The Best Language Learning Apps to Use in 2025

I’ve been diving into language learning apps lately, and wow, 2025 has some amazing options out there! Whether you’re looking to pick up a new language for travel, work, or just for fun, these apps are making it easier and more engaging than ever. From personalized lessons to gamified experiences, there’s something for everyone. Let me share some of my top picks that can really help you boost your skills and make learning a new language feel less like a chore and more like an adventure!

French Together

French Together is an innovative language learning app specifically designed to help users master French through engaging, practical content and immersive exercises. The app focuses on real-life conversations, making it an ideal choice for beginners and intermediate learners who want to develop their speaking and comprehension skills in a fun and interactive way. With a user-friendly interface and a clear progression of lessons, French Together aims to make learning a new language accessible and enjoyable.

Excitingly, our developers are actively working on expanding the app’s offerings by adding more languages very soon.

What Makes It Great:

• French Together has an awesome AI pronunciation checker that gives you real-time feedback on your speaking skills. It highlights which words you’re pronouncing correctly and points out any areas where you might need to improve. This feature is incredibly helpful because it allows you to refine your accent and pronunciation as you practice. By getting instant feedback, you can make adjustments right away, boosting your confidence and helping you sound more like a native speaker.
• It emphasizes conversational skills and equips users with essential phrases and vocabulary for everyday interactions, making the learning process relevant and useful. The app incorporates authentic dialogues designed to boost your confidence by simulating 90 real-life scenarios you’re likely to come across. 
• The app has a very simple design, making it easy for users of any age to navigate. It features a clear and uncomplicated design.

• The app features audio from native speakers in the lessons, helping you hear how words are really pronounced. It also includes cultural tips to help you understand the language better and its unique details.
• I love that you can adjust the speed of the dialogue, which makes it easier to understand everything clearly.
• French Together offers structured lessons that align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• I really like that it explains how to use the words and phrases correctly.

What’s Not So Great:

• The app isn’t available on the App Store or Google Play, but you can access it through a web browser on your device.
• Right now, the app focuses on teaching French, but we’re excited to announce that we’ll be adding more languages soon!
• The chatbot is in its beta stage, which means it’s still actively being developed.

Languages: French. Stay tuned! We’ll be adding Spanish and German soon, followed by other popular European languages, and later on, we’ll include some Asian languages too.

Cost: You can give the app a try with a 7-day free trial. We also offer three subscription plans, all backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pimsleur

The Pimsleur app is a language learning platform that utilizes the Pimsleur method, which focuses on audio-based learning. It emphasizes listening and speaking skills through spaced repetition and conversational practice. Users engage with interactive lessons that typically include vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar, all designed to help them learn a new language effectively and naturally. The app offers a variety of languages and is suitable for beginners as well as those looking to improve their skills. Just like any other apps, it’s convenient for on-the-go learning, allowing users to practice while commuting or during other activities.

What Makes It Great:

• Their approach is truly unique, unlike other apps with similar features. Integrating a voice coach was a brilliant idea; it’s like having a teacher with you. It was very helpful to hear an audio that explained the basics of the language and provided tips on pronouncing each syllable and word, as well as translations for each word. I decided to check out the Tagalog course to see how well it was presented, considering that Tagalog is not widely known globally. To my surprise, I was impressed. The voice sounded very natural and authentic.
• I really like the simple design. It’s nice because it lets you focus on just listening to the audio without any distractions.
• Available on the web, Apps Store, and Google Play.
• One of the best things about it is that they offer so many different languages to choose from.
• Pimsleur also gives a nice introduction to the language, covering a bunch of interesting stuff like its history, glottal stops, intonation, and stress patterns. It’s really cool because it helps you understand not just the words, but also the nuances of how the language works.
• Best for those who want to prioritize speaking and conversational skills.
• Just like French Together, it points out which words you pronounced correctly or failed to pronounce well. I like that you can also replay your voice to review how you pronounced it, which is a feature that most apps don’t have.

What’s Not So Great:

• Pimsleur has a limited and is one of the pricier options out there, with a subscription-based model that may not suit everyone.
• They have very limited practice formats. The focus is primarily on listening and speaking, with less emphasis on reading, grammar, and writing, which might not appeal to more academically minded learners.
• I noticed a translation mistake in some of the phrases. For instance, “Good day” shouldn’t be translated as “Magandang tanghali” since tanghali actually means “noon.” It would be more accurate to say “Magandang araw” for “Good day.”

