Best App to Learn German (2026): 8 Compared
Last verified: September 20, 2026. Prices and features come from each app’s official pages and the US App Store listings. They change often, so confirm the price for your country at checkout.
The best app to learn German depends on your budget and how far you want to go. Duolingo is the best free start, and its German course now runs through CEFR level B2. Babbel is the best structured paid course, with courses up to B2 and additional topics up to C1. Lingoda is the best route to live classes with a teacher, at levels A1 to C1. Deutsche Welle’s app offers a free course from A1 to B1, and Pimsleur is best for learning by ear. Add a tutor for speaking, since German grammar rewards practice with feedback.
Quick picks by goal
| Your goal | Best pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Start for free | Duolingo | A free tier; German is one of nine courses that now run through B2 |
| A structured paid course | Babbel | Courses up to B2, with additional topics up to C1 |
| Live classes with a teacher | Lingoda | A1 to C1, in small groups or one to one |
| A free course with a placement test | DW Learn German | Free A1, A2 and B1 courses from Deutsche Welle |
| A free audio start | Language Transfer | “Complete German” audio course, unfinished, funded by donations |
| Learn by ear | Pimsleur | Five levels of audio lessons |
| A community and full course | Busuu | German is one of its 14 languages, with community feedback |
| Immersion-style lessons | Rosetta Stone | German is one of its 25 languages |
The 8 apps at a glance
| App | Best for | US price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | A free start | Free; Super about $96 to $120/year | B2 course; AI Video Call in German with Max |
| Babbel | A structured course | About $107/year, all languages | First lesson free; up to B2 |
| Lingoda | Live classes | App Store: 5 group classes $99.99 | A1 to C1; 7-day trial |
| DW Learn German | A free course | Free | A1, A2 and B1; placement test |
| Language Transfer | A free audio start | Free; donations | Course marked unfinished |
| Pimsleur | Audio learning | About $20/month | 5 levels; 7-day trial |
| Busuu | Community feedback | Free tier; App Store paid plans | A1 to B2 courses, per Busuu |
| Rosetta Stone | Immersion | $19.99/month or $159/year | 25 languages in one plan |
Duolingo: best free start
- US price: free with ads and an Energy limit; Super about $13 to $17/month or $96 to $120/year
- Level: German is one of nine courses that Duolingo says now teach through B2 (April 2026)
- Speaking practice: speaking exercises and a free Practice Hub; AI Video Call in German with Max
Duolingo is the easiest place to start German for free. See Does Duolingo Work? for the evidence on how far it goes, and Babbel vs Duolingo if you are comparing.
Babbel: best structured paid course
- US price: about $107 for 12 months with all languages, about $46 for three months, about $18 for one month
- Level: Babbel’s help center lists German courses up to B2, with additional topics up to C1
- Free: the first lesson of each course
Babbel’s German page says its courses run from absolute beginners up through upper intermediate. It suits learners who want a clear path and grammar explained alongside dialogues. Babbel Live classes have been discontinued for individual learners, so for live teaching see Lingoda below. See our Babbel review.
Lingoda: best for live classes
- Levels: German A1 to C1
- Class format: 60-minute live classes in small groups, or private lessons
- US price: the US App Store lists five group classes at $99.99; Lingoda’s own site showed euros
- Free trial: 7 days, with up to three group classes or one private class
German is one of Lingoda’s two languages with levels up to C1. Its Sprint programme pays cashback only if you attend every class, and cancelling a Sprint is possible within the first 14 days. See our Lingoda review for the terms.
DW Learn German: best free course
- US price: free, with no in-app purchases
- Levels: A1, A2 and B1, plus a placement test
- US App Store rating: 3.9 from about 130 ratings
Deutsche Welle’s app describes itself as completely free. Its Nicos Weg course is a video-based series; the A1 season is listed with 76 episodes on DW’s podcast listing. The low number of ratings means the score is a rough guide, and the app is worth trying at no cost.
Language Transfer: best free audio start
- US price: free; funded by donations
- Course: “Complete German,” which the site says remains unfinished and will be continued or remade by a new teacher
- US App Store rating: 4.9 from about 1,600 ratings
Language Transfer says it has no price tags, no adverts and no sign-ups. Treat its German course as a free starting point, since it is not yet finished.
