Deutsche Welle Learn German Review: What You Get for Free
Deutsche Welle Learn German (DW Learn German) is one of the best free ways to learn German: a complete video course, Nicos Weg, from A1 to B1, placement tests, vocabulary trainers and daily news for learners up to C1, all without paying. Its main weakness is speaking: the speaking tasks are self-assessed, so nobody tells you what you said wrong.
This review covers what is on the platform, the levels, the certificate, strengths and limits, a weekly plan, and an honest comparison with Duolingo and SipLingo (our app).
Checked in October 2026 against learngerman.dw.com (overview, level pages, help page, Nicos Weg A1), the DW Learn German listings on Google Play and the App Store, and Duolingo’s official blog.
Is DW Learn German free?
Yes. DW describes its courses as free of charge, and we found no paid tier on the site or in the app listings. DW offers a free account: you register with an email address (the activation link is valid for 24 hours, according to DW’s help page), and you must be logged in to download the course certificate.
One practical note from DW’s own help page: access to DW content may be restricted in some countries.
What Deutsche Welle Learn German offers, level by level
DW sorts its offers into three groups (beginners, advanced, professionals), and each offer carries a CEFR level. The table shows the main offers we found on the level pages in October 2026; the line-up changes over time.
| Level | Offer | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Placement test | Tests for A1, A2 and B1 to find your starting point |
| A1 | ABC | Alphabet, sounds and first words |
| A1 | Nicos Weg A1 | Video course with grammar pages: Nico from Spain arrives in Germany |
| A1 | Deutschtrainer | Vocabulary and short sentences on everyday topics, with audio |
| A1 | Harry gefangen in der Zeit A1 | Story-based course for complete beginners |
| A1 | Artikeltrainer | Practice for der, die, das |
| A2 | Nicos Weg A2 | The story continues for learners with some German |
| A2 | Deine Band | Learning with pop songs by the band ok.danke.tschüss |
| A2 | Kurz und leicht | Short video news at beginner level (German only) |
| A2 | Deutschlandlabor | Short videos on clichés about life in Germany (German only) |
| B1 | Nicos Weg B1 | Video course with a focus on work and the job market |
| B1 | Top-Thema mit Vokabeln | Short news articles published regularly, with audio, vocabulary and exercises |
| B1 | Fit für den Job, Berufe entdecken, Profis gesucht | Job applications, workplace communication, professions from crafts to care |
| B1 | Jojo sucht das Glück | Telenovela with exercises and worksheets |
| B2 | Langsam gesprochene Nachrichten | World news read slowly, Monday to Saturday, with full text and downloadable audio |
| B2 | Video-Thema, Wort der Woche, Das sagt man so! | Short reports, words and idioms explained |
| C1 | Alltagsdeutsch | Audio reports from everyday life in Germany |
| All levels | Deine Deutschprüfung | Information on German exams |
Important: from B1 upwards the content is in German only. DW’s help page says the vocabulary trainer exists only for A1 and A2 for the same reason.
What level is Nicos Weg?
Nicos Weg has three parts: A1, A2 and B1. It is DW’s main course, and the one to choose if you want a structured path rather than single exercises.
What a lesson looks like (we went through the first A1 lessons): a short video scene of about one minute, a list of learning goals, then around nine exercises: choosing answers after the video, filling gaps, putting words in order, and listening tasks. The A1 part is organised in 18 chapters plus a short welcome section, from “Meeting people” to “Health” and “Home”. Each lesson links to grammar and vocabulary pages.
There are also speaking tasks, for example “listen to the questions and introduce yourself”. After you speak, you click “Good” or “Not so great”. In the lessons we tried, the platform did not evaluate what you said.
Does DW give a certificate?
Yes, but not an official one. According to DW’s help page, you can download a certificate after completing the Nicos Weg course and passing its final test (which you can repeat). You must be logged in to find it. DW states clearly that its certificates are not officially recognised: they show commitment, not a level.
For a visa, recognition procedure, job or university you need an official exam such as Goethe, telc, ÖSD or TestDaF. See which German certificate is best for your goal.
The DW Learn German app
The DW Learn German app is free on Google Play and the App Store, published by Deutsche Welle. Its store listings mention a placement test, courses for beginners to advanced learners, interactive exercises, vocabulary training, and grammar and regional studies. On Google Play it shows more than one million downloads. Some user reviews report technical problems (video playback, subtitles, progress), so if something does not work in the app, try the website in your browser.
Strengths
- Free and complete. A structured course from A1 to B1, with extra material up to C1, costs nothing. Few free offers cover this much.
