There are countless apps designed to help you learn a new language. You may want to learn a new language to widen your vocabulary, revise or grammar, converse with a native speaker, or all of the above. Whatever your end goal is, it’s extremely important to pick the right foreign language learning app. We thought we’d make it easier for you by compiling a list of five best language learning apps for Android and iOS. Many of these gems offer more options to help you learn a new language.
TOP PICKS: Free Language Learning Apps
DUOLINGO
Languages you can learn: French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, English and more.
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows Phone
It’s not difficult to understand why Duolingo is one of the best language learning apps. To use Duolingo, you don’t even have to create an account on the app. You can start using it as soon as you download the app from the app store.
The app divides languages into various topics, such as food, clothing, shopping, or business. Additionally, it provides lessons on pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and other grammatical subjects.
Duolingo helps you learn a new language by using text, pictures, and audio. The interface used on this app makes it easier for the human mind to associate the sound of translation with visuals of the text and pictures. You can even manually translate the audio back into your native language.
The app encompasses a wide range of activities, so you can type answers, speak them and chose from a set of multiple choice answers. One can even access the Duolingo app on offline mode, so you don’t need a Wi-Fi to make the most of it.
BABBEL
Languages you can learn: French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, English and more.
Available on: Android, iOS
Now, this little app breaks down language lessons that last between 10 and 15 minutes. All language lessons cover different abilities, meaning – you can pick from lessons for beginners, advanced, etc. It also has review sessions so you can refresh your memory. Moreover, it teaches you various words and phrases, and challenges you to spell them out, speak them aloud, and fit them into sentences.
The best thing about this app is that it focuses more on conversational learning as you progress. One can even download lessons for offline learning.
MEMRISE
Languages you can learn: French, Kanji, Esperanto, Cantonese, Mandarin, Finnish, Icelandic, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, German, Chinese, Portuguese, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, English and over 150 more.
Available on: Android, iOS
The most unique aspect of Memrise is how it teaches new words and phrases. It puts words and phrases into sentences with similar sounds words from your native language to help you make a connection for easier memorizing. Another great thing about this app is that it teaches you a new language by mixing up the translations using mems, which are sentences or images.
It primarily acts as a vocabulary builder, so you can combine it with conversation as well as grammar lessons. You can even sign up for the app to get access to community-created content. While the basic functionality is free, you can subscribe at a monthly fee of $9 to get access to games as well as offline mode.
BUSUU
Languages you can learn: French, Turkish, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Spanish, German, Portuguese, English and more.
Available on: Android, iOS
The Busuu app boasts an impressive user base of more than 60 million learners. It is one of the most well-designed language learning apps we’ve laid our eyes upon. The app provides complete language lessons using basic flashcards, along with grammar, writing, conversation, and pronunciation exercises. It also contains quizzes and vocabulary games to add a little zing to your learning.
The most unique thing about this language learning app is that it can come in handy while you’re traveling. It lets you chat with native speakers, have them correct you when you’re wrong, and let you earn points by correcting other learners. One can access the Busuu app in offline mode as well for offline learning.
ROSETTA STONE TRAVEL APP
Languages you can learn: French, Italian, Spanish, German, and more.
Available on: Android, iOS
Now, this is more of a professional-grade service for language learning. It shows pictures connected to common words and phrases spoken in the native language. On this app, you can skip forward to any lesson you like. The app also comes with a searchable phrase book with basic words and phrases related to restaurants, hotels, and general travel. You can buy more phrase books available on the app for words related to currencies, colors, shopping, and emergencies.
These are all great general language learning apps – especially for beginners! However, a lot of gamification falters as you get to intermediate and advanced levels. Plus, it is drastically missing the human communication component. Look out for apps that offer live tutoring on mobile — apps like Voxy, TutorMandarin and others. Will be a great mix of human and tech!