Language Learning Apps!

Let’s be clear: no app, no matter how smart, can make you fluent on its own. True fluency comes from interaction—communicating with real people, navigating real situations, and making real mistakes. Watching videos, listening to music, sticky notes, etc… Apps are tools. They can help you build vocabulary, learn grammar, and strengthen comprehension. But their real power lies in preparing you for the part of language learning that actually matters: using the language to connect with others.

Beginner-Friendly Apps!

When you're brand new to a language, the hardest part is often just getting started. These beginner-friendly apps make that first step feel doable—not intimidating. They help you build consistency, recognize patterns, and start associating sounds with meaning. While none of them are a full substitute for real-world use, they’re great for dipping your toes in and building a foundation you can grow from.

Babbel

I would substitute this for Duolingo if you’re a complete beginner but if you are on a budget Duolingo is just fine in the beginning. I personally think that for a beginner it helps you to organize the language practically and also introduces useful phrases really early on. I would try to quickly pair this with something else but overall I really like it!

Best for: Structured grammar & conversational phrases
Cost: Paid (starting around $12.95/month), often discounted

Babbel often gets compared to Duolingo, but it offers more explicit grammar instruction and realistic dialogues. It walks you through thematic lessons (e.g., ordering at a café, introducing yourself), and the content feels more mature and practical. The format reflects communicative language teaching principles—emphasizing function and real-world context. Lessons are short, clear, and scaffolded well. If you're looking to actually understand why a sentence is structured a certain way, Babbel does a better job than most entry-level apps.

Use it for: grammar explanations, useful phrases
Skip it if: you want a free or gamified experience

Drops

I would definitely use this as a supplemental app for learning vocabulary. But I love the cute animations and the way it’s organized by theme. This app can definitely help you to reinforce vocabulary you’ve already read or heard. I wouldn’t pay for the premium version; the 5 minutes a day are just fine as this won’t be the only app you’ll be using.

Best for: Quick, visual vocabulary boosts
Cost: Freemium; paid version removes time limit

Drops is perfect if you’re short on time or love aesthetics. You get 5 minutes of vocabulary learning per day (unless you upgrade), using visuals, taps, and swipes to reinforce word-meaning connections. It leans on dual coding theory (Paivio, 1991)—the idea that you’ll remember a word better when it’s paired with an image.

It doesn’t teach grammar or sentence structure, but it’s a great supplement to a more comprehensive tool—or a fun way to add language practice into a busy schedule.

Use it for: visual learners, quick daily review
Skip it if: you want sentence building or long-term strategy

Memrise

Similar to Drops I’d use this mainly as a supplemental app for extra practice. I liked the fact that they gave you multiple ways to learn the vocabulary like multiple choice and unscrambling letters, but the lessons are quite basic and they don’t really focus on conversational practice.

Best for: Vocabulary with native speaker video clips
Cost: Freemium; paid version unlocks full features

Memrise is vocabulary-focused, but its big strength is the inclusion of native speaker videos. Seeing real people say real things (with natural speed and expression) adds an authenticity layer that most flashcard apps miss. It’s built around spaced repetition and uses visual mnemonics for stickier memory.

You can also create your own word lists or choose from community-made decks—ideal if you're working through a textbook or want to customize your learning.

Use it for: vocab memorization, hearing real speech patterns
Skip it if: you want speaking, writing, or grammar-heavy content

Duolingo

Ah, the green bird app. Honestly, Duolingo offers a really fun and gamified way to learn a language, especially for beginners. A problem that most users complain about is that they don’t have useful or practical sentences. Duolingo actually does this intentionally with something linguists call ‘semantically unpredictable sentences,’ which helps words stick in a weird way. However, learning ‘The hedgehog is married to my mother’ is not practical and leaves learners feeling frustrated when they realize their 300 day streak didn’t aid to understanding real world sentences. (Plus, I found the constant notifications a bit annoying after the first week.)

Best for: Casual learners, building a daily habit
Cost: Free (with ads), Duolingo Plus available

Duolingo is probably the most recognizable language app—and for good reason. Its gamified interface makes it feel like you’re playing a game more than doing flashcards. With streaks, leaderboards, XP points, and quirky sentences (“The bear drinks milk”), it’s designed to keep you coming back.

That said, it’s not going to get you fluent. Still, if you’re a total beginner who struggles with motivation, Duolingo is a great place to start.

Use it for: habit formation, light vocab/grammar review
Skip it if: you’re looking for serious grammar explanations or speaking practice

Intermediate Apps!

Once you’ve learned how to introduce yourself and order a coffee, you might start wondering, “Okay… what now?” These intermediate-level tools are great for transitioning from structured beginner content to more immersive and real-world practice.

Rosetta Stone

I really liked Rosetta Stone, but in my opinion, it’s a glorified Babbel. But! I really liked the fact that you can practice pronunciation in the app and get feedback. I liked the picture matching but it gets a bit limited after you progress.

Best for: Structured, immersive learning for visual learners
Cost: Paid (monthly, yearly, or lifetime plan options; ~$12/month)

Rosetta Stone teaches through immersion—no translations, just images and associations. It’s well-paced and polished, focusing on repetition, listening, and word-picture matching. This supports implicit learning and dual coding theory (Paivio, 1991), making it ideal for people who learn best through visuals.

Some learners say it’s a bit dry or repetitive over time. It also doesn’t offer much speaking practice unless you opt into the live tutoring.

Use it for: visual learning, immersive structure, passive grammar absorption
Skip it if: you want active conversation or grammar explanations

LingQ

There is no standalone app but if I had to pick one it would be LingQ. It has built in lessons with flashcards which you can make. Another cool thing about LingQ is that you can upload content from online links (including YouTube) and it will make a lesson from it! So, if you really want to learn about Sharks from a National Geographic article, no problem! One drawback is that there is no pronunciation practice imbedded in the app but it’s great for listening and reading. This is one app that I would heavily advocate for the premium paid version.

Best for: Reading & listening immersion with native-level content
Cost: Freemium (limited access); Paid starts at ~$12/month

LingQ is for the input-lovers. It gives you access to authentic materials—news articles, podcasts, YouTube transcripts—where you can click unknown words, see translations, and save them for review. It’s a playground for learners who want to grow their vocabulary in context and see how the language is actually used. But the interface can feel clunky to new users, and it’s not ideal if you’re still struggling with foundational grammar.

Use it for: intermediate+ reading practice, vocab in context
Skip it if: you’re not ready to read native content or want lots of guidance

Pimsleur

Another pricy app, but I would also say it’s worth it. Pimsleur works based on audio lessons where you learn vocabulary via guided lessons. This is one of my favorite apps for speaking and confidence-building. The lessons also build one another, and you learn grammar implicitly. They have flashcards, but I don’t find them really useful.

Best for: Speaking & listening, building conversational flow
Cost: Paid (starts around $20/month; free trial available)

Pimsleur is all about speaking and recalling in real time. Each lesson is audio-based and structured around realistic dialogues, spaced repetition, and active recall—key elements of long-term retention (Roediger & Karpicke, 2006). You listen, respond aloud, and slowly build up longer, more complex sentences. That said, there’s no visual component and very little grammar explanation—so it’s best paired with a reading/writing resource.

Use it for: improving pronunciation, recall speed, conversation patterns
Skip it if: you’re a visual learner or need grammar explanations