There are dozens of outstanding language learning apps to choose from. But the hard part is narrowing it down to the best one for you. We looked at all of the top language learning apps on the market to see which really offer the best features for the price and narrowed it down to our seven favorites. No matter what your language goals or your learning style, there’s an app here that meets your needs.
Babbel has several different pricing structures to choose from. First, their monthly subscription method allows you to pay every month, three months, six months, or year. The longer your subscription, the less you’ll pay per month. There’s also a 20-day money-back guarantee in case you sign up and don’t love it.
Babbel has excellent reviews. With more than 257,000 ratings, the app has an average of 4.7 of 5 stars. The developer goes out of their way to respond to customer reviews, both positive and negative ones.
Pros:
Interactive dialogue to help with pronunciation10-15 minute lessons to make it flexible with your scheduleUnique and immersive teaching style
Cons:
Few features to keep you motivatedSimilar format to traditional learning, which isn’t right for everyoneLess content for less popular languages
Lessons are progressive, meaning each one builds off of the one before it. You can’t move on until you’ve unlocked each level by answering enough correct answers. And if you spend too much time away from the app, it will have you repeat certain lessons to ensure your skills haven’t gotten rusty. Duolingo’s reviews speak for themselves: the he app has more than 1.2 million ratings on the app store, with an average rating of 4.7 of 5 stars. Duolingo consistently earns the App Store’s Editor’s Choice award. Pros:
Free language learningWell organized, progressive lessonsFeatures designed to keep you motivatedLessons can be done in just a few minutes
Cons:
Less content for less popular languagesRequires you to learn topics in a certain orderLimited opportunity for real-world practice
Rosetta Stone has modernized its pricing structure to make it more competitive with other language learning apps. Rather than paying a set price for each language, you can now pay for a subscription-based plan. Three- and 12-month plans offer monthly rates ranging from $7.99 and $11.199. But for committed learners, you can pay $179 for lifetime access to unlimited languages. Rosetta Stone’s app has excellent reviews. With roughly 160,000 reviews on the App Store, the app has an average rating of 4.8 of 5 stars, making it one of the most highly-rated language learning apps on the market. Pros:
Various pricing optionsPersonalized lesson planProven teaching method
Cons:
Limited instruction or explanationsSometimes repetitive lessonsDoesn’t prepare you for conversational use
Memrise Pro has three different pricing options. The month-to-month plan is available for just $8.99 per month, but if you upgrade to the annual plan, it comes out to just $7.50 per month. Finally, you can purchase lifetime access for $139.99, which is the equivalent of paying for the monthly plan for just over a year. Memrise’s app has excellent user reviews. With more than 175,000 reviews, the app has an average rating of 4.8 of 5. It also has an Editor’s Choice Award for being one of the best language learning apps. Pros:
Designed to help you learn real-world phrasesGame elements to make learning more funLots of content for each language
Cons:
Exercises can be repetitiveVarying quality of user-created contentFocused on vocabulary, not grammar
Busuu has three different plan options to choose from. The free Basic plan gives you access to one language and a limited number of features. The Premium plan (€9,99 per month) also allows for just one language but allows you to unlock more features. Finally, the Premium Plus plan (€10,99 per month) gives you access to up to 12 languages and all app features. Monthly, 12-month, and 24-month plans are available, with the longer plans being cheaper per month. Though Busuu doesn’t have the number of users as some of the more popular language learning apps, it still has excellent reviews by those who have used it. The app has roughly 63,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7 of 5 stars. Pros:
Interaction with native speakersGoal-oriented approachWell-structured courses
Cons:
Limited pronunciation, reading, and listening comprehension exercisesSometimes monotonous exercisesSmall language selection
Pimsleur’s premium plan is a bit more expensive than its competitors. After a free, seven-day free trial, you’ll pay $19.95 per month to learn a language. The good news is that Pimsleur claims you can learn a new language in just 30 days. The Pimsleur app doesn’t have a huge user base yet, but those that use it give it excellent reviews. With about 4,400 reviews on the app store, the app has an average rating of 4.7 of 5 stars. Pros:
Easy to learn while on the goLearn from native speakers50 languages to choose from
Cons:
Expensive subscriptionLimited visual learningDoesn’t help with reading or writing skills
Drops has simple subscription methods to choose from: you can pay $9.99 per month for a month-to-month plan. Alternatively, you can pay $69.99 for an annual plan – this comes out to less than $6 per month. Drops has an Editor’s Choice Award on the app store and has excellent reviews from its users. With more than 50,000 reviews, the app has an average rating of 4.8 of 5 stars. Pros:
Good for visual learnersLearn in a fun and engaging wayMany languages and topics to choose from
Cons:
Only focused on vocabularyLimited to five minutes per dayDoesn’t prepare you for real-world use
First, decide ahead of time what language you want to learn. Each app has a limited number of languages available. Some languages, such as Spanish, French, and German, are likely to be available on any app. But other less common languages might be harder to find. Knowing what language you want to learn will help you to narrow down the app. It’s also important to consider how you learn best. Some language learning apps take a more traditional approach to teaching, while others use more unique methods for alternative learners. Do you learn best by reading words on a screen? Hearing a teacher explain a concept? Or perhaps just hearing real-world use of a language and picking it up as you go? Each app is best suited to certain learning styles. Finally, consider your ultimate goal with your language studies. If you enjoy learning languages and don’t anticipate using them in the real world, then you may have a greater variety of apps to choose from. But if you’re planning to use what you learn in real-world situations such as travel or interacting with native speakers, then focus on an app that caters to that purpose. And to stand out, an app must have something new to offer. Well, all of those on our list do, whether it’s their teaching approach, interactive features, or a one-of-a-kind approach. Factors we considered when choosing the best apps to include:
Unique approachTeaching methodsFeaturesPriceApp ratingsNumber of languages offered
One study found that 59% of language app users improved their oral proficiency in another language by at least one sublevel on the proficiency scale of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
