A lot of “free German resources” lists on the internet are recycled from each other, and some point to tools that have quietly gone behind a paywall or shut down. Rather than repeat a list we can’t vouch for, we checked two resources directly — both run by organisations that have every incentive to keep them free and public, because doing so is part of their actual mission.
Goethe-Institut’s “Deutsch für dich”
Deutsch für dich (German for you) is the Goethe-Institut’s own free practice platform, and it’s exactly what it sounds like — the same institute that sets the CEFR exam standard, offering practice material at no cost. It currently offers more than 260 exercises spanning every level from A1 to C2: interactive grammar and vocabulary drills, reading and listening exercises, organised both by topic (everyday life, work, learning) and by proficiency level. No payment is required and no login is needed to use the exercises — a community/login feature that used to exist has since been discontinued, but the exercises themselves remain fully accessible. This is a genuinely useful supplement to structured coursework, not a replacement for it: it’s built for practice and reinforcement, not for teaching grammar from zero with a syllabus.
Deutsche Welle’s “Deutsch Lernen” (Learn German)
Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international public broadcaster, and its Learn German platform is a substantially more complete free course than most people expect from a broadcaster’s side project. It includes a placement test to find your actual starting level, structured courses running from complete beginner through advanced and exam-preparation material, plus a large library of videos, audio podcasts, interactive exercises, and printable worksheets. It’s genuinely built to be started with zero prior German and used on a phone or computer, entirely free of charge. Because it’s produced by a broadcaster, the audio and video content in particular tends to be higher production quality than typical language-app material, which matters for training your ear before you sit a listening exam.
How to actually use these two together
Neither of these substitutes for a structured course if you’re preparing for a specific exam date, because neither one tracks your progress against a graded curriculum the way a paid course or classroom does. Where they genuinely earn their place is as daily reinforcement around whatever structured preparation you’re doing: DW’s audio and video for building listening comprehension at a level a textbook can’t replicate, and Deutsch für dich for short, targeted grammar and vocabulary drills between classes. Used consistently — even 20-30 minutes a day — free resources like these meaningfully shorten the distance between classroom sessions, which matters if you’re working toward a timeline like the one in our A1 to B2 in 12 months breakdown.
What free resources can’t do
Free tools are excellent for the receptive skills — reading and listening — because you can practice those alone. They’re structurally weaker for Sprechen (speaking), which requires a partner or an examiner-style interaction to actually build exam-relevant fluency. If you’re targeting the B1 exam specifically, pair free daily practice with dedicated speaking practice — see our breakdown of the B1 exam pattern and how to prepare for each section, including the paired Sprechen format both major exam providers use.
Not sure where to start?
Talk to us about your current level and target sector, and we’ll help you figure out where free resources fit into a realistic study plan rather than replacing one.
Where this comes from: Deutsch für dich is run by the Goethe-Institut; details confirmed via its own free German practice page. DW Learn German is run by Deutsche Welle, Germany’s international public broadcaster. Both were checked as live and free of charge at the time of writing.
