Nobody can predict how long it will take YOU. That depends on your education, your language learning aptitude, your motivation, your everyday situation, your age and more. You have 24/7 access for as long as your membership is active, and learning German at SmarterGerman is NOT about finishing a course but understanding and implementing the knowledge presented to you.

A1 to C1 in one year is theoretically possible - with at least 3 hours of study a day plus homework, like an intensive German course at any language school. Reference numbers at that pace: 2 months for A1, 2 months A2, 2 months B1, 3 months each for B2 and C1. A good planner adds 20% on top, because there will likely be unforeseen circumstances.

At 10-15 hours per week, these are realistic estimates based on the CEFR framework. It is the same number of hours as above, just spread over more months:

A1 - Beginner: 80-200 hours, 2-5 months
Basic phrases, introduce yourself, simple questions.

A2 - Elementary: 200-400 total hours, 5-10 months
Routine tasks, simple conversations about familiar topics.

B1 - Intermediate: 350-650 total hours, 9-16 months
Travel independently, describe experiences, understand main points.

B2 - Upper Intermediate: 600-1000 total hours, 15-25 months
Fluent conversations, understand complex texts, express opinions.

C1 - Advanced: 800-1200 total hours, 20-30 months
Near-native understanding, nuanced expression, academic/professional use.

C2 - Mastery: 1000-1500+ total hours, 25-38+ months
Native-like fluency, effortless understanding of everything.

Language schools cannot promise more: intensive courses often take 2-3 months per level, but that doesn't necessarily mean everyone has reached the designated level by then. According to the integration course stats of the BAMF, roughly only 50% of students pass B1 after 6 months of intensive classes.

Study as much as you CAN and ENJOY. You CAN study 24/7 - you're 100% flexible with no teacher or classmates to wait for. If you only have 30min a day, that's how long you study. If you're tired, take a break. If things flow, keep going.

Quality beats quantity and speed. Rushing produces crappy German. Take your time, digest what you learn. Your deadline is made up to begin with - the only exceptions are exams for visa or citizenship. The most important thing when learning any language is to enjoy doing so.

For details, see my blog post on German language levels.

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