🇩🇪 German · checked 21 October 2026
Best apps to learn German by reading (2026)
5 apps whose own sites list German, and what each is good for.
At a glance
| App | Type | German | Audio | Free option | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ReadNative (ours) | Graded books | Yes — 3 books | No narration for German | Free first book | Beginners who want whole stories from A1 |
| LingQ | Library + import | Yes | Yes | Yes | importing and reading lots of varied content, with audio |
| Beelinguapp | Curated library | Yes | Yes | Yes | side-by-side translation and audiobooks |
| Readlang | Read anything (web, uploads) | Yes | Voices for words and phrases | Yes | reading real web pages with click-to-translate and flashcards |
| Clozemaster | Sentence drills | Yes (depends on your base language) | — | Yes | fill-in-the-blank vocabulary drills (not a reading app) |
The apps
ReadNative (ours)
Graded retellings of real stories that start at absolute beginner and get harder chapter by chapter. Tap a word for an English gloss, tap a sentence for its translation; words you meet are counted automatically. German books:
- Hansel and Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) — A1–B1, 30 chapters, free
- Till Eulenspiegel's Pranks (Till Eulenspiegels Streiche) — A1–A2, 16 chapters, Pro
- The Rider on the White Horse (Der Schimmelreiter) — A2–B1, 18 chapters, Pro
Try it: the first lines of Hansel and Gretel
Hier ist ein großer Wald.
Here is a big forest.
Der Wald ist sehr alt.
The forest is very old.
Die Bäume sind hoch und dunkel.
The trees are tall and dark.
Am Wald steht ein kleines Haus.
By the forest stands a little house.
Im Haus wohnt ein Mann.
In the house lives a man.
Der Mann ist sehr arm.
The man is very poor.
| German | Gloss in the reader |
|---|---|
| Hier | here |
| ist | is |
| ein | a |
| großer | big |
| Wald | forest |
| Der | the |
| sehr | very |
| alt | old |
| Die | the |
| Bäume | trees |
| sind | are |
| hoch | tall |
| und | and |
| dunkel | dark |
Read the whole of chapter 1 free →
Strong at: whole stories written for beginners. Weaker at: variety beyond its 3 German books; no narration in German. Price model: first book free; Pro unlocks the rest and EPUB imports.
Your German reading path in ReadNative
Hansel and Gretel Hänsel und Gretel: ch. 1–10 ≈A1 (from Kapitel 1: Das Haus am Wald — Chapter 1: The House by the Forest); ch. 11–20 ≈A2 (from Kapitel 11: Das letzte Brot — Chapter 11: The Last Bread); ch. 21–30 ≈B1 (from Kapitel 21: „Fett oder mager!“ — Chapter 21: "Fat or Lean!").
Till Eulenspiegel's Pranks Till Eulenspiegels Streiche: ch. 1–8 ≈A1 (from Kapitel 1: Der Junge aus Kneitlingen — Chapter 1: The Boy from Kneitlingen); ch. 9–16 ≈A2 (from Kapitel 9: Der Schneider — Chapter 9: The Tailor).
The Rider on the White Horse Der Schimmelreiter: ch. 1–9 ≈A2 (from Kapitel 1: Der Reiter auf dem Deich — Chapter 1: The Rider on the Dike); ch. 10–18 ≈B1 (from Kapitel 10: Der Plan — Chapter 10: The Plan).
Other apps that list German
LingQ — importing and reading lots of varied content, with audio. German is listed (lingq.com/en/learn-german-online). ReadNative vs LingQ →
Beelinguapp — side-by-side translation and audiobooks. German is listed (beelinguapp.com). ReadNative vs Beelinguapp →
Readlang — reading real web pages with click-to-translate and flashcards. German is listed (readlang.com). ReadNative vs Readlang →
Not a reading app, but useful alongside
Clozemaster — fill-in-the-blank vocabulary drills (not a reading app). German is listed (clozemaster.com). ReadNative vs Clozemaster →
What matters in a German reading app
German writes what it says, but long compound words, three genders and verb-final clauses make native text slow at first. A reading tool earns its keep by glossing compounds in context and by keeping sentences short until word order feels natural.
Questions
What is the best app to learn German by reading?
It depends on your level and what you want to read. For a complete beginner who wants a story written for their level, ReadNative’s Hansel and Gretel starts at A1 and is free. To import and read your own German content with audio, LingQ supports German. If audio on everything matters most, look at LingQ, Beelinguapp.
Is there a free app to read German?
Yes: Hansel and Gretel is free in ReadNative and readable here in your browser (32 chapters online); LingQ, Beelinguapp, Readlang, Clozemaster also start free.
Are German fairy tales good reading practice?
Yes. The Grimm tales use a small, repetitive vocabulary and simple past-tense narration, which is exactly what you meet in German books. A graded retelling lets you start before you know all the cases.
Sources
Every statement about another app on this page comes from that app’s own website, checked on 21 October 2026. Features and plans change; check their sites for the latest.
- LingQ: lingq.com/en · lingq.com/en/learn-georgian-online
- Beelinguapp: beelinguapp.com
- Readlang: readlang.com · readlang.com/features
- Clozemaster: clozemaster.com
ReadNative facts: about ReadNative and the book catalog. We make ReadNative.
More German: learn German by reading · German graded readers · German short stories · how long it takes to learn German