scoring is described. | — | — | — | A Pro free trial ends by returning you to free mode, with no charge; Pro is an auto-renewing subscription you can cancel after paying. No refund policy is published. | |
| BeelinguappImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Reading and listening side by side with a translation | $49.90 a year$4.16 a month, billed yearly | $7.99 | — | Free to keep using Unlocked stories, news and songs with the glossary and flashcards, with ads; changing language needs Premium after the first 30 minutes. | Yes | No | Yes | — | Refunds on request by email within 14 days of a first purchase of a paid plan bought from Beelinguapp (not renewals); App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded by Apple or Google. | |
| LingopieImmersion (video, audio, reading) | TV and film with interactive subtitles | $83.88 a year$6.99 a month, billed yearly | — | $229 | No | Yes · Say It pronunciation practice | Live group lessons on their own monthly or quarterly plan, for subscribers who pay by card; the first lesson is free. | Yes · iOS only; up to 10 downloadable videos | — | 7-day free trial; yearly subscription is charged after the trial and cannot be refunded | |
| LingQImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Reading and listening to real content | $119.99 a year$10 a month, billed yearly | $14.99 | — | Free to keep using Free account capped at 20 saved words and phrases, 5 lessons created from imported content, and 1 audio playlist | — | — | Yes | — | Full refund during the first 30 days of an initial Premium subscription; no partial-month or unused-month refunds afterward. | |
| FluentUImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Learning from real videos | $143.99 a year$12 a month, billed yearly | $29.99 | — | No | Yes | Group classes in some languages, offered free with the subscription for a limited time; no one-to-one lessons. | Yes · audio, quizzes and transcripts download; the videos stream only | — | 14-day free trial with no payment up front, plus a 20-day money-back guarantee | |
| ReadlangImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Reading articles, books and web pages you choose, with a translation one click away | $48 a year$4 a month, billed yearly | $6 | — | Free to keep using A free account with unlimited single-word translations, 10 phrase translations and 10 AI explanations a day, and flashcards; Premium removes the daily limits. | — | — | — | — | No free trial of Premium is described; the free plan stays free. Premium renews each month or year until you cancel in your account settings; you keep it to the end of the period you paid for, and partial periods are not generally refunded. In the EU and EEA you have 14 days to withdraw, but if you start using Premium in that time, the right can end once the service has been provided. | |
| ReadleImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Graded news stories with native audio | $69.99 a year$5.83 a month, billed yearly | $14.99 | $249.99 | Free to keep using A rotating selection of free stories; reading all the stories needs a paid plan. A 7-day free trial opens the whole app. | — | — | — | — | A 7-day free trial. Bought on Readle's website: a refund if you ask within 14 days of your first subscription payment, and 30 days' money back on Lifetime. App Store and Google Play purchases go through Apple or Google. | |
| YablaImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Listening practice with real videos and subtitles you can slow down | $99.95 a year$8.33 a month, billed yearly | $12.95 | — | Free sample No free plan, but some videos (with their games) and the written lessons are free without an account; a 7-day free trial for new users. | Yes · The Speak game rates each word you repeat (good / passable). The Chinese site lists a Pinyin Chart and Tone Pair exercises instead of Speak. | Yabla Live (Spanish only): unlimited small-group classes in Silver, plus 2 (Gold) or 4 (Platinum) private one-on-one classes a month | — | A1 to C1 | A 7-day free trial. Yabla's terms refund a subscription cancelled in its first 7 days, once a year; its FAQ says 14 days if you did not start with a trial. | |
| MigakuImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Learning from YouTube, Netflix and web pages, with every word you look up saved as a flashcard | $96 a year$8 a month, billed yearly | $10 | $240 | Free trial No | — | — | Yes | — | A 10-day free trial with no card. A full refund if you tell Migaku within 14 days of buying, by email to its support address. | |
