Learning apps offer language learners a new range of choices compared to just a few years ago. With so many apps available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Especially for first-time users, choosing the best app can be daunting. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to learning. Successful learning depends on individual habits and learning styles. Studies by learning scientists such as David A. Kolb have shown how different people learn.
This insight is particularly relevant when it comes to language learning. If you want to learn a foreign language effectively, you should look for an app that best suits your personal learning habits or offers versatile learning paths.
There are many language learning apps available today. While some are heavily promoted in the media, others fly under the radar. That’s why I’ve taken a closer look at a number of apps. Below I’d like to share my experiences with these apps.
Language Learning Apps in My Comparison: My Ranking
Developers of language learning apps are constantly on the lookout for innovation and the ability to pleasantly surprise users. While each app may have unique features, they all share the common goal of being useful for language learning. This common goal allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of these apps.
To write this article, I thoroughly researched around 50 different language learning apps. In the end, I selected 15 that I believe to be the most effective and would like to introduce them to you.
In selecting the best apps, I took into account several criteria, which include
- The scope and structure of the learning materials
- Learning methods
- Cost and subscriptions
- Is it easy to use
- Presentation of learning content
- User experience
These factors played a major role in my decision to compile my list of the best apps. However, before going into detail about each of the apps and discussing their pros and cons based on my tests, let me first present my personal ranking:
My top choices are:
Babbel: Fast and effective way to learn 14 foreign languages in various aspects such as grammar, pronunciation, reading and writing.
Mondly: An essential tool for efficient vocabulary learning. The app covers a wide range of categories and topics including family, countries and languages, food and drink, romance and more.
italki and Preply: Both italki and Preply are proven language learning resources that offer structured alternatives to the selection of qualified teachers.
Promova: A new type of language learning application that allows you to learn new languages efficiently and quickly. With over 40 different categories to choose from and the proven review method, you can set your learning level, take quizzes, earn points and make daily progress.
Recommendations are:
Rosetta Stone: Uses a child-friendly method of learning that combines pictures with listening, speaking and reading. However, it lacks grammatical explanations or translations for vocabulary.
Memrise: The quality of the lessons is variable, often teaching only the basic verb forms without conjugations. Some vocabulary lacks pronunciation.
HelloTalk: Acts as a global link between people and can be used to add to formal language courses. Limited for beginners due to limited grammar and vocabulary practice.
Jicki app: Uses ‘language showers’, short audio lessons to teach languages in a lively, contextual environment. Free basic version available, but not recommended for reliance on listening alone.
MosaLingua: Offers a variety of learning content on different topics (restaurants, family, travel, etc.) and can be effectively integrated with conventional learning approaches.
Lingoda: An online language learning platform that offers both individual and group lessons in Spanish, German, French and English. The quality of the lessons and the range of topics depend heavily on the classmates, which affects the speaking time.
Less recommended are:
Not necessary, but useful for the basics – Duolingo: The app offers a free option, and opting out of the premium version doesn’t significantly limit usage. However, there’s some debate about its effectiveness and learning methods
Pimsleur: The Pimsleur method is based on daily 30-minute audio lessons, where sentences and vocabulary are repeated and rearranged. This app requires a financial commitment and lacks comprehensive explanations of grammar, conjugation tables and similar content.
Drops: The app offers a comprehensive collection of new vocabulary. However, it doesn’t cover more advanced topics such as verb conjugations, sentence structure or cultural conventions
Busuu: Allows interaction with native speakers, but has limited support for grammar rules and learning new vocabulary.
The Best Language Learning Apps for Every Learning Style
While language learning apps may seem similar in their approach to get you started, their pricing and methodology can vary widely. That’s why it’s important to get a detailed overview of the different apps by reading reviews before diving in.
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1. Babbel
Babbel is one of the most popular language learning apps, founded in 2007. With years of experience, it’s constantly evolving.
It’s known for its “Easy Language Learning” concept and is based in Berlin, Germany. For more information, see “Duolingo vs Babbel: Is Babbel better than Duolingo?” and “Babbel vs Rosetta Stone: Which language app stands out?
Babbel claims to have over 20 million users worldwide. It offers language courses in 14 different languages, including common ones. Courses are aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is beneficial for users seeking official certificates.
