15 Best Apps For Learning Korean in 2023
Your smartphone can be used for more than just social media and games?
It can easily become your ultimate ally in learning the Korean language instead!
There are a whole host of apps available that can help you get started, or continue learning Korean.
Here’s how to unlock the endless possibilities of your smartphone and learn Korean using apps.
Contents
- 15 Best Apps To Study Korean in 2022
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- 1. Best All-in-One App: Rocket Languages
- 2. Best App for AudioVisual Learners: FluentU
- 3. Best Beginner App: LingoDeer
- 4. Best Dictionary App: Naver Dictionary
- 5. Best Immersion App: Rosetta Stone
- 6. Best App for Pronunciation: Pimsleur
- 7. Best Flashcard App: Memrise
- 8. Best Listening App: KBS Radio
- 9. Best App for Reading Practice: Joongang Daily
- 10. Best App for Busy Learners: DuoLingo
- 11. Best Vocabulary Builder: Drops
- 12. Best Speaking App: HelloTalk
- 13. Best App for Travelers: Learn Korean Phrasebook
- 14. Best App for Tutor Support: italki
- 15. Best App for Advanced Learners: Viki
15 Best Apps To Study Korean in 2022
We have tried and tested dozens of Korean learning apps, from formal online courses to simple Korean games and gathered the best of the best in one place to help you get started. Below you will find 15 of the most helpful apps to learn Korean, along with pricing information and reviews. It’s time to get ou your smartphone and start using it to its full ability!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. Best All-in-One App: Rocket Languages
Price: Paid subscription
Summary: A comprehensive full Korean course in an app with high-quality content.
Rocket Korean is a complete course with all the tools you need to start or continue your Korean journey. It has a ton of content compared to other courses on this list and covers all of the basic skills: speaking, vocabulary, listening, grammar and useful phrases.
The course is broken up into distinct levels, modules and sections so it works well to keep you organized while you go through each step. It has clear and precise grammar explanations, interactive audio and a “survival kit” that covers basic phrases and expressions for getting around in daily life.
Although it sports a bit higher of a price tag than some other courses, the amount of content you get with this app makes it well worth it, as you can really feel the bang for your buck.
Paying once for the course gives you lifetime access to all the content.
See our full review of Rocket Languages here.
2. Best App for AudioVisual Learners: FluentU
Price: Free trial, paid subscription
Summary: Video-based learning platform that uses authentic media clips to teach Korean, equipped with interactive subtitles, flashcards and quizzes.
In order to learn more than ‘textbook’ Korean, you will eventually have to consume authentic content, that is, content made by and for native speakers. This means you have to venture into the world of Korean media. But it isn’t always as easy as it sounds, sometimes it’s difficult to find the right content, or you might not have the right tools to help you understand. That is where FluentU comes in.
Available as a website and an app, the FluentU language learning program is all about learning with authentic Korean videos.
It has a curated library of Korean content—from BTS music videos to tutorials on how to apply sunblock perfectly. You’ll be watching these videos with the assistance of a variety of learning tools, including interactive subtitles in Korean, with an English translation underneath (and you can toggle off either one, or both if you’re looking for a challenge). Click on any Korean word in the subtitles to instantly see its meaning, pronunciation, usage examples and some basic grammatical information.
After each video, you’ll be prompted to take a quiz that allows voice input, so you can answer questions by speaking into your device (or you can opt to tap or type it out). From there, you can build your own vocabulary lists and flashcard decks to review the vocabulary you’ve been discovering through the videos. You can even look up words with the video dictionary if you want to see how a particular word is used. After that, check out the speaking feature to improve your pronunciation and intonation.
3. Best Beginner App: LingoDeer
Price: Free, subscription available
Summary: A structured course that covers a foundation for Korean vocabulary, grammar and dialogues.
LingoDeer is a great app for beginners as it teaches Korean from the basics in a step-by-step guide so you will never feel lost or overwhelmed. The app builds upon the previous lessons taking you from beginner to intermediate level.
The courses are structured and offer vocabulary lessons, detailed explanations of grammar points and contextual dialogues. As you move up through the lessons and units, you will also have access to flashcards, stories, phrasebooks and more to keep you on your toes and never bored.
See our full review of LingoDeer here.
4. Best Dictionary App: Naver Dictionary
Price: Free
Summary: A Korean dictionary app with audio and example sentences.
If you’re not already using the Naver Dictionary app, you’re in for a treat.
Naver, Korea’s most popular search engine, has developed what is arguably the most accurate and comprehensive Korean dictionary around. Available in 33 languages—which is very convenient if English isn’t your mother tongue—this free app will change the way you learn Korean vocabulary.
It features a wealth of examples and model sentences to show you how to best use words, popular Korean idioms and even grammatical structures in context. The app also embeds high-quality audio recordings in each entry to help you verify Korean pronunciation and in most cases the 한자 (hanja) of each word.
The app includes a translator tool to help you translate complex Korean sentences on the fly, wherever you are. We particularly love the ability to create your own wordbooks where you can add and save useful vocabulary lists. Be sure to browse the lists regularly to memorize recently viewed words more efficiently.
