What’s the best app for learning Italian? How can you quickly pick up Italian grammar and grow your vocabulary? And let’s be honest, how do you confidently order pasta carbonara and a glass of pinot grigio at an Italian restaurant without speaking the language?
With so many language learning apps out there, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. The trick? Figure out what you really need. Maybe you’re craving more speaking practice, want to nail down tricky grammar rules, or just feel like learning while having a little fun.
In this article, I’ve rounded up my favorite apps for learning Italian. Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or just exploring for fun, there’s something here for everyone.
All you need to do is choose one, download it, and start your Italian adventure! Of course, these picks are just my personal favorites, but I think you’ll find them pretty handy.
How I Chose the Top 20: My Hands-On Experience with Every Italian Learning App
As someone who’s spent years learning languages (and testing what feels like every app out there), I know that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Learning a language like Italian can take so many forms—some apps focus on grammar drills, others on conversation, and a few make the whole process feel like a game.
That’s why the apps in my top 20 list each stand out in their own unique way, whether it’s in their usability, approach, pricing or lesson structure.
To help you find the app that’s perfect for your Italian-learning journey, I tested each one with five key questions in mind:
- How well is the course structured?
- Are the lessons and exercises engaging and high-quality?
- Is the app user-friendly and easy to navigate?
- Does it offer good value for money?
- Most importantly, is it effective? And does it motivate you to keep going?
Beyond just rating these apps, I’ve also included tips on which type of learner each app works best for. Whether you’re a complete beginner, a grammar enthusiast, or someone who needs to stay entertained to stick with it, there’s something here for you.
Not sure what kind of learner you are? Don’t stress—most of these apps offer free trials, so you can dive in and see what clicks. After all, finding the right app isn’t just about features—it’s about what feels right for you as a learner.
And trust me, I’ve been there!
Interested in Italian? These articles are worth a read:
20 Apps to Learn Italian That I’ve Personally Tested
Here you’ll find my handpicked list of the 20 best apps to learn Italian. Every app on this list has been personally tested, and I’ve included options for every learning style, level, and goal:
Comprehensive Apps to Learn Italian
#1. Babbel
Babbel is one of the most structured and reliable apps I’ve tested for learning Italian. What sets it apart is its focus on practical communication, with lessons tailored to real-life situations like ordering at a restaurant or introducing yourself.
The Babbel Italian course is well-designed, progressing logically from beginner basics to more advanced grammar and conversational skills. I loved how it integrates grammar naturally into lessons without making it feel like a chore. Each session builds on the last, which really helped me feel like I was making steady progress.
The exercises are varied and engaging, balancing
- listening,
- speaking,
- understanding,
- writing.
Babbel’s dialogues feel authentic and practical, though the pronunciation feature isn’t always accurate. I found the cultural tips sprinkled throughout the lessons particularly fun—they made learning feel more personal.
Navigation is simple, and the app’s design is clean and intuitive. You can easily track your progress, revisit tricky lessons, and even set reminders to stay on schedule.
While Babbel isn’t free, the subscription feels worth it for the value it offers (read more: How Much Does Babbel Cost?). However, I do wish they had more content for advanced learners—I hit a ceiling faster than I expected.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
#2. Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the first apps I tried when I started learning Italian, and I can see why it’s so popular. Its playful, gamified approach makes learning feel less like studying and more like a fun challenge. It’s a great app for beginners who want to ease into the language without feeling overwhelmed.
The Italian course is well-structured for the most part, covering everything from simple greetings to more complex sentence structures. However, it sometimes feels like it jumps between topics without enough explanation, which can be confusing if you’re aiming for a deeper understanding.
What I loved about the lessons is how interactive they are. The bite-sized exercises are perfect for busy days, and the mix of translation, listening, and speaking practice keeps it from feeling monotonous. That said, I often found the sentences a bit random and not always practical for real-life conversations.
Duolingo’s design is sleek and easy to navigate. You can track your progress, set daily goals, and the app’s reminders keep you coming back. The free version is fantastic, but upgrading to Super Duolingo removes ads and adds offline access, which is a nice perk.