Babbel tailors its courses to the learner’s native language, making it easier to access other language families. The courses also include a variety of exercises to cater for different learning styles.
Subscription costs:
- 6-month subscription: US$9.99 per month
- Annual subscription: US$ 6.99 per month
- Lifetime subscription: US$ 299.99
Regular promotions and discounts are available, including bundled language packs to reduce costs (more info: How Much Does Babbel Cost?).
Advantages:
- Babbel offers well-structured lesson plans and courses for different languages, with the aim of guiding users step-by-step through language learning.
- The app focuses on teaching everyday language and practical conversation, enabling users to express themselves better in real-life situations.
- Babbel includes speaking and listening exercises to improve speaking skills and listening comprehension.
Disadvantages:
- Compared to some other platforms, Babbel offers a limited selection of languages, which may limit users interested in less commonly spoken languages.
2. Mondly
Mondly is a language learning app founded in Romania in 2014. It claims to serve the interests of over 100 million language learners worldwide. The platform and its app give you access to courses in 41 different languages. This makes the range of languages offered quite extensive compared to other providers.
Mondly also offers great value for money. The free version of the language learning app offers limited course material. The annual and lifetime subscriptions stand out.
If you take out the latter at a special price, you can get lifetime access to language courses in all 41 languages for just over $100. The app offers conversational language practice and embeds vocabulary in a practical context. You can find out more about Mondly on the page “Mondly vs Duolingo: Which One’s Better for Learning Languages?“
It also focuses on practical language dialogues with a special chatbot, which provides good practice opportunities in the foreign language. Mondly AR even offers an augmented reality project.
Advantages:
- Mondly offers an impressive range of languages, including less common ones, which allows users to learn a variety of languages.
- The app uses interactive exercises, speech recognition and conversation practice to make language learning interesting and effective.
- Mondly offers daily lessons and challenges to support regular learning and continuous improvement of language skills.
Disadvantages:
- Although Mondly provides conversational exercises, they may not always reflect the variety and complexity of real conversations.
- The app may not provide detailed grammar explanations, which may make it less suitable for users seeking in-depth grammar support.
3. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is specifically designed for users who want to achieve long-term language success. Courses rely heavily on authentic audio content with interesting information. Users listen and repeat as they learn.
The app’s method is based on the approach of the Franco-American linguist Paul Pimsleur. He believed that language learning should imitate natural language pick up in the mother tongue, focusing less on written language and more on listening and active repetition.
The app is mainly focused on the audio-visual aspects of learning. You can listen to the audio during everyday activities like cooking or jogging, making the most of your time.
Users may find the learning process slow at first. Reviewers point out that prices can vary from course to course, sometimes resulting in relatively high fees. Pimsleur offers 50 different language courses, which cover a wide range of languages.
Advantages:
- It emphasizes speaking and conversation, which is useful for the development of practical language skills.
- Pimsleur’s courses are audio-based, which allows learners to hear and speak the language, which can improve listening comprehension and pronunciation.
- The lessons are well-structured, and the schedule is clear, making it easy for learners to track their progress.
Disadvantages:
- Pimsleur focuses mostly on speaking skills and doesn’t have many writing exercises, which might not be great for people who want to improve their writing.
- Pimsleur’s lessons often have similar activities, which can feel boring for some learners.
- It’s mainly audio-based and doesn’t have many pictures or interactive parts, which might not work well for some learning styles.
4. Jicki
Jicki is a language learning app that advertises with the slogan “Language Showers.” It quickly becomes clear what this means. Jicki teaches new languages through intense but short audio learning sessions.
Based on my experience, Jicki provides high-quality audio material and an easy-to-use app for learning languages through audio courses.
The selection of available languages is also very attractive. Although Jicki’s audio exercises are unique, they are the core of the app. However, the app lacks grammar explanations and interactivity, which may make it challenging to stay motivated compared to other apps.
Jicki offers many different audio language courses. However, as the app mainly focuses on these features, I see it more as a useful addition to other learning methods.
The monthly cost of Jicki depends on the duration of your subscription. You can choose to subscribe for three, six, or twelve months, with prices ranging from ten to six dollars per month, depending on the subscription.
Advantages:
- Jicki’s Language Showers offer effective listening exercises.
- They let learners hear authentic pronunciation and speaking speed in the target language.
