Ranking updated
Best apps to learn German
The easiest free start is DW Learn German: Deutsche Welle courses for every level from A1 to exam training, with a placement test. Duolingo builds a daily habit in short lessons. Babbel tailors the course to your native language and works offline. Busuu has native speakers check your work, and Grammatisch drills grammar: cases, Perfekt, Konjunktiv II.
How we picked: the app has to teach German itself, not only vocabulary. We checked each app’s own App Store description and left apps of Russian origin out.
Free, from zero
DW Learn German from Deutsche Welle is completely free. Courses cover every level of the Common European Framework, from the alphabet to exam training, and a placement test tells you where to start. You get videos, news and music in German, interactive exercises, vocabulary, grammar, German for specific jobs and materials for teachers.
A daily habit
Duolingo is free and teaches 40+ languages, German included, in short game-like lessons for speaking, reading, listening and writing. It suits a few minutes every day.
Built for your native language
Babbel courses are made by 200+ language experts and tailored to your native language. Lessons take about 10 minutes, with pronunciation practice out loud, conversations and grammar explained in context. Download lessons to learn offline. The first lesson is free, full courses need a subscription.
Native-speaker feedback
Busuu pairs expert-built lessons with a community of native speakers who check your exercises and give tips. German is one of its 14 courses.
Grammar without internet
Grammatisch has thousands of exercises plus summaries and tables for the key topics: articles, plurals, Akkusativ, Dativ, prepositions, Perfekt, separable verbs, passive, Konjunktiv II. No placement test, pick a topic and drill it, then review a detailed correction. It works without an internet connection.
Which one to pick
Starting from zero and want it free, take DW Learn German. Need a daily habit, Duolingo. Want a course for your native language and offline lessons, Babbel. Stuck on cases, add Grammatisch. Learning English too, see English learning apps.
| App | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| DW Learn GermanApp StoreGoogle Play | free course from A1 to exam prep, placement test | iOS, Android |
| DuolingoApp StoreGoogle Play | a daily habit in short lessons | iOS, Android |
| BabbelApp StoreGoogle Play | courses for your native language, pronunciation, offline | iOS, Android |
| BusuuApp StoreGoogle Play | exercises checked by native speakers | iOS, Android |
| GrammatischApp Store | thousands of grammar exercises, no internet needed | iOS |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free app to learn German?
DW Learn German from Deutsche Welle is completely free and goes from zero to exam training. Every Duolingo language course is free too.
Can I learn German offline?
Yes. Babbel lets you download lessons in advance, and Grammatisch works without internet at all.
Which app helps with German grammar?
Grammatisch: thousands of exercises on cases, Perfekt, passive and Konjunktiv II with a detailed correction. DW Learn German covers grammar inside its courses too.