12 Best Language Learning Apps for Every Learning Style in 2023
Everyone has their own unique way of learning new things, so the ideal language learning app should be perfectly suited to your specific learning style. Fortunately, we’re spoilt for choice in 2023!
There’s a wide array of options, from classically structured courses to language learning game apps to audio exchange programs with native speakers from around the world.
Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, your device can easily be turned into the perfect language learning tool (for you, specifically) with one of these fun and customizable apps.
I’ve looked through all types of apps to find the 12 best language learning apps on the market for every learning style—and here they are!
Contents
- Best Language Learning Apps in 2023
- 1. Best Overall: Mondly
- 2. Best App for Native Media: FluentU
- 3. Best App for Structured Courses: Babbel
- 4. Best App for Personalized Language Learning: Busuu
- 5. Best App for Vocabulary: Memrise
- 6. Best App for Immersive Learning: Rosetta Stone
- 7. Best App for Audio-Based Learning: Pimsleur
- 8. Best App for Flashcards: Lingvist
- 9. Best App for Gamified Language Learning: Duolingo
- 10. Best App for Visual Learning: Drops
- 11. Best App for Novel Learning: Beelinguapp
- 12. Best App for Language Exchange: HelloTalk
- Common FAQs About Language Learning Apps
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
Best Language Learning Apps in 2023
| App | Best For | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Mondly | Best overall | See Mondly |
| FluentU | Best for native media | See FluentU |
| Babbel | Best for structured courses | See Babbel |
| Busuu | Best for personalized language learning | See Busuu |
| Memrise | Best for vocabulary | See Memrise |
| Rosetta Stone | Best for immersive learning | See Rosetta Stone |
| Pimsleur | Best for audio-based learning | See Pimsleur |
| Lingvist | Best for flashcards | See Lingvist |
| Duolingo | Best for gamified language learning | See Duolingo |
| Drops | Best for visual learning | See Drops |
| Beelinguapp | Best for novel learning | See Beelinguapp |
| HelloTalk | Best for language exchange | See HelloTalk |
1. Best Overall: Mondly
Overview
Name: Mondly
Description: An app that provides short bursts of learning through fun and high-tech methods.
Languages offered: 2 languages including Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, Danish, Arabic, Japanese, Greek, Romanian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Hebrew, Polish, Bulgarian and more.
Offer price: Base program is free; premium content available with a monthly subscription at $9.99/month or $47.99/year
Summary
Mondly tries to push language learning into the next generation through snappy daily lessons, competitive events and innovative features like AR, VR and chatbots. While this makes for a unique and engaging experience, level differentiation and uneven language instruction hold it back from being the best in its field.
- User friendliness - 9/109/10
- Delivers on promises - 8/108/10
- Authenticity - 7/107/10
- Value for price - 4/104/10
Pros
- High-tech, innovative features draw your attention
- Leaderboards fuel competition and make learning fun
- All languages can be set as target or native language
Cons
- Lack of differentiation between the different levels
- Need an annual membership for access to multiple languages
- Advanced features can feel a bit forced and unnatural
- Some languages could use more development
Mondly uses daily lesson plans and short lessons arranged by topic.
Mondly aims to help you hit the ground running by having you memorize keywords right off the bat.
The Mondly app features audio by native speakers, voice recognition for speaking practice, a dictionary, a verb conjugation tool and more.
By focusing on useful phrases, Mondly’s goal is to prepare you for real conversations with native speakers.
While this makes Mondly an excellent tool for beginners, the app also caters to intermediate and advanced students.
The Mondly app offers 33 language options. Read our complete Mondly review to give you a better sense of everything the program has to offer.
2. Best App for Native Media: FluentU
Pricing: $29.99/month, $143.99/year
Summary: FluentU features authentic media clips with interactive subtitles that explain the meaning of each word.
With FluentU, you hear languages in real-world contexts—the way that native speakers actually use them. Just a quick look will give you an idea of the variety of FluentU videos on offer:
FluentU really takes the grunt work out of learning languages, leaving you with nothing but engaging, effective and efficient learning. It’s already hand-picked the best videos for you and organized them by level and topic. All you have to do is choose any video that strikes your fancy to get started!