- The lessons are divided into short, well-structured units that fit easily into daily routines, making them suitable for flexible learning.
- The method focuses on teaching language in an authentic context, which helps learners develop practical conversation skills.
Disadvantages:
- The Language Showers focus mainly on listening and speaking, with fewer writing exercises, which may limit development in writing skills.
- Compared to some other language learning platforms, Jicki may offer a smaller selection of available languages.
- Jicki’s method emphasizes listening to language and provides fewer interactive exercises or visual support, which may be less suitable for some learning styles.
5. Memrise
Memrise has been around since 2010. The language learning app offers courses in English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, as well as Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese for German-speaking learners. If you’re interested in Asian languages, you might find what you’re looking for here.
Memrise aims to facilitate multisensory learning by combining writing exercises with audio samples. This approach is common among other reputable apps. However, Memrise focuses on pronunciation right from the start.
Users have found that Memrise often focuses on isolated vocabulary or short phrases. The exercises are less integrated into communication situations or broader contexts. The app is best suited for beginners who want to learn a foreign language. It also offers a free version with limited features.
Subscription Costs:
- Monthly subscription: Us$8.5
- Yearly subscription: Us$60
- Lifetime subscription: Us$120
You can find more advice on language learning on the pages “Italian for Travel: 10 Popular Apps Reviewed & Tested” and “The Cognitive Benefits of Learning a Second Language“.
Advantages:
- Memrise offers courses in a wide range of languages, from the most common to less widely spoken ones.
- The platform uses gamified elements and fun exercises to make language learning motivating and enjoyable.
- Users can create and share their own courses, which increases the variety of available learning materials.
Disadvantages:
- Memrise focuses on vocabulary learning and understanding word meanings rather than practical application in conversations.
- The platform offers less detailed explanations of grammar, which can be a limitation for learners who want in-depth grammar support.
6. Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is named after the famous Rosetta Stone, which helped linguist Jean-François Champollion decode hieroglyphs in 1822.
It was developed by an American software company and covers 24 languages. The app’s basic approach is to match images with spoken words to start learning a foreign language. This visual method is similar to the pictorial nature of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Part of learning in the programme is pronouncing the words you learn. Rosetta Stone was an early developer of speech recognition software, which gives learners feedback on their pronunciation. For more details about the app, see my reviews “Babbel vs Rosetta Stone: Which Language App Stands Out?” and “Duolingo vs Rosetta Stone: Which Language App Stands Out?“.
The language learning app is particularly suitable for learners who successfully engage with new languages through speaking. However, the app has been criticised for giving limited space to grammar exercises.
Subscription Costs:
- 3-month subscription: Us$11.99 per month (single language)
- Annual subscription: Us$189 per year (all languages)
- Lifetime subscription: Us$349 (for all languages)
Advantages:
- Rosetta Stone uses an engaging method that immerses you in the target language without relying on translations or explanations in your native language. This promotes natural language learning and understanding.
- The platform provides interactive exercises in speaking, listening, reading and writing to ensure a complete language education.
- Rosetta Stone offers courses in a wide range of languages, from the most common to the least spoken.
Disadvantages:
- Rosetta Stone is relatively expensive, especially for those who want full access to all courses and features, which may be a financial barrier for some users.
- The platform focuses on learning through repetition and practical application, but may provide less detailed explanations of grammar, which some learners may find a disadvantage.
- Rosetta Stone offers limited opportunities for social interaction with other learners or native speakers, which may limit practical speaking and conversation in the target language.
7. Busuu
Busuu is named after a small Cameroonian language that was spoken by only eight people in 2010. The company initiated efforts to preserve the language.
A language course was designed to combine language learning with the opportunity to interact in a virtual community. This language learning application incorporates the principles of Web 2.0 and tandem learning. The project is now growing beyond Busuu.
Busuu skillfully combines essential vocabulary learning with a variety of activities. It adapts to all learning styles and allows users to develop their language skills at their own speed.
With a premium membership, the app offers extensive options in 13 languages. It’s worth noting that subscribing via the browser may be cheaper than using the app.
Subscription Costs:
- Free basic model
- Monthly subscription: Us$14 per month
- 6-month subscription: Us$10 per month
- Annual subscription: Us$7 per month
Advantages:
- Busuu offers a variety of interactive exercises and activities to improve speaking, listening, reading and writing in the target language.
