Moving to Germany can feel tricky, from reading menus to catching the right train. Over 90 percent of Germans use a smartphone, and top apps like DB Navigator keep them on track. This post shows 7 must-have apps, like google translate, Duolingo for learning german, Wise, and Lieferando, to help with transport, language, money transfers, and food delivery.
Read on.
Key Takeaways
- Over 90% of Germans use smartphones. DB Navigator by Deutsche Bahn shows real-time train, bus, and e-scooter routes. You buy tickets in seconds.
- Wise holds 50+ currencies in one app and serves 80+ countries. It shows real exchange rates and cuts hidden bank fees on transfers.
- Duolingo gives free German lessons with speech checks and vocab drills. It ties new words to menus, chats, and street signs for real-world practice.
- Immobilienscout24 lists hundreds of rental apartments with maps and Google Street View. It works in English and German and beats eBay Kleinanzeigen for expat housing.
- Check24, Lieferando, and NINA cover daily needs: Check24 compares phone plans, energy, and insurance; Lieferando links 100s of restaurants with GPS tracking and Too Good To Go; NINA sends alerts on floods, storms, and heat waves.
DB Navigator shows real-time travel updates, route planning, and ticket purchasing across Germany’s public transport network. Deutsche Bahn made this app, so you trust each timetable.
The user-friendly layout lets you tap a stop, choose a ticket, pay with a debit card. You can watch your account balances at a glance.
Apps for expats living in Germany shine when they solve daily puzzles, and this one cracks the code. It also finds dockless e-scooters, taxi services, and local bus connections. Google Play Store and App Store list it free.
You buy tickets in seconds, avoid long lines, then hop aboard with a grin.
Wise – Simplify International Money Transfers
Wise cuts the fees that banks hide. It supports international money transfers in over 80 countries. It holds over 50 currencies in one app. It shows the real exchange rates on each move.
It charges low fees on every bank transfer or card payment. This makes living in Germany simpler. You avoid nasty surprises, like secret bank charges.
I once sent money home in seconds, my wallet cheered. I tapped the app, picked a currency, and watched the timer tick. My sister saw the cash in her account before breakfast. This tool beats SWIFT network wires.
It acts like an honest friend in mobile banking. It works with debit cards too. Expats manage rent, groceries and even taxi services with it. They share payment links through google translate.
They store funds for trips and holidays. They even pay small group fees on linkedin meetups. It feels like magic, with numbers, not smoke.
Duolingo – Learn German on the Go
This program packs quick units for learning german. Learners use vocab cards and speech recognition to boost recall. Text and voice translation appear in each lesson. Matching drills beat google translate by adding context to verbs.
Free access comes with an option to pay for ad-free drills.
Daily reminders nudge you to practice during DB Navigator trips on Deutsche Bahn. New words link to menus, chats, and street signs while living in germany. Blending listening, reading, and speaking happens in short bursts.
Coffee breaks or a quick stop before a Lieferando order fit those drills. Practice tracks progress and rewards streaks to keep motivation high. Expat apps fans praise how drills slice through language barriers.
Immobilienscout24 – Find Housing with Ease
Immobilienscout24 brings hundreds of rental listings to your phone, with map display and Google Street View integration so you can peek at the block before you set foot there. You can send messages straight to landlords and set up reminder lists for your top picks.
The app works in English and German, so you can switch languages or use Google Translate in case a term slips by.
Housing search feels like treasure hunting, but this app keeps you on track with clear filters for rent price, size, and city district. As an expat living in Germany, you get access to local options without endless calls.
Renters find it beats old school sites like eBay Kleinanzeigen for homes. Pair it with taxi services and DB Navigator to plan viewings.
Lieferando – Convenient Food Delivery Services
Lieferando ranks top among food delivery apps. The platform gives you hundreds of local eateries on your phone. You tap and pick meals by type, price or rating. Food delivery moves fast.
The app links with PayPal, credit card, or cash. It uses GPS to track riders. Their names and phone numbers appear on screen. You set home, work, or friend addresses for fast ordering.
Groceries and pantry items appear in the same app. You buy fruits, vegetables, and snacks. Local markets and stores deliver them to your door. The platform also pairs with Too Good To Go.
That app offers up to seventy percent off on unsold restaurant dishes. You save money and cut waste. Living in Germany feels easier with this tool.
NINA – Stay Updated with Alerts and Warnings
NINA app serves as the official German warning app. It sends emergency notifications fast after alerts on natural disasters. You see warnings for floods, storms, and heat waves. The Federal Office of Civil Protection provides the data.
The national weather service adds storm and heat bulletins.
You choose regions once, and your phone rings when danger looms. Messages pop up even in silent mode. Expats and people living in Germany count on this free app. Risk maps and safety tips show what steps to take.
This essential expat app boosts peace of mind.
Check24 – Compare and Save on Essential Services
Check24 lets you compare phone plans, home energy, and travel insurance options. You scan vacation packages, then match deals on leisure activities. This price aggregator acts like a digital mall, showing tags from top insurers and tour operators.
Expats in Germany rely on it to spot the best values.
Living in Germany feels easier with Check24 and DB Navigator on your phone. You tap to compare TV streaming, taxi services, and bank accounts. The app ranks high among apps for expats alongside Google Translate.
You save euros, time, and headaches in a few taps.
Takeaways
These seven picks pack power into your smartphone. A train travel app, a fund transfer service, and a speech class tool can cut your stress. You can hunt for a flat with a housing finder or order dinner with a meal delivery platform.
Alerts via NINA keep you safe in case of storms or floods. A comparison site helps you see the best deals for electricity and internet. You get to shop smarter. Every download writes your ticket to a smoother expat life.
Grab these apps and roam Germany with a grin.
FAQs
1. What app helps me learn German when I move to Germany?
Use language learning apps from deutsche welle and google translate. They give simple lessons, daily tips, and quick help in shops. They turn learning german into a daily habit. It feels like you have a tutor in your pocket.
2. How do I plan train trips and buses in Germany?
Get db navigator from the deutsche bahn. It tracks regional trains, ICE trains, and bus links fast. The public transport system in big cities runs like clockwork. If you miss a train late, taxi services can catch you home.
3. Which app helps me find cheap meals and fight food waste?
Use Too Good To Go to grab unsold meals at low cost. It feels like a treasure hunt in your neighborhood. For quick eats, try food delivery apps. They bring food delivery right to your door.
4. How can I send money abroad without high fees?
Use apps built for international money transfers. They offer low fees and clear exchange rates. You can track money transfers in real time. It beats banks by a mile.
5. Which expat apps do I need for daily life in Germany?
Get housing apps to hunt flats fast. I found my first flat in days. Use ebay kleinanzeigen for secondhand gear. The nina app warns you about weather or flood alerts. These expat apps make living in germany smoother, trust me.