For me, the biggest downside is that Duolingo doesn’t go deep enough. It’s great for learning basic vocabulary and grammar, but if you’re serious about fluency, you’ll need something more comprehensive.
#3. Mondly
Mondly is a language learning app designed to make picking up a new language simple and fun. The Italian course is one of the really well-structured, starting with basic phrases and gradually introducing grammar and vocabulary.
I appreciated how the lessons were bite-sized, making them perfect for quick practice sessions. The exercises include listening, speaking, and writing, and while they’re engaging, they can sometimes feel repetitive. A standout feature for me is the chatbot—it allows you to practice real-life conversations, which is super motivating.
Mondly’s interface is user-friendly. Navigating between lessons and tracking your progress is effortless, and the app has a fun game-like quality, which makes you feel like you are playing and learning at the same time. But to be honest, I disliked the voice recognition a bit as it doesn’t always pick up accurate pronunciation.
For the price, Mondly offers good value, especially if you commit to a yearly plan. That said, the app could delve deeper into grammar explanations, as these are often quite brief.
Overall, Mondly is effective and keeps you motivated, but it’s not without flaws. It’s great for building vocabulary and practicing daily, but for deeper grammar and cultural context, you might want to pair it with other resources.
Learn languages quickly with Mondly Premium. Learn the language you’ve always wanted to learn. It’s fun, fast, and easy!
#4. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is one of the most well-known language learning apps, often praised for its immersive, intuitive approach.
The Italian course here is highly structured and focuses on building vocabulary and grammar through context. Rosetta Stone’s standout feature is its full-immersion method—everything is in Italian from the get-go, which can be intimidating but also effective. The lessons are visual and audio-heavy, with plenty of opportunities to practice pronunciation. While I liked the repetition for reinforcing basics, sometimes it felt a bit slow and lacking variety, but still I cannot say it is boring.
The app is polished and easy to navigate, with clear progress tracking and a seamless interface. The speech recognition tool is impressive—it pushes you to get your pronunciation just right, which I found helpful but occasionally frustrating when it was overly picky.
Price-wise, Rosetta Stone is on the higher side, but the quality of content and the immersive approach might justify it for some learners.
In my opinion, Rosetta Stone is effective, especially for beginners. It motivates you to stick with it, but the lack of real-world conversational practice and slower pacing could be a downside if you’re looking for something more dynamic.
#5. Busuu
My next learning App – Busuu – provides a combination of structured lessons with a community-based approach, offering opportunities for real interaction with native speakers.
The Italian course startins with essential phrases and gradually introduces grammar and vocabulary. I appreciated that each lesson builds on the previous one, creating a logical progression. The mix of listening, writing, and speaking exercises kept things engaging, and I found the bite-sized grammar tips especially useful.
What sets Busuu apart is the chance to get your writing exercises corrected by native speakers in the app’s community. This feature was both fun and motivating—it’s great to receive feedback directly from people who speak the language fluently, and I always recommend language learners to communicate with native speakers.
The app’s interface is clean and easy to navigate, so it’s simple to track progress and hop between lessons. But I still have to notice that the speech recognition feature is a bit inconsistent from my point of view.
Busuu offers good value for its price, especially if you go for the premium plan, which unlocks advanced features like personalized study plans. So in general, it is an effective and motivating app, but keep in your mind that the occasional glitches in speech recognition and limited free content are small drawbacks.
Italian Grammar and Vocabulary Apps
#6. Clozemaster
If you want to learn Italian vocabulary in context, Clozemaster is your go-to app. It uses fill-in-the-blank exercises based on real sentences, helping you see how words fit naturally into phrases. It’s a bit addictive, and the difficulty levels make it suitable for both beginners and advanced learners.
The Italian course is massive, offering thousands of sentences that help you learn words in context. It’s perfect if you’ve already got a basic understanding of Italian and want to level up by focusing on vocabulary and grammar in real-life situations.