- The platform facilitates interaction with other learners and native speakers to develop conversational skills and promote cultural exchange.
- Busuu provides certificates that can document learning progress and language skills gained, which can be useful for professional or academic purposes.
Disadvantages:
- Busuu may focus more on learning vocabulary and phrases than on in-depth grammar knowledge, which may be a limitation for some learners.
- The quality and quantity of material available in different languages may vary, which may affect the learner’s success depending on the chosen language.
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8. Duolingo
Duolingo is one of the top language learning apps. According to the Federal Statistical Office’s statistics on the use of language learning apps, it is by far the most widely used. Users appreciate the app’s interesting exercises.
The app has a little owl mascot that reminds users to practice every day and not to interrupt their learning. Experience points (XP) are awarded for regular practice. Duolingo has embraced the concept of gamification, making learning feel like a game for many users, which is highly motivating. It also promises to make learning a foreign language as easy as “10 minutes a day”.
Duolingo offers language courses tailored for vacation preparation and professional use, allowing users to adapt their language learning to their interests and contexts.
Subscription Costs:
- Free basic version with limited features and advertising
- Monthly subscription: Us$14.99 per month
Annual subscription: Us$77.99 - Family subscription: Us$119.99 per year for 2-6 people
Advantages:
- Duolingo offers a free version with access to a wide range of language courses and exercises, which opens it up to many learners.
- The platform uses gamified elements to make learning fun and motivate learners to practice regularly.
- Duolingo offers courses in a variety of languages, including less common ones, which gives learners more options.
Disadvantages:
- Duolingo may emphasise learning vocabulary and simple sentences more than developing in-depth grammar or conversation skills.
- The platform offers limited opportunities for interaction with native speakers or other learners, which limits practical language application.
- It focuses more on English-speaking learners and offers them a wide range of options. Unfortunately, there are fewer options for German-speaking learners who want to learn languages such as Japanese or Norwegian, which leads to limitations.
- Duolingo presents language learning as a game. While the overall method is playful, it’s important to remember that language learning is more than just a game. While it undoubtedly has some educational value, this alone may not be enough to develop communication skills in the target language.
- The platform primarily allows you to learn vocabulary and phrases, which means that the emphasis on practical applications and the ability to communicate in the language may be less pronounced.
9. Lingoda
Lingoda is a language learning app that focuses entirely on digital lessons. A headset and microphone are recommended, and a webcam can be useful, although it’s not essential. You can choose between private and group lessons.
The learning materials are similar to PowerPoint presentations. The focus of the lessons is to stimulate learners to speak and read aloud the content presented.
Writing tasks are done via chat. It’s worth noting that the groups are not very large, so the teacher can focus on the learners. There are usually three or four students per class. With the small class sizes and individual lessons, Lingoda can create a very personal and structured learning environment. However, a stable internet connection is essential for the lessons.
The cost of study at Lingoda can vary greatly due to the variety of courses on offer. It’s important to decide whether you want individual or group lessons and how many hours you want to study per month. Group lessons cost around eight to twelve dollars per hour.
Individual lessons cost between 19 and 30 dollars per hour. For a budget option, I recommend the “Sprint”, which is a two-month intensive course of 30 lessons. If you attend all the lessons, you’ll get a 50 per cent refund of the original cost.
Subscription Costs:
- Free basic version with limited features and advertising
- Monthly subscription: Us$14.99 per month
Annual subscription: Us$77.99 - Family subscription: Us$119.99 per year for 2-6 people
Advantages:
- Lingoda offers live lessons with qualified teachers, where learners can interact with native speakers in real time and improve their pronunciation and conversation skills.
- The platform offers structured learning plans and courses for different languages, adapted to the individual needs of the learners.
- Lingoda offers flexible lesson times and the ability to learn from anywhere, so learners can manage their own schedules.
Disadvantages:
- Using Lingoda can be costly, especially if you regularly attend live lessons, which can be a financial issue for some users.
- Compared to some other platforms, Lingoda may have a more limited selection of available languages.
- The platform prioritises live lessons, which means that learners may be less flexible in setting their own learning pace and goals.
Our tricks and tips can help you learn a new language:
10. italki
italki offers an interesting alternative to traditional language learning apps because it brings learners and native speakers together. In general, anyone can apply to be a teacher on italki, but only when teachers are needed for a specific language.
