Travelling and moving to a different country has become so much easier today with the help of smartphones. In the palm of our hands we can do anything from ordering food to learning a language. This is a list of some German apps that will make your time in the federal republic a little easier.
Germany has some great apps that are essential for people living or visiting for a wide variety of purposes. Here are our picks for some must-have apps for everyone in Germany.
The best app for travel in Germany! The DB app allows you to turn your smartphone into a travel card and get around without having to stand in line for a ticket. It is perfect for regional public transportation and long-distance travel, combining metro, tram, train and bus. You can also check travel updates for planned works or unexpected delays and map your trip. Another great app for transportation in Germany is Google Maps and, wherever you are living in Germany, the local transport association will likely have a helpful app too!
Wise is a fantastic way to send, spend, convert and receive money internationally. This app is ideal for anyone and it offers cheaper and faster money transfers to over 80 countries. You also get a debit card that can be used worldwide, while your account can hold over 50 currencies and convert between them instantly. This is optimal for expats or new residents who are managing finances in their previous home and their new home in Germany.
While the tourist attractions in Germany are wonderful, it's also nice to get off the beaten track sometimes, and the Spotted By Locals app is the perfect way to help you find your spot. Locals write about their favourite places in the country and provide insider tips. The app acts like your own personal city tour guide, helping you find the cutest cafes, quirkiest bars and quietest spots. Discover marvellous new restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and much more!
A great way to broaden your German horizons is the ARD Mediathek, the streaming platform for the entire ARD, the German public broadcasting and media network. Watch movies, series, documentaries, news, livestreams and much more from your smartphone or tablet, and explore German culture and language like never before. The platform provides entertaining content, information, culture, education, fun programmes, and hidden gems in regional and national dialects - perfect if you're learning German! Whether you have a TV or not, paying the TV / radio tax (Rundfunkbeitrag) is mandatory in Germany, so you may as well take advantage of what the service offers you.
Order all your favourite food with the click of a button. Whether it's a chain restaurant that brings you nostalgia for home or the best local cafe, Uber Eats has everything listed. Have your food delivered to your apartment at your convenience, and make sure to look out for vouchers and daily deals. Explore local German cuisine or international dishes from the comfort of your home. Other good food delivery apps in Germany include Lieferando.de and Wolt.
One of the most important things expats and new residents need to do when moving to a new country is finding a place to live. The app ImmoScout24 is perfect for finding your new apartment or house anywhere in Germany. You can communicate with the vendors directly and securely, making it easy to keep track of your communication history. It also comes with a reminder list, integration via Google Street View, and a direct display of search matches on a map. Other great alternatives to find housing are IamExpat Housing (of course!) or Housing Anywhere.
Stuck with German grammar? DeepL Translate is a great app to help with that, providing fast, accurate and high-quality translations in 26 languages, including German. You can translate speech to text using the microphone, and listen to the translated text as well. The app focuses on correct grammar within the translation, making it very useful for a language like German. The translation is also designed to be more nuanced, keeping as much of the intent and meaning from the original text as possible.
This unique app is great way of checking the weather in Germany - but with a little twist! The CarrotWeather app comes with five different settings, with anything from the prim “professional” to the unpredictable “overkill”, that deliver accurate weather predictions in a satirical fashion. The app offers more than just the weather - there are also secret locations to explore, and news-style weather report videos. Lastly, this is the only weather app that tells you a funny new joke every day to make you smile, even when it's raining.
There are so many apps for visitors and residents in Germany to choose from, so these are only just a selection. If you've got more to add, let us know in the comments below!