# A1 vs ShadowGerman

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.

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

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

## The numbers

| Metric | A1 | ShadowGerman |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a1-deutsch/id1465253269/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **24** | — |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 31 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V.](https://appshunter.io/developer/796434153) | [Dajiale](https://appshunter.io/developer/516546398) |

## What reviewers say

### A1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a1-deutsch/id1465253269)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### ShadowGerman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowgerman-learn-german/id6797006481)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*