Each word in the interactive captions comes with a definition, audio, image, example sentences and more.
Access a complete interactive transcript of every video under the Dialogue tab, and easily review words and phrases from the video under Vocab.
You can use FluentU’s unique adaptive quizzes to learn the vocabulary and phrases from the video through fun questions and exercises. Just swipe left or right to see more examples of the word you're studying.
The program even keeps track of what you’re learning and tells you exactly when it’s time for review, giving you a 100% personalized experience.
Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes store or Google Play store.
3. Best App for Structured Courses: Babbel
Overview
Name: Babbel
Description: The "world's first language learning app," based around 10-15 minute interactive lessons.
Languages offered: 14 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Indonesian, Polish and English.
Offer price: Monthly subscription from $7.45/month up to a one-time fee of $349 for lifetime access
Summary
Babbel is a great app for anyone just starting a new language, with content that can provide a solid foundation for later learning. However, the app is limited in its scope, not offering much for intermediate and advanced learners, despite its promises to teach “language for life.”
- User friendliness - 9/109/10
- Delivers on promises - 8/108/10
- Authenticity - 8/108/10
- Value for price - 6/106/10
Pros
- Teaches applicable, useful conversational language
- Lessons build upon previous knowledge
- Includes language tips within lessons about grammar, formality, sentence structure, etc.
Cons
- Limited language choice, considering the age of the app
- Doesn’t offer much for intermediate or advanced learners
- Not enough variety in exercise format
- Lets users skip entire sections, which can be a problem when lessons build on previous lessons
Babbel uses several methods to teach practical language in 10- to 15-minute sessions.
Babbel aims to improve your confidence and comprehension through interactive courses for beginning through advanced students.
These courses offer exercises for reading, writing, listening and speaking, ensuring a well-rounded language education.
Babbel offers 14 language options. Read our full Babbel review to see if this program is right for you.
4. Best App for Personalized Language Learning: Busuu
A Quick Busuu Review
Name: Busuu
Description: A learning program that prioritizes listening and speaking, thanks to a speech recognition tool.
14 Languages offered: Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Polish and Korean.
Offer price: Free (limited access); $13.95/month or $83.40/year
Summary
I recommend the Busuu premium plan for serious learners. The free version is fun but very limited. Busuu is impressive in terms of getting speaking practice and learning conversational vocabulary, but there’s still room for improvement.
- User friendliness - 8/108/10
- Delivers on promises - 8/108/10
- Authenticity - 7/107/10
- Value for price - 9/109/10
Pros
- Personalized language goals
- Explanations of vocabulary, grammar and culture
- Comprehension checks to learn new words thoroughly
- Option to record answers and get feedback from native speakers
Cons
- Limited selection of languages
- Quality varies depending on your language course
- Content is somewhat lacking in entertainment value
- It’s possible to receive incorrect corrections
Busuu has short lessons, personalized reviews and feedback from native speakers.
The Busuu app is a versatile language tool for language learners at any level.
A proficiency test will determine your level and then you can start on one of the 150 units available.
Plus, Busuu offers the option to have your exercises corrected by native speakers to give you an edge.
The Busuu app offers 12 language options. You can see our full review of Busuu here to see if it’s right for you.
5. Best App for Vocabulary: Memrise
Overview
Name: Memrise
Description: User-friendly program based around spaced-repetition and authentic videos.
Languages offered: 23 languages offered, including Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Dutch, Turkish, Yoruba, Icelandic and more, as well as user-created content in other languages.
Offer price: Most content available for free; monthly subscription from $5.00/month up to $119.99/lifetime access
Summary
Memrise harnesses spaced repetition technology to help you master new words and phrases with full control over your learning. It’s also a monster directory for vocabulary in many languages. Just don’t expect a lot of grammar explanations or practice with putting the language to use.
- User friendliness - 9/109/10
- Delivers on promises - 8/108/10
- Authenticity - 10/1010/10
- Value for price - 6/106/10
Pros
- Methods backed up by solid science
- High-quality video and audio
- Customizable learning where you set your own goals
Cons
- Words and phrases taught in isolation, not in context
- Limited grammar explanations
- Not much writing or speaking practice
Memrise teaches you vocabulary through video clips of natives and lots of spaced repetition.
