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
Pricing: $9.99/month, $47.99/year
Summary: 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.
FluentU teaches you a language through authentic videos that native speakers actually watch.
These include movie trailers, news segments and scenes from popular TV series—all with interactive subtitles to aid your understanding.
You can also see how the word is used in different contexts through example sentences and other videos.
For review, the app has personalized quizzes, speaking exercises and flashcards.
FluentU currently offers 10 languages.
3. Best App for Structured Courses: Babbel
Pricing: From $7.45 to 14.95/month depending on plan length, $349 for lifetime access
Summary: 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
Pricing: $13.95/month, $50.70/6 months, $83.40/12 months
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
Pricing: Free, $8.49/month, $59.99/year, $119.99 for lifetime access
Summary: 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
Pricing: $35.97/3 months, $143.88/12 months, $299 for lifetime access
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
Pricing: $20.95/month for Pimsleur all-access
Summary: 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
Pricing: Free, $83.88/year, $119.99/year for family plan
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
Pricing: Free, $13.00/month, $69.99/year, $159.99 for lifetime access
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
Pricing: $12.99/month, $63.99/year, $179.99 for lifetime access
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)
