Comparison

A1 vs ShadowGerman

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 12 German lessons
  • Vocabulary and phrase trainer
  • Reading, writing, listening, speaking practice
  • Offline functionality
  • Menu navigation in 20 languages
  • Recognized teaching aid
Read full description

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

About

ShadowGerman

Features
Read full description

Learn to speak German the way fluent speakers actually do it: by shadowing. Hear a native German sentence, then say it back — matching the rhythm, melody, and sounds until it feels natural in your own mouth. WHY SHADOWING WORKS Reading and flashcards build knowledge. Speaking builds fluency. ShadowGerman puts your voice at the center: listen, repeat out loud, record yourself, and compare — the fastest way to a natural accent and real confidence. HOW YOU PRACTICE • Listen to a clear, native German voice for every sentence • Slow it down or speed it up until you can keep pace • Record your own voice and play it back against the original • See both waveforms side by side to spot where you drifted • Show the translation — English, Chinese, Japanese or Korean — when you need it, hide it when you don't 1,000 LESSONS, A1 TO C2 A full path from absolute beginner to advanced, graded by the official CEFR levels. Every lesson comes with interactive exercises — multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, translation, and word ordering — that grade themselves the moment you answer. BRING YOUR OWN GERMAN Studying for an exam or reading a book? Import your own text or a PDF and ShadowGerman splits it into clean German sentences you can shadow line by line. A WORDBOOK THAT REMEMBERS FOR YOU Save the words you meet and review them with spaced repetition, so they resurface right before you'd forget. Tap any word to hear it pronounced. WORKS OFFLINE The German voice runs entirely on your device — no internet, no streaming, no waiting. Practice on a plane, on the subway, anywhere. BUILT TO KEEP YOU GOING Earn XP, level up, and keep a daily streak alive. Your progress syncs privately through your own iCloud between iPhone and iPad, and there's no account to create. FREE & PREMIUM Start completely free with all of Level A1 — 200 lessons — plus importing your own texts. Unlock A2 through C2, another 800 lessons, with Premium: • Monthly or yearly (with a 7-day free trial) • Or a one-time Lifetime purchase, yours forever Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends; manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase Premium. Privacy Policy: https://mzjpg.com/policy/shadowing-german Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

A14 screens
ShadowGerman4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A1 at none against ShadowGerman's 3. A1 also leads on iOS requirement (12.1 vs 18.0). ShadowGerman's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 24 months). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ShadowGerman sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. A1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

A1 ships an update every 24 months, ShadowGerman monthly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
A1 versus ShadowGerman: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterA1ShadowGerman
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (24 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews68.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings24 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB174 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V.Dajiale

In-app purchases

None

A1

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

ShadowGerman

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$49.99

Questions

Is A1 free?
A1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ShadowGerman free?
ShadowGerman is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do A1 or ShadowGerman have ads?
Neither A1 nor ShadowGerman shows ads.
Which is updated more often, A1 or ShadowGerman?
A1 ships an update every 24 months, and ShadowGerman monthly. Most recently, A1 was updated on October 25, 2026 and ShadowGerman on October 25, 2026.

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