The bad side of the App for me is that the structure feels overwhelming at times since it lacks the step-by-step guidance you might find in other apps. In my opinion, that’s a disadvantage for you if you are a beginner who needs a lot of repetition to remember vocabulary. While I am talking about downsides of the App, I should note that there are no speaking exercises, so you will definitely need to use other Apps along with Clozemaster.
But in general, the exercises are engaging, with plenty of variety—you can choose multiple-choice or text-input answers, depending on how challenging you want it to be. I enjoyed the gamified elements, like earning points and leveling up, which kept me motivated.
Clozemaster is simple to use, but its design is pretty basic compared to other apps. It’s not flashy, but it gets the job done. The best part? It’s free, with a reasonably priced premium option for additional features.
#7. Memrise
Memrise makes learning Italian vocabulary fun with its gamified approach. The app uses spaced repetition to ensure new words stick, and the video clips of native speakers add a cultural touch. It’s perfect for visual learners who want to expand their vocabulary while having fun.
This App lets you start with basics (like phrases and vocabulary) and then progress to more complex topics. One feature I really enjoyed was the use of real-world videos with native speakers—it definitely helps to get a sense of how the language sounds in everyday situations. The spaced repetition system for learning vocabulary is excellent, ensuring words actually stick over time.
The lessons are engaging, with a mix of multiple-choice, listening, and typing exercises. However, after a while, some of the repetition felt a bit too predictable. The playful design and game-like progress tracking are a big plus, keeping motivation high. Navigating the app is super easy, and it’s visually appealing.
Memrise offers great value for money, especially with its premium features like offline learning and extra listening practice.
While I found Memrise effective, I missed more in-depth grammar explanations and speaking practice. It’s great for vocabulary and listening, but you’ll need additional resources for a comprehensive learning experience.
#8. Quizlet
Quizlet lets you create and use flashcards to focus on Italian vocabulary and grammar rules. You can access ready-made decks or make your own. The quizzes and games make studying grammar less intimidating and more interactive.
The app doesn’t have a structured Italian course like traditional language apps, but that’s part of its charm. You can either create your own study sets tailored to your needs or explore the thousands of pre-made sets created by other users. For Italian, I’ve used Quizlet to focus on specific themes like verbs, adjectives, or common phrases. The flexibility is great, but it does mean you need to be proactive in organizing your learning.
The exercises are engaging, with options like multiple-choice quizzes, typing tests, and even a game mode called “Match” to keep things fun. It’s simple to use, and the clean interface makes it easy to navigate between study sets.
The free version is solid, but the premium plan adds features like offline access and progress tracking. While I love Quizlet for vocabulary building, it doesn’t offer speaking or listening practice, which can feel like a gap for language learners. So, using this App don’t forget to find a way of practicing your speaking skills.
#9. Lingvist
Lingvist is all about personalized learning. It tracks your progress and adjusts its word lists to target areas where you need improvement. It’s a great tool for building your vocabulary quickly and efficiently.
The Italian course is highly personalized. It adapts to your level by introducing words based on your progress and areas of difficulty. I loved how the app seamlessly integrates vocabulary into sentences, helping me understand how words are used in context. However, the course feels more vocabulary-focused, with less emphasis on grammar and conversational skills.
The lessons seemed to me straightforward and engaging. Each card includes a word in a sentence, with space for you to type the correct answer. This active recall method helped me remember words better than passive learning.
While the minimalistic design is sleek and easy to navigate, I sometimes missed a more gamified experience to keep things exciting, but if you are really motivated in learning Italian, it won’t be a problem for you.
Lingvist offers a free version with limited daily cards, but the premium plan gives you unlimited access and additional features like progress tracking. So, i think the price is absolutely reasonable for what you get.
I find Lingvist effective for expanding your vocabulary and motivating if you enjoy a focused, no-frills approach.
#10. MosaLingua
MosaLingua is ideal for practical vocabulary and phrases. It focuses on high-frequency words and real-life situations, with grammar sprinkled in to make everything cohesive. It’s straightforward, effective, and great for learning on the go.