To top it off, downloading the app gives you 24/7 access to Naver’s very comprehensive encyclopedia, a large database of information-packed articles in Korean to help you discover important and fascinating aspects of Korean culture.
5. Best Immersion App: Rosetta Stone
Price: Free demo account
Summary: Immersive learning program that teaches Korean through photos in an intuitive way.
Famed education app Rosetta Stone needs no introduction. Backed by 20 years of experience teaching language learners from all over the world, the Korean Rosetta Stone app will help you master the ins and outs of the Korean language in no time.
Rosetta Stone’s signature immersion-based method uses audiovisual stimulation to help you learn Korean naturally. The goal is always to memorize vocabulary and grammar patterns more efficiently here.
Now with this nifty digital technology, Rosetta Stone can provide you with real-time feedback to let you quickly identify problem areas, correct your mistakes and hone your speech recognition to achieve more accurate Korean pronunciation.
In addition, the app grants you access to live tutoring sessions where you can practice Korean conversation with a tutor who’s a native speaker. Plus, you can count on Rosetta Stone’s online community of learners to keep you on track.
This is an investment, but purchasing the app offers complete access to the Rosetta Stone Korean features and learning tools on your mobile devices for 24 months. Not sure if it’s quite right for you? Try out a free demo from the official site!
6. Best App for Pronunciation: Pimsleur
Price: Free trial, paid subscription
Summary: An audio course that helps beginners develop their listening and speaking skills.
Pimsleur has been around for over 50 years and for good reason. This basic audio course is perfect for beginners who want to learn the Korean basics.
The course details beginner vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure in the classic listen-and-repeat way you might be familiar with. The research behind it is that this is the same way you learned the language as a child, by repeating native speakers. Pimsleur takes it slow to make sure you have accurate pronunciation and intonation from the start.
Each lesson is just 30 minutes a day, so it’s also great to download the app to use on the go.
7. Best Flashcard App: Memrise
Price: Free, paid premium subscription
Summary: Flashcard app that uses mnemonics to reinforce vocabulary.
Memrise is the internet’s favorite flashcard app for language learning, and for good reason. Learners have access to a ton of high-quality content with everything from Korean vocabulary to grammar rules and phrases. The app includes flashcards with seven different course levels so you can continue to use it as your Korean knowledge grows.
The app also images, video and audio clips of native speakers to help you remember every word quickly and effectively. The real-world expressions will help you learn words and phrases in context, which acts as a great memory aid.
Of course, you also have the option of making your own flashcards for a truly customized experience.
8. Best Listening App: KBS Radio
Price: Free
Summary: A radio app with access to programs in Korean made by and for native speakers.
No need to fly off to South Korea to immerse yourself in Korean culture. This amazing app lets you listen to KBS radio and watch popular Korean shows directly from your smartphone.
Choose from a vast selection of programs, podcasts and talk shows that Korean natives love and watch, all for free. The app lets you access the KBS program schedule directly from your phone, so you never have to miss your favorite content. Watch it live or watch it later by accessing the archives.
Be sure to use the app’s interactive features to make learning more fun and interactive. Choose from a selection of 80 emoticons to express how much you like (or dislike!) the programs, and discuss the shows with other listeners.
9. Best App for Reading Practice: Joongang Daily
Price: Free
Summary: A news app with diverse content presented in Korean and English.
Who said reading Korean news was mission impossible?
Originally designed for Korean natives looking to improve their English, this fantastic free app by “Joongang Daily” makes reading Korean news fun and accessible to Korean learners.
Featuring select articles published in the Korean version of “Joongang Daily,” the app helps expand your understanding of the Korean language by letting you read new content every day on topics as diverse as politics, economy, diplomacy, social issues and the arts. Each article is accompanied by a translation in English so you don’t have to spend too much time looking up difficult words and so you can effectively study autonomously.
Constantly updated with fresh stories hot off the press, the app gives you access to one new article every day along with the collection of archived articles, perfect for catching up with Korean current events and for finding reading material that suits your tastes.
To best use the app, be sure to start off by reading the Korean version of any given article first, multiple times if necessary, until you have fully understood its content. Read it out loud as well to practice your Korean pronunciation. Then, write down any unknown words and structures and proceed to the English version. This will help you verify your understanding of the article and let you figure out the meanings of difficult words.
Write down the translations of difficult words and be sure to review your notes regularly. When you have memorized those words, read the article again and try to translate the article by yourself without looking at the English version.
Alternatively, if you’re an advanced student, try translating the article on your own. Read the Korean version and write down your proposed translation in English. While this is a more tedious, old-school activity, translation exercises work wonders in helping you focus on accuracy!
10. Best App for Busy Learners: DuoLingo
Price: Free, paid premium version
Summary: A Korean learning app that builds vocabulary and sentence structure through game-like quizzes and challenges.
If you are learning a language, you have probably heard of DuoLingo. The app is now the largest online learning platform with over 30 languages.
