The best German speaking app depends on what you want to say and who answers you. Pimsleur has you reply to recorded German, Praktika, Talkpal and Langua answer you as an AI, Speechling returns coach notes on a recording, and italki, HelloTalk and Tandem put you in touch with people. This page compares what you say aloud in each app, what feedback comes back and what stays free. For courses and reading apps, see our German app comparison.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn German. You learn from German you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your German lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it, or talk it through with her in a voice chat.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
- Every German lesson is written at your level, about things you like.
- Talk with Poppy by voice chat in German, and ask her to explain any sentence.
- Saved words come back in new lessons through Regenerative Review™, and you can send them to Anki too.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- You can't turn a whole German novel into a lesson. But Poppy will explain a passage you paste or a page you photograph.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
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Pimsleur
Pimsleur suits learners who want to speak along with a recording rather than with a partner. After the first lesson, the German course is paid.
- You hear German, pause and answer aloud in guided audio lessons.
- The first lesson is free, and the lessons can be downloaded to use offline.
MobileWeb
Busuu
Busuu fits learners who want a German course to work through, with native speakers reading and correcting what they write or record.
- German lessons come with feedback from a community of German speakers.
- You can start with the free version.
MobileWeb
Praktika
Praktika suits learners who would rather speak German to an animated character than to a recording.
- You speak German with an AI avatar in role-play.
- The publisher advertises pronunciation and fluency feedback.
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italki
italki suits learners who want a German teacher listening to them live and correcting as they go.
- You pick a German teacher and book a live one-to-one lesson.
- Corrections come from a person who hears you.
MobileWeb
HelloTalk
HelloTalk is for learners who want everyday German chat. You write or send voice notes to a partner and help with their English in return.
- You can find a German exchange partner for messages, voice notes and calls.
- Basic exchange is free, with a paid VIP plan.
MobileWeb
Tandem
Tandem is for learners who want to book German calls with a partner and swap languages in the same session.
- You choose German and English exchange partners for text, voice notes and calls.
- Basic exchange is free, with optional Pro.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (3)
- SpeechlingYou record a sentence, hear it beside a model recording and can ask a coach for feedback. The free plan's monthly coaching sessions do not cover German, so coaching is paid.
- LanguaYou talk or chat with an AI in German and get corrections, explanations and a summary afterwards. Your first conversation is free. The Standard plan then sets a daily cap on call minutes and chat messages.
- TalkpalVoice chat, scripted dialogues, Call Mode and role-plays with an AI. It downloads free, and detailed feedback and the advanced modes are in Premium.
| App | What you say | Conversation | Feedback | English help | Free boundary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Live voice chat with Poppy | Open, with Poppy | Poppy answers and explains what you ask about | Partly | Lessons by other learners are free to read; unlimited custom lessons need Pro |
| Pimsleur | Replies to recorded prompts | Fixed audio lesson | Recorded prompts, no live reply | Yes | Free first lesson, then paid |
| Busuu | Course exercises | Lessons with community feedback | Corrections from German speakers | Yes | Free version, full features paid |
| Praktika | Role-play with an avatar | Open AI | Pronunciation and fluency feedback advertised | Yes | Free download, subscriptions |
| Talkpal | Voice chat and role-play | Open AI | Pronunciation and grammar corrections in Premium | Yes | Free download, Premium paid |
| Langua | AI conversations and calls | Open AI | Instant correction, explanations and summaries | Yes | One free conversation, then a card-backed trial or paid plan |
| Speechling | Recordings of set sentences | Fixed sentences | Coach feedback on a recording | Yes | Free tools; German coaching is paid |
| italki | Live lessons | Open, with a teacher | A teacher corrects you | Partly | Account free, teachers set prices |
| HelloTalk | Messages, voice notes, calls | Open, with a partner | Depends on the partner | Partly | Basic free, VIP paid |
| Tandem | Messages, voice notes, calls | Open, with a partner | Informal partner corrections | Partly | Basic free, Pro optional |
If you want to read and listen to German before you speak, our German comprehensible input app comparison covers reading and listening apps. To study German without paying, see free German apps. For speaking apps in any language, see apps for speaking practice.
Which German speaking app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning German, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or choose Pimsleur if you want a recording that tells you what to say.
Does Pimsleur have AI conversation for German?
The Pimsleur app describes its AI partner roleplay as a Spanish feature. German learners get the guided audio lessons.
Does Speechling give free German coaching?
Speechling's free plan includes coaching sessions each month, but not for English, French, Chinese or German. German learners can still record themselves and compare with the model audio, and coaching is paid.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Pimsleur: learn German
- Pimsleur: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Busuu: learn German
- Busuu: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Praktika: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Talkpal: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Speechling: pricing
- Langua: AI conversation practice
- italki: German teachers
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- HelloTalk: German exchange partners
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: practice German online
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Bubblegum
- Praktika