MosaLingua focuses on practical phrases and words you’ll actually use. It’s great for travelers or those looking to learn conversational Italian quickly. I liked how the app prioritizes high-frequency words and customizes your lessons based on your progress.
However, it can feel grammar-light, which might be a drawback for some learners. But I think that it’s a great App to use as an additional tool to other methods.
The exercises are engaging but very focused on flashcards and repetition. You practice typing, listening, and even recording your voice to improve pronunciation.
The App itself is simple and user-friendly, with clear navigation and tracking features. MosaLingua is affordable compared to other apps, especially with its one-time purchase option, which feels like a great deal for the content provided.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
Speaking and Listening Apps
#11. Jicki
Jicki offers a refreshing approach to language learning by focusing on immersive audio experiences. Think of it as a language “shower” — you listen to Italian words, phrases, and stories while relaxing. It’s perfect for improving your listening skills, especially if you prefer a stress-free, passive learning method.
The structure of the Italian course seems like a series of audio journeys. Each lesson introduces vocabulary and phrases in a calm, meditative way, followed by repetition to reinforce learning. It’s perfect if you enjoy learning while walking, relaxing, or multitasking.
The lessons are engaging and high-quality, with native speakers delivering the content in a clear and soothing tone. It felt less like a traditional lesson and more like being immersed in the language, which I really enjoyed. That said, if you prefer interactive exercises, this might not be enough to keep your attention for long. Also, remember that there’s a really little focus on speaking or writing practice.
Jicki’s interface is user-friendly and easy to use, making it simple to jump into lessons. While it’s a bit pricier compared to some apps, the experience feels unique and worth trying.
#12. HelloTalk
HelloTalk connects you with native Italian speakers for real conversations. You can text, voice message, or even have live calls with language partners. It’s fantastic for practicing your speaking and listening in a natural, conversational way. Plus, the built-in translation tools make it beginner-friendly.
Unlike traditional apps, HelloTalk doesn’t have structured courses. Instead, the focus is on connecting with native speakers through text, voice messages, or even video calls. While there aren’t formal lessons, the app includes tools like translation, pronunciation guides, and corrections to help you learn during conversations. I found this incredibly helpful for picking up natural phrases and expressions, though it might feel overwhelming if you’re a beginner.
This App is absolutely user-friendly, with a social media-style interface that lets you post questions, share updates, or browse other learners’ posts. It’s great for building confidence and interacting with a supportive community. The important thing is that the quality of your experience heavily depends on finding the right language partner, so be really careful in your little journey.
HelloTalk offers a free version with solid features, but the premium plan unlocks extras like unlimited translations. It’s reasonably priced for what it offers, though it’s not a complete learning solution. (You won’t see any Grammar or Vocabulary tasks, specially prepared for you), but still this is an excellent tool for practicing Italian in a natural, conversational way, but it’s best used alongside structured learning resources for grammar and vocabulary.
#13. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is an audio-based app that’s all about speaking and listening. Its lessons focus on helping you build conversational skills from the get-go. By repeating phrases and engaging in interactive dialogues, you’ll quickly gain confidence in speaking Italian.
The Italian course itself is very structured and follows a clear progression. Each lesson introduces new phrases and words in a conversational context, with lots of repetition to help you remember. I liked that it gets you speaking from the very first lesson, and the emphasis on pronunciation and natural dialogue feels very practical. In general, I really like learning the language during input and output methods and I find them really effective.
The lessons are high-quality and engaging if you enjoy audio learning. They’re designed to be done hands-free, so I often listened while walking or doing some house work, which made it easy to fit into my day. The app itself is simple to use, though it’s not the most visually appealing compared to other apps.
Pimsleur is on the pricier side, but it offers solid value if you’re serious about learning through conversation. I like this App, as it’s highly effective for improving listening and speaking skills. But, again you should find other methods to practice grammar to avoid any gaps in your learning process.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
#14. preply
preply connects you with professional Italian tutors for one-on-one lessons. It’s ideal for personalized speaking practice, and hearing a native speaker correct your mistakes in real time is invaluable. You can also book informal sessions with language partners for a more casual vibe.