| News in SlowImmersion (video, audio, reading) | Following real news read slowly, with the transcript beside it | $17.90 a monthfor German alone, month to month; Audio Only $5.90 a month | $17.90for German | — | Free sample The first part of every episode's audio and transcript, on the website, and two complete news stories a week per language in the free Linguistica app. | — | No · Spanish and French subscribers get Rooms, live conversation practice and workshops in the subscription; its pages don't say who leads them. The Italian and German pages don't list Rooms. | — | — | A 7-day free trial of Full Access for first-time subscribers, with an email two days before it ends. Its refund policy offers no refund on an individual subscription: you cancel the renewal and keep access to the end of the month paid for. · Trial terms from the subscription page: "7 day free trial … Cancel anytime during the free trial and you won’t be charged. We'll remind you by email 2 days before your trial ends … Only first-time subscribers are eligible for the free trial." | |
| AI conversation practice | |||||||||||
| JumpspeakAI conversation practice | Speaking aloud with AI from the first lesson | $79 a year$6.58 a month, billed yearly | — | $269 | Free sample Free users can sample some lessons at each level, switch languages and have a limited number of AI Tutor conversations. | Yes | Live Tutoring through Rype (one-on-one sessions with human tutors), sold separately from Premium | No | — | Premium bought on Jumpspeak's website: a 100-day money-back guarantee (30 days for Premium AI and family plans). App Store and Google Play purchases go through Apple or Google. | |
| LanguaAI conversation practice | Natural-sounding AI conversation practice | $149.99 a year$12.50 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | — | Free to keep using A free version with low limits: 3 minutes of calls a day and about 20 chat messages a week. | Yes | Human tutors on LanguaTalk, booked separately from Langua; each tutor sets a price per lesson. | — | — | A Pro trial (5 days on a monthly plan, 7 on a yearly one; card needed), and a 30-day money-back guarantee on web and Google Play subscriptions; App Store ones follow Apple's rules. | |
| LangotalkAI conversation practice | An AI tutor that remembers your mistakes and builds lessons on them | $79.99 a year$6.67 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | $149.99 | Free trial A free account to start your first conversation; Langotalk doesn't say what stays free after that. The yearly plan comes with a 7-day free trial. | Yes | No | — | — | A 7-day free trial with the yearly plan only. Bought on Langotalk's website: a full refund within 14 days of purchase, on any plan, by email (its home page's answers say 3 months; the refund policy says 14 days). App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded by Apple or Google. | |
| TalkpalAI conversation practice | AI conversation practice in many languages | $119.99 a year$10 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | — | Free to keep using The Basic plan: 10 minutes of chat a day, with progress tracking and pronunciation checks. | Yes | No | No | — | A 14-day free trial for new users. Bought from Talkpal directly: a full refund if you ask within 30 days of a charge; not for app store purchases. | |
| Teacher AIAI conversation practice | Speaking practice with AI versions of YouTube teachers, once you know the basics | $97 a year$8.08 a month, billed yearly | $15 | — | Free trial No | Yes | No | — | — | A 3-day free trial with the monthly plan, 7 days with the longer plans. Bought on Teacher AI's website: a full refund if you ask within 7 days of buying, by email to [email protected]. App Store and Google Play purchases are refunded by Apple or Google. | |
| PraktikaAI conversation practice | Talking with an AI avatar tutor | $9.99 a monthPraktika Premium, 1 month | $9.99 | — | Free to keep using Free to download and use: 3 AI avatars, limited speaking practice, basic feedback. | Yes | No | — | — | A refund if you ask within 48 hours of a charge, Praktika's help centre says; its terms otherwise make fees non-refundable. | |
| UniverbalAI conversation practice | Conversations about your own situations, each message corrected | $119.99 a year$10 a month, billed yearly | $19.99 | — | Free trial Signing up is free and every new account gets 3 days to try Univerbal; after that Univerbal doesn't say what stays free. Unlimited conversations need a Univerbal Pass. | Yes | No | — | — | A 7-day free trial on every pass, after 3 free days on a new account. Refunds follow Apple's or Google's rules; Univerbal says it will usually send a refund request to the store. | |
| Pingo AIAI conversation practice | Speaking practice with an AI that remembers your mistakes and builds each conversation on the last | — | — | — | Free trial No | Yes | No | — | — | A free trial before you subscribe. Pingo publishes no refund terms of its own: its terms send refund requests to the store or payment provider you paid through, under that provider's rules. | |
| Tutors and live classes | |||||||||||
| italkiTutor marketplace | Tutors priced per lesson | Set by each teacheritalki's German page gives no typical price | — | — | No | — | Every lesson is live and one to one; italki also sells group classes. | — | — | Discounted trial lesson with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: up to two credit refunds on trial lessons if the teacher did not show up or did not meet expectations, requested within 48 hours | |
