Guide to the best language learning apps of 2024
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In this guide to the best language learning apps, we’ve listed all the most popular options from around the world. We’ve tested them all, so you don’t have to! Now you can use the extra time to go practice some new vocab!
Whether you’re searching for apps to learn English, Spanish, or something more niche, we’ll help you explore all options and make the right choice.
Best language learning app overall
Preply
Price
With Preply’s tutor search feature, you can decide how much you want to pay. Prices start at $10 per lesson. If you are unhappy with your first lesson, Preply will refund your money or replace your tutor for free.
Features
Preply takes the prize for the best language learning app overall. Why? You can connect to professional language tutors for 1-on-1 video lessons on the app. The search feature on the app enables you to choose expert tutors based on important factors, including if they’re native speakers, their availability, price, and popularity.
In between classes, you can practice on the go with courses on your app. These include grammar, business English, life abroad, and exam preparation. There are courses for all levels – beginner, intermediate, and advanced. You can also add words easily from your classes and practice them on the app to keep them fresh in your mind.
Although you’re learning the language the human way – through conversation – Preply is not just a language app for speaking. The suite of tools enables you to stay motivated, practice outside the lessons, and have a language coach to help you with all of your challenges. 92% of Preply learners have said that personal 1-on-1 lessons are more fun than previous methods.
Working alongside a Preply tutor enables you to get immediate feedback and personalized instruction to reach results you’ll love. With the app rated 4.8 out of 5, why not give it a try?
Pros
- Take personalized lessons with expert tutors
- View tutor videos, profiles, and reviews to choose the perfect tutor
- Practice on the go with flashcards
- Message tutors and get notifications about your lessons
Cons
- Tutors aren’t free (starts from $5)
Best free language learning apps
Duolingo
Price
The basic version of the Duolingo app is free. However, upgrading to Duolingo Plus for $6.99 a month eliminates ads and provides mastery quizzes.
Features
Duolingo is one of the best free language learning apps because it provides various learning activities, including fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice, and flashcards. Its game-like features also motivate users to earn gems by completing lessons, losing hearts by making errors, and gaining rewards by going on “streaks” (consecutive days of studying).
Pros
- Presents many ways to learn
- Provides audio clips with slower speeds
- Supports over 35 languages
Cons
- Mainly benefits beginner and intermediate learners
- Limited ways to practice real conversation
- Free version has adverts
Memrise
Price
The Memrise mobile app is free, but subscribing to a Premium Membership unlocks exclusive features. The upgrade costs $8.49 per month, $49.99 per year, or $99.99 for a lifetime subscription.
Features
Memrise ranks high in the free language learning apps list thanks to various learning tools, including videos of native speakers, multiple-choice questions, typing tests, and listening activities. It also offers “classic reviews” and “speed reviews” to test your knowledge of learned material. Your progress is tracked with flower images that grow the more you accurately interact with new phrases.
Pros
- Provides tools for users to create their courses and share with others
- Introduces words and phrases with videos of native speakers
- Offers 16 official language courses (more with user-created content)
Cons
- The free content is very limited
- Provides few opportunities to learn grammar
- Features vary dependant on web, iOS, and Android versions
Best apps for speaking and conversation
Speakly
Price
The basic version of Speakly is a free app but limited. The Premium Plan offers many more features and costs $11.76 for one month, $31.76 for three months, $58.79 for six months, and $82.29 for twelve months.
Features
Speakly is an effective foreign language learning app that can improve your conversation skills. First, it teaches you the 4,000 most statistically relevant words of your target language through typing tests and multiple-choice questions.
The Premium Plan enhances your speaking by using voice recognition software to engage you in authentic conversations and correct your pronunciation. Additional features include listening exercises, music recommendations, placement tests, and grammar guides.
Pros
- Chooses vocabulary based on research
- Enhances speech through voice recognition technology
Cons
- Must purchase Premium Plan to use most valuable features
- Requires reading to learn grammar concepts versus activities
- Doesn’t offer as many languages as other apps (only eight)
HelloTalk
Price
HelloTalk is free for users, though it includes advertisements and is limited to one language. The VIP Membership provides more perks but costs $6.99 per month, $45.99 per year, or $175 for a lifetime subscription.
Features
HelloTalk is a language learning app that connects you to native speakers for a language exchange. The app provides communication through texting, voice messages, video chats, and drawing.
During exchanges, tools are provided to translate messages and correct your partner. Users can also post questions or comments to the community on the app and study new vocabulary words.
Pros
- Improves conversation skills with native speakers
- Enables users to save specific corrections
- Supports over 150 languages
Cons
- Must rely on other users to converse and receive worthwhile feedback
- There is little moderation, which can make it sometimes feel like a dating app
- App is slow and buggy
HiNative
Price
The basic version of HiNative is free. However, a Premium subscription with additional features costs $11.40 per month.
