If you’ve decided to start learning Russian, you’ve probably discovered what a uniquely versatile world language it is. What’s more, Russian is one of the dominating languages when it comes to science and research across different fields.
For me, Russian is a native language, and because my family speaks it, I learned it as a child. It’s a challenging language since its alphabet is Cyrillic and not Latin, but it’s also a wonderfully fluid language to learn.
However, you’ll need all the help you can get to learn this complex language, and the best apps are a great place to start.
My Experience with Russian Language-Learning Apps
I may have cheated a little when testing these apps. My German husband has been trying to learn Russian, so I roped him into my experiment to identify the best apps to teach you Russian. Daniel spent a few weeks testing these out and we also chatted every day while I noted his findings.
I’ve personally used all of these apps – but to review Italian and Turkish and dabble in Spanish.
Here are my husband’s top picks and why he likes these specific language-learning platforms:
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Highly Recommended Apps
- Babbel: The app is a great choice if you want to focus on becoming conversational in Russian.
- Mondly: Mondly offers a fun way of learning Russian via interactive lessons with 40+ topics, augmented reality, and virtual reality.
Recommended but Average Apps
- Pimsleur: If you’re a more auditory learner, then Pimsleur is the way to go. The Pimsleur method ensures the language you learn makes its way to your memory palace, and there are interactive activities for even more practice.
Memrise: Memrise helps you learn loads of new Russian vocab and phrases in a memorable way.
Rosetta Stone: Learn Russian like you learned your native language as a child via immersion. Learning with Rosetta Stone does require a hefty time commitment, especially if you aren’t familiar with the Cyrilic alphabet.
Less Recommended Apps
- Busuu: Interaction with locals is a must in your language-learning journey, and Busuu has a community who’ll help you learn and practice your conversation skills.
Drops: The app focuses on improving your vocabulary skills, but you’ll miss out on developing other critical language skills.
- Duolingo: A fun, gamified interface that will ensure you keep learning. While Duolingo is effective for some learners, you can easily get lost in the fun and think you’re learning more than you actually are.
Excited to learn more? Explore my tips on learning languages:
8 Tested Apps for Learning Russian
Daniel and I tested various apps, and here are the 8 best ones for learning Russian.
We looked at how the app teaches a new language and how much it costs – critical factors when making a decision.
1. Mondly - The Best for Innovative Learning
Mondly has 40+ languages, and with its many source languages from which you can learn a new language like Russian, there are more than 1,000 possible language combinations.
The app was created in Romania in 2014 and signed to the Pearson educational group 6 years later.
You can master Russian with Mondly’s vocabulary trainers, grammar conjugation tables, short and interactive daily lessons, and conversation practice. Mondly AR and Mondly VR also offer fun, novel ways to interact with Russian.
Even your kids can learn Russian with the Mondly Kids app, available on the App Store and Google Play.
Costs:
You can check out Mondly for free. The 6 lessons in the Hello topic, a conversation lesson, and the daily lessons are included in the freemium version.
Here’s how much Mondly Premium costs:
- Monthly plan costs US$9.99.
- Yearly plan costs US$47.99.
- Lifetime Access costs US$1,999.99.
There are extra subscriptions for Mondly VR, but you’ll need a special virtual reality headset for these lessons.
2. Rosetta Stone - The Best for Immersive Learning
On Rosetta Stone, you’ll learn Russian, one of the 25 language courses, in an intuitive way. In fact, you’ll learn Russian in Russian and not from your native language.
The app’s Dynamic Immersion method is highly effective, but you won’t be skipping through lessons in 5 to 15 minutes and think you’ll have learned something. While you can possibly do that for a few beginner lessons, you’ll need to invest more time to figure out the language and what the audio, words, and images mean.
The lessons on Rosetta Stone are interactive, and the app also offers extra learning resources, such as videos, a phrasebook, and more. You can also sign up for live lessons in a one-on-one or group setting.
Costs:
There’s no free trial with Rosetta Stone. You have to share payment details to access the platform; however, you can request your money back within 30 days if you aren’t satisfied
If you like Rosetta, choose one of these subscription options for the self-study or interactive lessons only:
- 3-month plan at a once-off US$47.97.
- 12-month plan at a once-off US$126.00.
- Lifetime plan at US$399.00.
If you only want to learn Russian, the subscriptions aren’t too pricey, though they are more costly compared to most of the other apps on my list.
But if you are a multilingual learner, be aware that one Rosetta Stone subscription, except the Lifetime plan, is for learning one language only.
3. Babbel - The Best for Beginners
Babbel was created in Germany in 2007, and the app claims you’ll be conversational in Russian by the end of 3 weeks. While that’s quite the lofty claim, it only means you may have basic speaking skills.
The app is good at giving you the confidence to start speaking, especially with its interactive lessons, review feature, games, and videos that focus on active vocabulary you’ll need to speak with the locals. You’ll mostly learn words and phrases and some grammar.
You’ll start with the basics, from the Russian alphabet, personal pronouns, and basic conversation phrases and progress logically with Babbel’s structured course.
Costs:
You can complete the first lessons on every level or topic on Babbel, and if you like the app, you have to subscribe:
- Babbel Self-Study at US$13.95 per month.
- Babbel Live at US$99.00 per month.