| LingodaOnline language school | Live classes by CEFR level | €54.99Group classes, 4 classes · priced in euros | — | — | — | — | Every class is live: in a group of 3 to 5 students, or private. | — | A1 to C1by course | Free 7-day trial | |
| PreplyTutor marketplace | Weekly lessons with one tutor | Set by each tutorPreply's German page gives no typical price | — | — | No | — | Every lesson is live and one to one. | — | — | Paid trial lesson; up to 2 free trial replacements per account (a new trial with a different tutor at no charge) if the trial did not meet expectations; a tutor who did not join is handled separately, with no limit | |
| Language exchange | |||||||||||
| TandemLanguage exchange | Language exchange with native speakers | $39.99 a year$3.33 a month, billed yearly | — | — | Free to keep using Free account with many features; Tandem Pro unlocks the rest | No | No | — | — | Google Play purchases refundable within 14 days of a 1-month subscription or 30 days of a 3-month or 12-month subscription; iOS refunds requested from iTunes within 14 days | |
| HelloTalkLanguage exchange | Chatting with native speakers | $79.99 a year$6.67 a month, billed yearly | $12.99 | — | Free to keep using Free account with ads and daily limits (for example ten translations a day); occasional randomly offered 3-day VIP trials | — | No | Yes | — | Occasional randomly offered 3-day free VIP trial; refunds handled by Apple or Google for in-app purchases | |
Which to choose
You want a course that names its CEFR levels
Lingoda, then Busuu for the homework
Lingoda is a German company running live German classes structured by CEFR level, sold as packages (from €54.99 for four group classes every four weeks) with a 7-day free trial. Busuu states its German course runs from A1 to B2, at $6.08 a month on its 12-month Premium plan. A class gets you speaking at the level; the app gets you through the grammar between classes. Reaching a level in a course is not a pass: for the Goethe-Zertifikat, rehearse with the Goethe-Institut's own practice material.
German grammar is what scares you
Babbel
Babbel is a German company whose lessons explain grammar in English as you go, which for German cases and word order is the feature that matters. Its 12-month plan was $107.40 when checked, or $8.95 a month for all 14 languages. Rosetta Stone teaches by immersion without translation and does not describe grammar explanations; for German specifically, know which you want.
You want vocabulary that sticks
Memrise, Lingvist or Clozemaster
Memrise pairs native-speaker clips with spaced repetition at $5.17 a month on its annual plan; Lingvist drills words in sentence context with a placement test, at $6.67 a month on its annual plan; Clozemaster is free for 30 sentences a day, or unlimited at $6.67 a month on its yearly Pro plan. None of the three is a course; all three are what you run beside one.
You want a whole German course for free
DW Learn German
DW Learn German is the free German course of Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster. Its video course Nicos Weg runs from A1 to B1, each episode with interactive exercises and a grammar page, explained in English up to A2; after that come news read slowly, songs and reports, all in German, up to C1. A placement test finds your level, and the same courses run on the website and in the app. Nothing listens to you speak, so add a tutor or a language exchange for conversation.
You want to listen your way in
Pimsleur, or LingQ once you have the basics
Pimsleur's audio method suits German's long compound words because you hear them whole before you see them; it states offline mode, and a 30-day money-back guarantee on pimsleur.com plans sold without a free trial. LingQ turns German podcasts and articles into lessons at $10 a month on its 12-month plan, for a learner who already has a few hundred words.
Questions people ask
What is the best app to learn German?
For a course with named CEFR levels, Lingoda's classes with Busuu beside them; for grammar explained, Babbel; for vocabulary, Memrise, Lingvist or Clozemaster; for listening, Pimsleur; for a whole course for free, DW Learn German. The table shows every app that lists German with its published price.
Which German app prepares for Goethe or telc exams?
DW Learn German's free Deine Deutschprüfung pages explain the recognised tests at each level, link to the Goethe-Institut, ÖSD and telc, and have exercises in the kinds of task set at A1 to B1. None of the other apps we cover states a specific exam on its pages. Lingoda and Busuu state CEFR levels, which is what the exams are set at, but a level reached in a course is not proof you will pass. Rehearse with the Goethe-Institut's own practice material, and a tutor from Preply or italki can set and mark tasks in the exam's format.