According to a 2019 U.S. Census Bureau survey report, the number of people who spoke a language other than English at home tripled since 1980. Approximately 67.8 million people, almost one in five, spoke different languages in their homes when among friends and family.
Additionally, the number of Americans traveling overseas to foreign-speaking countries is back on the rise after falling drastically in 2020. In March of 2021, more than 2.9 million people started traveling again to destinations in foreign countries.
With the number of people speaking other languages in their homes increasing and the rise in international travel, the need to learn a foreign language is also growing. Previously, as years passed, we would have to register and take a class to learn a foreign language or study independently from a book. Today, with the latest technology, we can log into an app on our mobile devices and learn a new language at our convenience.
Table of content
Continue reading to learn the best language learning apps available to help you learn a second, third, or fourth language:
Duolingo
Duolingo is a science-based mobile app that helps users learn foreign languages using lessons and proficiency exams. You can learn as many languages as you want through the app’s exercises for one month. All activities are self-paced, and if a lesson is easy for you, you can take the exam early and test out of that level.
Users can access 37 languages available for English speakers (meaning all instruction and activities are in English). The app also offers lessons for people whose native language is other than English, making it possible for everyone to learn a new language.
Duolingo costs $9.99 monthly, offering many features that help millions of people learn to speak a new language. The app provides a free version but has several limitations, including fewer features. When measured against other language learning apps & platforms, Duolingo typically ranks among the best.
Memrise
Memrise is another language learning app offering a website and unique platform combining memorization and gaming to help users learn. This app is more fun, helping you learn another language in a more relaxed and recreational-style program. The user-friendly program makes Memrise great for beginners, and there is no limit on how many languages you can study.
Memrise is available for $59.99 per year, offering you access to learn as many languages as you desire. Merise is a great study aid, helping you memorize characters, phrases, and vocabulary in other languages. Though language is the primary focus of Memrise, the app also enables you to study and learn math, science, economics, and more.
Babbel
Babbel is a foreign language learning app offering vocabulary lessons, grammar help, and particular coursework featuring tongue twisters. The app walks you through it with helpful instructions, making this the perfect app for beginners. Plus, more challenging content is available for fast learners who want to perfect their foreign language skills.
Babbel is an online language-learning program that allows you to work at a pace that is best for your learning abilities. Babbel is $6.95 per month, offering various ways to help you start learning a new language. A lifetime membership is also available for those committed to an ongoing foreign language learning process. The monthly premium gives users access to live classes to help them practice their language skills. Babbel offers lessons in 13 languages, including Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, and more.
Busuu
Busuu is a social language-learning program where you can take self-paced classes and learning tools to help you learn to read, write, speak, and listen to a foreign language. The app is well-organized and easy to use, featuring well-structured courses. Busuu offers fewer languages than other language-learning apps, but English speakers can learn Japanese, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, and more languages.
Busuu is $5.99 per month, giving you access to all the tools the app offers to help you learn a new language. Busuu also provides a free version of the language learning app, but the free account has limitations. However, it is a start when you want to start practicing a new language using simple flashcards.
Rosetta Stone
Those looking to learn a second language may have heard about Rosetta Stone. This computer-assisted language learning program uses a combination of images and text to help you learn valuable language skills, grammar, and vocabulary. The program is easy to use on desktop and mobile devices, offering optional online tutoring and unique bonus content.
Prices for learning a new language using Rosetta Stone vary, depending on whether you pay monthly, annually, for two years, or sign up for their lifetime program. Users can learn Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), German, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Polish, Spanish, and more.
Google Translate
Google Translate is a free online translation app providing quick translations for words and phrases in more than 100 languages. You can use the Google Translate app online or offline on a mobile device or via the website. This app is easy to use. All you do is type, speak, or write the words in your native language and select the language you want it translated to from the menu. You can also point your phone’s camera toward an object, and Google Translate will generate the word for the item or something with words in the language of your choice.