Languages: 51 languages including Chinese, Italian, Russian, Vietnamese, Tagalog, German, Romanian, Finnish, and more.

Cost: Pimsleur has a free version that only lets you access one lesson. To unlock all the lessons and features, you can either upgrade to a monthly subscription ($20.95) or buy a lifetime/premium plan ($150.00).

Langua

Langua is one of the coolest apps I use.  It helps you get better at real conversations. Instead of just drilling vocab or grammar, it focuses more on speaking and listening, so you can practice having actual conversations, even if you don’t have anyone to talk to. They use AI to simulate dialogues, which is handy if you’re shy or just need more speaking practice.

What Makes It Great:

• Great for talking practice. It’s awesome for getting comfortable with everyday conversations—perfect if you want to improve your speaking and listening skills.
• Great for intermediate to advanced levels. It’s especially helpful if you’re working your way up or just need a review, as it eases you into using the language naturally.
• Langua has a feature that’s pretty similar to our very own French Together’s flashcards. These are fantastic for boosting your vocabulary and really help you remember new words more easily.
• Has more tools and in-app resources such as YouTube videos and podcasts.
• I love their Communicate With AI tool! You can chat with an AI character by typing or recording your voice. It even plays back the AI’s replies, shows the text on screen, and lets you slow it down or translate it if needed.
• With the chatbot feature, you’ve got a couple of options. You can either choose a specific topic to talk about, so you can practice having a more natural conversation, or you can dive into a role-play scenario, which makes it feel like you’re in a real-life situation. 
• You can select either a male or female voice for the chatbot, which is a nice touch. Listening to both voices helps train your ear to understand different tones and accents, making it easier to follow conversations in real-life situations.

What’s Not So Great:

• Langua’s design is pretty basic and feels kinda old-school. If you’re someone who gets motivated by sleek visuals or more interactive layouts, this app might not be the best fit. It’s really more about function over visuals—they’ve put all the focus on making sure the app works well and helps you learn, but it doesn’t have that modern, polished look you might find in other apps. 
• Langua’s Communicate with AI is still in Beta, so you might run into some bugs like I did. One issue I had was it kept telling me to “listen and try again,” but didn’t highlight which words I mispronounced.

Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, and Romanian.

Cost: With the free version, you can have limited usage of some of Langua‘s features. If you want to unlock everything and really get the most out of it, you’ll need to upgrade to enjoy the tools without any restrictions.

Busuu

Busuu combines organized lessons with a fun social aspect, letting you interact with native or fluent speakers who can provide helpful feedback. The app features a range of learning techniques, covering everything from vocabulary and grammar to reading and listening practice. Busuu’s lessons are tailored to fit your personal goals, whether you’re learning for travel, business, or just for fun, making it a flexible choice for everyone.

What Makes It Great: 

• The courses are thoughtfully structured and progressive, taking you step by step from beginner to advanced levels in a logical sequence. They also follow the international standard “Common European Framework of Reference for Languages” (CEFR), ensuring that you’re learning in a way that’s both effective and aligned with global standards.
• I love the videos (AI generated) included in the lessons, because they provide a chance to see someone speaking the words and phrases, making it easier to grasp pronunciation and context.
• Busuu is accessible on the web as well as on Android and iOS devices.
• Allows you to choose your daily study goal between 5 and 25 minutes, and you can adjust it whenever you like.
• I like that it provides an estimated number of days until you finish each level.
• Busuu features a sleek, modern, and minimalist design. I also like that it doesn’t rely heavily on gamification, so you can concentrate on your learning goals rather than getting distracted by rewards like some other apps.
• Busuu also uses a spaced repetition system, which is great for helping you remember things by going over the words/phrases you’re struggling with at ideal intervals for better long-term retention.
• The community is incredibly supportive. You can share your exercises for feedback from other users or even native speakers, which is a fantastic way to enhance your writing and grammar skills. You can also record your voice speaking the language you’re learning, and the community members will give you tips and feedback to help you improve.