There is no solid structure in this App, because this App is designed in a different way from classical learning applications. Here, everything depends on the tutor you choose. The quality of lessons can vary depending on the tutor’s teaching style, but I had a great experience with my Italian tutor Francesca. She customized our lessons to focus on conversational skills, grammar points I struggled with, and even cultural tips. The flexibility to shape the lessons around my needs was a huge plus.
The platform is user-friendly, and booking lessons is straightforward. You can filter tutors by availability, price, and specialization, making it easy to find someone who fits your preferences. The video call interface is smooth, though I did have minor connectivity issues once or twice.
Preply is a bit more expensive than standard apps, but the personalized experience justifies the cost if you’re serious about learning. (I always recommend people who learn languages to find a tutor to make the process more structured from a professional point of view – here is the same logic, but what’s better, it is online).
Generally, preply is incredibly effective for targeted learning and speaking practice, but it requires commitment and works best alongside other resources for a balanced approach.
#15. Speechling
Speechling focuses on pronunciation and speaking skills. You practice speaking phrases, and native Italian coaches give you detailed feedback. It’s great for fine-tuning your accent and ensuring you sound natural.
Using this App you will face audio-based exercises that train you to mimic native speakers. It emphasizes repetition and real-world phrases, which I found super practical for improving fluency. One standout feature is the ability to record yourself and get feedback from a coach on your pronunciation. This personalized touch made the learning experience feel more engaging and productive.
The exercises are simple yet effective—listening, repeating, and recording yourself never feels tedious because the app offers a variety of sentences and phrases. The sleek, user-friendly interface made it easy to track my progress and revisit areas where I needed more practice.
Speechling offers a free plan, but the premium version, which includes unlimited coaching feedback, is well worth the price if you’re serious about improving your speaking.
Immersive and Game-Based Apps
#16. LingQ
Perfect for reading and listening, LingQ lets you explore real Italian content—news articles, podcasts, and stories—while helping you build your vocabulary through context. Ideal for intermediate learners ready to dive into authentic materials.
You won’t see a traditional structure of the lessons here—you choose your own path by picking content that interests you. From beginner dialogues to advanced podcasts, there’s plenty to explore. I loved how the app turns every text into an interactive experience, letting you tap on unfamiliar words to see their meanings and save them for review.
However, the lack of guided progression might feel overwhelming if you’re just starting out. But I should say that by diving into the “natural” environment and using other resources alongside, you will see how much faster you can learn.
The lessons are engaging because they’re based on authentic content, which makes learning feel practical and enjoyable. I especially liked the option of listening to audio while following along with the text, as it definitely will help you improve both pronunciation and comprehension.
LingQ’s interface can be a bit cluttered at first, but once you get the hang of it, navigation is straightforward. The pricing is reasonable for the amount of content you get, especially if you commit to using it regularly.
#17. Italian Learning+ by ravolol
This app focuses on teaching practical Italian phrases for travelers. It’s straightforward, with audio clips recorded by native speakers, helping you learn essential phrases quickly.
Here, finally you will see structured lessons that guide you through vocabulary, grammar, and basic conversational skills. I appreciated the gradual progression—it starts simple and builds up in complexity. The grammar explanations are clear, and the app integrates vocabulary practice within real-life contexts, which makes it practical. My little note:, the content can feel a bit limited if you’re beyond the beginner or intermediate level.
The exercises are engaging, with a mix of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, and audio prompts. I liked the spaced repetition feature for reinforcing vocabulary, but some of the exercises felt repetitive after a while. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, so you won’t get lost trying to find your next lesson.
In terms of value for money, Italian Learning+ is absolutely fairly priced, especially for beginners.
So, it’s a very good starting point for Italian learners, but for more advanced users or those looking for a broader range of practice, it might not be enough on its own. Pairing it with other resources can help fill the gaps.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
#18. EWA: Learn Italian
EWA teaches Italian through books, audiobooks, and short movie clips. You can pick your favorite topics or genres and learn in a way that feels more like entertainment than study.