That’s why you can find teachers of different levels on the app. To find a suitable teacher, learners can book a trial lesson.
The search function allows you to select specific language categories such as speaking, reading, writing, grammar or even test preparation. Once all the filters are set, a list of potential teachers or community tutors will appear.
These are native speakers who may not have official teaching qualifications, but are trained or studying in their field. Thanks to the filtering options and the fact that italki offers individual lessons, you can decide what you want to learn.
In most cases, teachers and tutors have been very helpful and knowledgeable, but there is no guarantee that this will always be the same. You can, however, view student ratings or the number of hours taught.
The prices per lesson are set by the teachers themselves on italki. Some teachers charge around ten dollars per hour and others charge up to 75 dollars per hour.
Subscription Costs:
- Free basic version with limited features and advertising
- Monthly subscription: Us$14.99 per month
Annual subscription: Us$77.99 - Family subscription: Us$119.99 per year for 2-6 people
Advantages:
- italki offers a wide range of qualified teachers from around the world, which allows learners to choose the teacher that best suits their needs and learning style.
- The platform offers individual private lessons tailored to the specific learning goals and needs of each learner.
- italki offers flexible learning where learners can set their own schedules, so it is easier for them to fit language learning into their daily lives.
Disadvantages:
- Prices for lessons on italki vary depending on the teacher and language, and live lessons can be expensive, which can be a financial barrier for some users.
- The quality of the lessons can vary greatly based on the qualifications and experience of the chosen teacher, which results in an unbalanced learning process.
- italki offers limited free content and exercises compared to some other platforms, which means that learners may need additional resources for self-study.
11. Promova
Promova is a relatively new language learning app from Ukraine. The main focus of the app is on learning specific vocabulary. With Promova, you can learn vocabulary from over 40 categories, with special support for widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish or French.
During my practice with the app, I noticed that the vocabulary lessons are illustrated with visuals, which is helpful for memorising new terms. However, being a new app, Promova is not entirely free of translation errors. Although they are few and far between, I hope the developers will fix them soon.
Promova offers several payment plans. You can book courses for one month, six months or the whole year. Monthly costs range from around eight to 16 dollars per month.
Discover more language learning tips on the pages “Italian for Travel: 10 Popular Apps Reviewed & Tested” and “How to Increase Motivation for Learning a Foreign or Second Language?“
The prices per lesson are set by the teachers themselves on italki. Some teachers charge around ten dollars per hour and others charge up to 75 dollars per hour.
Advantages:
- The first lessons focus on basic vocabulary and offer a simple activity.
- The personalisation feature of the app is particularly noteworthy. It adapts the level of difficulty and content according to the user’s progress and interest.
- Promova has a unique approach. It starts with the basics, teaching individual words, then sentences and finally whole conversations.
Disadvantages:
- The app only offers a choice of 9 languages.
- There are occasional technical problems, such as the app freezing or audio synchronisation issues. Fortunately, these were rare.
12. MosaLingua
MosaLingua is not just a simple flashcard application, it’s a versatile toolkit for your language skills. This application gives you access to a wide range of fascinating and entertaining resources to help you learn a new language.
What sets MosaLingua apart from other language learning apps is the ability to improve your language skills by reading books, listening to music and watching videos that suit your individual preferences.
MosaLingua’s learning tools have been specially developed based on the principles of the MOSALearning method, using insights from cognitive research and psychology. The vocabulary trainers help systematically expand your vocabulary, while the interactive dialogues improve your practical conversation skills.
The MOSALearning method, which is at the core of MosaLingua’s app design, is based on a combination of six principles:
- Spaced Repetition
- Information is anchored in your memory when you repeat it at specific intervals.
- Active Retrieval – You should be able to retrieve information from your memory without assistance or hints.
- Self-reflection – This involves reflecting on your thoughts and learning behaviour.
- Pareto Principle – Focus on the most commonly used words to make rapid progress.
- Learning Motivation and Psychology – Personalised email support to help you adapt your learning method.
Advantages:
- Highly flexible approach to language learning.
- More affordable compared to most other language apps.
- Regular updates with new content.
Disadvantages:
- Some advanced users desire more specialized and advanced learning materials.
- The user interface may be perceived as slightly less user-friendly.
