Top 10 Best Websites for Learning German Today

Deutsche Welle is a German news website dedicated to international readers, offering comprehensive German language learning programs for all skill levels. Video lessons are categorized by CEFR levels and cover various topics like conversational phrases, grocery shopping, apartment repairs, and medical terminology. Deutsche Welle develops new formats and utilizes current media to make German appealing worldwide. With the website's readily available multimedia content and support materials, teachers can easily keep their lessons updated and engaging.

From meticulously prepared news articles to television programs for German learners, community engagement on Instagram and TikTok, Deutsche Welle is one of the best free resources for German language learners. Older interactive course materials have been preserved through PDF files and YouTube. Additionally, there is still a wealth of videos and learning content available on the website. Deutsche Welle's main news website also provides numerous podcasts and audio segments, including slow-spoken current affairs stories, allowing you to immerse yourself in the language and enhance your German comprehension skills.

Website: https://learngerman.dw.com/

Babbel stands out as one of the premier language learning programs. Offering courses in 13 languages, including German, Babbel provides both web and mobile app experiences, allowing you to learn and practice at your own pace. They've introduced new podcasts for several languages and different proficiency levels. With Babbel, you learn unique concepts, words, and phrases for present-day German.

The Babbel e-learning tools enable you to analyze German sentence structures, enhancing your German writing skills. Explore detailed short German texts to pick up tips for making your writing and speaking sound more natural. Babbel also offers podcasts and video lessons covering German grammar topics, idioms, and profound insights into German-speaking cultures. If learners have prior knowledge, they can opt for a placement test, and Babbel will place them in the right learning track based on their knowledge.

Topics on Babbel allow you to choose language learning for a specific theme, such as German for Business, Countries and Traditions, as well as Grammar, Speaking, and Listening, among other topics. Moreover, you can access live group classes (with a maximum of 5 other learners) if you're willing to pay more ( $99 per month or $599 per year). However, unlike other platforms, Babbel doesn't offer one-on-one lessons or allow you to choose your own German teacher.

Website: https://en.babbel.com/

The FluentU website immerses learners in the German language and culture through authentic videos, such as movie clips, ads, and inspiring conversations. Learning with content created by and for native German speakers helps you become familiar with the pronunciation of German in normal conversations and at a natural pace. Learners gradually blend with the native accent, truly understanding local people.

Studying with authentic materials on the FluentU website also makes it easier for German learners to grasp the native accent from the beginning. Videos are categorized by skill level, format, and topic, allowing you to find and watch videos that best match your interests and language proficiency. To aid comprehension, each video comes with interactive subtitles in both German and English, both of which can be toggled on or off according to your needs.

Videos on the FluentU website come with personalized quizzes to review the words, phrases, and grammar you hear and read. Additionally, there are themed multimedia flashcard sets. If you're using the FluentU app for iOS or Android, these quizzes even include speaking exercises using the device's speech recognition feature to help you practice pronunciation.

Website: https://www.fluentu.com/

Duolingo serves as an excellent tool for learning grammar and writing, making it one of the more popular free options for learning German, especially for beginners. Duolingo makes language learning enjoyable for students and beneficial for teachers. It is a language learning tool that students and teachers can use gamified features to grasp a new language. Duolingo operates online across multiple devices and focuses on teaching four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Duolingo utilizes points to make the game more engaging and keeps students motivated to use it even outside of class hours. Thanks to smart algorithms, this can even adapt to help specific students in areas they need, but more on that below. Duolingo is available as an app as well as on the Duolingo website itself. This makes Duolingo super accessible, and students can download it on their own devices.

Duolingo is accessible for free, and students can sign up to start learning German as well as many other languages. If you're a beginner, Duolingo will gradually guide you on how to construct sentences accurately. You can even listen to recorded dialogue in Duolingo's “Story” feature and practice pronouncing words if you wish.

Website: https://vi.duolingo.com/

Rocket Languages is a popular language learning website and app established in 2004 by Jason Oxenham and Mark Ling. It caters to new learners aspiring to become proficient in a language, including German. The platform primarily offers audio and cultural lessons, pronunciation practice, and flashcards as fundamental aspects of the program.

Other features of the Rocket Languages website include progress tracking, a community forum for learners to interact with others studying the same language, and a mobile app for learning on the go. Rocket Languages promises to help learners 'communicate instantly by learning the most useful things first.' Through conversational dialogues and real-world relevant content, learners can apply their language skills to practical scenarios.

Learners kick off their lessons by listening to podcasts on Rocket Languages. Each podcast runs for 10 to 20 minutes and features hosts speaking in German. As the podcast plays, subtitles in both English and German are displayed below the playback box for learners to read along as they listen. Users have lifetime access to all language lessons with various pricing tiers. Additionally, a free trial version for each language is offered to 'test-drive' before committing to this methodology.