Features
HiNative’s global community offers a unique way to improve your conversation skills. Specifically, users can upload audio files to ask native speakers if their speech sounds natural or is pronounced correctly.
You can also post questions about what a word or phrase means or ask for example sentences. Native speakers respond with their own audio recordings or written feedback.
Pros
- Addresses many aspects of conversation skills
- Has a search feature to browse previously asked questions
- Supports over 120 languages
Cons
- Doesn’t offer activities to learn the target language
- Must rely on other users to receive meaningful feedback
Best apps for learning vocabulary
Drops
Price
The Drops app offers a free version that limits learning to five minutes a day. The Premium Plan provides unlimited access to all content for $9.99 a month, $69.99 a year, or $159.99 for a lifetime subscription.
Features
Drops is a vocabulary app at heart. It allows you to learn new words and phrases by listening to audio recordings, dragging images to match vocabulary terms, and placing word chunks in the correct order. Additionally, users can track their progress, practice difficult words, and earn badges for various achievements.
Pros
- Contains visually appealing images and design features
- Provides a wide selection of topics
- Offers vocabulary learning for 45 languages
Cons
- Doesn’t provide tools to improve grammar
- Limits daily study time to five minutes in the free version
- Has no voice recognition software for pronunciation practice
Triplingo
Price
Triplingo offers a free version that includes access to all its basic features. Nevertheless, users can upgrade to access additional features for $19.99 for one month, $39.99 for three months, or $99.99 for a year.
Features
Out of all the apps for learning languages, Triplingo is arguably the best language learning app for travel, with useful words and and phrases that are relevant for travel in many countries. Users can access over 2,000 phrases and audio recordings on topics like how to get around, stay safe, and order food.
Interactive flashcards, quizzes, and audio lessons also enhance learning. Additional features also include a voice translator, cultural tips, a tip calculator, a currency converter, and a Wi-Fi dialer.
Pros
- Provides the most useful vocabulary for travel in specific countries
- Teaches correct pronunciation through slow and normal speed audio files
- Offers extra tools for successful travel
Cons
- Doesn’t teach users the building blocks of the language
- Can be glitchy and difficult to navigate
- Only offers the translator for a limited number of languages
QLango
Price
QLango offers its basic platform for free with advertisements. The Premium subscription provides more content and features but costs $35 per year and about $70 for a lifetime subscription.
Features
QLango effectively teaches vocabulary by breaking words down into themes. Then you have to master the phrases through multiple choice questions, matching translated pairs, and arranging word orders. Furthermore, it measures how long it takes you to answer each question to encourage quick thinking and track your progress.
Pros
- Has a wide variety of topics
- Provides useful statistics to measure progress
- Supports 30 languages
Cons
- Doesn’t use images to accompany vocabulary
- Offers no option to slow speech of audio
Best apps for pronunciation
Rosetta Stone
Price
Rosetta Stone offers a free version that is extremely limited in content. To access all content, users must pay $36 for a 3-month subscription (one language), $145 for a 12-month subscription (unlimited languages), or $299 for a lifetime subscription (unlimited languages).
Features
With its immersion-based method, Rosetta Stone has long been ranked one of the best apps for language learning. One reason is because of its speech recognition technology, which provides immediate feedback on your pronunciation. Lessons also incorporate audio recordings, images, and matching games, while other app features include digital flashcards, stories, and live lessons.
Pros
- Improves pronunciation through TruAccent™ voice recognition
- Provides a solid user experience
- Doesn’t require extensive reading to learn grammar
Cons
- Expensive to access all content
- Doesn’t offer native language translations
- Has no placement test to determine language level
(How to) Pronounce
Price
Free but offers in-app purchases.
Features
The (How to) Pronounce app is a database that allows users to search for words or phrases spoken by native speakers. It further aids in pronunciation by adjusting the audio speed and enabling users to save lists of essential vocabulary for later review.
Pros
- Enhances understanding with slow speed option
- Supports 18 languages
Cons
- Doesn’t offer any lessons or activities
- Only offered on iOS products
Mosalingua
Price
Mosalingua provides users with a limited free version of their app. However, users can upgrade to a monthly subscription ($9.99) or a yearly subscription ($59.99) to access additional content and features.
Features
Mosalingua allows you to listen to native speakers’ pronunciation, record yourself, and then compare the two audio files. Other activities include matching words to images and fill-in-the-blank questions. Finally, travel stories provide audio dialogue in the target language accompanied by images, transcripts, and flashcards.