Memrise offers a fun app for beginning through intermediate language learners.
Through a variety of games, videos featuring native speakers and simulated text-message conversations, you’ll use your target language in a number of different entertaining contexts.
Memrise offers over 20 language options. To learn more about Memrise, check out our full review here.
6. Best App for Immersive Learning: Rosetta Stone
Overview
Name: Rosetta Stone
Description: A language learning software established in the 1990s.
Languages offered: 25 languages including Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Greek, Vietnamese and more.
Offer price: Monthly subscription from $7.99/month up to a one-time fee of $179 for lifetime access
Summary
Rosetta Stone has been a language learning giant since the 1990s. Today, it continues its legacy with an updated interface and streamlined instruction, but falls short of providing a comprehensive language learning experience.
- User friendliness - 7/107/10
- Delivers on promises - 8/108/10
- Authenticity - 6/106/10
- Value for price - 8/108/10
Pros
- Strong emphasis on common words and phrases
- Not as overpriced as it used to be
- Has speaking and pronunciation instruction
- Offers lessons with real native speakers of your target language
Cons
- Lacks grammar instruction
- Not optimized for spontaneous language usage (like conversations)
- Exercises can get repetitive
Rosetta Stone teaches you a language by completely immersing you.
This program uses practical immersion to help teach you usable language skills.
All your lessons will be completely in your target language.
The app doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but there are plenty of language learning options to pack into a small window.
Plus, speech recognition technology aims to help you improve your accent.
The Rosetta Stone app offers 24 language options. Check out our full review of Rosetta Spanish (written by a native Spanish speaker and long-time teacher).
7. Best App for Audio-Based Learning: Pimsleur
Overview
Name: Pimsleur
Description: A classic audio-based language program with a research-based method.
Languages offered: Offers 51 languages including Croatian, Czech, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, Ukrainian and more.
Offer price: $20.95 per month
Summary
Pimsleur focuses heavily on effective and practical verbal communication as opposed to reading and writing, so while it is effective for some it may not be the right fit for others.
- User friendliness - 7/107/10
- Delivers on promises - 9/109/10
- Authenticity - 9/109/10
- Value for price - 7/107/10
Pros
- Hands-free and convenient
- Teaches practical language
- Can help build confidence with speaking
- Can aid in long-term memorization
Cons
- Not much speech variety
- Material not very thrilling
- Doesn’t teach you grammar explicitly
- Limited vocabulary
- Almost no writing and reading
Pimsleur consists of quick audio lessons based on spoken dialogue.
Pimsleur is a classic audio language learning program that provides quick 30-minute audio lessons you can listen to on the go.
Each lesson has speaking prompts to help you develop your basic speaking skills.
Pimsleur is available in 51 languages with various levels and amounts of material.
Not sure if Pimsleur is right for you? Read our review here.
8. Best App for Flashcards: Lingvist
Pricing: $9.99/month, $79.99/year
Lingvist is a language learning app for busy learners of all levels.
By focusing on the most common vocabulary, Lingvist aims to equip you with highly usable language skills.
Plus, the app adapts to your needs in an attempt to maximize your learning.
The app teaches over 5,000 words in each language, grouped by themes like hobbies, family, medical vocab and much more.
Lingvist offers six languages. See our complete review of Lingqvist here.
9. Best App for Gamified Language Learning: Duolingo
Duolingo is known for its short, interactive lessons that encourage you to build a daily streak.
Duolingo is one of the hottest language learning products on the market and offers over 30 different language options.
The app aims to help you improve your vocabulary and grammar through lessons organized by difficulty and topic.
Lessons cover vocabulary recognition, listening activities and even voice-enabled speaking practice.
The app is free to download and use, with a subscription option that removes ads and other limitations.
You can read our full review of Duolingo here.
10. Best App for Visual Learning: Drops
Overview
Name: Drops
Description: Bite-sized language lessons to prevent burn-out.
