Apps for Students in Germany: Studying, Housing, Budget, and Settling In
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The first months of studying in Germany are easier to get through if you put together a basic set of digital tools in advance: for schedules, housing search, transport, banking, learning German, and tracking expenses. Below is a practical selection of apps and services that students should check before moving or right after arrival.
Most of these services are available as both websites and mobile apps. Before installing anything, check whether a specific app works in your city, at your university, and on your type of device: some features depend on the university, region, account status, or selected plan.
Where to start
You do not need to install everything at once. During the first week after arrival, it is usually more important to cover five tasks:
- understand your schedule and university notifications;
- find temporary or permanent housing;
- quickly navigate public transport;
- keep everyday expenses under control;
- have a working way to pay and transfer money.
You can add the remaining apps gradually once you have a clearer study routine and understand which services you actually need.
Studying and university life
UniNow
UniNow combines several student functions in one app: schedules, grades, university news, cafeteria menus, career offers, and digital campus services. The main nuance is that the app is not equally useful at every university: the available features depend on whether your university is connected and what data it shares.
Website: UniNow
Studocu
Studocu is a platform for sharing study materials: notes, lectures, summaries, and exam questions. It can help you understand the structure of a course or prepare for review, but it does not replace the instructor’s official materials. Before using other people’s notes, check the date, university, subject, and academic integrity requirements.
Website: Studocu
Quizlet and Phase6
Flashcards and spaced repetition are convenient for memorizing terms and German vocabulary.
- Quizlet works well for languages, subject terminology, and quick flashcard sets.
- Phase6 is focused on systematic word repetition and is often used for learning German.
If you are preparing for a German exam, do not rely only on apps: combine them with a course, speaking practice, and official materials for the specific exam you need.
Housing and getting settled
Finding housing in Germany often takes longer than expected. It is better to split the task into two parts: temporary accommodation for the first weeks and a permanent room or apartment.
ImmoScout24
ImmoScout24 is one of the major services for finding apartments, rooms, and rental listings. Set filters by city, budget, neighborhood, and alerts so you can react quickly to new options.
Website: ImmoScout24
Hostelworld
Hostelworld can be useful for temporary accommodation if you arrive before your rental contract starts or if you have not yet received a dorm place. Before booking, check the cancellation rules, whether address registration is possible, and the distance to campus.
Website: Hostelworld
Kleinanzeigen
Kleinanzeigen, formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen, is useful for buying furniture, appliances, bicycles, and household essentials. Room offers also appear there sometimes, but you should be careful with housing: do not transfer a deposit before checking the contract, the landlord’s identity, and actual access to the property.
Website: Kleinanzeigen
Budget and shopping
CHECK24
CHECK24 helps compare plans and offers across different categories: mobile service, internet, electricity, insurance, and other services. For students, it is convenient as a starting point for comparison, but the final conditions should always be read on the provider’s own website: price, contract term, Kündigungsfrist, bonuses, and restrictions may differ.
Website: CHECK24
KAUFDA
KAUFDA collects digital flyers, discounts, and supermarket offers. This is convenient for planning purchases, especially if several chains are nearby and you want to compare prices without visiting every store.
Website: KAUFDA
Vinted
Vinted is suitable for buying and selling clothes, shoes, and accessories. For students, it is a way to save money on a basic wardrobe, but for expensive purchases you should check the seller’s rating, shipping terms, and buyer protection.
Website: Vinted
Transport and travel
FlixBus
FlixBus is often used for budget travel across Germany and Europe. Compare buses not only by price, but also by travel time, departure point, baggage rules, and whether the ticket can be changed.
Website: FlixBus
For daily travel within the city, also install the app of the local transport association: BVG in Berlin, MVV/MVG in Munich, RMV in Frankfurt, HVV in Hamburg, and similar regional services. Those apps are usually the most convenient place to check current routes, zones, and tickets.
Banks and transfers
It is especially important to review the official terms for financial apps. Account availability, fees, identity checks, and required documents depend on your country of residence, citizenship, type of identification, and the service’s internal policy.
N26 and Revolut
N26 and Revolut are often considered as digital account options for everyday spending, online payments, and transfers. They can be convenient for international students, but you should not assume that opening an account is guaranteed: these services verify identity, review documents, and may change their terms.
- N26: n26.com
- Revolut: revolut.com
For study and visa-related matters, also check whether the university, authority, or landlord accepts the chosen account. In some situations, you may need a classic German Girokonto or a separate Sperrkonto.
TransferGo
TransferGo is one of the international money transfer services. Before sending money, compare the exchange rate, fee, transfer speed, and limits with alternatives, because the final cost depends on the destination, currency, and payment method.
Website: TransferGo
Food, daily life, and health
Lieferando
Lieferando is useful for ordering food, especially during the first weeks after moving. But if you want to save money long term, it is better to quickly identify nearby supermarkets, the university Mensa, and affordable local cafes.
Website: Lieferando
KptnCook
KptnCook offers recipes and helps plan shopping. It is useful if you want to cook at home but do not want to come up with a menu from scratch every day.
Website: KptnCook
Headspace and Down Dog Yoga
Moving, studying in another language, and bureaucracy can become overwhelming quickly. Apps like Headspace and Down Dog Yoga can help you fit short routines into your schedule, but they do not replace medical or psychological help if stress becomes severe or long-lasting.
- Headspace: headspace.com
- Down Dog Yoga: downdogapp.com
How to choose apps without extra noise
Before registering for a new service, check:
- whether the app is available in the German App Store or Google Play for your account;
- whether a German phone number or address is required;
- which documents are needed for verification;
- whether there is a free plan and when the paid subscription starts;
- whether you can delete the account and export your data;
- whether the service is tied to a specific city or university.
Common student mistakes
- Installing dozens of apps before arrival without checking whether they work in a specific city.
- Opening a financial service without reading the fees, limits, and identification requirements.
- Searching for housing on only one platform and reacting too late to new listings.
- Buying furniture in advance without knowing the room size and dormitory rules.
- Relying on other people’s study materials instead of the official course and instructor requirements.
A short list for the first days
If you need to start with the minimum, choose one tool from each category:
| Task | What to install or check |
|---|---|
| University | your university’s app, UniNow if your university supports it |
| Housing | ImmoScout24, Kleinanzeigen, the Studierendenwerk website for your city |
| Transport | the app of the local Verkehrsverbund |
| Budget | a banking app, KAUFDA, or another discount service |
| Studying | Studocu, Quizlet, or Phase6 if needed |
| Daily life | Lieferando, KptnCook, Vinted |
The main goal is not to build the longest possible app list, but to quickly solve real tasks: studying, housing, transport, money, and everyday organization.
