ZEIT Akademie - experience with the courses

A university lecture in your living room, just with better lighting and no attendance list. That's how the ZEIT Akademie feels to me. I tested the platform for two months. Here's what the subscription costs, how good the courses really are, and who it's worth it for.

What is the ZEIT Akademie?

• ProviderZEIT Akademie GmbH from Hamburg, part of the ZEIT publishing group
• Course libraryOver 100 video courses from more than 200 experts
• LanguagesEverything in German, plus eight English-language courses in their own category
• PriceFrom €19.99 per month, only cheaper with the annual subscription
• CertificateCertificate after each completed course, plus an e-book for reference

The ZEIT Akademie calls itself the streaming platform of knowledge. That hits the mark quite well. The courses run in the browser or in the app and are elaborately produced. Content-wise, it's about society, psychology, and work, not Excel formulas.

Honestly, I like this focus. The platform doesn't try to do everything. It wants to explain how people work, how democracy functions, and how you can negotiate better. For that, it brings in people who have something to say in their field.

Don't feel like reading? The ZEIT Akademie introduces itself here in 2:32 minutes.

Who is the ZEIT Akademie worth it for?

Private individuals stream the continuing education courses via the browser or the app. For companies, there is a second option. They access the courses cloud-based or have them integrated into their own learning management system. Prices for this are not publicly listed on the site; they are handled via a contact form. Which other providers are suitable for teams can be found in my overview of e-learning for companies.

My assessment: The platform suits curious people who want to listen to something intelligent in the evening. It doesn't suit you if you need a software course by Friday. In that case, you're much better off with LinkedIn Learning.

What does the ZEIT Akademie cost?

It's not free, but the price list is pleasingly short. There are two subscriptions and individual purchase. All three paths lead to the same videos in the end.

List prices from zeitakademie.de. The amounts include VAT; during the ordering process, ZEIT Akademie shows it separately. In Switzerland, the monthly subscription costs CHF 28.50, the annual subscription CHF 22.50 per month.

Cancellation and Term

According to the terms and conditions, you can cancel the monthly subscription at any time at the end of your billing month. The previously common three-month minimum term no longer exists. I think that's good, because that's exactly what put many people off.

With the annual subscription, you commit for one year. You must cancel four weeks before expiry. If you forget, access continues at €19.99 per month. At least you can then cancel at the end of any month.

Single Courses and the ZEIT Shop

A single course costs €99.99 and remains accessible indefinitely afterwards. The e-book is included. It is not purchased on zeitakademie.de, but in the ZEIT Shop. There, many courses are also available as DVD with companion book on the shelf. In the warehouse sale, many titles cost only €19 instead of €99. If you're only interested in one topic, you save a lot of money that way.

If you take out a subscription, you can choose one of nine printed companion books as a gift. A nice touch that I hardly know from any other platform.

What topics and courses are available?

The courses are grouped into six topic worlds: Society, Psychology, Health, Work, Culture and Knowledge. Previously there were eight, so the platform has tidied up. I find the new sorting much clearer.

English-language courses have their own category with eight titles. These include 'Remote work' and 'The Psychology of Negotiation'. The rest of the library is entirely in German. According to the provider, subtitles and transcripts are now available for every course.

My experiences with the courses

I looked at the Basics of Finance, the Home Office course, and the Career Guide. Plus a few shorter titles. What immediately struck me was the production quality. The courses look like a good educational program, just without commercial breaks.

The courses score points especially through their instructors. In front of the camera are names like Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün, Prof. Dr. Niels Van Quaquebeke or Giovanni di Lorenzo. The lessons are pleasantly short. Small quiz questions pop up in between to keep your mind alert.

Older courses are also included, such as the lecture on German history. You can tell by the visuals. The newer seminars use more visualizations and video sequences. In my opinion, they are easier to understand and more pleasant to watch.

I find the e-books really great. According to the provider, one is now included with every course. I skim through them again after the course, so the material sticks better.

The app is the weak point

The ZEIT Akademie app lags behind the competition. At least it downloads videos for on the go, so offline learning works. Otherwise it feels unfinished, and the reviews back me up. The last update was from February 2025.

What users say in the App Store and Play Store

My opinion is just one of many. That's why I checked how the ZEIT Akademie app performs in both stores.

Ratings from the German App Store and the German Google Play Store, retrieved on 31.08.2026.

Both values are based on a handful of votes. Statistically, that's worthless, but it still serves as a mood picture. The 3.2 in the App Store is the worst value of all platforms in this blog.

My tip before buying

First, check out the free lessons. You'll find them on every course page under the button 'View free lesson'. Then you create a free account and can take a look. For me, that's the most honest test before a subscription.

After completion, you receive a certificate that documents your participation. It is not a proof of performance. Honestly, I would have wished for a bit more significance here.

*Rating is based on my own opinion. Excluded is the field "User reviews", where you can rate the platform.

Frequently asked questions about ZEIT Akademie

Conclusion: Is ZEIT Akademie worth it?

For me, it's worth it if you are looking for knowledge out of curiosity. The courses are high-quality produced, and the instructors really have something to say. For a quick career skill, the library is too small. And the app could definitely use a revision.

• The subscription is slightly cheaper than that of LinkedIn Learning
• The number of courses is significantly lower than the competition
• The seminars are high-quality produced and staffed with renowned instructors
• After completing a course, there is a certificate that documents participation
• Courses are available in German, eight of them also in English

How the platform stacks up against the big providers is covered in my comparison of e-learning platforms. You can find specific courses with certification in the course database for online continuing education.

Share your opinion or question about ZEIT Akademie in the comments. Share the post with friends and colleagues, and help this small blog reach more readers.

Post written by Tim Geier - about the author.