Website: https://www.rocketlanguages.com/

Established in 2008, Busuu is one of the language learning platforms designed for the younger audience. With over 100 million users, it has quickly become one of the most widely used language learning websites globally. Busuu relies on numerous dialogues to allow learners to use the chosen language in real-life situations. Busuu's method is not just about enhancing your vocabulary but preparing you to actually use the language you're learning.

Lessons on the Busuu website are divided into activities. To move on to the next activity, you must first complete your current one. The app also allows you to practice vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, track your learning progress, correct errors of other users, and vice versa. Busuu is one of the few platforms that awards certificates to students.

There are four levels of German on the Busuu website, such as Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, and Upper-Intermediate. The Beginner level will teach you basics like introducing yourself, ordering food and drinks, and writing simple texts. The Elementary level allows you to engage in more extended conversations, while the Intermediate level helps you understand complex words and sentences. Lastly, the Upper-Intermediate level will teach you to participate in longer conversations on various topics, write longer texts, and comprehend grammar.

Website: https://www.busuu.com/

GermanPod101 is a comprehensive resource with a wealth of audio and video content ranging from beginner to advanced levels, making it one of the best online tools for learning German. Similar to other language learning websites, GermanPod101 features a visually detailed dashboard with various functionalities. The audio lessons are presented in a podcast style by the hosts Judith and Chuck.

GermanPod101 teaches German through short audio and video segments. The lessons aim to enhance learners' comprehension so they can understand any German they hear locally. GermanPod101 allows learners to start at any skill level, and each level has its lesson library for specific purposes, such as 'Conversational Phrases' or 'Ordering at a Restaurant.'

Each lesson begins with a German audio or video segment, accompanied by a transcript in German and an English translation. Lessons also include vocabulary lists, grammar notes, and, for premium users, quizzes/practice exercises. For pronunciation assistance, learners can record their speech and compare it with the native German speaker (or use the editing service of GermanPod101 as a Premium Plus member).

Website: https://www.germanpod101.com/

German.net is a valuable online resource for German learners seeking a variety of free learning materials. The website offers a comprehensive collection of content, including grammar explanations, vocabulary lists, and exercises organized by proficiency levels. From beginners to advanced learners, German.net covers various topics to help learners build a solid language foundation. Suitable for those just starting to learn German and for advanced learners aiming for fluency and perfection.

German.net enables learners to study essential basic words and phrases for a trip or to delve deeper, practicing if you simply love German culture and want to speak the language fluently. Learners can practice vocabulary, use crucial verb conjugations in all tenses, and explore all major grammar topics with German.net's engaging online exercises.

Another useful feature of German.net is the option for interactive quizzes and tests, allowing you to assess your progress and identify areas for improvement. With well-structured content, German.net is an excellent resource for learners looking to reinforce their German language skills at their own pace.

Website: https://german.net/

Goethe-Institut is a globally recognized organization dedicated to promoting the German language and culture. The Goethe-Institut website offers abundant online learning resources, including TikTok and Instagram content in German for turning your social media scroll into language practice.

The Goethe-Institut website provides an impressive array of online resources for learners at all levels. They offer structured courses, interactive exercises, and multimedia content, including videos, audio clips, and reading materials. If you're planning to move to Germany or just curious about life there, check out the Goethe-Institut website. It provides information about life and work in Germany (from A1 to B2 language proficiency), complete with texts, videos, and maps.

The Goethe-Institut digital library boasts over 20,000 German-language media items such as e-books, audiobooks, music, newspapers, magazines, and films, all available for free. They also feature German-language podcasts from around the world. The Goethe-Institut's online community is an excellent way to connect with other German learners and practice together. A standout in the Goethe Institute's offerings is the “Deutsch für dich” (German for you) program, providing a flexible learning environment, self-paced for users to practice and enhance their language skills.

Website: https://www.goethe.de/

Memrise's self-learning exercises are ideal if you're just starting your German learning journey. By using Memrise's website or app, you can expand your German vocabulary and select useful phrases while completing fill-in-the-blank activities and answering multiple-choice questions. Memrise also allows you to track your progress with the “Speed Review” challenges.

While Memrise is a good resource for beginners, it lacks study materials and exercises for learners at intermediate and advanced levels. So, it's not the best German learning website if you want to make significant progress in the language. Memrise helps you memorize characters, vocabulary, and phrases in the long run. Not just for language learning, Memrise also aids you in studying and learning subjects like math, science, economics, and more.

Memrise is one of the excellent tools for learning German. In addition to basic language courses, Memrise also offers more specialized courses, such as slang. Some resources on the Memrise website are available for free, though learners need a premium membership to access all features (Monthly: $8.49, Yearly: $29.99, Lifetime: $119.99).

Website: https://www.memrise.com/