MindSnacks
MindSnacks was a popular language translation app offering multiplayer-style games to help users practice foreign language writing, reading, vocabulary, and listening skills. This app was used by many teachers who would assign students various activities and lessons within MindSnacks to help them continue their learning away from school. Though it is no longer available, this app helped those wanting to learn a new language, expand their current language capabilities, and enhance their existing knowledge of another language.
50 Languages
Are you looking for a free language-learning app? 50 Languages is the app you are looking for. This app offers more than 50 languages you can learn for free with access to learning programs online and offline. The app designers created something with high-quality learning platforms that teach many languages.
Though this app is not high-tech and appears dated, it remains one of the best free language apps available. Content is available using an Android or iOS mobile device allowing you to access all of the content available through 50 Languages from the website. Users learn writing, reading, and listening skills in the language of their choice. Languages available to learn through 50 Languages include Afrikaans, Arabic, Danish, French, Greek, Hindi, Portuguese, Swedish, Urdu, and more.
Using 50 Languages is free, and a premium version is also available. The only difference between the free and premium apps is ads are removed when you pay for the premium version.
Mango Languages
Mango Languages is an online learning platform helping people who want to learn a second language. This platform uses various specialty courses that also help teach cultural differences and more than 70 languages. The best part about Mango Languages is the program uses interesting movie-like features in select languages to help teach users.
The app does not use multiple-choice questions, translation exercises, or spelling quizzes. Instead, the app tells you a word or phrase in another language, then asks you to recall what the word means and gives you the word in English. You can learn Dutch, German, Greek, Hawaiian, Korean, Polish, Serbia, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and more using Mango Languages.
Accessing Mango Languages courses costs approximately $20 per month, and you can learn as many languages as you want. Depending on your library system, you can access Mango Languages for free with your library card membership.
Anki
Anki, which means “memorization” in Japanese, is a language learning app using the learning method of flashcards and repetition. Ultimately, this app helps you learn a second language through the art of memorization. Anki is a free app with a mobile companion, AnkiDroid, available to complement your desktop version.
Anki is a more sophisticated platform, but if you can take the time to master the program and learn to navigate through lessons, this app is worth it. The program breaks down learning into separate bundles, and you can repeat the lessons as long as needed. Keep working on the same set of flashcards until you have mastered them. Plus, after the answer is revealed, Anki asks you how easy it was to remember that word so it can help create future flashcard sets and help guide your learning based on how easy or challenging some words were to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which language-learning app is best for me?
With so many language learning apps, how do you know you are selecting the best app for your learning needs? Before choosing an app, list what you expect during your language learning experience, including the language, your budget, and what devices can access the app. Knowing this information before shopping for a language app is vital because every app offers different features and learning processes. Once you know your needs, you can search for the best language-learning app.
Are there language learning apps available for children?
Similar to the above-listed language learning apps, there are language apps designed for children to help them learn a second language. Many of the best free & paid language learning apps have features catering to children. Apps with features to help children learn a second language include Babbel, Duolingo, and Memrise.
How effective are language learning apps?
Though language learning apps are not as effective as diving deep into a community and learning the language firsthand through personal experiences, language learning apps are the next best thing. Many apps help teach essential words, general phrases, and speaking and listening skills. Combining language learning apps with practicing the language with native speakers will increase your chances of becoming fluent in another language.
Why are language learning apps essential?
Language learning apps are essential for many reasons, including helping users learn a second language. Language learning apps, such as Google Translate, can help translate words and phrases while traveling to a country where you are not fluent in the native language.
What are the advantages of using language learning apps?
There are many benefits to using free and paid language learning apps, including the following:
- Self-paced learning
- Personalized learning
- Access anywhere
- Immediate interaction between students and teachers
- Eliminates barriers caused by schedule conflicts
Final Thougs
When searching for the best free & paid language learning apps, you will discover there are many to choose from. Explore this list of the ten best language learning apps and determine the best one for your learning needs. Then, download and sign up for the app and start learning. Before you know it, you will be on the road to conversing with someone from another country.
The responses below are not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any financial entity or advertiser. It is not the advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