What’s Not So Great:

• The app offers a pretty limited selection of languages to choose from.
• Busuu has less conversational practice. While you can interact with the community, the focus is more on structured lessons than on real-life conversational practice.
• The quality of the courses really depends on the language you’re learning. For some of the less popular ones, the courses aren’t as strong and definitely feel like they need more development. It’s like they put all their focus on the big languages, and the others just don’t get the same attention.
• If you’re a beginner, Busuu doesn’t have a ton of activities in each course. So if you get bored easily with the same types of exercises, it might be hard to stay motivated, especially for the longer lessons.

Languages: 14 languages including Spanish, Japanese, English, German, Italian, Portuguese and more.

Cost: You can use the Busuu app for free, but you’ll have limited access. If you want all the features, no ads, and the option to skip lessons, you’ll need to upgrade to the Premium plan.

Mondly

Mondly is designed to make language learning fun and interactive, with a big focus on short, bite-sized lessons that fit easily into a busy schedule. Each lesson is structured to cover key skills—speaking, listening, and writing, so you get a well-rounded learning experience. Similar to French Together and Langua, it also has voice recognition technology, which helps you improve your pronunciation by giving you immediate feedback on how close you are to sounding like a native speaker. This is especially helpful if you’re nervous about speaking aloud in a new language.

What Makes It Great:

• The graphics are vibrant and look fun. Mondly shows you a clear visual representation of your learning journey, resembling a map that guides you through each step and milestone along the way.
• They offer a broad selection of languages to choose from.
• It’s very engaging, and I like the order of the activities in each lesson. Although they are repetitive, the structure keeps it interesting because they have several short activities included in each lesson. You’ll encounter multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, spelling exercises, and sentence-building translations with word options.
• You can access Mondly directly through your browser or download the app from the App Store or Google Play.
• There’s also an activity where you can either choose your answer from the options by clicking on it or record your voice to read your answer.
• They also feature an impressive leaderboard that not only displays the overall rankings of all users but also shows how you rank among others in your country learning the same language.
• Mondly incorporates images and audio that match the words, which really helps you grasp the concepts better during the activities. 

What’s Not So Great:

• The free version allows access to only a limited number of lessons.
• Mondly does a good job displaying translations of what the chatbot says, but it doesn’t translate your responses. For instance, when you record your voice to reply in Japanese, your answer appears in the chat using Japanese characters, which can be tricky for those learners who aren’t familiar with them yet. I even tried to copy the Japanese text to translate it elsewhere, but it wouldn’t allow me to do that.
• I like that the chatbot gives you suggested responses to pick from, but it would be cooler if you could reply in your own words too. Other chatbots, like the one in French Together, let you say whatever you want even if it’s out of the topic, which makes the conversation feel way more real.
• I’m not sure if it’s a bug or just how the chatbot functions, but if you mispronounce something or give a different answer outside their suggested responses, it responds with phrases like “I can’t hear you,” “I don’t understand,” or “Please repeat,” no matter if you record your voice or type your answer in Japanese or English. As you can see, I typed in my reply, but the chatbot still says it can’t hear me.

• It’s also a bit confusing since there are different plans. I’m not sure if the plans vary by language or if it’s a bug. When I log into my account, it offers me a 12-month plan for $47.99 with access to 33 languages, but at checkout, it shows 41 languages. However, if you’re not logged in and visit their Pricing page, it lists a one-time payment of $99.99 for 41 languages, which is unavailable when I try to upgrade my account.

Languages: 41 languages including Chinese, Russian, English (UK and US), Romanian, Thai, Hindi and more.

Cost: Mondly offers a free version, but with limited access to lessons and features. If you want more lessons, extra features, and access to a wider range of languages, you can upgrade to the paid version. 

Here’s the pricing I see when I log into my account.

Here are the available plans when you go to their Pricing page.

Babbel

Babbel takes a more traditional approach to language learning with a strong focus on grammar and sentence structure. The app provides lessons that are broken down into manageable chunks, with a focus on practical conversations and vocabulary that you’ll use in real life. Babbel also offers cultural tips to help you understand the context behind the language.