- Video-based and realistic. Nicos Weg shows real situations (housing, authorities, the doctor, work) instead of isolated sentences.
- Exercises with every lesson, including listening and gap-fill tasks of the kind you also meet in A1–B1 exams.
- Excellent listening material. Top-Thema and the slowly spoken news give you fresh, level-appropriate audio with text every week, which is ideal for the German shadowing technique.
- Job-related content at B1, including care professions.
Limits
- Little speaking feedback. Speaking tasks are self-assessed. You never find out whether your answer was grammatically correct or understandable.
- No real conversation. Everything follows a script; nobody asks you an unexpected question.
- German-only from B1. Good for immersion, harder if you still need explanations in your language.
- No official certificate.
- Technical rough edges in the app, according to user reviews.
DW vs Duolingo vs SipLingo (our app)
| DW Learn German | Duolingo | SipLingo (our app) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free to start, paid plans available | 7.99 USD/month (3-day trial) or 49.99 USD/year (7-day trial); check the store for your local price |
| Levels | A1–C1 (course A1–B1) | Up to B2, according to Duolingo (April 2026) | A1–B2 |
| Format | Video course, exercises, news for learners | Short game-style lessons, streaks | Voice conversations with an AI partner in 200+ everyday scenarios |
| Grammar | Grammar pages with each lesson | Taught through exercises | No grammar course; corrections explained when you make a mistake |
| Speaking | Self-assessed speaking tasks | Speaking exercises with the microphone | Main focus: free speaking, instant corrections in your own language, scores for Word accuracy, Grammar, Fluency and Intonation |
| Certificate | Download for Nicos Weg, not official | No official certificate | No certificate |
| Best for | A structured free course | A daily habit and early vocabulary | Speaking practice next to a course |
Is DW better than Duolingo? For structure, real-life situations and grammar, DW is the stronger free course in our view, and it costs nothing at all. Duolingo is better at making you come back every day. DW has no conversation practice, and Duolingo’s lessons are mostly short, scripted exercises. More on Duolingo in is Duolingo good for German.
SipLingo is not a replacement for either. It covers the speaking gap: you actually talk, in situations like the doctor’s or a flat viewing, and get corrections on grammar, word order and vocabulary explained in your own language, with the correct sentence and an example. It works well as the speaking part next to Nicos Weg. Try a free speaking session.
How to use DW Learn German in a weekly plan
About 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for a learner at A1–A2:
| Day | DW (20 min) | Speaking (10 min) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | One Nicos Weg lesson | Say the lesson’s key sentences aloud, then use them about yourself |
| Tuesday | Next Nicos Weg lesson + grammar page | Voice note: 1 minute on the lesson topic |
| Wednesday | Deutschtrainer: one topic | A short conversation on the same topic |
| Thursday | Nicos Weg lesson + vocabulary trainer | Shadow the lesson video |
| Friday | Kurz und leicht or Artikeltrainer | Free conversation, 10 minutes |
At B1, replace Deutschtrainer with Top-Thema, and add the slowly spoken news twice a week. Take the placement test every 6–8 weeks to see whether you are ready for the next part. For more free resources, see our guide to the best free German learning apps.
Verdict
Deutsche Welle Learn German is the best free starting point for most learners who want structure: Nicos Weg takes you from zero to B1, and the news formats keep you listening long after. Use it as your course. Add real speaking practice, because DW cannot tell you how you sound, and plan an official exam if you need a certificate.
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Make it in Germany (Federal Government): German language classes: course types and exams – Goethe, integration, vhs, online and job-related courses; recognised exams
Frequently asked questions
Is Deutsche Welle good for learning German?
Yes. Nicos Weg is a complete, free video course from A1 to B1, and DW adds news, vocabulary trainers and exam information up to C1. Its weak point is speaking feedback.
Is DW Learn German free?
Yes. The website and the DW Learn German app are free. A free account (email registration) is needed, for example, to download the Nicos Weg certificate.
What level is Nicos Weg?
Nicos Weg has three parts: A1, A2 and B1. The B1 part focuses on work and the job market and is in German only.
Does DW give a certificate?
Yes, a downloadable certificate after completing Nicos Weg and passing the final test. DW states that it is not officially recognised; for official proof you need an exam such as Goethe, telc or ÖSD.
Is DW better than Duolingo?
For structure, grammar and real-life situations, DW is the stronger free course. Duolingo is better for building a daily habit. DW offers no conversation practice, so add speaking practice to either.
Learn with Nicos Weg, speak with SipLingo. Practise real German conversations and get corrections in your own language, from A1 to B2.
