7 Best Language Learning Apps to Try

Speaking multiple languages is something to behold. Thankfully, there are several language learning apps that are available.

Whether it be Spanish, German or Hindi, learning a new language has numerous benefits such as better critical thinking.

The best thing is that you can learn a language at any age.

Thanks to technology, there are several apps available that can be downloaded at the tap of a screen.

Many of them have lessons that range from beginner to near-fluency levels, in a variety of methods to suit your learning style.

With appealing visuals and clear questions, you’ll be speaking a new language in no time.

However, daily practice is required to ensure progress.

Here are seven language learning apps to download and try out.

Babbel

Babbel is one of the most well-known language learning apps and it is easy to see why.

The app is available for free and comes with 40 classes, but you can pay a subscription fee.

Offering 13 languages, lessons are broken into short, easily digestible chunks with interactive elements that keep you on your toes.

Each class starts with step-by-step teaching of vocabulary, featuring picture aids.

Words are then used in related phrases and short dialogues adjusted to the student’s level to help quickly build conversation skills.

Rather than generic lessons, Babbel customises each set of lessons for the specifics of the language, country and culture.

Helpful alerts explain important grammatical points related to the learned material.

As well as the general courses, Babbel also has separate packages dedicated to improving specific skills.

They can be downloaded for later offline use and the app will send reminders so you don’t miss your daily lesson.

The paid subscription also allows users access to live classes taught by real instructors.

Memrise

Memrise is a great language learning app as it provides learning from real native speakers.

In addition to flashcards and quizzes, Memrise also immerses you in videos that feature real-world situations with native speakers using its “Learn with Locals” feature.

This helps to understand words, phrases and sentences spoken by people with real accents, not speakers with flat or neutral emphasis.

There is a variety of courses to learn, from standard courses based on popular textbooks to less expected vocabulary collections.

Memrise combines memes and gaming, introducing a fun element to learning.

It follows a method that relies on creating funny or bizarre associations with the studied words. Courses are often paired with memes designed to help remember the vocabulary.

The memes are created by the community and everyone can add their own.

Users can follow fellow learners and compete with them for points. Users can also see how well they are doing in a particular course.

The free version contains 23 languages to choose from but there is a subscription plan that offers more access, which starts from £8.99.

Duolingo

For those looking for an app to learn languages that is completely free, Duolingo is the one to go for.

The app offers 27 languages. From the usuals like French and Spanish to Hindi to obscure choices like Latin, users can enrol in multiple courses at once.

Within each language, there are lessons and a built-in game mechanic that encourages users to return to older content for practice.

Another feature is that it is not aimed solely at a native English speaker.

For each language, there are specific courses that aim at those with different first languages.

Bright visuals add to the appeal and a league table adds a competitive edge to encourage more learning.

For each lesson, users earn XP and rise up their respective league table while competing against other learners.

Finishing in a certain position will result in league promotion.

This balance has contributed to Duolingo’s success, amassing more than 100 million users.

Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone is among the oldest and most well-known language learning tools. It has now been modernised for mobile apps.

The app has a number of different modes. This includes a lesson style that mimics how you would learn while immersed in a foreign culture without access to English.

This is done by associating spoken words with images on-screen, without any context.

Upon reaching a certain level, users can also sign up for live-streamed classes with a tutor.

Rosetta Stone also has an augmented reality mode that shows users the words for items it can see using the camera.

The app also features traditional lessons typically seen in language learning apps.

In addition to English, the app offers 23 languages and there is a subscription fee for those wanting to take language learning seriously.

Mondly

Mondly takes a unique approach to language learning.

From the beginning, lessons focus on phrases rather than individual words. This provides users with practical tools for having conversations quickly.

If correct pronunciation is important to you, there are two features to enjoy.

Users get to hear native speakers and they get to practice having real conversations with AI chatbots that use speech recognition to assess and coach your speech.

Mondly is particularly helpful if English is not your first language.

It allows you to learn any language from any of the other 33 languages in the app catalogue.

Some lessons are free but users will need to subscribe if they want to learn more.

HelloTalk

HelloTalk is a language learning app that is aimed to facilitate speaking practice and eradicate the potential stress of real-time conversation.

Users can find native speakers and took to them using a WhatsApp-like chat with voice and text messages.

Using an in-built correction tool, users can correct each other’s messages. This turns exchanges into mini tutoring sessions.

The app also has an integrated translation system to help you avoid those moments when you really want to communicate something but just lack the one word that gives the sentence its proper meaning.

Users can mark their top conversations or messages, so the favourites will not get lost.

A text-to-voice option ensures that you always know how to correctly pronounce the messages you receive.

To help with different types of conversation, users can also arrange language exchanges with lengths defined by different parameters like time, number of exchanged messages or characters.

And even if you somehow run out of vocabulary, you can exchange doodles, making HelloTalk an interactive way to learn a new language.

Busuu

Busuu is a free app but a monthly subscription is required to unlock most of the features and course materials.

Offering full courses in 12 languages, Busuu takes users through learning individual words to simple dialogues and questions about the dialogues.

They all include audio where you can listen to native pronunciation.

Lessons are organised in topical themes where users learn skills and expressions connected to tasks.

Each course also comes with a separate mini “travel course” for those wanting to know the basics before a trip abroad.

A great feature is that users can engage with native speakers in their personal learning process.

Busuu learners contribute their native speaking skills to the platform by correcting texts created by those who study their language.

The desktop version of Busuu even allows users to speak to native speakers in real-time.

Studying and contributing to the platform as a teacher allows the app’s users to collect “berries”.

They are points used to rank students based on their activity, adding a competitive element to the app.

These seven apps provide language lessons for all preferences.

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, these apps will make learning lessons productive and fun.

As lessons are short, you have more than enough time to do other things, so try out these apps if you want to learn a new language.