Learning a new language is now easier and more fun than ever, thanks to the online apps and websites available. Did you know that over 1.2 billion people are learning a second language? Whether it’s for job growth, travel, or personal growth, learning a new language is very useful. It can also boost your brain power, improve memory, and delay age-related mental decline.
With today’s technology, you can find the best apps to learn new languages for different learning styles, from visual learners to those who prefer interactive lessons. These apps provide structured lessons, interactive activities, and instant feedback, making learning a new language more effective and enjoyable.
In this blog, I’ll look at the best apps to learn a new language and see how they can help you in your language-learning process.
Best Apps for Learning New Language
Here is the list of the best apps to learn a new language as a beginner. Look at the features of each and opt for the one that suits your needs.
1. Duolingo (Best for Learning Multiple Languages)
Duolingo stands out for its interactive and engaging approach. It offers a colorful interface and short, game-like exercises. You can learn over 40 languages with engaging features like Duolingo Stories for comprehension practice. The free version includes ads, but you can upgrade to Super Duolingo for an ad-free experience. It is considered one of the best learning apps for adults who want to explore various languages.
- Pros: Many free features, 40+ languages, streak feature for consistency.
- Cons: Unhelpful FAQ pages, limited advanced lessons.
- Price: Free; Super Duolingo: $13/month or $87/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android
What We Love
How could we begin without mentioning this infamous green owl? Duolingo’s gamified approach has made language learning addictive for millions. With daily reminders, interactive exercises, and bite sized lessons, it’s easy to stay consistent. Duolingo’s language learning app offers courses in over 30 languages, making it one of the most versatile choices out there.
The Downsides
Duolingo’s focus on game style repetition can feel more like memorizing vocabulary than truly learning a new language. Plus, it’s great for beginners but advanced learners might feel limited as they progress.
Duolingo is a fun language learning app, but don’t expect it to make you fluent overnight.
2. Babbel (Best for an Online School-Type Experience)
Learning a new language using Babbel features a comprehensive approach, focusing on conversational skills and practical usage. Each lesson takes about 10-15 minutes, making it easy to incorporate into your daily schedule. Babbel also offers speech recognition technology to help you improve your pronunciation. For those wanting to learn French, Babbel is often regarded as the best app for the French language due to its structured approach.
- Pros: User-friendly layout, thorough lessons.
- Cons: Limited free access, only 14 languages available.
- Price: Free trial; Subscriptions start at $15/month.
- Availability: iOS, Android
What We Love
Babbel is ideal if you want a structured approach to language learning. It’s designed by linguists and focuses on real life conversations, so you’re not just memorizing words- you’re learning to speak. Babbel emphasizes grammar and cultural context, which can give you a deeper understanding of the nuances.
The Downsides
Babbel’s free trial is short and beyond that, it’s a paid app. The lessons, while thorough, can feel a bit traditional. If you’re used to Duolingo’s games, Babbel’s straightforward style might feel dry.
Babbel is a solid choice for serious language learning but be ready to commit financially if you want the full experience.
3. Drops (Best for Visual Learners)
Drops is designed to make learning a new language fun through visual memory techniques. Drops uses visual aids to help you learn new words in over 50 languages. The app’s lessons are structured as quick, five-minute sessions, making it perfect for busy learners. Each word or phrase is presented with a corresponding image, which helps reinforce memory retention. It is one of the good apps for learning Italian visually.
- Pros: Lots of images, 50 languages available.
- Cons: 10-hour wait between lessons with the free version.
- Price: Free; Premium: $13/month or $70/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android
4. Mondly (Best for Helping You Remember Specific Phrases)
Mondly offers lessons in 41 languages, integrating VR and AR for an immersive experience. Mondly also includes daily lessons, weekly quizzes, and monthly challenges to keep you motivated and track your progress. With its innovative use of technology, Mondly offers a fresh way to learn a new language. If you enjoy interactive and immersive methods, Mondly could be one of the best apps to learn a new language for you.
- Pros: VR/AR integration, many free features.
- Cons: Hard to find pricing information for Premium.
- Price: Free; Premium: $10/month or $48/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android.
5. Memrise (Best for Learning New Language for Casual Speaking)
What makes Memrise unique, you may ask? Its focus on real-world language usage and casual conversation. The app features thousands of video clips of native speakers using the language in everyday situations. This will help you in learning new language with authentic pronunciation and intonation. The app’s interactive lessons cover a wide range of topics, from basic greetings to advanced idioms, making it suitable for learners at all levels. It is also highly recommended as one of the top apps to learn Spanish.
- Pros: Videos from native speakers, customizable learning.
- Cons: More expensive premium subscriptions.
- Price: Free; Pro: $15/month or $90/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android
What We Love
Memrise is all about immersing yourself in a language. It offers tons of video content featuring native speakers, which can make language learning feel more natural. Memrise uses spaced repetition, so you retain what you learn better over time. It’s quite visual and fun, great for people who don’t want the “flashcard” style of learning.
The Downsides
Memrise can be a bit repetitive if you’re not a fan of flashcard style drills. Also, the app’s effectiveness can vary depending on the language since some courses are more comprehensive than others.
Memrise is great for beginners, but advanced learners might feel like they’re hitting a wall after a while.
6. Busuu (Best for Goal-Oriented Users)
Busuu offers a very personalized learning experience by allowing you to set your own study goals and track your progress. The app’s lessons are designed to be short and manageable so that it can easily fit into your daily routine. Busuu also includes a social feature that connects you with native speakers for language exchange and feedback. It is among the best learning apps for adults who need a goal-oriented learning path.