It works by having learners use game-like lessons and fun exercises to reinforce vocabulary and Korean phrases. Since the app actually makes learning feel like a game, it encourages learners to keep leveling up their skills, which can be a great way to get addicted to learning Korean.
The app bases its lessons on immersion learning, the same way children learn a new language, by displaying repetitive information and then quick quizzes to make sure everything sticks.
The best part is the app boasts the ability to build and retain a language in just five minutes a day. Perfect for those who want to learn Korean, but don’t have time for a class or heavy textbooks. If you are a little more serious, you can set your time to 20 minutes a day, which is still very doable for most learners, making this a great app to use on your commute, lunchbreak or before bed.
11. Best Vocabulary Builder: Drops
Price: Free, paid premium version
Summary: A game app that uses Korean words as drag and drop answers to improve vocabulary retention.
Drops is a fantastic option for learners who want to get a sufficient dose of the Korean language without being overwhelmed. For five minutes a day, the app teaches you the essentials of Korean vocabulary in a fun and immersive way.
The design is rather minimalist and visually appealing. When teaching words, Drops uses text, images and audio to ease them into your brain. The sessions themselves are game-like in nature, requiring you to drag-and-drop answers and tap away on your screen.
Vocabulary is categorized into different topics, touching upon matters such as food, colors, family members, nationalities and so forth.
12. Best Speaking App: HelloTalk
Price: Free
Summary: A language exchange app with unique features that help with pronunciation and grammar correction.
HelloTalk is not just for Korean, it is a language exchange app with users that speak over 100 languages for you to practice. The idea is that you connect with native speakers of the language you are learning and chat with them about the language, or anything else you like.
Since the app is free and powered by volunteers, there is no structured course or lessons, it is just putting all the Korean you have learned to use with real people.
The app’s standout features are a grammar correction function, which automatically reviews your grammar in Korean before you even send a message and a text-to-voice recognition function that allows you to practice your pronunciation.
If that isn’t enough, you can even record yourself and ask for feedback from native speakers, or schedule one-on-one lessons through audio or video chats with language experts to help you with any questions you might have.
See our full review of HelloTalk here.
13. Best App for Travelers: Learn Korean Phrasebook
Price: Free, paid premium version
Summary: A mobile phrasebook that lists Korean example sentences with English translations by topic.
Whether you’re preparing a visit to Korea or are looking for a solution to give you a head start in learning Korean, this user-friendly app is worth checking out.
Learn Korean Phrasebook delivers what it promises: a mobile Korean phrasebook to help you learn and look up useful sentences in Korean quickly. The app uses high quality audio recordings of native speakers to get you practicing and understanding authentic Korean pronunciation.
Intuitive and easy to use, this well-designed app lists 400 free Korean sentences with their English translations by topics, including Greetings, Basic Conversation, Numbers, Directions and Eating Out. In addition, the app lets you unlock up to 900 words in 18 categories when you purchase the premium version.
Our favorite features include the ability to adjust font size (it matters when you just start reading Hangul!), highlight important words with tips and even store frequently used phrases in a favorites section.
The cherry on top is that the guide is available offline as well, and that you won’t be bothered with annoying ads or popups. Ideal for travelers!
14. Best App for Tutor Support: italki
Price: Paid subscription
Summary: Video courses and classes with live teachers and tutor support.
If you are looking for a more formal way to learn a language, italki has plenty of resources that are really a bang for your buck. The app connects you with native teachers from all over the world sharing their languages, dialects, and cultures. You can choose who you want to learn from, so the price depends on each different teacher.
The lessons can be tailored to your needs, so if you want to learn conversational Korean for travel, if you need to speak Korean for business or if you want to pass a specific test, you can find the help you need.
They also have Language Challenges to help keep you motivated and learning prompts to keep you entertained, which will make your studies feel useful and relevant.
See our full review of italki here.
15. Best App for Advanced Learners: Viki
Price: Free, in-app purchases, paid premium account
Summary: Video streaming app for Korean movies and dramas.
Korean drama lovers, this is the app you’ve been longing for!
The Viki app lets you stream your favorite Korean movies and dramas on demand, wherever you are. Featuring a vast selection of popular and recently released Korean dramas, the app is a great way to keep up with Korean pop culture and to learn the Korean language using real native Korean content.
To get started, simply create an account. Viki lets you watch any video for free with frequent ads or by signing up for a premium account if you prefer to watch content without interruption.
To make your learning more efficient, use the Viki app in combination with your newly-downloaded Naver bilingual dictionary app. Viki gives you the option to watch videos with or without subtitles, including Korean subtitles in some instances.
If you opt for subtitles, be sure to look up unfamiliar expressions in the Naver app and take notes of the new vocabulary and grammar you’ve heard in Viki videos. Review your notes regularly and watch the episode again after you’ve memorized your vocabulary list, this time by watching the video entirely without subtitles.
Now that you know how to turn your phone into your best Korean learning weapon, all you need is a good Wi-Fi connection to start downloading.
Happy apping!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