The Italian course is engaging and focuses on practical vocabulary and conversational phrases. What I liked most is the variety of learning materials. You can study through gamified lessons, read adapted books, or watch snippets of TV shows with subtitles to improve listening skills. The only bad point is that the course doesn’t follow a clear structure, so it feels more like a toolkit you can explore than a guided program.
The exercises are fun and focus on building vocabulary and phrases quickly. There’s a flashcard system for repetition, which is effective, but it lacks depth in grammar explanations. The app’s colorful, modern interface makes it enjoyable and super easy to navigate.
EWA offers a free version with limited access, the premium plan unlocks all features, and while it’s reasonably priced, it might not be enough for advanced learners looking for comprehensive lessons.
I definitely recommend EWA, as it is a great supplement for learning Italian, especially if you enjoy interactive and creative content. But still, since it lacks structure and detailed grammar, it’s best paired with other resources for a well-rounded experience.
#19. LyricsTraining
Turn your favorite Italian songs into a language lesson. This app lets you fill in the missing lyrics as you listen, making it a fun and musical way to improve your vocabulary and listening skills.
The “course” isn’t structured in the traditional sense at all, which is the best point of it. You pick Italian songs from various genres and difficulty levels, then complete exercises where you fill in the missing lyrics as you listen. It’s engaging, and because the words are tied to catchy melodies, they stick in your memory much better.
Remember, it’s not a replacement for grammar or structured lessons—it’s purely for vocabulary and listening practice.
Using the App you can search for your favorite Italian songs or discover new ones. The interface is clean, and it’s satisfying to see your progress. While there’s a free version, the premium plan offers unlimited access and extra features, which is worth it if you’re a regular user.
LyricsTraining is incredibly effective for honing your listening skills and expanding vocabulary while having fun. The main drawback is the lack of broader language learning tools—no grammar, speaking, or writing practice. But as a supplemental tool, it’s fantastic for combining language study with music.
#20. News in Slow Italian
Perfect for intermediate and advanced learners, this app provides news articles and audio at a slower pace. It’s a fun way to improve listening comprehension while staying updated on current events.
The app provides weekly news segments categorized by beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Each segment comes with transcripts, grammar explanations, and vocabulary notes, making it a comprehensive way to practice listening while expanding your language knowledge. I found the grammar tips particularly helpful—they’re short, practical, and easy to apply.
The lessons are engaging and of high quality. Listening to native speakers talk at a slower pace made it easier to catch words and phrases without feeling overwhelmed. The accompanying transcripts allows users to follow along and look up unfamiliar words. But yes, if you’re looking for interactive exercises, this app might feel a bit limited.
The interface is straightforward and user-friendly, but it feels more functional than flashy. The subscription is on the pricier side, but it’s worth it if you enjoy learning through listening.
News in Slow Italian is highly effective for improving comprehension and staying motivated. My main critique is that it focuses heavily on listening, with little opportunity for speaking or writing practice. Still, it’s an excellent resource for intermediate and advanced learners. I should admit, even though I speak Italian already, I still really enjoy using this platform.
Putting It Together
Learning Italian with language learning apps is super convenient. You can practice anytime, anywhere, without interrupting your daily routine. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, riding the train or bus to work or school, or simply enjoying a cappuccino, these apps help you make the most of that time by improving your Italian skills.
The more you practice, the faster you’ll reach your goals.
From my own experience, using a mix of apps works best. Each one focuses on a different skill. For example, I use Babbel for grammar and dialogues, Memrise to build vocabulary, HelloTalk to practice speaking, and EWA for fun learning through books, audiobooks, and short videos. I’ll admit, I keep coming back to Duolingo because it’s perfect for learning short phrases, and it does a great job of keeping me motivated.
Switching between different apps keeps things interesting and helps you stay motivated. It’s an easy way to make learning Italian more effective and enjoyable.
Begin learning a new language with Babbel! 🌟 Unlock up to 55% OFF your Babbel subscription today!
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.
Join Our Newsletter
Sign up now to get the freshest updates on language learning and exclusive app deals delivered straight to your inbox!