- Pros: Set study goals, and helpful vocabulary tips.
- Cons: Full access requires a premium subscription.
- Price: Free; Premium: $14/month or $83/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android
What We Love
Busuu combines personalized study plans with community features, letting you practice with native speakers around the world. It’s perfect for language learning with accountability, thanks to its social elements. Busuu even includes AI-driven feedback and practice on pronunciation, so you get tailored support.
The Downsides
Busuu’s free content is limited, and the premium membership can add up. Also, while the language-learning app has some awesome interactive features, it doesn’t cover as many languages as Duolingo.
Busuu is awesome for practical language learning, but the limited options on the free plan might not work for everyone.
7. Lirica (Best for Learning Language Musically)
Lirica offers a unique approach to learning a new language by using music as a teaching tool. The app features popular songs from Latin and reggaeton artists, breaking down the lyrics to teach vocabulary and grammar. This method not only helps you in learning a new language but also immerses you in the culture behind the music. It stands out as one of the top apps to learn Spanish for music lovers.
- Pros: Unique approach, immersion-focused.
- Cons: Limited languages, short free trial.
- Price: Free trial; $9/month or $30/year.
- Availability: iOS, Android
8. Language Reactor (Best for Breaking Down How a Language Works)
Language Reactor transforms your regular Netflix or YouTube sessions into language-learning experiences. The extension displays subtitles in both your native language and the language you’re learning, helping you understand the dialogue in context. You can pause, replay, and look up words as you watch, making it easier to learn new vocabulary and phrases. Language Reactor also includes interactive features like built-in dictionaries and quizzes.
- Pros: Immersion-focused, free Chrome extension.
- Cons: Requires a Netflix subscription.
- Price: Free.
- Availability: Chrome extension
9. Pimsleur (Best for Learning on the Go)
Pimsleur is ideal for auditory learners who want to improve their language skills on the go. The app’s lessons are structured as 30-minute audio sessions that you can listen to during your commute, workout, or other activities. Pimsleur’s method focuses on listening and repeating phrases, helping you develop a natural feel for the language. It’s one of the best apps to learn new language for busy individuals.
- Pros: Audio-focused, downloadable lessons.
- Cons: Short free trial before payments.
- Price: Free trial; Audio-Only: $15/month; Premium: $20/month.
- Availability: iOS, Android
10. Rosetta Stone (Best for Auditory Learners)
Rosetta Stone’s lessons emphasize listening and speaking, helping you develop strong communication skills for learning a new language. Rosetta Stone’s unique “Dynamic Immersion” method uses images, text, and sound to teach vocabulary and grammar without translation. The app also includes augmented reality (AR) features that make learning more interactive. With its comprehensive and immersive lessons, Rosetta Stone is ideal for learners who want a deep and thorough understanding of their new language. It’s widely considered the best learning app for adults seeking a thorough learning experience.
- Pros: Customizable, AR features.
- Cons: More expensive subscriptions.
- Price: $48 every three months; $127 annually; Lifetime: $199.
- Availability: iOS, Android
Which Language Learning App is Right for You?
In 2025, you’ve got a lot of options for language learning. If you’re a beginner, Duolingo or Memrise could be a perfect starting point to ease into language learning with a fun approach. For structured and practical conversations, Babbel or Busuu are excellent picks. If you’re looking for a more immersive and lively experience, Lingoda might be the answer.
The best language learning app depends on your goals, budget and learning style. We hope that with these options, you can find a fit that’ll make language learning in 2025 fun and worthwhile.
Tips To Get Started
- Pick Just One Language to Start
It’s tempting to try multiple languages, but focusing on one at a time will help you progress faster. Pick the language you’re most excited about. - Set small goals
Aim for 10 to 15 minutes a day instead of cramming for an hour. Short and consistent practice beats sporadic, long sessions. Read our article on time management to increase your productivity. - Practice Speaking from Day One
Don’t wait until you’re “good” to start speaking. Use voice exercises, record yourself or chat with others. The sooner you start using the language, the faster you’ll improve. - Try Different Exercises
Alternate between vocabulary drills, grammar exercises and listening practice. This keeps things fresh and helps you develop a well rounded skill set. - Don’t be a perfectionist
Mistakes are a big part of learning a new language! Don’t worry about sounding funny or not forming perfect sentences.
The Bottomline
Learning a new language has never been easier with the best apps listed above. Whether you prefer a structured course, visual aids, or interactive methods, there’s an app that suits your needs. Each app offers unique features to help you learn efficiently and enjoyably. So, choose the one that fits your style and start your language-learning sessions today! These tools will help you in learning new languages quickly and effectively.
FAQs
1. What are the best apps to learn a new language quickly?
The best apps to learn new languages quickly are Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and Memrise. These apps have fun lessons and daily practice to help you learn fast.
2. What are the top apps to learn Spanish?
The top apps to learn Spanish are Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and Pimsleur. These apps teach you words, grammar, and how to talk in Spanish.
3. What is the best app to learn French?
The best app for the French language is Babbel because it has easy lessons and real-life conversations. Duolingo, Rosetta Stone, and Lingodeer are also great choices.
4. Are there good apps for learning Italian?
Yes, there are good apps for learning Italian, like Duolingo, Babbel, and Mondly. These apps make learning Italian fun and easy with games and exercises.
5. What is the best learning app for adults wanting to learn a new language?
The best learning app for adults is Babbel, which has lessons for grown-ups. Rosetta Stone and Busuu are also great because they have flexible lessons and practical exercises.