Pimsleur: best for learning by ear
- US price: about $20 a month
- Structure: five learning levels of 30 conversational lessons, with about 100 reading lessons
- Free: a 7-day trial for new customers
Pimsleur is a good fit for building listening and speaking on a commute. See our Pimsleur review for the refund terms.
Busuu: best for community feedback
- US price: a free tier, with App Store paid plans from about $70 to $140 a year
- Level: Busuu says its courses cover the first four CEFR stages, A1 to B2
- Premium Plus: adds AI conversations and pronunciation practice
Busuu lists German among its 14 languages and lets native speakers correct your exercises.
Rosetta Stone: best immersion-style option
- US price: $19.99 a month or $159 a year
- Free: a one-time 7-day trial
Rosetta Stone teaches through immersion, without translations, and includes pronunciation feedback. See our Rosetta Stone review.
More options: TV and tutors
- Lingopie: German is one of its languages, with dual subtitles for shows. See our Lingopie review.
- Tutors: Preply lists more than 3,000 German tutors and italki lists several hundred, with trial lessons on both. See our Preply review.
How to combine apps for German
- Free stack: Duolingo for daily lessons, DW Learn German for a structured free course and Language Transfer for audio.
- Paid stack: Babbel for structure, Lingoda for live classes and a tutor for speaking.
- By ear: Pimsleur for listening and speaking, plus a course app for reading.
How long does German take?
The US Foreign Service Institute places German in its second-easiest category, with an estimated 36 weeks, or about 828 class hours, for its students to reach level 3 on the government’s ILR proficiency scale. That compares with 24 to 30 weeks for Spanish, French and Italian and about 88 weeks for Japanese, Korean and Mandarin. FSI students also do about 17 hours of self-study a week. Self-study with apps typically takes longer, so consistency matters more than any single app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best app to learn German?
Duolingo is the best free start, Babbel the best structured paid course and Lingoda the best route to live classes. DW Learn German is a strong free course from A1 to B1. Most learners combine a course app with speaking practice.
What is the best free app to learn German?
Deutsche Welle’s DW Learn German is free with A1, A2 and B1 courses and a placement test. Duolingo is the best free daily habit, and its German course now runs through B2. Language Transfer offers a free audio course that is still unfinished.
What is the best app to learn German for beginners?
Duolingo suits beginners on a budget, and Babbel suits beginners who want a structured course with grammar explained. DW Learn German is a free option built for beginners with an A1 course and a placement test.
Can you learn German with Duolingo?
You can get a long way. Duolingo says German is one of nine courses that now teach through B2. Most learners add speaking practice with a tutor or an AI speaking app, and real listening such as shows and podcasts.
Is Babbel good for learning German?
Babbel is a solid option: its help center lists German courses up to B2, with additional topics up to C1, and its German page says courses run up through upper intermediate. It costs about $107 a year with all languages.
Is Lingoda worth it for German?
Lingoda offers German from A1 to C1 in small live groups or one to one, with a 7-day trial. It costs much more than a self-study app and its Sprint cashback requires attending every class. It suits learners who want scheduled speaking practice.
How long does it take to learn German?
The US Foreign Service Institute estimates about 36 weeks, or roughly 828 class hours, for its students to reach level 3 on the ILR scale, compared with 24 to 30 weeks for Spanish, French or Italian. Self-study with apps usually takes longer.
Do I need a tutor to learn German?
Apps cover vocabulary and grammar well, but speaking needs practice with a person or a speaking-focused AI app. A tutor on Preply or italki, or classes on Lingoda, helps with pronunciation and producing sentences aloud.
Sources and how this was researched
This guide compares information published by each app and by app stores as of September 20, 2026. It does not claim first-hand testing of every app. Main sources:
- Duolingo: courses now teach advanced content
- Babbel: prices and the help center’s Available languages; Pimsleur: learn German; Busuu: Premium
- Lingoda: German classes, pricing and FAQ
- Language Transfer: languagetransfer.org; Rosetta Stone: buy page
- Tutors: Preply’s German page and italki’s German page
- US App Store listings for each app, including DW Learn German, and the US Foreign Service Institute