Moving to Germany is an adventure! But, as with any adventure, a map is essential. Today, your map, compass, and even translator can be an ordinary smartphone. We’ve put together a proven set of apps for you that will turn your phone into a real Swiss Army knife for life in Germany.
Top 5 Apps to Download Right Now
Let’s start with the essentials. If you’ve just arrived, install these five apps first – they’ll cover 80% of your initial needs.
| App | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| DB Navigator | Planning routes on any transport and buying tickets. |
| DeepL | Accurately translating important emails and understanding German. |
| Kleinanzeigen | Buying inexpensive furniture and everything for the home. |
| Lidl Plus / Rewe | Saving money on groceries from the very first purchase. |
| Google Maps | So you don’t get lost in a new city. |
Now let’s dive into the details and explore other useful tools.
Transport: Getting Around Like a Local
Germany’s transport system is all about precision and order. These apps will help you become a part of it.
- DB Navigator: Your universal key to German transport. It plans door-to-door routes, combining trains, buses, and trams. It’s also the most convenient place to use the nationwide Deutschlandticket.
- Local Transport Apps (MVG, BVG, HVV, etc.): Download the app for your city. It shows real-time transport movements and alerts you if your bus is late (and believe it or not, that can happen!).
- FlixTrain/FlixBus: When you want to visit a neighboring city for the weekend, but not at any cost. The green buses and trains are your budget-friendly travel option.
Language: From “Guten Tag” to Fluent Conversation
- DeepL: Your personal pocket translator. It truly understands context and translates German much more accurately than most alternatives. Ideal for correspondence with landlords or government agencies.
- Google Translate: Indispensable thanks to its camera translation feature. Point it at product ingredients in the store or at an incomprehensible notice – and magic will happen.
- DW Learn German: Free courses from the German media company Deutsche Welle. An excellent way to learn the language systematically, not just memorize individual words.
Shopping and Finances: Spending Wisely
Germans love to save money, and these apps will help you quickly adopt this useful habit.
- Kleinanzeigen: The country’s main online marketplace. Here you can furnish your entire apartment for pennies, sell unwanted items, or find something unique. Important: Beware of scammers! Never transfer money in advance, don’t switch to WhatsApp for communication, and use the “Sicher Bezahlen” (Secure Payment) feature or meet in person.
- Vinted: The same as Kleinanzeigen, but specifically for clothes, shoes, and accessories.
- Supermarket Apps (Lidl Plus, Rewe, Kaufland Card): Before going to the store, activate coupons in the app and show the QR code at the checkout. Savings of 5-10 euros per shopping trip are guaranteed.
- Too Good To Go: Save food and your wallet! Get large food packages from bakeries and cafes that they didn’t manage to sell during the day for 3-5 euros.
- PayPal: You can’t get by without it in Germany. It’s the most popular online payment method, protecting your purchases.
Bureaucracy and Documents: Keeping Everything Under Control
- Post & DHL: Track the location of that important letter from the Ausländerbehörde, or manage parcel deliveries by redirecting them to a convenient Packstation.
- NINA: The official government app. It will send you alerts about any emergencies in your region. It’s better to have it and never need it, than the other way around.
- Adobe Scan: Your pocket scanner. Photograph a document, and the app will turn it into a high-quality PDF that you won’t be ashamed to send to any institution.
Housing and Social Life: Finding a Home and Friends
- ImmoScout24 and WG-Gesucht.de: The two main pillars in the ocean of housing search. The first is for apartments, the second for rooms. Be prepared: competition is huge. Your response to an ad must be instantaneous, and your document package (income statement, Schufa) must be ready.
- Nebenan.de: “Facebook” for your neighborhood. Find out your neighbor’s dog’s name, borrow a screwdriver, or organize a joint barbecue in the courtyard. The best way to feel like a part of the neighborhood.
- Meetup: Want to find a group for volleyball, practice German, or attend a lecture on programming? This is the place for you.
This list is your starter pack. With it, you’ll feel much more confident in your new country. Good luck with your adaptation!