What Makes It Great:

• Babbel teaches vocabulary and grammar in a detailed, structured way that progresses naturally from beginner to advanced levels. They also follow the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), which is the standard framework for measuring language proficiency across Europe and many other parts of the world.
• Lessons are designed around practical conversations that you’re likely to encounter in real life, making it highly relevant.
• The app offers insights into the culture behind the language, helping you understand how it’s used in different contexts.
• Available on the web, App Store, and Google Play.
• Similar to Mondly, the app uses a combination of images and audio in each lesson to make learning more engaging and effective.
• I find their image-based multiple-choice questions a bit more challenging than other apps, which I really like. They give you similar options for the answers, which makes it a bit harder to figure out the correct one right away. Because the choices look alike or have closely related meanings, you really have to think it through.
• It gives you instant tips randomly while you’re going through the activities. For example, when you come across a new word, a little bubble pops up with a tip on how to pronounce it. It’s a nice way to get helpful hints right when you need them.
• In each lesson, you’ll get a set of words or phrases to study, and you’ll see them in various activities like multiple choice, matching translations, arranging syllables to form words or phrases, and many more. There’s also a fun dialogue activity where you fill in the blanks using those words. Once you finish, you can listen to the entire dialogue.
• Babbel has a very simple and straightforward interface, making it easy to navigate. You won’t get lost in complicated menus or overwhelming options, and you can focus on learning without any distractions. 
• Babbel isn’t just about learning through the activities they’ve created. They also offer Babbel Live, where you can join small group classes led by a native or expert teacher. It’s a great way to get real-time interaction, ask questions, and practice speaking with others who are learning the same language. 

What’s Not So Great:

• Babbel has a pretty limited selection of languages compared to other apps, especially when it comes to Asian languages.
• Unlike many language apps, Babbel doesn’t offer a free version. You’ll need to pay for a subscription after a short trial. Even though Babbel offers a 20-day money-back guarantee, I’m still not a fan of being charged upfront for something you’re not sure will work for you. If you’re not happy with it, you have to go through the whole process of requesting a refund, which can be a hassle.
• The live classes on Babbel aren’t included in the regular subscription, so if you want to join group or private sessions, you’ll need to pay extra.

For our in-depth review of Babbel, click here

Languages: Languages including Spanish, Indonesian, French, Germany Dutch, Turkish, Danish, and more.

Cost: Babbel doesn’t offer a free version or even a free trial. To access any of the activities, you’ll have to upgrade to a premium account. And if you’re interested in joining live classes, that comes with a separate subscription, so it’s an additional cost on top of the regular plan.

Babbel Pricing

Babbel Live Pricing

Duolingo

Duolingo’s been around forever when it comes to language learning, and honestly, it’s super popular for good reason. The whole gamified vibe keeps you hooked, and it’s awesome if you prefer learning in small, manageable chunks. With over 40 languages to choose from, it mixes up vocab, grammar, and some convo practice in a way that’s really easy to follow. They’ve even added cool extras like Duolingo Stories and podcasts, which give you a more real-world feel and help with actual conversations.

What Makes It Great:

• Great for beginners and anyone who likes quick, daily lessons. 
• Suitable for practicing speaking, reading, listening, and writing to boost your vocabulary, verb conjugation, and grammar skills.
• It is way more fun and easier than boring grammar exercises from textbooks.
• The gamification keeps me motivated and helps me stay consistent.
• Adding a couple of lessons a day can really help reinforce what you’re learning and keep things moving along, especially if you’re trying to stay consistent with your progress.
• You can use it on the web and download the app from Google Play and Apps Store.
• Duolingo Stories is a fantastic feature for everyone who loves having fun while practicing. They make learning feel more immersive and practical by putting language skills into context. It’s not just about vocabulary because you’ll also get to see how phrases and grammar work in real-life situations. Plus, the storytelling aspect keeps it engaging and fun. It’s a great way to improve comprehension and listening skills while enjoying a little narrative. 

What’s Not So Great:

• It probably won’t make you fluent or conversational to any significant level, so you’ll need to use other resources if you’re aiming to speak the language fluently.
• The quality can vary a lot depending on the language, and some of the translations aren’t always accurate or are poorly done.
• You might lose sight of your actual language goals and get more focused on earning awards instead of learning the language.

Languages: Over 40 languages including Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian, and more.

Cost: Free, but you can pay for premium if you want to ditch the ads. The price will show up in your local currency

Memrise

Memrise is pretty awesome for learning languages in a way that feels fresh and engaging. Unlike the usual rote memorization techniques, Memrise really takes it up a notch by blending mnemonics with real-world content.

