DW Learn German vs A1
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DW Learn German
Master German with engaging videos, news, and music. Offers courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced, with interactive exercises and vocabulary training. Includes a placement test to find your ideal course and materials for teachers.
- Placement test for level assessment
- Courses for all levels (beginner to advanced)
- Interactive exercises
- Vocabulary training and word explanations
- Grammar and regional studies
- Materials for teachers
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Learn German on the go with DW - for beginners, advanced learners and teachers With exciting videos, informative news and music, we’ll make sure that you’ll find the perfect way to learn German. Start right away, even without any previous knowledge, and improve your German online and on the go, completely free of charge. We offer courses for all levels -and if you're not sure where you stand, our placement test will help you find the perfect course for you - quickly and easily! Our offer includes: - A placement test to help you find the right level - Courses for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners (from literacy to exam training) - A wide range of interactive exercises - Vocabulary training and word explanations - Grammar and regional studies - Comprehensive materials for teachers Our courses cover all levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. There are also offers for learning the alphabet and language preparation for various jobs. As a teacher, you will also find what you are looking with materials that you can use for your lessons free of charge. Simply download the app and learn German with DW!
A1
Learn German for free at the A1 level with this mobile application. It offers 12 lessons, vocabulary trainers, and practice for all language skills. The app can be used offline and is recognized as a teaching aid.
- 12 German lessons
- Vocabulary and phrase trainer
- Reading, writing, listening, speaking practice
- Offline functionality
- Menu navigation in 20 languages
- Recognized teaching aid
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A1-Deutsch is the mobile version of A1-Deutschkurs: a1.vhs-lernportal.de You can learn German for free at A1 level. A1 German (A1-Deutsch) is the mobile version of the mobile version of the A1 German Course (A1-Deutschkurs) at https://vhs-lernportal.de. The app allows you to use all the functions of the A1 German Course offline on your smartphone. Features - 12 lessons - A range of exercises - Vocabulary and phrase trainer - Practise reading, writing, listening and speaking - Menu navigation and usage instructions available in 20 languages - Free - Use it offline - Recognised by the BAMF as a teaching aid for courses You will find our free German courses at levels A1, A2, B1, B2 and C1 at https://vhs-lernportal.de You can use them with any standard web browser, regardless of the device. The German courses build up your linguistic abilities systematically. Regular tests help you keep track of your progress. The VHS learning portal is an offering of German Adult Education Association e.V. It is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. We look forward to hearing from you! If you have any questions, suggestions or problems, please send us an e-mail at info@vhs-lernportal.de
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: A1 at 4.3 against DW Learn German's 3.9. A1 also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 45%). DW Learn German's advantage is ratings volume (131 vs 24). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
A1 holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DW Learn German has 131 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of DW Learn German's written reviews are positive against 68% of A1's.
DW Learn German ships an update every 16 months, A1 every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DW Learn German | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (131 ratings) | 4.3 (24 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 44.9% of reviews | 68.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 131 — better | 24 |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months — better | Every 24 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deutsche Welle | Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. |
Customer experience
DW Learn German
A1
In-app purchases
DW Learn German
No in-app purchases
A1
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DW Learn German free?
Is A1 free?
Which has better reviews, DW Learn German or A1?
Do DW Learn German or A1 have ads?
Which is updated more often, DW Learn German or A1?
Other comparisons
