9 Best Websites to Learn German

Many think German is hard to learn, and you may be one of them. Truthfully, German has some hard bits and some easy bits similar to any other language.

So, don’t listen to the gloomy people who say German is impossible to master.

Besides we are here to let you choose the best website to learn German. How hard can it be?

Best German Learning Websites in 2024

I have selected 9 best German learning websites for you to pick whichever one best suits you. You will feel hyped to learn German after you have seen the list of best websites to learn German even if you are on the fence about it now.

Best Websites to Learn German for Free

You don’t always have to purchase an expensive course or subscribe to a website to learn a language you love. Plenty of websites understand the joy of learning a new language. So, here is  a list of the best free websites to learn German:

You can become an intermediate learner from a mere beginner struggling to pronounce your first word in German using this website. You can take the placement test if you are unsure where to start. Sometimes, we pick up words quickly when we listen to songs even if we don’t initially know their meaning.

So, you can learn German by listening to news or music if you don’t want to merely listen to lessons. The music videos have subtitles so don’t worry about not understanding the song’s meaning. You can listen to podcasts, too if that’s your preferred learning style. The website updates its content daily, making it one of the best German websites for learning.

Duolingo is exciting to learn from as it has short lessons and games that immensely help you progress faster when learning German. You have fun unlocking new levels and proving that you are legendary. Duolingo has stories you can unlock by progressing to certain levels. You can read the story and learn new German words. 

Duolingo’s effort to unlock your potential is commendable. It focuses on all aspects of learning German – reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You might get a few strange looks if you practice speaking while traveling. After all, your fellow passengers won’t know what you are mumbling about.

This website offers a variety of resources for you to learn from. Instructors with high qualifications will teach you using high-quality materials. The best thing? You get an internationally recognized certificate if you complete your learning. That is a great incentive not to slack off, right?

The website even has a collection of German films and series from streaming services. The blog ‘From the German Bookshelves’ introduces you to translated contemporary German literature, meaning you can add more books to your bookshelves. So what if our pockets become lighter due to book purchases, be it in German or translated versions?

Best German Language Learning Websites For Beginners

Are you beginning to wonder if you will ever find the best online German learning website? I have got your back. Don’t pull out your hair asking yourself what is the best website to learn German. All you have to do is look at the list of websites I compiled and pick one.

Busuu is one of the best free German language learning websites. It asks you to set a daily goal of how much time you want to spend learning German. It can be as short as 5 minutes/day. Busuu also asks why you want to learn German – for school, business, travel, or to challenge yourself.

You can take a test to find what level you are at if you know some German or immediately start the first lesson if you are a rookie. I must say, I fell in love with Busuu the minute I completed the first lesson. You can start a free trial to know whether upgrading to a premium plan is worth it.

Memrise is great for building your vocabulary. However, the popular opinion on Reddit is that it doesn’t help much with grammar. So, you may struggle a bit at first before you get the hang of German grammar. This is not surprising as the website focuses on letting you learn from hearing locals speak their native language. 

This website uses flashcards and is great for beginners and casual learners. You might want to use supplementary resources for learning German grammar to have a strong foundation from the beginning.

Italki is good for beginners learning German, but the signing up process and keeping track of what you have been learning may be frustrating. You need not worry though as long as you have chosen a compatible instructor who understands you and knows what to teach. Some instructors send reports detailing the errors you made and how to avoid them.

Not sure how to pick an instructor? They all have introductory videos; watch those videos, check who makes you feel comfortable and confident, and how much he or she charges for the lessons. It’s as simple as that. Of course, you can always change your instructors if you don’t like them.

Best German Learning Websites For All Levels

Are you tired of looking for the best website to learn German online and finding only good websites for beginners? Fear not, I have searched for several German learning websites that are interesting to intermediate and advanced learners and found a few you might like. 

You can go from being a beginner to an advanced learner or enhance your knowledge if you are already an advanced learner. These websites know exactly what to teach you.

You can test your level or start learning straight away if you are sure about what level you are at. Beginners have ten German lessons, while advanced learners have 24 lessons. Moreover, you can take numerous interactive language exercises. The website even offers study tips and how to apply for jobs.

The website even has a jokes and quotes section, and everything is free. How many websites do you know teach learners at all levels for free? This makes it one of the best free German learning websites. See? Free websites to learn German aren’t always a trap.

What I like about Deutsch Akademie is you can learn German online or study German in one of their schools at several locations. However, since we prefer online courses let’s focus on that. The course finder feature helps you find the best course for you. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a placement test. 

So, you need to know what level you are at before starting a course. This website is one of the best websites for learning German. It has an impressive 20 years of experience in teaching German. It even offers a money-back guarantee if you are unsatisfied with the website’s course. The website is that confident its native German teachers won’t let it down.

Lingoda is one of the good German language learning websites. You can take their placement test to know what level you are at. You can choose which lessons to take and the classes have a maximum of 5 students including you. So, it’s fun to learn German and get to know your fellow students. Lingoda lets you practice speaking right off the bat.

You can keep the conversations light or even debate minor topics if you feel you have gained enough confidence and knowledge. You can choose between the Sprint, Flex, and Teams courses. Sprint course offers 50% cashback if you complete its challenges. The team course is for those who need student support. Flex lets you learn at your own pace.

How to Choose the Right Website for You To Learn German?

Personal tutor or group learning? – Do you need a personal tutor who focuses on you or do you want to be a part of a class? That could be a deciding factor when scrolling through good websites to learn German. 

Free or paid? – do you think websites to learn German for free are not up to your standards? Choose a website that makes you subscribe or pay for a course. But ensure the cost is worth the experience and knowledge you will gain.

Funny and entertaining or serious and focused? – how do you want your learning environment to be? You may be unable to choose a website even if you search through several websites to learn German if you do not know the answer to this question.

Tips for Success with German Language Learning

Study at set times: Practice reading, writing, or speaking German at the time you allocated for learning German. You don’t have to study for hours. Try practicing for ten minutes daily.

Make it a habit: Getting rid of habits is hard. So, study every day, maintain your learning streak, and become fluent in German.

Take notes: I am not kidding, take notes consistently or you will have no idea what you learned if you return to study after taking a long break. Trust me, it happened to me. Periodically, going through your notes helps you recall things easily.

Methodology: How I Selected These German Language Learning Sites

I chose Deutsch Welle because of its unique way of letting you learn through music videos and news. That was intriguing to see and appeared to be worth a try. As for Duolingo, who doesn’t love it? It makes learning exciting and motivates you to keep going. Have you seen the way the Duolingo bird excitedly shows up when you get 5 things right in a row?

Goethe-Institut offers an internationally recognized certificate of completion. Who does not want that? Do you have any idea how many doors that will unlock? Busuu is so easy to use and makes you feel like you have accomplished something merely for learning the first German word ‘Hallo’. I love the enthusiasm.

Memrise is not my favorite, but it is one of the best German language-learning websites. Hearing the locals speak in German makes it easier to pick up the words and, more importantly, the slang. Italki provides one-on-one lessons, making it easier to progress fast. Lingoda piqued my interest because of the Lingoda Sprint course.

Deutsch Akademie and Deutsch lernen’s Beginner and Advanced courses were the best for learners irrespective of their levels. They have something to offer learners at all levels. So, choose a website that excites you and makes you want to learn at once.

Learning from the best websites for German learning may still not be enough. So, use supplementary resources. Buy some textbooks, watch movies and TV series, and listen to German music with subtitles and translated lyrics. Hang in there; you will make it. So, what do you think is the best website to learn German?