- Only 9 languages available.
13. Preply
Preply is an education platform that connects qualified language teachers with learners. I found that the platform makes it easy to plan lessons and find competent teachers for language learning. The teachers are helpful and supportive in achieving learning goals. Though the platform does not offer a lot of teaching material, I was satisfied with my experience and have nothing but positive things to say about Preply.
Every teacher on Preply has their own profile where they detail their experience, expertise, teaching method and hourly rate. Many teachers also provide short video clips so you can get a first impression before booking a lesson.
After the trial lesson, you can purchase tutoring packages of 5, 10, 15 or 20 hours. All bookings and payments are conveniently handled through Preply to give you a simple and convenient service.
Advantages:
- Preply offers a wide range of qualified teachers for different languages and subjects, allowing you to find a teacher that meets your needs and learning goals.
- The platform allows you to schedule lessons to suit your own timetable, which is particularly convenient if you have a busy lifestyle.
- Preply offers trial lessons, so you can try out the teacher and their teaching method before committing to a longer period of lessons.
Disadvantages:
- The price of lessons can vary and is often higher than some competing platforms. This can affect your budget if you want to take regular lessons.
- As Preply offers a wide range of teachers, the quality of lessons can vary. It may take some time to find the teacher that best suits your learning needs.
- Compared to some other platforms, Preply may offer fewer teaching materials and resources to support learning. This means that you may need to find additional resources yourself to supplement your learning.
14. Drops
The Drops app is unique in its ability to help users learn new vocabulary quickly and efficiently. Its outstanding design is not only visually appealing, but also based on scientific principles that help to permanently anchor words in long-term memory
The fun and colourful layout of the Drops app helps demystify the challenge of learning a new language, even for beginners with no previous knowledge. When learning Italian, for example, the app presents each word in both the target and native language, speaks it aloud and shows an illustrative picture.
Drops’ 5-minute lessons practise vocabulary and phrases by matching pictures to words and vice versa. Despite the apparent simplicity of the design, the use of minimalist graphics encourages users to pause and think carefully about each translation.
Like most language apps, Drops’ lessons are organised into thematic categories. These categories range from basic vocabulary to topics such as home & garden, people & health, food & drink and travel conversation. The selection of categories varies depending on the language you choose, but in most cases there are plenty of topics to choose from.
Advantages:
- Drops uses engaging images and graphics to represent vocabulary, which appeals to visual memory and makes learning new words easier.
- The app’s 5-minute lessons are ideal for quick learning sessions and can be easily integrated into daily routines.
- The app’s colourful and engaging layout makes language learning fun and less intimidating, especially for beginners.
Disadvantages:
- Drops focuses solely on vocabulary acquisition and does not offer comprehensive language skills or grammar or conversation exercises.
- The free version of the app usually has a limited number of lessons per day and full access requires a paid subscription.
- While Drops strengthens vocabulary memory, it may not provide enough opportunity for practical application of the words learned in real-life conversations.
15. HelloTalk
HelloTalk is an innovative app that connects people around the world who want to practice learning new languages together. With an impressive selection of over 100 languages available, it allows you to find conversation partners who share your learning goals based on the language you want to learn, your location or common interests.
The app offers a free version and a premium version for US$12.99 per month or US$79.99 per year. The premium version includes exclusive features such as unlimited translations, transliteration, transcription, the ability to save chat history and advanced group chat options to optimise your language learning.
The app has some very interesting features that I found very helpful. These include a two-way dictionary, the ability to send voice messages, a call function and the ability to highlight corrections (whether made by you or your language partner).
In short, the app has similar built-in features to WhatsApp and Facebook Chat, but offers many additional features that are particularly useful for language learners.
Although HelloTalk is essentially a messaging app, it offers tools that promote learning through communication. For example, it allows you to translate messages, correct mistakes made by your language partner and use AI-powered grammar corrections. HelloTalk also offers learning materials in some languages, although most of these are paid.
Advantages:
- HelloTalk connects people from all over the world to practice languages together, and gives you access to a wide range of native speakers.
- You can choose conversation partners based on your learning goals, interests and location, so you can tailor your learning to your needs.
- The app provides real conversations and practical exercises to improve your language skills in an authentic environment.
Disadvantages:
- As you are sharing personal information and conversations, you should take care to protect your privacy and ensure that your data is secure.
