Yes, WG-Gesucht has an official app, it's free on iOS and Android, and you can use it even if your German is shaky. It's still the place with the most WG rooms in Germany, so most people moving here should install it first. If you need a furnished place before you arrive, or you'd rather not write to fifty strangers in German, this guide covers the alternatives too.
First: what is a WG?
WG stands for Wohngemeinschaft, a shared flat. You rent your own room and share the kitchen, bathroom and often a living room with your flatmates. In Germany a WG is a normal way to live well beyond student years, and flatmates tend to choose who moves in, often after a chat or a visit (a WG-Casting).
That's the part that surprises newcomers. You're not just applying for a room, you're also being picked as a person to live with. Your message matters.
A few German words you'll see in every listing:
| German | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WG-Zimmer | A room in a shared flat |
| Warmmiete | Rent including heating and usually other running costs |
| Kaltmiete | Base rent without those costs |
| Nebenkosten | Running costs and service charges |
| Kaution | Deposit |
| Zwischenmiete | Temporary sublet |
| Anmeldung | Registering your address with the city |
| Gesuch | A "wanted" ad posted by someone looking for a room |
How the WG-Gesucht app works
The official app is free on iOS and Android. On the German App Store it has 4.7 stars from 54,538 ratings. WG-Gesucht says up to 200,000 new ads are added each month, and private ads are free to post.
The main reason to use the app rather than the website is real-time notifications, because it helps to be one of the first to write about a popular room.
If you don't speak German:
- WG-Gesucht has English pages, but the ads themselves are written by the people who post them, so expect plenty in German.
- Use your phone's translator to read ads, but read the numbers yourself: rent, deposit, move-in date and how long the room is available.
- Open with a line or two of simple German, even if the rest is in English, and say which languages you speak. It shows you made an effort.
- Say who you are, why you're moving, when you arrive and how long you'll stay. Flatmates want to know this first.
- Look for ads that mention English or an international flat, and write to those first.
Is WG-Gesucht Plus worth it?
Plus is an optional subscription for people searching:
| Term | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | €20.90 / month | Cancel monthly, no application folder |
| 3 months | €19.90 / month | Validated application folder included (WG-Gesucht values it at €29.95) |
| 12 months | €13.90 / month | "Up to 33% cheaper" per month, according to WG-Gesucht |
You see exclusive listings earlier, your messages sit at the top of the landlord's inbox, your profile is highlighted with instant verification, your "wanted" ad goes to the top of the list, and you get insights on demand and competition, with no ads. It renews automatically until you cancel, so set a reminder.
It can help if you're in a competitive city and in a hurry. It doesn't change the fact that your message still has to convince the people living there.
Alternatives for newcomers
HousingAnywhere: for arranging something from abroad
HousingAnywhere offers mid and long-term stays, including WG rooms, studios and flats. It's a natural fit if you want to arrange something before you arrive. As a tenant you pay the first month's rent and, depending on the region, a non-refundable protection fee, so check the total before you commit. (Studenten-WG.de now redirects here too.)
Wunderflats: for a furnished flat of your own
Wunderflats focuses on furnished temporary flats with all-inclusive rent, plus a one-off service fee that depends on where you rent. It's a good way to land somewhere while you look for a longer-term place, but it isn't the place to look for a WG room.
Hommis: for swiping, with the interface in English
Hommis works like a dating app for rooms. You swipe on rooms and flats, people with a free room swipe on seekers' profiles, and when both sides like each other a chat opens. Searching, swiping, matching and chatting are free with no commission. An optional Pro subscription is aimed mainly at people listing rooms. The app is available in 12 languages, including English and German, and it has no country restriction.
To be fair: Hommis works in every country, especially Malta and Europe, but in German cities it has far fewer listings than WG-Gesucht. Use it alongside WG-Gesucht in Germany, not instead of it. Here's how the swiping works.
heyroom, Kleinanzeigen and ImmoScout24: for more options
heyroom is a WG app for iOS and Android built around "Map & Match", and it's free to start. Kleinanzeigen is a general classifieds site with an "Auf Zeit & WG" category for shared flats and temporary stays. ImmoScout24 has a free app with WG search, and a paid Suchen+ service for applicants, with verified income, rent-payment, ID and credit documents. That's more useful for renting your own flat than for a WG room.
Comparison
| Platform | Best for | Cost for seekers |
|---|---|---|
| WG-Gesucht | Most WG rooms in Germany | Free app, Plus from €13.90/month |
| HousingAnywhere | Mid and long-term stays, arranged from abroad | First month's rent, plus a protection fee in some regions |
| Wunderflats | Furnished temporary flats | One-off service fee, varies by location |
| Hommis | Swipe and match with the interface in English, smaller supply in Germany | Free (optional Pro aimed at listers) |
| heyroom | Match-based WG search | Free to start |
| Kleinanzeigen | A second place to look | Free to browse |
| ImmoScout24 | Also considering your own flat | Free app, Suchen+ is paid |
For a wider view, including the UK and US, see our best apps to find a room or flatmate.
Avoiding scams when you're abroad
Newcomers are an obvious target, because you can't easily view a place in person. On any platform:
- Don't pay before you've seen the room, or had someone you trust see it for you, and don't pay a deposit before you have a contract.
- Be wary of "I'm abroad, I'll post you the keys". It's a classic warning sign.
- Be suspicious of prices far below similar rooms in the same area.
- Ask for a live video tour if you can't visit, and check that the person has the right to rent the place out.
- Don't send copies of your ID too early, and be careful with any payment method you can't reverse.
- Report suspicious profiles to the platform. In Hommis you can report profiles and chats and block users.
What we'd do
Install the WG-Gesucht app and turn on notifications. If you need somewhere to land first, look at HousingAnywhere or Wunderflats, then keep searching for a WG once you're in the city. Add Hommis or heyroom if you'd like a route that doesn't depend on cold messages.
Try Hommis for free on the App Store or Google Play.
Last reviewed: 3 November 2026.
