OpenZen
Everyday information, easier to understand
OpenZen offers five free, ad-free apps for waste sorting, social support, finding medical facilities, understanding documents and searching for jobs. They help people in Germany find information and understand their next step.
Why OpenZen
New digital tools reach companies and technically experienced users first. Someone who cannot make sense of a letter from a public authority, is looking for the right advice centre, or has only just arrived in Germany is often left alone with confusing information.
This is where OpenZen starts. Each app handles one clearly defined everyday task: disposing of an item correctly, finding the responsible office, understanding a document, searching for a suitable job. No user account, no advertising, no resale of data.
The apps do not replace professional advice, medical information or official procedures. They are meant to make the next step easier to understand; the decision remains with people and the competent authorities. Whatever has not yet been technically verified is identified as open on this website.
Apps
LifeZen
Photograph an object or item of packaging to identify its waste category and receive a clear disposal suggestion.
iOS 1.1 · App Store · Publicly available | Android 1.0.3 · Google Play · Publicly available
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HelpZen
Find advice centres, food banks, authorities and social support services by topic and location, and access their contact details.
iOS 1.1 · App Store · Publicly available | Android 1.2.0 · Google Play · Publicly available
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MedZen
Search for medical practices, pharmacies, hospitals and other medical facilities by specialty, location and distance.
iOS 1.4 · App Store · Publicly available | Android 1.1.2 · Google Play · Publicly available
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DocZen
Scan paper documents or import PDFs, translate their contents and identify important details such as deadlines, amounts and next steps.
iOS 1.0 · App Store · Publicly available
DocZen 1.1 for iOS and Android is prepared but has not been publicly released.
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JobZen
Find and save jobs in Germany by occupation, postal code, distance and employment characteristics.
iOS 1.2 · App Store · Publicly available
JobZen Android 1.2.0 has been submitted to Google for a closed test. Approval is pending.
Learn moreOpenZen for municipalities and organisations
Municipalities, welfare organisations and advice centres can trial the apps as supplementary orientation aids. Their suitability for a specific target group is assessed jointly.
Note: This does not imply an existing partnership with any named organisation.
Learn moreAbout OpenZen
OpenZen is an independent, non-commercial technology initiative under development. Responsibility lies with Artem Stukalo, a developer based in Engelskirchen. He comes from Ukraine and has lived in Germany with his family since 2022; his own experience of arriving in a new country was the starting point for OpenZen.
The public apps are free and contain no advertising. OpenZen does not sell personal data and does not use marketing tracking. Data processing and external services differ by app and version; the details are set out under Transparency.
Note: OpenZen does not claim formally recognised charitable status.
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