Best German Language Learning Resources
Here are my most highly recommended resources for learning the German language.
I frequently refer to them in many of the articles I write on this site because I know they’re fantastic and they’ve been crucial to my own learning.
From time to time I use affiliate links for paid products on this site which means I get a small commission for referrals. It doesn’t affect the price of anything but doing so has helped me continue to maintain and improve this site over the last 10+ years as a helpful resource for language learners.
Most comprehensive German courses
Rocket German
This is one of my favorite online courses which has some of the highest quality German dialogue material available.
Rocket German doesn’t follow a ‘cookie cutter’ approach like other well-known programs such as Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur, and it has a tonne of excellent audio content for all levels ranging from beginner to advanced.
Join The Guild by clicking here, select German and I'll send you a unique offer for Rocket German exclusive to my readers only.
German Uncovered
An extremely well-made and very unique German course aimed at teaching German through a unique “story method” (StoryLearning).
If you’re looking for a full German curriculum that leads you all the way through to fluency, and are facing difficulties getting your head around how German works, this will definitely help you.
SmarterGerman
One of the most popular German course options currently available. There are multiple, outstanding courses to choose from depending on your CEFR level (there are options for absolute beginners at A1 right up to advance C1 level).
Use the code GET10-DN at checkout to receive 10% off any SmarterGerman course.
Learn German with podcasts
GermanPod101
This is an excellent German course in the form of audio podcasts and downloadable lessons.
As well as podcast-style lessons, you’ll find videos, a vocabulary database and dictionary, grammar explanations and various other useful features.
Use code MEZZOGUILD for 25% off any of their course options.
Best personalized course to learn German
Wunderbla
Wunderbla is a really unique and highly popular course for German that offers 'personalized' lessons which adapt to your needs and skill level.
You receive corrections and exciting new content sent to you daily. Highly recommend this one.
Learn German using video
LingoPie
LingoPie is an outstanding library of high quality, interactive TV shows in 6 major European languages, including German.
If you enjoy learning from your favorite sitcoms and other genres, this is your best option.
Yabla German
This is an excellent site for using video to learn German where you can control the speed of playback and select words from the subtitles for definitions.
Yabla has recently had some major improvements and new video content added making it well worth a try (I wrote a Yabla review too).
FluentU German
This is a fantastic tool for learning German using subtitled video (read my review of FluentU).
It has many of the same features as Yabla but a wider array of video content to choose from.
Best audio-only German course
Pimsleur German
Pimsleur is a household name and one of the most famous German courses ever made.
It's a research-backed, proven method that is audio-only and gets you speaking quickly through spaced-repetition of situational phrases.
One of my personal favorites.
Read my Pimsleur review.
German fluency courses and guides
Glossika German
This is another very unique product that improves your fluency through a highly repetitive ‘listen and repeat’ approach.
It is, in my opinion, one of the the most useful resources I’ve seen for training German listening comprehension. Definitely not a conventional course but you’ll be amazed at how effective it is at improving your German fluency if you use it daily (read my Glossika review).
Best mobile apps to learn German
Mondly
Mondly is a beautifully designed learning platform (also available as a mobile app) in 33 different languages including German.
It also teaches conversation in a Rosetta Stone-style way.
Inexpensive online German lessons
italki
Not too long ago it was really difficult or impossible to practice German without actually traveling to Germany.
Thankfully, tools like italki have made it possible to connect with native speakers from all over the world to practice or to take personalized lessons over Skype (read my italki review).
The great news is, German lessons over Skype through italki are incredibly cheap compared to most teachers in person. All the frustration of payments and scheduling is handled brilliantly by italki too which makes it very easy and stress free to arrange sessions.
Lingoda
Lingoda’s an excellent alternative to italki if you’re learning German and want more “structured” lesson control and feedback.
You have the option of choosing one-on-one lessons or small classes, and each lesson is topic-based and highly practical.
It’s very inexpensive too (monthly recurring subscription).
Other free resources to help your German
Memrise: This is an outstanding online vocabulary training tool that lets you select German ‘courses’ to study (or create one yourself). Many of the courses also include audio.
AnkiSRS: A highly versatile flashcard app.
Forvo: If there’s ever a German word or expression that you’ve seen written but don’t know how to pronounce, you can search for it here (or request it) and hear a native speaker pronounce it for you.
Duolingo German: Duolingo is a fun, free and effective way to study German grammar.
Check out these relevant posts and German resources:
- SmarterGerman Review: A Surprisingly Good German Course
- 9 Essential YouTube Channels I Learn German With In 2024
- Business German: Words, Phrases & Useful Resources
- How To Order A Beer In German (Phrases & Beer Types)
- How To Tell (And Ask For) The Time In German
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- How To Express Condolences In German
- 8 Best English To German Translation Apps And Services
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- The Conditional Tense In German: How And When To Use It
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- German Present Tense: How To Conjugate It (Easy Guide)
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- How To Say Please, Thank You And You’re Welcome In German
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- German Future Tense: How To Conjugate It (Easy Guide)
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- 10 German Resources For Your Kids That Won’t Bore Them
- Learning German? Here Are 10 Books I Recommend You Own
- How To Say Goodbye In German (Formal & Informal)
- How To Introduce Yourself In German
- How To Say Hello In German (Formal & Informal Greetings)
- A Beginners’ Guide To German Plurals
- German Prepositions: What They Are And How To Use Them
- 7 Things Every Learner Should Know About German Verbs
- German Pronouns: What They Are And How To Use Them
- German Dative Case: Easy Guide For Beginners
- German Cases: Easy Beginner’s Guide To The Four Noun Cases
- Learning German? You Should Subscribe To These 10 Podcasts
- German Difficulty: Why It’s Easier To Learn Than You Think
- German vs Dutch: Differences And Similarities For Learners
- How To Learn German With English Similarities, Cognates And Etymology
- How To Start Learning German As A Complete Beginner
- Best Apps To Learn German In 2024 (Rigorously Tested)
- How I Traced My Family Lineage Back To 1600’s Germany
- Seedlang Review: Better Than Memrise For German
- GermanPod101 Review: A Brutally Honest And Detailed Look
- Brutally Honest Rocket German Review (2024 Edition)
- 25 Best (And Worst) Online German Courses For 2024
- German Uncovered (StoryLearning) Review: My Own Experience