You can only learn one language with a subscription, unless you choose the Self-Study Lifetime plan at US$599.99 to learn all of Babbel’s 14 languages.
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4. Pimsleur - The Best for Auditory Language Learners
The Pimsleur app as you know it (or will if you sign up) dates back to 2018; however, the Pimsleur Method, invented by Dr Paul Pimsleur, is 60+ years old. Russian is one of the 50 languages you can learn on Pimsleur.
The platform is based on learning a new language by listening to 30-minute audio lessons that uses Graduated Interval Recall (GIR) teaching methods to ensure you remember and can recall what you learned.
You are exposed to native audio recordings to practice pronunciation and intonation, while you also get explanations on grammar and how to say the Russian words and phrases in English (the language of instruction).
Depending on the subscription model, you can also complete the various interactive exercises for more practice.
Costs:
With Pimsleur, you can test out the first lesson so see what the language-learning app is all about.
Here are the subscription models and costs if you like how Pimsleur teaches Russian:
- Pimsleur All Access at US$20.95 per month or US$164.95 per year (learn Russian and all other Pimsleur languages).
- Pimsleur Premium costs US$575 for a complete course (with 5 levels) or US$150 per level (can only learn one language).
- Pimsleur Audio Only for Russian only costs US$550 for the complete course or US$119.95 for 16 hours (one level).
5. Memrise - The Best for Learning via the Mnemo Method
Memrise was created in 2010 and the app helps you remember Russian vocab, phrases, and grammar via its teaching techniques centered on neuroscience and unique ways people learn.
You can expect to do vocab builders and listening and speaking exercises on the Memrise app. All audio is recorded by native Russian speakers, and what Daniel and I like about the vocab builders are the videos with a native saying the Russian word or phrase. This helps you learn pronunciation and intonation while giving you insights into the culture and facial expressions.
Russian is one of the 25 language courses that Memrise offers. There are also the unofficial courses that members of the Memrise community created so you can learn even more. However, the quality and accuracy of those courses aren’t guaranteed.
Costs:
You can learn for free on Memrise, but you have to watch an ad every time you want to do a lesson. If you are on a tight budget, it’s not too bad, but if you can, subscribe.
Memrise’s Pro Plan costs:
- Monthly plan at US$27.99.
- Yearly plan at a once-off US$130.99.
- Lifetime plan at US$199.99.
6. Busuu - The Best for Networking with the Russian Community
Busuu has 14 language courses and the app was created in 2008. The main feature is the Busuu community so you can network with natives and learn as you communicate with them. They can also share culture insights and language tips as they check your recorded answers.
Besides interacting with real people, you can also learn Russian via video flashcards and quiz lessons.
You can earn a Busuu certificate, and while this isn’t internationally recognized, frame and hang it so you can see how much you’ve achieved.
Costs:
You have to watch an ad to complete a lesson on Busuu, for example, but to access premium features like personalized practice, you have to subscribe.
A Busuu Premium subscription is US$13.90 per month.
7. Duolingo - The Best for Playful Learning
Duolingo was created in 2012 and the main purpose of the app is to make learning fun. That’s why the interface is so colorful and gamified. You earn points and gems for completing challenges and quests and earning achievements and monthly badges.
One thing’s for sure – You won’t be bored on Duolingo. You’ll be super motivated to complete the minimum of one daily lesson to maintain your Streak, and if you are competitive, you may do anything to win in the Leagues.
Daniel and I have found that Duolingo is ideal for beginner Russian students, and it’s okay if you are at an intermediate level and want to review Russian. It’s even suitable for little humans, tweens, teens, and adults.
Costs:
You can learn Russian on Duolingo for free, but there are some limitations, such as the limited hearts and ads.
To access premium features, subscribe to:
- Super Duolingo at US$7.99 per month or US$47.99 per year.
- Duolingo Max at roughly US$30.00 per month.
Both subscription options have a family plan, ideal if your romantic partner and littlies want to learn one of the 40+ Duolingo languages.
Want to learn more about LL apps? Check up my reviews below:
8. Drops - The Best for Russian Vocab
Drops also has 50 language courses, and the app was created in 2015. The platform helps you learn Russian vocabulary with the interactive and visually appealing compact lessons (or word games, rather). You won’t miss a lesson because Drops will send you notifications and reminders, and you’ll want to maintain your daily streak.
The language-learning app uses mnemonic associations and playful learning to get you to remember the active vocab you can use in conversations – that you’ll have to practice with your Russian friend or another app.
Costs:
You can test out Drops for free, but for an ad-free experience and premium features, subscribe.
Here are the costs for a Drops Premium subscription:
- Monthly plan costs US$13.00 per month.
- Yearly plan costs US$89.99 per year.
- Lifetime access costs US$159.99.
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My Final Thoughts About the Best Apps to Learn Russian
Daniel and I had an absolute blast learning Russian on the apps on this list. Each app has its own unique approach to helping you master Russian quickly and comprehensively. If you’re not sure which app to choose, remember that each app has something it is particularly good at.
So if you want conversation practice, choose an app like Babbel, while you’ll have loads of fun with Duolingo.
And for the best approach, sign up to a few apps to teach you vocabulary, give you speaking practice, and inspire you to keep learning.
Happy Russian learning!
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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