Languages offered: 45 languages, including popular options like German, Chinese and Spanish, as well as more obscure options like Ainu and Igbo.
Offer price: Base program is free; Premium content available with a monthly subscription at $13/month, $69.99/year or $159.99 for lifetime access.
Summary
Drops is a fun and visually appealing app that teaches vocabulary through brief daily sessions. It over-emphasizes brevity, though, and its time-limits may be off-putting for some learners.
- User friendliness - 10/1010/10
- Delivers on promises - 9/109/10
- Authenticity - 7/107/10
- Value for price - 3/103/10
Pros
- Beautiful minimalist interface
- Consistent repetition-based vocabulary learning
- Ability to skip learned words
- Large variety of topics
- Useful language-specific extras, like Japanese kanji writing practice
Cons
- Has a daily five-minute limit for free users
- Only teaches vocabulary
- Minimal audio and no conversation practice
- Paid version doesn’t have much extra content
Drops teaches over 3,000 words through five-minute matching games.
Drops teaches vocabulary through interesting visuals in a way that makes your learning more enjoyable.
The free version of the app only gives you five minutes of learning per day (or every 10 hours).
The premium version offers the option of more time, but you may be surprised by how much you can learn in five minutes.
Drops currently has over 40 language options.
Here you can read about our experience using Drops.
11. Best App for Novel Learning: Beelinguapp
Pricing: $49.90/year, $63.90/year for family plan
Summary: Beelinguapp’s signature side-by-side language comparison tool pairs well with its wide range of media options.
Pun intended—Beelinguapp teaches 13 languages through a combination of engaging media, including novels, stories, news and song lyrics.
The variety of media helps keep things fresh! There’s even a handy audiobook option that allows you to listen along with each story.
The app shows you a story in two languages, side-by-side, so you can constantly compare meanings and follow along easily.
Combine that with its immersive audio feature, and you’ll be learning a new language using two senses at once!
12. Best App for Language Exchange: HelloTalk
Overview
Name: HelloTalk
Description: A language exchange app that aims to connect language learners with other language learners and native speakers.
Over 150 languages offered.
Offer price: Much of the program available for free; monthly subscription from $12.99/month, $79.99/year or $149.99/lifetime access
Summary
This app provides a fruitful way to connect with native speakers of your target language and create meaningful learning experiences. It uses a social media-like experience to connect you with native speakers in over 150 languages. However, since this app is entirely user-led, I recommend using the service in tandem with other language learning methods.
- User friendliness - 9/109/10
- Delivers on promises - 9.1/109.1/10
- Authenticity - 10/1010/10
- Value for price - 9/109/10
Pros
- Has various ways to connect, including text messaging, voice and video chat
- Combines language learning with social media
- Gets you naturally interacting with your target language
- Built to support language interaction
Cons
- User-led content and interactions can mean errors
- Conversations tend to stall past the small talk stage
HelloTalk helps you find and connect with native speakers for language practice.
With HelloTalk, you can chat with a native speaker and participate in group chats and community threads.
You can search for your perfect partner by language, location and more.
Once you find them, the app can also help you connect through text, audio or video.
HelloTalk also offers translation, transliteration, grammar correction and more.
HelloTalk offers these features in over 150 languages. Check out our in-depth review of HelloTalk here.
Common FAQs About Language Learning Apps
Which Is the Best Language Learning App?
The best language learning app depends on your needs, goals, level, time commitment and budget.
For example we’ve ranked Mondly highly, but if you want a completely free app and don’t have much time, Duolingo or Drops might be the best option.
Which Language Learning Apps Are Free?
Most language apps offer free trials, but the apps you can use for free (usually with limitations) include Duolingo, Drops, Memrise, Busuu and HelloTalk.
For more options, check out our full post on the topic!
Is Duolingo Better than Babbel and Rosetta Stone?
Duolingo offers more for free than Babbel and Rosetta Stone do, but Duolingo lacks conversation-focused lessons and speaking practice. However, you can learn grammar and a decent amount of vocabulary from all three.
Now you have 12 great options of apps to learn languages.
Try them out and find your favorites!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
