The German rental portals: where Germans actually search
Expat Facebook groups are useful, but most real apartments are listed on five German portals. Here's what each one is best for, how to read the listings, and how to apply on all of them fast – even if your German isn't fluent yet.
The five portals worth checking
ImmoScout24
The largest portal, with the most professional landlords and agencies. Deep filters and the widest selection – the first place most searchers look.
WG-Gesucht
The go-to for WG rooms (shared flats) and often private landlords. The friendliest portal for newcomers, and applications are frequently read by the people you'd actually live with.
Kleinanzeigen
Formerly eBay Kleinanzeigen – lots of private listings and quick turnover. Great for speed, but watch out for scams (see below).
Immowelt & Immonet
Two closely linked portals with good coverage from agencies and housing companies, especially outside the very biggest cities. Worth checking so you don't miss regional listings.
How to search effectively
- Filter by Kaltmiete, not Warmmiete: set your budget on the cold rent so utilities don't push you over. Not sure of the difference? See the glossary.
- Set up search alerts: most portals email you new listings. In tight markets, being among the first to reply is what gets you a viewing.
- Cover all five: listings differ between portals, so don't rely on just one. A private landlord on Kleinanzeigen won't appear on ImmoScout24.
- You usually don't need paid upgrades: premium memberships add convenience, but a fast, personal application beats any paid badge.
Spotting scams on the portals
Too good, too far away, pay first? Walk away.
Fake listings are most common on the open, private-listing portals. Red flags: a suspiciously cheap flat, a "landlord" who is abroad and can't meet, and a request to transfer a deposit or rent before you've seen the place. Never pay anything before viewing the apartment in person and signing a contract. Real landlords never ask for money up front.
One tool for all five portals
WohnungsBewerber works on ImmoScout24, WG-Gesucht, Kleinanzeigen, Immowelt and Immonet. It reads the open listing, writes your personal German application letter and pre-fills the contact form – so you apply first on any portal, even without fluent German. You review and send it yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
Which website is best to find an apartment in Germany?
There's no single best one – listings are spread across ImmoScout24, WG-Gesucht, Kleinanzeigen, Immowelt and Immonet. Searching all five gives you the most listings and the best chance to be first.
Are the German rental portals available in English?
The interfaces are mostly German, and listings and landlord messages are in German. You can browse with a translator, but your application still needs to be in German – which is what the free WohnungsBewerber extension writes for you.
Do I need to pay to use the portals?
Browsing and applying is generally free. Portals sell optional paid upgrades that add filters or highlight your profile, but you don't need them – being fast and personal matters far more.
How do I apply on the German portals?
Open a listing and use its contact form to send a short, personal message in German plus your documents. WohnungsBewerber detects the listing on all five portals, writes the German letter and pre-fills the form – you review and send it yourself.