One of the coolest things about it is that it incorporates user-generated content and videos from other users of the app or native speakers. This means you can actually learn slang, colloquialisms, and even those quirky regional dialects that textbooks often skip over. It’s like getting a taste of the language as it’s really spoken.

The app also uses spaced repetition just like Pimsleur and Busuu, which is a game-changer for memorizing vocabulary. It helps you remember words and phrases in a way that feels fun rather than tedious. If you’re all about expanding your vocabulary or picking up commonly used phrases, this is a great choice.

What Makes It Great:

• I’d say it’s especially perfect for anyone who wants a bit of cultural and contextual immersion. 
• You can access it on any device. You can use the web app when you’re on a computer or download the mobile app from the App Store and Google Play.
• I like that Memrise gives you the option to mark a word as difficult or known. If you come across a tricky word, you can flag it, and the app will make sure to bring it back up in your next lessons. When you mark a word as known, it disappears from your lessons.
• Memrise is one of those fun, gamified language learning apps that really keeps you engaged.
• If you’re short on time and want to streamline your learning, you can adjust your settings to customize the number of words and phrases you want to learn and review.
• After each lesson, it gives you a summary of the words you’ve fully mastered, the ones you’ve started learning, and those you haven’t tackled yet.
• Memrise has an awesome community vibe! Users can create their own lessons, which means you get to learn new words and phrases straight from fellow learners. It’s a fun way to discover different perspectives on the language. However, it’s a good idea to double-check the content since the quality can vary and some lessons might not be completely accurate. Still, it adds a nice social element to your learning journey.
• I love that they feature videos of native speakers in the lessons, as it adds authenticity and helps you learn the language in a more dynamic and relatable way.

What’s Not So Great:

• Memrise is really geared more toward beginners and intermediate learners, so if you’re already at an advanced level, you might find it less suitable for your needs. 
• While user-generated lessons are fantastic, it’s important not to rely solely on them since there could be some inaccuracies.
• While I was working through my lessons, I noticed that a few words I marked as “known” kept popping up again. It kind of defeats the purpose of marking them, since I thought I wouldn’t have to review them anymore.
• Memrise focuses more on vocabulary and phrases rather than in-depth grammar instruction. While you might pick up some grammatical structures through example sentences, it’s not designed as a comprehensive grammar resource.
• Memrise is a great tool, but it won’t probably make you fluent right away. If you’re looking for something more comprehensive, it’s a good idea to try other methods.
• Monthly plan is a bit more expensive compared to other apps.

Languages: 33 languages including Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, French, Greek, Japanese, Swedish, and more.

Cost: They offer both a free plan and a pro plan, which gives you some great options depending on how deep you want to dive into your language learning.

Which language learning app is the best?

Choosing the best language learning app really hinges on several key factors, including your specific goals, your preferred learning style, and the language you want to learn.

First, consider your goals: Are you looking to achieve conversational fluency, prepare for a trip, or gain a deeper understanding of grammar? Different apps cater to different needs, so identifying your primary objective can help narrow down your options.

Next, think about your learning style. Some people thrive with visual aids, while others might prefer auditory lessons or hands-on practice. For instance, if you learn best through interactive games, an app like Duolingo or Memrise might be ideal. On the other hand, if you prefer structured lessons and real-life conversations, French Together or Langua could be more suitable.

Finally, the specific language you want to learn can also influence your choice. Some apps have a broader range of languages available, while others focus on specific ones. Additionally, the depth and quality of content can vary significantly between apps depending on the language.

Taking all these factors into account will help you find the language learning app that aligns best with your needs, making your learning journey more effective and enjoyable.

My top three picks are Pimsleur, French Together, and Mondly. Pimsleur excels with its immersive audio approach, emphasizing conversation and pronunciation for auditory learners. French Together combines practical lessons with cultural insights, focusing on conversational skills to help beginners build a solid foundation. Mondly stands out for its gamified learning experience, featuring engaging quizzes and interactive exercises that keep learners motivated while enhancing their vocabulary. Together, these apps cater to various learning styles and provide effective methods for mastering a new language.

Additionally, I’d love to try an app that offers a chance to explore with a free trial, like French Together, which provides a 7-day free trial. If you’re interested in giving it a go, click here.