Picking up another language is not only enjoyable, it also helps you meet people while traveling and converse with bilingual relatives. Additionally, being multilingual is avaluable abilityacross many professions. Many top language apps are budget-friendly — often costing less than a single takeout meal each month. There are choices that cater to different learning preferences, whether you prefer social interaction or gamified lessons. Best of all, you can begin learning right from home.
Top Language Learning Apps
Browse our roundup of language learning apps below and start your journey toward bilingualism and beyond.
1. Drops: Play With Your Words
Don’t want to invest hours into studying a new language?Dropsis ideal. In roughly five minutes daily, you can open the app on your phone or tablet and complete its bite-sized modules to pick up short phrases and fresh vocabulary. Drops reinforces retention with mnemonic images by linking words to pictures, then guiding you to speak and spell them.
You can select from more than 35 tongues — the common options like German and Spanish are included, as well as rarer picks such as Ainu, spoken by elders on Hokkaido, and Icelandic. If you want to practise reading and writing, there’s a companion app,Scripts.
The app has a free tier, though it limits you to one lesson per day.Premium plansbegin at $13 per month, $5.83 per month when billed annually, or you can opt for a lifetime plan at $159.99.
2. Babbel: Language for Life
This well-known appmimics the structure of a traditional classroom. Lessons progress gradually to more advanced topics, starting with translations and then branching into variations of the vocabulary or phrases you’ve learned. You’ll also explore nuances like formal versus informal speech.
The platform supplies audio so you can hear words used in everyday dialogue and repeat them for reinforcement. Lessons typically run about 15 minutes, and you can monitor your advancement as you go.
Babbel offers a limited free version, but content is restricted.Subscriptionsare $13.45 per month for six months, $8.95 per month for a 12-month plan, and $299 for lifetime access.
3. Memrise: The Fastest Way To Learn a Language
Casual language learners will appreciateMemrise, since you don’t have to study every day (you can jump in and out as you like). The app features recordings from native speakers who use various words and phrases, helping you understand real-world usage. You get translations for items you hear, which you can repeat until they feel natural.
Memrise adds a gamified element: you earn points for correct responses — set targets to accrue a certain number each day or display your results on a leaderboard to motivate yourself alongside other learners. Currently, it supports 22 languages, including popular options and less-common ones like Mongolian and Swedish.
A free tier grants access to a handful of daily lessons, or you can choose paid tiers. The premium subscription is $22.99 per month, $71.99 annually, or $110 for lifetime access.
4. Duolingo: The Best New Way To Learn a Language
Like several apps mentioned here,Duolingoteaches languages through short, game-like activities. You can unlock tougher concepts as you pass levels, although the app may reduce your level if you don’t review consistently.
The app is intuitive, showing streaks for consecutive practice days and how many days you need to meet your targets. It also includes brief audio narratives called Duolingo Stories to check comprehension. You can study multiple languages simultaneously, though that may be overwhelming for some.
Duolingo is free and syncs across desktop and mobile to teach more than 40 languages. Super Duolingo, the premium tier, costs $12.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Subscribers enjoy an ad-free experience, error review tools and other perks.
5. HelloTalk: Talk to the World
HelloTalkconnects learners with native speakers across over 100 languages. Learning happens through exchanging text, voice notes, calls and short video clips with native speakers. It’s perfect if you want a social approach and hands-on practice with someone fluent in your target language.
Useful features include grammar and syntax corrections and quick-translate taps. The basic app is free, while the VIP plan runs $6.99 monthly, $45.99 per year or $175 for lifetime access. Paid benefits include no ads, the ability to learn several languages at once, and unlimited use of an integrated translation tool.
6. Lirica: Learn Languages With the Power Of Music
The concept behind newcomerLiricais learning languages through music. Pretty appealing, right? Especially when artists like Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and Usher help teach.
This UK-based app offers vocabulary and grammar lessons structured around popular songs from international artists. It also introduces learners to cultural contexts where the languages are spoken.
At present, Lirica supports three languages — English, Spanish and German — but it says more languages are coming soon.You can try it for free, but full access requires payment: $9 per month, $20 for six months, or $30 yearly.
There are plenty of language apps to explore. If you’re unsure where to begin, download one and try the free tier first. Then stick with the app that suits you best.
Contributor Elena Park is a personal finance writer based in Jacksonville, Florida, focusing on real estate, insurance, banking, loans and credit. Freelancer Marco Reed contributed to this report.