- The quality of conversations can vary as they depend on other users, which can sometimes lead to communication difficulties.
- The app offers social features such as profiles and groups, which can be distracting when the main goal is language learning.
How Many Apps are There for Learning a Language?
When Duolingo was founded in 2011, the market for language learning apps was still limited. This was partly due to the lack of mature technology for interactive listening comprehension.
But this is crucial for language learning. Now that programs can check recorded audio for accuracy, much progress has been made in this area. Numerous language learning apps have been launched, each with its own approach that the vendor feels most confident about. Overall, the market has become increasingly crowded and difficult to navigate.
In total, you can now expect to find around 20 language learning applications with their own apps. Once criteria are established to find the really good ones, the choice will be much smaller.
Why is Online Language Learning so Popular?
Language learning apps such as Duolingo, Babbel and others have millions of registered users worldwide. Duolingo alone has over 300 million registered users.
There are good reasons for the popularity of these digital learning platforms. Users value the following benefits:
- Cost-effective compared to expensive language courses.
- Flexibility to fit in with daily routines.
- Multiple learning options keep users engaged.
- Gamified learning is motivating.
- Apps offer easily accessible opportunities for conversation.
Users' Experiences with Language Learning Apps
User reviews often praise similar aspects such as the user-friendly interface, the flexible use of lessons and the ability to learn from anywhere at any time.
Reviews from users who decided to learn a language from the start with apps show some differences. Their main argument is often that the material provided is limited, sometimes even not available. These learners are forced to learn most of the content on their own. While it’s certainly possible to learn a language independently, they find the learning process more challenging and resource-intensive without interaction between learner and teacher.
After thorough review of the apps and analysis of user feedback, I’ve identified the following shortcomings:
- Lack of a structured learning system: In traditional schooling, students are taught reading, writing, syllables, words, etc. in a step-by-step sequence. However, many applications offer an “all at once” approach, which ignores step-by-step development.
- Low level of instruction in individual language sections.
- Limited amount of material available.
- Lack of direct contact between the learner and a teacher, i.e. there’s no one to turn to when something is unclear.
- Limited facilities for advanced learners.
- A limited range of words.
- No guarantee that lessons will be delivered by qualified teachers, as some apps may be developed by people with minimal knowledge of the target language.
- Limited focus on pronunciation and speaking.
- Lack of progress monitoring and tracking.
Our hacks and tips can help you quickly learn a language:
How Can I Find the Best App for Me?
There are many language learning apps that focus on learning English, Chinese, Italian, Spanish and many other languages. These apps serve different purposes:
- Some are designed to introduce users to a new foreign language.
- Others act as a supplement to traditional language learning methods.
- Some help to maintain language skills already gained.
- There are also apps that aim to get users interested in a new foreign language.
Each app is designed for a specific purpose, so it’s a good idea to read the descriptions and reviews carefully. However, the most important factor in choosing a language learning app is the user’s current language level. Whether someone is learning the language from the start or already has some knowledge, different applications will be recommended.
In addition, many other factors will affect your choice of the best language learning app, including your individual preferences, learning goals and learning style. To ensure the best possible learning outcome, it is important to first consider why you want to learn a new language. While apps with extensive content are suitable for travel or personal interest, categorised learning content is recommended if you want to improve your professional skills, for example.
It is also important to consider whether you want to focus on specific aspects of a language. If you want to focus on listening and speaking, language learning apps such as Jicki will help. If you want to build your vocabulary, apps such as Promova, Memrise or Mondly are recommended.
There are many other factors to consider in your search, which will depend on your individual preferences. To keep you motivated, look for apps that regularly show your progress or even offer some form of competition between learners. Multimedia content also provides variety and prevents boredom.
Consider the following factors:
- learning goals,
- preferred learning method,
- level of instruction,
- supportive features such as grammar explanations or pronunciation assistance,
- flexibility in learning.
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Can You Learn Languages Effectively Using An App?
Nowadays, language learning apps are well-designed and offer a wide range of content. Learning new languages through apps has become a proven method due to the variety of apps and their different approaches.
I have used several apps to learn new languages or refresh my skills.
The key to success in learning is to find an app that suits your needs and gives you exactly what you want from a language course. We recommend you take your time and compare apps.
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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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