Pros
- Enables users to compare their pronunciation to native speakers’
- Provides unique ways to learn
- Assists learners of all levels
Cons
- Requires upgrading to access all valuable content and features
- Only supports eight languages
Best apps for game-based learning
Mondly
Price
Mondly offers a free version that is limited in content. The paid subscription costs $9.999 per month, $47.99 per year, and $89.99 for the lifetime subscription.
Features
Mondly is a popular language-learning app due to its gamified lessons. This includes matching phrases with images, swiping for correct answers, choosing accurate translations, rearranging words in a sentence, and answering multiple-choice questions. Most impressively, it offers a chatbot feature that allows users to engage in real-life conversations by voice recording suggested responses.
Pros
- Provides engaging games with speech recognition technology
- Tracks progress through learning stats, points, and leaderboards
- Supports 33 languages
Cons
- Targets beginners more than other language levels
- Consistently suggests upgrading to Premium
Busuu
Price
Busuu’s Basic Plan is free and provides access to some of its content. Signing up for the Premium Plan for about $6.86 per month or the Premium Plus Plan for about $7.83 per month offers additional content and features.
Features
With lessons designed by linguists, Busuu users can learn new vocabulary and grammar through audio recordings, images, fill-in-the-blank questions, true or false questions, and more. One special feature allows users to provide each other with feedback on their speech and writing.
Pros
- Engages users in diverse activities
- Provides free access to feedback from native speakers
- Puts material into context with conversation activities
Cons
- Blocks access to some content in Basic Plan
- Some users provide incorrect feedback in the community feature
- Doesn’t offer as many languages as other apps (only 12)
Best apps for grammar
Lingualift
Price
After trying out the first lesson for free, Lingualift users must choose one of the following subscriptions: one month ($19.99), three months ($50.97), six months ($89.94), or one year ($155.88).
Features
After filling out a questionnaire about your goals, study habits, and learning style, Lingualift designs a personalized study plan for you and gives you an ebook about how to master your target language. The lessons provide straightforward grammar tips, new vocabulary, and entertaining videos. The most useful thing is that users can send written homework activities to Lingualift tutors for feedback and correction.
Pros
- Lessons are easy to understand
- Offers entertaining and humorous content
- Provides many resources for independent practice
Cons
- All explanations are in English
- Only supports five language
Best apps to practice listening
Pimsleur
Price
After completing one free lesson, Pimsleur users are required to subscribe to the service for $14.95 a month.
Features
Pimsleur is one of the best language learning apps to improve listening skills. Its method is completely audio-based and requires users to listen to authentic dialogue, imagine real-life situations, repeat words, and learn new phrases. It is accompanied by reading activities, flashcards, matching exercises, and review sessions to solidify knowledge.
Pros
- Provides additional resources to expand learning
- Supports 59 languages
Cons
- High cost
- Doesn’t incorporate many images
Beelinguapp
Price
The free version of Beelinguapp offers limited access to its content and features. The Premium version costs $13.99 for one year or $22.99 for a lifetime membership.
Features
Beelinguapp provides audio recordings of books, news stories, and songs accompanied by paralleled transcripts with users’ target language and native language. The animation highlights each word as it’s read so you can easily follow along. Additional features allow you to save new vocabulary, study flashcards and take comprehension quizzes.
Pros
- Research-based method to improve listening and reading skills
- Provides content for learners at all levels
- Supports 14 languages
Cons
- Subscription needed to access all content
- Doesn’t provide speech recognition technology
Lirica
Price
Lirica offers some content and features for free. However, to access all songs and lessons, users need to choose one of these subscription options: 1 month (~$4.20), 3 months (~$9.50), or 12 months (~$13.75).
Features
Lirica allows users to listen to popular songs in their target language while following along with highlighted lyrics. Users’ understanding is tested by identifying phrases in audio clips, answering true or false questions, matching spoken and written words, and rearranging the order of phrases to match the recording.
Pros
- Uses famous artists and songs
- Includes interesting facts about artists
- Increases motivation through competition with other users
Cons
- Only supports three languages (English, Spanish & German)
- Provides minimal explanations of grammar concepts
Language learning apps: The verdict
No matter what language you want to learn, or what kind of language learner you are, there are a massive amount of apps available. Each one has pros, cons, and differing specialties. Decide which language area you wish to develop, then use this list to find the best option. Most apps also offer a free version or trial to be sure you find it helpful before committing to payment.
Remember, though, apps often have limitations and can usually only help you develop your language skills in one area. If you can afford to, mix up your app-based learning with language classes, either online with a service like Preply, or in a traditional classroom setting. As John Fotheringham, creator of languagemastery.com says: “Language apps are a great supplement to a balanced language diet… but they shouldn’t be the main course“:
1-on-1 tutoring on the Preply app will guarantee you can develop all aspects of language learning at once. So, what are you waiting for? Head to the app store on your device, download, and start your language journey today.
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